OSKALOOSA, Iowa -- Kelly Shryock's drive for an unprecedented seventh O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series title continues this weekend with the Greiner Buildings Iowa Spring Classic at the Carricker Ford Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Shryock, the defending O’Reilly USMTS National Champion, holds a narrow lead in the current points standings as "America's Premier Modified Series" heads to the big half-mile dirt oval for Rounds 7 and 8 of the 10-race Wanders Automotive & Machine Swing #1.

While Colcord, Okla.'s Jason Hughes trails Shryock by just 41 points (589 to 548), Oskaloosa has been a successful stop in the past for Shryock, who has won six of the 13 O’Reilly USMTS races held there, including five of the last eight.

With four top-5 finishes in the first six events, consistency has kept Hughes in the hunt for the title. Not far behind, however, is Corey Dripps of Waterloo, Iowa. Despite winning two of the first six main events this season, Dripps struggled to a 15th-place finish March 19 at the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan., and recorded a DNF in last Saturday's Holley "A" Main at the Hancock County Speedway in Britt, Iowa.

Brad McEwan of Storm Lake, Iowa, has quietly crept into fourth in the O’Reilly USMTS National Driver Standings with a pension for passing. Through the first six main events of the season, McEwan has passed more cars (48) than any other driver on the Tour, and has earned a pair of Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger Awards.

Rochester, Minn.'s Mike Sorensen came up two laps shy of capturing last Friday's "A" Main in Britt, but has kept his Modified up front since the March 11 opener at the Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb. Sorensen rounds out the top 5 in points heading into this weekend's Greiner Buildings Iowa Spring Classic.

Additional Modified masters expected at "Osky" including O’Reilly National Drivers Jon Tesch, Tommy Myer, Julie McDermid, Roger Hadan, Zack VanderBeek, Ryan Ruter, Al Hejna, Greg Metz, Mike Wedelstadt, Mark Noble, Dustin Boney, Jeremy Payne, Jason Krohn, Mike Hejna, Dean Mahlstedt, Bruce Hanford, Jake Neal, Lynn Nillson, Steve Wetzstein, Jesse Frericks, Bub Lerette, Brad Bakken, Gary March, Jeff James, Matt Gilbertson, Scott Drake, Bob Timm, Gary Clark, Ray Guss Jr., Mike Chasteen, Tim Vogt, Danny Concelman, Brian Mullen, Willy Kraft, Scott Mullen, David Murray, Dan Daniels, Nate Wasmund, Danny McKeighan, Jordy Nelson, Dan Fetters, Sean Jerovetz, Matt McDermid, Alan Mondus, Joe McBirnie, Neil Eckhart, Mark Dotson, Justin Cooper and Brad Waits.

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

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.

Pit gates open at 4 p.m. on Friday with grandstand gates opening at 5 p.m., hot laps at 6:30 and racing to follow at 7 p.m. Grandstand general admission is $12 for adults and $4 for kids. On Saturday, pit gates open at 2:30 p.m., with grandstand gates open at 3:30, hot laps at 5 and racing at 5:30 p.m. Grandstand general admission is $15 for adults and $5 for kids. Pit passes are $25 each day.

A pre-event open practice at the Carricker Ford Southern Iowa Speedway is scheduled for Thursday night from 6-9:30 p.m. Any class is welcome to practice on Thursday night. The cost is $15 per person in the pit area, with free admission to the grandstands.

The Carricker Ford Southern Iowa Speedway is located at the west edge of Oskaloosa on SR 92, then north on I St. (at the 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.

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS UNITED STATES MODIFIED TOURING SERIES

O’Reilly National Driver Standings

Top 10 as of Tuesday, April 5, 2005

1. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa .... 589

2. Jason Hughes, Colcord, Okla. .... 548

3. Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa .... 527

4. Brad McEwan, Storm Lake, Iowa .... 521

5. Mike Sorensen, Rochester, Minn. .... 504

6. Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D. .... 482

7. Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn. .... 463

8. Julie McDermid, Fremont, Wis. .... 393

9. Roger Hadan, Omaha, Neb. .... 388

10. Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa .... 386