DECORAH, Iowa (July 19) — The O'Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series rolls into one of their most exciting venues tonight (Thursday, July 19) for the 3rd Annual Budweiser Summer Challenge at the Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa.
 
The best Modified drivers on dirt from Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Kansas and Oklahoma will be on hand to battle for the $2,000 top prize as the rugged O'Reilly USMTS road warriors jockey for positions in the ultra-tight Yeager Machine Northeast Region points race. With just three points races remaining (including tonight) in the Yeager Machine Northeast Region, 21 drivers are mathematically alive to wind up in the top-10 and earn a coveted spot in 'The Hunt' for the O'Reilly USMTS National Championship.
 
With his ninth-place finish last night at the Kasson (Minn.) speedway, veteran speedster Mark Noble moved into 10th in the Yeager Machine Northeast Region standings and elevated his hopes of qualifying for the 16-race, season-ending title chase. Noble must secure a top-10 finish in the Region in order to make 'The Hunt'.
 
Eight-time defending O'Reilly USMTS national champion Kelly Shryock holds a slight advantage over Jason Hughes coming into tonight's barnburner at the Upper Iowa Speedway, but neither driver has tasted success at the quarter-mile semi-banked oval. Zack VanderBeek, who currently sits second in national points and third in the region, has been the most prolific at Decorah, winning his career-first O'Reilly USMTS main event there in 2005 and finishing third last year behind Jon Tesch and Mike Hejna in a race that saw seven lead changes.
 
Current Yeager Machine Northeast Region Standings (top 20):
 
1. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, IA … 651
2. Jason Hughes, Colcord, OK … 590
3. Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, IA … 538
4. Jon Tesch, Watertown, SD … 500
5. Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, MN … 478
5. Corey Dripps, Waterloo, IA … 478
7. Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, OK … 444
8. Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, AR … 402
9. Jay Poidinger, Somerset, WI … 385
10. Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, MN … 355
11. Greg Skaggs, Bixby, OK … 346
11. Scott Vesely, Mosinee, WI … 346
13. Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, IA … 339
14. Al Hejna, Clear Lake, IA … 317
15. Chris Brown, Cleveland, TX … 300
16. Mike Spaulding, Bemidji, MN … 297
17. Jeff Schluetter, New Hampton, IA … 293
18. Jason Krohn, Slayton, MN … 288
19. Jake Neal, Omaha, NE … 279
20. Brian Shaw, Brownsdale, MN … 271
 
The Upper Iowa Speedway is a 1/4-mile semi-banked clay oval located 1.8 miles east of US 52 on SR 9, then 1.0 mile northwest on Montgomery St., then northeast on E. Main St. (at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds). For day-of-race information, call (563) 382-9984 or visit www.upperiowaspeedway.com online. Pit gates open at 4:30 and the grandstands open for general admission seating at 5:00. Hot laps are slated for 7:00 with racing to follow.
 
In addition to witnessing the O'Reilly USMTS Modifieds, fans will also see B-Mods, Hobby Stocks and Outlaw Hobbys racing for both track and national points in the USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series. There is no entry fee or license requirements for support classes. Check out www.usraracing.com for rules and more information.
 
Remaining Yeager Machine Northeast Region Schedule:
 
Thu Jul 19 … Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jul 20 … Tri-Oval Speedway, Fountain City, WI ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jul 31 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)
 
2006 Budweiser Summer Challenge Results:
 
1. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (9)
2. 7ii - Mike Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (5)
3. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (10)
4. 19 - Darin Duffy -- Hazelton, IA (16)
5. 1f - Jason Friesen -- Sutton, NE (7)
6. 66 - Dan Bohr -- Decorah, IA (11)
7. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (2)
8. 49 - Bob Timm -- Rolling Stone, MN (18)
9. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (12)
10. 30 - Mark Massey -- Worthington, IA (19)
11. 17s - Mike Spaulding -- Bemidji, MN (4)
12. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (15) -1 Lap
13. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (1)
14. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (20) -1 Lap
15. 72 - Doug Hillson -- Blooming Prairie, MN (24) -1 Lap
16. 70 - Matt Sweeny -- Waukon, IA (26) -1 Lap
17. 23 - Matt Jones -- Waukon, IA (25) -1 Lap
18. 49x - Jay Poidinger -- Somerset, WI (17) -1 Lap
19. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (14) DNF
20. 58 - Scott Vesely -- Mosinee, WI (22) DNF
21. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Forest City, IA (21) DNF
22. 35x - Ron Konkel -- Caledonia, MN (3) DNF
23. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (8) DNF
24. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (6) DNF
25. 28t - Todd Ihde -- Decorah, IA (13) DNF
26. 02 - Jacob Dahle -- Morristown, MN (23) DNF
 
2005 Budweiser Summer Challenge Results:
 
1. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (2)
2. 555 - Ryan Ruter -- Kanawha, IA (1)
3. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (8)
4. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (7)
5. 50 - Brad Bakken -- Garner, IA (4)
6. 26 - Brad McEwan -- Storm Lake, IA (9)
7. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (3)
8. 61 - Bruce Hanford -- Davenport, IA (14)
9. 99 - Martin Bennett -- Ankeny, IA (5)- 1 Lap
10. 28t - Dave Thorsten -- Decorah, IA (13) – 1 Lap
11. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (12)- 1 Lap
12. 72 - Doug Hillson -- Blooming Prairie, MN (15) DNF
13. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (10) DNF
14. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (11) DNF
15. 66 - Dan Bohr -- Decorah, IA (6) DNF
16. 39 - Jeremy Oakes -- Spring Grove, MN (17) DNF
17. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (18) DNF
18. 7x - Jodi Olson -- Hibbing, MN (16) DNF
19. 70 - Matt Sweeny -- Waukon, IA (19) DNS
 
To learn more about the O'Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series, call (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online.
 
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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: O'Reilly Auto Parts.
 
USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, AMSOIL, Arizona Sport Shirts, BRODIX, Fast Company Performance, Holley Performance Products, Home Pride Companies, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, Marsh Racing Wheels, Nitroquest Web Solutions, Olympic Fire Protection, Real Racing Wheels, Rookies Rockin' Sports Bar, Yeager Machine.
 
USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Boom Drilling, Borco LP, Day Motor Sports, Gressell Oil Field Services, Hughes Racing Chassis, KraftKar Race Cars, McVicker Oil Fields, Rinehart Trucking.
 
USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Belleville Motorsports, Bilstein Shocks, Boyer's Engine Development, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Hyperco, Isky Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Racer's Choice (RCI).