MAYETTA, Kan. (March 19, 2005) -- Defending and six-time O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series champion Kelly Shryock continued his dominance of Thunderhill Speedway with a convincing victory in Saturday's 35-lap main event at the high-banked 3/8-mile oval.

Starting 10th in the 25-car field, Shryock methodically picked off cars before taking the lead on lap 13 then pacing the final 22 circuits to claim his fifth-straight O’Reilly USMTS win in Mayetta, Kan. With the win, the Fertile, Iowa, pilot propelled himself into the top spot in the O’Reilly USMTS National Driver Standings over Corey Dripps, who struggled to a 15th-place finish on Saturday.

From the pole, Tim Karrick of Bashor, Kan., took command of Saturday's 35-lap Holley "A" Main for the first two laps before giving way to Watertown, S.D.'s Jon Tesch. Tesch paced three laps before Dustin Boney of De Soto, Kan., gained the top spot. Boney's reign at the front of the pack was short-lived, however, as Shryock muscled past him six laps later to take the lead and eventual win.

Chad Kinder of Newton, Ill., Followed Shryock past Boney two laps later, but was unable to make a charge for the lead and settled for the runner-up finish. Boney hung on for third place, followed by Mike Sorensen of Rochester, Minn., in fourth. Sutton, Neb.'s Jason Friesen shook off his early-season gremlins to post a fifth-place finish.

After taking a provisional starting spot to make it into the Holley "A" Main, Brad McEwan started 23rd and worked his way up to a ninth-place finish to earn the Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger Award. McEwan's strong run also launched him into fourth place (342 points) in the O’Reilly USMTS National Driver Standings behind Shryock (412), Dripps (360) and Jason Hughes (359). Sorensen rounds out the top-5 in the standings with 328 markers.

UP NEXT .... After an action-packed weekend in Mayetta, Kan., The stars and cars of the O’Reilly USMTS are headed for the Hancock County Speedway in Britt, Iowa, for the two-day USMTS.com Iowa Spring Challenge on Friday and Saturday, April 1-2.

Friday's Holley "A" Main winner will pocket $2,000 while Saturday's winner will take home $3,000.

A big field of cars and drivers are expected for this event, including Kelly Shryock, Corey Dripps, Jason Hughes, Brad McEwan, Mike Sorensen, Tommy Myer, Dustin Boney, Jon Tesch, Julie McDermid, Ryan Ruter, Zack VanderBeek, Jeremy Payne, Roger Hadan, Greg Metz, Mark Noble, Al Hejna, Mike Wedelstadt, Jason Krohn, Jeff James, Jake Neal, Lynn Nillson, Mike Hejna, Steve Wetzstein, Bob Timm, Jesse Frericks, Mike Chasteen, Bub Lerette, Gary March, Tim Vogt, Dean Mahlstedt, Danny Concelman, Bruce Hanford, Scott Mullen, David Murray, Dan Daniels, Nate Wasmund, Brad Bakken, Matt Gilbertson, Danny McKeighan, Jordy Nelson and Neil Eckhart.

Pit gates open at 4 p.m. on Friday with grandstand gates opening at 5, hot laps at 6:30 and racing set to begin at 7 p.m.. Grandstand general admission is $12 for adults and $4 for kids. On Saturday, pit gates open at 12 noon, grandstand gates open at 1 p.m., hot laps are at 3:30 and racing starts at 4 p.m. Grandstand general admission is $15 for adults and $5 for kids. Pit passes are $25 each day.

Hobby Stocks, Stock Cars and B-Mods will also be on the racing card both days (no entry fee - pit pass only). The Hobby Stock winner will earn $200 on Friday and $300 on Saturday. Stock Cars will pay $300 to win on Friday and $400 on Saturday. The B-Mod feature winner will earn $250 on Friday and $350 on Saturday.

The Hancock County Speedway is located 1.3 miles south of U.S. Hwy. 18 on James St. (turns into Main Ave. and Diagonal and 1st), then 0.5 mile east on 220th Ave., then 0.1 mile north on Jewel Ave., then east (at the Hancock County Fairgrounds).

For more information, contact the USMTS office by calling 515-832-7944 or email Race Director Todd Staley at todd@usmts.com. The O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series is online at www.USMTS.com.

RESULTS

(Top 13 in passing points advance from the Heats to the Holley "A" Main)

FIRST HEAT:

1. 22s Chad Kinder, Newton, Ill.

2. 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa

3. 12 Jason Hughes, Colcord, Okla.

4. 18 Justin Boney, Lansing, Kan.

5. 68 Kerry Davis, Kansas City, Mo.

6. X Mike Wedelstadt, Hortonville, Wis.

7. 89 Tyler Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.

8. 40 Danny Concelman, Erie, Colo.

9. 61 Rick Carver, Raymore, Mo.

10. 44 Randy Grimmett, Lathrop, Mo.

11. 11 Brandon Morton, Coweta, Okla.

SECOND HEAT:

1. 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.

2. 52 Jesse Frericks, Pine Island, Minn.

3. 11 Steve Burch, Junction City, Kan.

4. 90 Steven L. Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn.

5. 3x Barry Underdahl, Cannon Falls, Minn.

6. 88 Lonnie Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.

7. 1m Julie McDermid, Fremont, Wis.

8. 27 Clint Homan, Bellevue, Neb.

9. 71j Jeff James, Stanton, Iowa

10. 77 Steven Bowers, Topeka, Kan.

11. 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa

THIRD HEAT:

1. 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.

2. 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn.

3. 186 Jeremy Payne, Cave City, Ark.

4. 61 Bruce Hanford, Davenport, Iowa

5. 26 Brad McEwan, Storm Lake, Iowa

6. 7II Mike Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa

7. 3D Dan Daniels, Humboldt, Kan.

8. 29 Greg Metz, Washington, Kan.

9. 1k Pat Graham, Ames, Iowa

10. 22 Brian McGowen, Wichita, Kan.

FOURTH HEAT:

1. 1k Tim Karrick, Bashor, Kan.

2. 1F Jason Friesen, Sutton, Neb.

3. 4 Roger Hadan, Omaha, Neb.

4. 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa

5. 52 Nate Wasmund, Rochester, Minn.

6. 21m Dean Mahlstedt, Garner, Iowa

7. 99 Lee Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.

8. 70 Jesse Dennis, Corning, Iowa

9. 12n Lynn Nilsson, Nunda, S.D.

10. 14j Jake Neal, Omaha, Neb.

FIFTH HEAT:

1. 20 Dustin Boney, De Soto, Kan.

2. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa

3. 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa

4. 19 Mike Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.

5. 4J Jordy Nelson, Marysville, Kan.

6. 12x Trent Jackson, Corning, Iowa

7. 51 Robert Shepard, Ogden, Kan.

8. 1x Scott Mullen, Seymour, Wis.

9. 71 Mike Folk, Iola, Kan.

10. 1x Justin Boots, Welda, Kan.

FIRST "B" MAIN (12 laps, top 4 advance):

1. 186 Jeremy Payne, Cave City, Ark.

2. 61 Bruce Hanford, Davenport, Iowa

3. 52 Jesse Frericks, Pine Island, Minn.

4. 7II Mike Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa

5. 12x Trent Jackson, Corning, Iowa

6. 3D Dan Daniels, Humboldt, Kan.

7. 68 Kerry Davis, Kansas City, Mo.

8. 51 Robert Shepard, Ogden, Kan.

9. 11 Brandon Morton, Coweta, Okla.

10. X Mike Wedelstadt, Hortonville, Wis.

11. 11 Steve Burch, Junction City, Kan.

12. 77 Steven Bowers, Topeka, Kan.

13. 71 Mike Folk, Iola, Kan.

14. 4J Jordy Nelson, Marysville, Kan.

15. 71j Jeff James, Stanton, Iowa

16. 14j Jake Neal, Omaha, Neb.

17. 40 Danny Concelman, Erie, Colo.

18. 61 Rick Carver, Raymore, Mo.

19. 70 Jesse Dennis, Corning, Iowa

20. 26 Brad McEwan, Storm Lake, Iowa

SECOND "B" MAIN (12 laps, top 4 advance):

1. 90 Steven L. Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn.

2. 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa

3. 18 Justin Boney, Lansing, Kan.

4. 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa

5. 52 Nate Wasmund, Rochester, Minn.

6. 1m Julie McDermid, Fremont, Wis.

7. 1x Scott Mullen, Seymour, Wis.

8. 27 Clint Homan, Bellevue, Neb.

9. 3x Barry Underdahl, Cannon Falls, Minn.

10. 1k Pat Graham, Ames, Iowa

11. 88 Lonnie Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.

12. 89 Tyler Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.

13. 1x Justin Boots, Welda, Kan.

14. 12n Lynn Nilsson, Nunda, S.D. 14

15. 44 Randy Grimmett, Lathrop, Mo.

16. 99 Lee Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.

17. 29 Greg Metz, Washington, Kan.

18. 21m Dean Mahlstedt, Garner, Iowa

19. 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa

20. 22 Brian McGowen, Wichita, Kan.

HOLLEY "A" MAIN (35 laps):

1. (10) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.

2. (4) 22s Chad Kinder, Newton, Ill.

3. (5) 20 Dustin Boney, De Soto, Kan.

4. (11) 19 Mike Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.

5. (7) 1F Jason Friesen, Sutton, Neb.

6. (14) 90 Steven L. Wetzstein, W. Concord, Minn.

7. (12) 12 Jason Hughes, Colcord, Okla.

8. (6) 4 Roger Hadan, Omaha, Neb.

9. (23) 26 Brad McEwan, Storm Lake, Iowa

10. (24) 1m Julie McDermid, Fremont, Wis.

11. (19) 7II Mike Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa

12. (20) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa

13. (16) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa

14. (1) 1k Tim Karrick, Bashor, Kan.

15. (9) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa

16. (2) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.

17. (13) 186 Jeremy Payne, Cave City, Ark.

18. (15) 61 Bruce Hanford, Davenport, Iowa

19. (8) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.

20. (25) 1x Scott Mullen, Seymour, Wis.

21. (21) 12x Trent Jackson, Corning, Iowa

22. (22) 52 Nate Wasmund, Rochester, Minn.

23. (18) 18 Justin Boney, Lansing, Kan.

24. (17) 52 Jesse Frericks, Pine Island, Minn.

25. (3) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn.

Lap Leaders: Karrick 1-2, Tesch 3-5, D. Boney 6-12, Shryock 13-35.

Provisional Starters: McDermid, McEwan.

Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger: McEwan (started 23rd, finished 9th).

Points Standings (top 10): Kelly Shryock 412, Corey Dripps 360, Jason Hughes 359, Brad McEwan 342, Mike Sorensen 328, Tommy Myer 298, Dustin Boney 290, Jon Tesch 283, Julie McDermid 282, Ryan Ruter 279.

Next Race: April 1, Hancock County Speedway, Britt, Iowa.