Post by jkelly57 on Mar 12, 2007 23:44:01 GMT -6
HEJNA HAULS TO O’REILLY USMTS VICTORY AT JUNCTION MOTOR SPEEDWAY
McCOOL JUNCTION, Neb. (March 9) -– With a stout racecar, flawless driving and a little help from lapped traffic, Al Hejna picked up where he left off in 2006 with a victory in Friday night’s season opener for the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series in the 4th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw at the Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb.
With the $2,000 victory, Hejna made it three in a row going back to last October’s back-to-back wins at the season finale in Memphis, Mo. – his fourth win in the last five races.
Before the start of the Holley “A” Main, it looked like luck was on the side of eight-time defending O’Reilly USMTS champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, as he drew the pole position for the 30-lapper. But perhaps the luck was with Hejna, who drew the seventh starting spot to match the digit on his familiar black No. 7 Skyrocket Modified.
At the drop of the green flag, Shryock steered his No. 3 Skyrocket to a three-car-length advantage with Sutton, Neb.’s Jason Friesen giving chase. Friesen, who captured last year’s O’Reilly USMTS opener here, pressured Shryock for the first 12 laps before a broken driveshaft sidelined the local ace.
On the restart, Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon, Iowa, assumed the role of the hunter and kept pace with Shryock until lapped traffic came into play on lap 16. Hejna was able to motor by VanderBeek, then set his sights on the leader. Slowed by a lapped car on lap 18, Shryock moved up he track while
Hejna slipped underneath to lead the 19th circuit. From there, the ‘A-Train’ raced untouched to the winners circle.
“I need to catch my breath, I was holding it there for those last five laps,” Hejna said in victory lane. “The lapped traffic played a big part there. He (Shryock) got a bit high down in turn 4 and I was fortunate to get by him.”
Rebounding from a near spin earlier in the main event, BMS Modified builder and driver Darrick Klima of Belleville, Kan., nipped VanderBeek at the finish line to score a third-place paycheck and break up the top-5 sweep by the Skyrocket machines. Tim Karrick of Bashor, Kan., held off Johnny ‘The Jet’ Saathoff for fifth.
After struggling to make the final transfer spot in the second Real
Racing Wheels “B” Main, Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D., raced from the 22nd starting spot to finish seventh and earn the Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger honors.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year contender Andrew Gordon of Murdock, Minn., was eighth, while Mark Dotson of Cameron, Mo., finished ninth with Jay Noteboom of Hinton, Iowa, rounding out the top-10.
On Saturday, the O’Reilly USMTS stars and cars will take to the track again, with the winner of the “A” Main taking home a $3,000 top prize. Gates will open at noon on Saturday with hot laps slated for 3:30 p.m. and racing to follow.
Open Stock Cars will also be on the card racing for $300 to win.
Located five miles south of I-80 (York exit) on U.S. Hwy. 81, Junction Motor Speedway is a state-of-the-art facility entering its fourth year of operation. The track is a super-fast, 3/8-mile clay oval boasting 80-foot-wide straight-aways, making for a lot of racing room for the drivers and a lot of wheel-to-wheel action for fans.
To learn more about the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters office at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.USMTS.com online.
McCOOL JUNCTION, Neb. (March 9) -– With a stout racecar, flawless driving and a little help from lapped traffic, Al Hejna picked up where he left off in 2006 with a victory in Friday night’s season opener for the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series in the 4th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw at the Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb.
With the $2,000 victory, Hejna made it three in a row going back to last October’s back-to-back wins at the season finale in Memphis, Mo. – his fourth win in the last five races.
Before the start of the Holley “A” Main, it looked like luck was on the side of eight-time defending O’Reilly USMTS champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, as he drew the pole position for the 30-lapper. But perhaps the luck was with Hejna, who drew the seventh starting spot to match the digit on his familiar black No. 7 Skyrocket Modified.
At the drop of the green flag, Shryock steered his No. 3 Skyrocket to a three-car-length advantage with Sutton, Neb.’s Jason Friesen giving chase. Friesen, who captured last year’s O’Reilly USMTS opener here, pressured Shryock for the first 12 laps before a broken driveshaft sidelined the local ace.
On the restart, Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon, Iowa, assumed the role of the hunter and kept pace with Shryock until lapped traffic came into play on lap 16. Hejna was able to motor by VanderBeek, then set his sights on the leader. Slowed by a lapped car on lap 18, Shryock moved up he track while
Hejna slipped underneath to lead the 19th circuit. From there, the ‘A-Train’ raced untouched to the winners circle.
“I need to catch my breath, I was holding it there for those last five laps,” Hejna said in victory lane. “The lapped traffic played a big part there. He (Shryock) got a bit high down in turn 4 and I was fortunate to get by him.”
Rebounding from a near spin earlier in the main event, BMS Modified builder and driver Darrick Klima of Belleville, Kan., nipped VanderBeek at the finish line to score a third-place paycheck and break up the top-5 sweep by the Skyrocket machines. Tim Karrick of Bashor, Kan., held off Johnny ‘The Jet’ Saathoff for fifth.
After struggling to make the final transfer spot in the second Real
Racing Wheels “B” Main, Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D., raced from the 22nd starting spot to finish seventh and earn the Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger honors.
Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Rookie of the Year contender Andrew Gordon of Murdock, Minn., was eighth, while Mark Dotson of Cameron, Mo., finished ninth with Jay Noteboom of Hinton, Iowa, rounding out the top-10.
On Saturday, the O’Reilly USMTS stars and cars will take to the track again, with the winner of the “A” Main taking home a $3,000 top prize. Gates will open at noon on Saturday with hot laps slated for 3:30 p.m. and racing to follow.
Open Stock Cars will also be on the card racing for $300 to win.
Located five miles south of I-80 (York exit) on U.S. Hwy. 81, Junction Motor Speedway is a state-of-the-art facility entering its fourth year of operation. The track is a super-fast, 3/8-mile clay oval boasting 80-foot-wide straight-aways, making for a lot of racing room for the drivers and a lot of wheel-to-wheel action for fans.
To learn more about the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters office at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.USMTS.com online.