MEMPHIS, Mo. (Aug. 4, 2001) - On Saturday night the USMTS drivers took their rigs to the west of Quincy to the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, MO. Mike Spaulding started the Simpson Race Products A-main from the pole position and led all thirty-five laps. Spaulding did have lady luck on his side as at the end the right rear axle to his car was about to fall out. It took three tries to get this race going.

Early cautions took its toll on a few drivers. Jim Roach Kohoka, MO did get together with Kelly Shryock. When Roach came down the track Tim Weaver rear tire jumped with the Roach car sending Weaver flipping down the backstetch. Weaver was fine after the accident, but the car was a mess. At the restart Spaulding jumped out into the lead and was pulling away with some very tough drivers chasing him down.

Mike Chasteen had worked his way from fifth up to second and was chasing down Spaulding when the motor let go on the Pierce modified of Chasteen. Mike Delozier looked as if he was going to have a strong runner-up spot in his control.

Mark Burgtorf has something to say about that though. The last caution of the night was displayed on lap thirty-three, which put all drivers back on the tail of Spaulding. On the yellow drivers started to pack the high side of the speedway to try and get a run the last two laps of the race.

At the yellow it was Spaulding, Delozier, Ron Schreiner, Kelly Shryock, and Tommy Myer in that order. Mark Burgtorf was following these drivers. When the green flag flew so did Burgtorf driving by all but Spaulding on the white flag lap. When Spaulding came out of turn four Burgtorf had pulled to the rear bumper of Spaulding, but needed one more lap to take the win.

The race to the finish was very exciting as Tommy Myer followed Burgtorf and had a strong fourth place finish behind Delozier with Schreiner and Shryock rounding out the top six.

Winning the Harris Auto Racing Heat Races were Bruce Hanford, Schreiner, Shryock, Roach, and Burgtorf. The Midwest Motorsports B-mains were won by Rick Hixson and Tommy Myer. The next race for the east region will be the rained out race at Aledo Raceway in Aledo, IL on Tuesday August 7th.

The series will move to Canton and Freeport on Wednesday and Thursday. Chasteen will maintain the point lead after these two races, but the point lead will be a lot closer after a 17th place finish. For more information call the USMTS office at 515-832-7944.

RESULTS

Heat 1 - Bruce Hanford, Mike Delozier, Mike Chasteen, Jeff Waggoner, Lynn Monroe

Heat 2 - Ron Schreiner, Kevin Peters, Jason Hughes, Tommy Myer, Michael Long

Heat 3 - Kelly Shryock, Tony Fraise, Mike Spaulding, David Holder, Randy Mauzey

Heat 4 - Jim Roach, Ryan Meyer, Jardin Fuller, Rick Hixson, Bob Test

Heat 5 - Mark Burgtorf, Paul Lawson, Mike Hughes, Jim Fuller, Larry Winn

B-main 1 - Rick Hixson, Jim Fuller, Paul Lawson, Tim Weaver, Willy Kraft

B-main 2 - Tommy Myer, Bob Test, David Holder, Curt Rackers, Dennis Elliott

A-main - Mike Spaulding Bemidji, MN, Mark Burgtorf Quincy, IL, Mike Delozier Carthage, IL, Tommy Myer Blooming Prairie, MN, Ron Schreiner New Richmond, WI, Kelly Shryock LeMars, IA, Tony Fraise Montrose, IA, Kevin Peters Monmouth, IL, Bruce Hanford Davenport, IA, Jason Hughes Colcord, OK, Justin Boney Desota, KS, Jardin Fuller Memphis, MO, Bob Test Jefferson City, MO, Ryan Meyer Liberty, IL, Rick Hixson Orion, IL, Willy Kraft Lakefield, MN, Mike Chasteen Creve Coeur, IL, Curt Rackers Holt Summitts, MO, David Holder Clarence, MO, Jim Fuller Memphis, MO, Dan Helm Milan, IL, Tim Weaver Westville, OK, Jim Roach Kohaka, MO, Paul Lawson West Point, IA