Hejna Takes USMTS Win at Huset's
Huset's Speedway had not been kind to Al Hejna in the previous two visits by the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour. Conversely, Kelly Shryock had cultivated a warm friendship with the 3/8-mile high-banked dirt oval in Brandon, S.D.
It was a reversal of fortune Wednesday night as Hejna scored his second O’Reilly USMTS National Tour victory of the season while Shryock's front-row start for the 40-lap main event turned into a last-place finish instead of a third straight win.
As the 24 starters stomped on their gas pedals to start the Holley "A" Main, Shryock and polesitter Scott Green banged wheels coming to the flagstand which resulted in Shryock's Modified smacking the wall and retiring him to the pit area without completing a lap.
After the restart, Green paced the first lap before relinquishing the top spot to Jay Noteboom. From that point, Noteboom set a blistering pace and led the next 30 laps before being challenged by defending O’Reilly USMTS National Champion Jason Krohn.
Krohn snagged the lead on lap 32, but as the pair raced into the first turn, the pair made contact which sent Noteboom spinning to a stop and bringing out a caution flag. Both drivers failed to return from the pits for the restart, which handed the lead to Hejna.
Two years ago, Hejna had to take a provisional just to get into the main event, but passed 13 cars en route to a 10th-place finish. Last year found Hejna in a Real Racing Wheels "B" Main again where he raced his way in to the Holley "A" Main but failed to finish the race.
After starting 12th Wednesday night, Hejna was in front and led lap 33, but his reign was short-lived as Jason Hughes passed Hejna on the outside two laps later to gain the lead with seven laps to go.
Hughes couldn't shake the “A-Train” and four laps later was back in second chasing Hejna's JDRF Lucky #7 Harris Modified.
Hejna was flawless for the last three laps as he took the checkered flag in front of Hughes to pocket the $2,000 top prize.
[from USMTS Media]
Close But No Cigar at Independence (USMTS)
From the drop of the green flag, the O’Reilly USMTS Modifieds were flying for their 40-lap main event. With a couple early cautions, the pack stayed close and kept the top spot open for grabs.
Richie Gustin Jr. looked to be tough to beat from the start, but Zack VanderBeek worked his Cheetos/Casey's General Stores #33z Skyrocket for the lead from his third-place starting spot within the first five laps, but failed to claim the top spot as he had mechanical issues and had to pull into the pits.
Eight-time O’Reilly USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock worked his way to the front from his fourth starting position and Al Hejna worked from his ninth-place starting spot as both drivers inched closer to the lead.
The battle began between Hejna and Shryock within the first few laps of the race until Shryock was able to pass Hejna just outside the corner.
With Shryock taking over the lead, Hejna was right on him, however. Another caution caused the field to bunch up and giving Hejna another chance to get around Shryock.
Hejna charged hard toward the lead but Shryock was able to hold him off. With the laps winding down, Hejna stayed on Shryock’s tail and seemed to get closer with each lap.
With three laps remaining, Shryock started to pull away slightly from Hejna, causing Hejna to give chase to Shryock all the way to the checkered. With the white flag waving, Shryock now had Hejna on his rear bumper but Hejna just couldn't get around Shryock before the checkered flag waved.
Shryock took the win, followed closely by Hejna.
[from USMTS Media]
A Week On the USMTS Trail (Results)
FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2008: US 36 Raceway
[Osborn, MO] - - Hejna was forced to qualify for the main event through a B-Main. Trouble during the A-Main dropped Hejna to the pits early. Officially finish = 19th.
THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2008: Thunderhill Speedway
[Mayette, KS] - - Rained Out
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2008: Park Jefferson Speedway
[Jefferson, SD] - - A solid heat race effort put Hejna into the top 8 in passing points. Hejna redrew 5th for his starting position for the A-Main. Things just didn't go in favor of AHR as Hejna would finish 13th.
TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2008: Mineral City Speedway
[Fort Dodge, IA] - - A DNF in his heat race forced Hejna to a B-Main to try to make the show. Buried deep in the field, Hejna was not able to get the number "7" into a transfer position. He was awarded a provisional, and Hejna made the most of it driving to a 9th place finish on the always fast 1/2-mile in Fort Dodge.
MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2008: Iowa State Fair Speedway
[Des Moines, IA] - - Forced to take a provisional to start the week, Hejna wasted no time and getting to the front. Hejna started 23rd and finished 7th.
AHR Readies For USMTS Swing
Al Hejna Racing is set for 5 nights on the USMTS Trail.
Mon, Jun 16 - Iowa State Fair Speedway
2nd Annual NASCAR Night presented by Karl Chevrolet
Des Moines, IA
Tue, Jun 17 Mineral City Speedway
3rd Annual Fort Dodge Modified Nationals
Fort Dodge, IA
Wed, Jun 18 Park Jefferson Speedway
4th Annual All-Star Challenge
Jefferson, SD
Thu, Jun 19 Thunderhill Speedway
Summer Slam
Mayetta, KS
Fri, Jun 20 U.S. 36 Raceway
Inaugural Event
Osborn, MO
4th In Farley, Schedule Change
Al Hejna Racing hit the Farley Speedway (Farley, IA) Friday, June 6, 2008. Hejna started 8th for the A-Main. He kept the Harris Auto Racing number "7" in the top five most of the night and finished 4th.
AHR would like to thank the great people who stopped by and helped support the 2008 All Iowa JDRF Tour in Farley. The team sold a lot of T-shirts and in turn helped raise a lot of money for JDRF.
Al Hejna has been forced to make a schedule change for this weekend. Due to a work matter that needs his immediate attention, the stops at West Liberty (IA) Raceway and Dubuque (IA) Speedway will have to be re-scheduled. As of press time, it looks like the stops at those two tracks will be moved to some time in July.
Hejna Grabs 1st USMTS Win of 2008
LaSALLE, Ill. – The O'Reilly USMTS National Tour invaded the LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle, Ill., for the first time Saturday, for the inaugural Frostbuster. Originally slated for April 12, the rain-delayed event saw Al Hejna of Clear Lake, Iowa, lead all 35 laps of the main event, which was stopped short of the scheduled 40-lap distance when rain began to fall on the speedway after 35 orbits.
The "A-Train" was dominant from the get-go, winning his heat and scoring the AFCO Pole Award before re-drawing the outside of the front row for the Holley "A" Main. Hejna quickly disposed of polesitter Chad Kinder at the drop of the green flag, then held off the challenges of Jason Hughes to take his first O’Reilly USMTS National Tour victory since July 19 last year.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
O’Reilly USMTS National Tour
Inaugural Frostbuster
LaSalle Speedway, LaSalle, Ill.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
HOLLEY “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (2)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (8)
3. 22s - Chad Kinder -- Newton, IL (1)
4. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (11)
5. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (13)
6. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (16)
7. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (5)
8. 70 - Vince Cooper -- Morris, IL (4)
9. 77 - Ray Bollinger -- Kewanee, IL (14)
10. 75 - Joe Adam -- Peru, IL (21)
11. 43 - Milo Veloz -- Colona, IL (12)
12. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (3)
13. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (18)
14. 99 - Doug Curless -- Silvis, IL (19)
15. 91 - Mark Novorolsky -- Bolingbrook, IL (20)
16. 83 - Nathan Balensiefen -- Sheffield, IL (15) DNF
17. 21b - Rich Bell -- Sheffield, IL (10) DNF
18. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (7) DNF
19. 25 - Marty Thompson -- Mineral, IL (17) DNF
20. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (9) DNF
21. 27p - Bob Pohlman -- Oak Lawn, IL (6) DNF
22. 4m - Michael Marden -- Monee, IL (22) DNS
(NOTE: Holley “A” Main shortened from 40 to 35 laps due to rain)
- - - -
OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
O’Reilly USMTS National Tour
2nd Annual Spring Clash
Quad City Raceway, East Moline, Ill.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
HOLLEY “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (9)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (4)
3. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (1)
4. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (14)
5. 25 - Marty Thompson -- Mineral, IL (3)
6. 43 - Milo Veloz -- Colona, IL (11)
7. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (13)
8. 61 - Bruce Hanford -- Davenport, IA (2)
9. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (16)
10. 5d - Bob Dominacki -- Bettendorf, IA (6)
11. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (17)
12. 75 - Thad Wilson -- Moline, IL (12)
13. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (15)
14. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (8) -1 Lap
15. Z - Mike Zemo Jr. -- Geneseo, IL (4) -1 Lap
16. 98 - Mitch Morris -- Long Grove, IA (19) -1 Lap
17. 83 - Nathan Balensiefen -- Sheffield, IL (18) -1 Lap
18. 77 - Ray Bollinger -- Kewanee, IL (10) -1 Lap
19. 70 - Vince Cooper -- Morris, IL (5) DNF
20. 15 - Brad Pershy -- Colona, IL (22) DNF
21. 99 - Doug Curless -- Silvis, IL (21) DNF
22. 21b - Rich Bell -- Sheffield, IL (20) DNF
23. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (23) DNF
24. 89 - Tom Patz -- Port Byron, IL (24) DNF
