It may have been just another typical Monday in June for most people, but for nearly 4,000 people in Des Moines, Iowa, it was more like Christmas morning. A jam-packed grandstand of race fans flocked to the Iowa State Fair Speedway to witness a star-studded event headlined by the first ever visit of the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series to the historic half-mile dirt oval.
On the other side of the fence, the pit area was stretched to its limit with 160 cars and drivers among four classes signing in to do battle. Of those, a season-high 60 O’Reilly USMTS Modifieds were on hand, including a special appearance by NASCAR Nextel Cup Series veteran Ken Schrader.
While 36 entrants were trading in there driving suits for street clothes, a stout field of 24 men and their machines took to the track for the 25-lap O’Reilly USMTS main event. Polesitter Corey Dripps of Waterloo paced the field to the green flag, but it was Clear Lake’s Dean Mahlstedt snagging the top spot on lap 1. The first and only caution of the Holley “A” Main waved on lap 4, allowing eight-time defending O’Reilly USMTS national champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile to move into second and up to Mahlstedt’s rear bumper.
But that was as close as Shryock would get as Mahlstedt pulled away from the pack on the restart, then out-maneuvered Shryock through lapped traffic to capture his first O’Reilly USMTS victory of the season. In addition to the $2,000 he pocketed for the victory, Mahlstedt also picked up an additional $500 for winning the Marsh Racing Wheels Halfway Leader Award, as well as contingencies from Boyer’s Engine Development.
Shryock held on for second while Dripps walked away with a third-place paycheck. Brad Pinkerton of New Sharon finished fourth, followed by Canadian Steve Arpin in fifth. Sixth through 10th were Tommy Weder Jr. of Woodward, Okla. ; Jason Hughes of Colcord, Okla. ; Jeff Schluetter of New Hampton; and Mike Hejna of Clear Lake.
Schrader, who started 16th in the main event after winning the third Real Racing Wheels “B” Main, gave the fans something to cheer about as he muscled his way through the pack. The former USAC champ and four-time NASCAR Nextel Cup Series event winner climbed as high as third before engine troubles knocked his No. 9 Red Baron Pizza machine from the race. Schrader will be back in action with the O’Reilly USMTS on Tuesday, June 19, at Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, S.D., then five more times yet before the end of August.
The next stop for the O’Reilly USMTS will be Tuesday for a Western Region tilt at the Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa, for another NASCAR vs. USMTS showdown featuring NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver Clint Bowyer. The O’Reilly USMTS invaders can also expect some stiff competition from current track points leader Jerry Carlson, as well as other local aces like Jeremy Tibben, Dan Mueller, Chris Hogan, Russell Stewart, Randy Foote, Ryan Peckham, Kirby Stiens, Larry Foote, Richard Spriggs, Brian Foote and Jeff James.
In addition to the O’Reilly USMTS Modifieds, Tuesday’s showcase event will be co-headlined by the high-powered USRA Late Models. Current points leader Chad Simpson leads a stout field into Corning, including his brother Chris Simpson, Chris Smyser, Tommy Elston, multi-time IMCA Late Model National Champion Jeff Aikey, Justin Reed, Adams County Speedway regulars Todd and Troy McKee, Dave Eckrich, Jason Utter, Gary Wilson, Todd Shute and recent World of Outlaws Late Model Series winner Brian Harris. Among the track regulars expected to contend for the victory are Chris Spieker, Jason O’Brien, Karl Ritterbusch, Trent Jackson, Ryan Vicker, Joe Kosiski, Jeremy Houck, Jamie Kinyon, Scott Koskovich, Justin Zeitner, Paul Glendenning, Leon Zeitner, Josh Most, Kenny Edwards, Corey Zeitner, Todd Morgan, Andrew Kosiski, Gary Hopp, Harley Moen, Al Zeitner, Ed Kosiski and Jay Stewart.
Pit gates will open at 4:30 p. m. and grandstand gates will swing open at 5:00. Bowyer will be signing autographs for the fans from 5:30 to 6:30. After that, he will suit up for hot laps before competing with the O’Reilly USMTS Modifieds. The first green flag is scheduled to wave at 7:00. Tickets are available at the track, and all grandstand seating will be general admission only, so get there early to grab your seat for this one-of-a-kind event.
Also on the racing card will be Stock Cars ($300 to win) and Hobby Stocks ($200 to win). Cars legal under Adams County Speedway “Tradition” rules will be able to compete, but there will be no points awarded and drives will be allowed to groove tires. There is no license required for drivers competing in any of the four classes Tuesday night.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series
NASCAR vs. USMTS Showdown
Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, Iowa
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