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Lucas Oil ASCS on Deck: Lake Ozark Speedway’s Daniel McMillin Memorial

With the 17th Annual F&J Construction ASCS Speedweek successfully in the books, it’s back to business for the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters.

The $250,000 points chase, including the $60,000 earmarked for the 2009 Lucas Oil Sprint Car champion, resumes with next Saturday night’s (June 27) Third Annual Daniel McMillin Memorial at the scenic Lake Ozark Speedway near Eldon, MO.

And with the opening four point events of the season completed, a mere four points separate the top three in championship points with Oklahoma native Shane Stewart just two markers ahead of four-time series champion Gary Wright of Hooks, TX. Defending series champion Jason Johnson of Eunice, LA, is just another two points back in third.

Norman, OK, shoe Danny Wood enters next Saturday’s action ranked fourth, with Travis Rilat of Forney, TX, ranked fifth.

Leading a stellar rookie crop, California native Paul McMahan is tied for sixth with Tulsa-area racer Nick Smith, with the balance of the current top ten including Nebraska teen Jack Dover, 2001 series champion Zach Chappell of Talala, OK, and three-time ASCS National champion Tim Crawley of Benton, AR.

Crawley just picked up a $2,000 bonus by earning the 17th Annual ASCS Speedweek championship by a mere eight point margin over McMahan. Johnson, Brady Bacon, Sean McClelland, Wright and Matt Clevenger also picked up bonus money by finishing among the top seven in Speedweek points.

Four different drivers have cracked victory lane in the opening four events of the season including Stewart, Johnson, Rilat and Dover. Add in another five winners during ASCS Speedweek (Crawley, Tony Bruce, Jr., Chappell, Wright and N. Smith) and the total is nine different winners in nine events held under the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series banner thus far in 2009.

Current series points leader Shane Stewart, gunning for his first ASCS title with car owner Paul Silva, swept a two-night ASCS stand at Lake Ozark in 2004, while local hero Jesse Hockett swept a two-nighter in 2005. Next Saturday’s event is held in honor of Hockett’s departed cousin Daniel McMillin.

Reigning series champion Jason Johnson has topped both previous editions of the Daniel McMillin Memorial. “The Ragin’ Cajun” won the inaugural event at Double X Speedway in California, MO, in 2007, then pulled off the repeat last year when the event shifted to Lake Ozark Speedway. Last year’s McMillin triumph also avenged a last-lap Lake Ozark loss several weeks earlier to Aaron Berryhill, who captured his first career series win atop the 1/3-mile clay oval last May.

Sixty-seven drivers competed in the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series season-opening two-night stand at Texas’ Devil’s Bowl Speedway in March. Then, after several rainouts, fifty drivers took part in the two-night Steve King Memorial at Kansas’ Jetmore Motorplex over the Memorial Day Weekend.

Next Saturday night’s Daniel McMillin Memorial at Lake Ozark Speedway kicks off the first of five consecutive weekends of competition for the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters with ensuing events including the Rock & Roll 50 at Riverside Speedway in West Memphis, AR, on July 3-4, a journey to Hartford, South Dakota’s I-90 Speedway on July 11 and then the series first venture to the Northwest for doubles at Elma, Washington’s Grays Harbor Raceway Park (July 17-18) and Oregon’s Cottage Grove Speedway (July 24-25).

The Series:

Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters

When & Where:

Saturday night, June 27 at 7:00 p.m. – Lake Ozark Speedway

Track Information:

Lake Ozark Speedway (Eldon, MO) – 1/3-mile semi-banked dirt oval located south of Eldon on US 54 to SR 52, then 0.1 miles east on SR 52, then 0.5 miles north on Twiggy Lane (frontage road). For more information, contact the track at 573-392-9977 or check www.lakeozarkspeedway.com.

Lucas Oil ASCS Lake Ozark Speedway History:

The Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series returned to Lake Ozark Speedway last year after a two-year absence with Aaron Berryhill making a last-lap pass of Jason Johnson for his first career series win in May. Johnson got some Lake Ozark redemption by winning the Second Annual Daniel McMillin Memorial in July.

Lake Ozark Speedway ASCS National winners include: Jesse Hockett 2, Shane Stewart 2, Aaron Berryhill 1, Jason Johnson 1.

Lake Ozark Speedway Lucas Oil ASCS Race-by-Race Winners: Shane Stewart (9/4/04), Shane Stewart (9/5/04), Jesse Hockett (9/3/05), Jesse Hockett (9/4/05), Aaron Berryhill (5/3/08), Jason Johnson (7/5/08).

Current Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters Points:

Top Twenty: 1. Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK) 578, 2. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 576, 3. Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 574, 4. Danny Wood (Norman, OK) 520, 5. Travis Rilat (Forney, TX) 509, 6. (tie) Nick Smith (Broken Arrow, OK) and Paul McMahan (Hendersonville, TN) 506, 8. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 501, 9. Zach Chappell (Talala, OK) 469, 10. Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) 459, 11. Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS) 447, 12. Eric Baldaccini (Keller, TX) 430, 13. Sean McClelland (Tulsa, OK) 427, 14. Joe Wood, Jr. (Oklahoma City, OK) 422, 15. Trey Robb (Newcastle, OK) 407, 16. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) 398, 17. Brian Brown (Grain Valley, MO) 370, 18. Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK) 368, 19. Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO) 365, 20. Matt Covington (Glenpool, OK) 357.

Brodix Rookie of the Year Points (Top Five): 1. Paul McMahan (Hendersonville, TN) 506, 2. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 501, 3. Joe Wood, Jr. (Oklahoma City, OK) 422, 4. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) 398, 5. Matt Covington (Glenpool, OK) 357.

2009 Lucas Oil ASCS Feature Winners:

Jack Dover 1, Jason Johnson 1, Travis Rilat 1, Shane Stewart 1.

Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters – A Look Ahead:

July 3/4 – Riverside International Speedway (West Memphis, AR)
July 11 – I-90 Speedway (Hartford, SD)
July 17/18 – Grays Harbor Raceway Park (Elma, WA)
July 24/25 – Cottage Grove Speedway (Cottage Grove, OR)

Lucas Oil ASCS on the Web:

Those unable to catch all the action in person can listen to every Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters live at www.racinboys.com.

Also, the Lucas Oil ASCS Show airs on www.racinboys.com each Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m. ET, recapping the previous week’s events while also previewing upcoming action.

Official results, championship point updates, photos and race notes will be available at www.ascsracing.com.

Lucas Oil ASCS on TV:

The Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters will be featured in ten one-hour shows broadcast on a tape-delayed basis on the VERSUS Network

Events to be aired on VERSUS include the following:

The revised schedule of Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters events to be aired on VERSUS is as follows:

Event Date – Track (Location) – Air Date & Re-Air Date (All Times Eastern)
Mar. 20 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX) – 5/2/09 @ 5:00 p.m. & 5/7/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
Mar. 21 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX) – 5/23/09 @ 4:00 p.m. & 5/27/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
May 23 – Jetmore Motorplex (Jetmore, KS) – 8/1/09 @ 4:00 p.m. & 8/5/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
May 24 – Jetmore Motorplex (Jetmore, KS) – 8/1/09 @ 5:00 p.m. & 8/6/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
July 3 – Riverside Speedway (W. Memphis, AR) – 8/8/09 @ 5:00 p.m. & 8/13/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
July 4 – Riverside Speedway (W. Memphis, AR) – 9/20/09 @ 4:00 p.m. & 9/24/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
Aug. 6 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) – 10/1/09 @ 5:00 p.m. & 10/10/09 @ 3:00 p.m.
Aug. 7 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) – 10/18/09 @ 5:00 p.m. & 10/22/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
Aug. 8 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) – 11/15/09 @ 5:00 p.m. & 11/19/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
Sept. 26 – Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO) – 11/29/09 @ 4:00 p.m. & 12/3/09 @ 4:00 p.m.

The Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters is currently slated for approximately 33 nights of racing action at 17 different tracks throughout the nation, with the country’s top Sprint Car drivers set to battle it out for their share of the $250,000 points fund.

The American Sprint Car Series, in its 18th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing events, brings the best of Sprint Car racing to nearly 100 different tracks throughout 25 states and Canada in 2009. Anchored by the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of a dozen different Regions throughout the nation.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

by Lonnie Wheatley

The McCurleys: Texas Father and Son race to the future

This weekend is Father’s Day, and for nineteen year old ARCA Rookie Stephan McCurley he will be spending plenty of ‘quality time’ with his dad and crew chief Mike McCurley as they compete in the Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA RE/MAX 200 at Mansfield Motorsports Park.

The father and son duo have worked together the last 12 years towards a common goal – success for Stephan’s racing career. These years were spent side-by-side, in the shop and racing on the weekends since Stephan was seven years old, with Mike as the crew chief and Stephen the driver.

The two have succeeded through the ranks from karts, Allison Legacy cars, Late Models, the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour and now the ARCA RE/MAX series. Always on a limited budget, just the two of them, they have pulled off some amazing feats over the years. This success comes from a relationship and communication between crew chief and driver that even Sprint Cup teams would envy.

At an early age, Stephan would come to his dad Mike with car designs and set-ups. Mike immediately saw an amazing ingenuity in his son. He would implement these suggestions and ideas on the race car. Soon this was almost a telepathic flow between the two of them. This led to success very early in Stephan’s career, and continued as he advanced in the sport.

This communication and teamwork between the two of them could not have been more evident last year when they raced their own Super Late Model in the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour. They spent a lot of time on the road, sometimes for stretches that lasted up to three weeks; they traveled thousands of miles from Houston TX as far as Raleigh NC, with just the two of them to share driving duties. At the track they maintained and prepared the car with little or no crew to speak of, except for a volunteer crew member here and there.

“Dad and I spent a lot of time on the road last year.” Says Stephan. “It was hard work, but that’s what we both love to do. We talk about what we could do to make the car better, and making that happen. When you spend that much time together you get to be really close, and Dad and I know what each other are thinking sometimes without even saying it.”

Going up against well funded teams, with full crews, the two lone McCurley’s pulled off an impressive ASA season, finishing 2nd in the overall point’s championship for the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour in series inaugural season, also winning the Blue Ridge regional championship in points and finishing 2nd in the Carolina Clash regional championship points.

At the end of 2008, the McCurley’s on-track performance caught the attention of ARCA team owner and fellow Texan Donny Kelly. He offered 18 year old Stephan a ride for 2009 in his #03 ARCA Chevrolet. In all aspects, this is a rookie team. This would be the first year for Donny Kelly as an ARCA car owner; Stephan has an ARCA driver, and Mike as an ARCA crew chief. They would have to pull off a very big job.

Mike knew he had to dive in and learn about the ARCA car as quickly as possible. Stephan also did the same, with shock setups and getting the feel of a heavier race car. They both maintain the ARCA car full time.

“Stephan and I work all day on the ARCA car, over at the shop in Porter TX, and drive back to our shop in Humble, every night to work on the late models, which we also maintain for other drivers. That’s actually our day job - that we do at night.” Says Mike. “Stephan is my first priority, he knows that I am going to make sure every bolt is tight on the car, and I’m going to go over everything twice. We work together to get the car better and he trusts that I am going to keep him safe at all times.”

This is the first time Mike has to lead a full pit crew; five of the #03 pit crew members include students from the University of Northwestern Ohio. Mike also serves as jack man and crew chief on race day, but he’s used to multi-tasking. “I will do whatever is needed for me to do,” he says “I’m willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to make sure Stephan succeeds in racing, even if that means working around the clock, and Stephan’s working hard right beside me. We can only hope that hard work pays off for him, I don’t care if I move on, I just want him to.”

Mike and Stephan knew this would be a big undertaking but they’ve never stepped away from a challenge. The sacrifices made by the McCurley’s extend more than father and son but to the rest of the family. Mom, Kristy, stays home with Stephan’s other two siblings, sister Destin and little brother Dayton. “Sometimes it’s hard when Stephan and Mike are gone, and they’re gone a lot.” Says Kristy. “But I fully support what they are doing and I’m very proud of what the two of them have accomplished together.” She continues, “The two of them are so close, and I’m just glad that Stephan has his dad to look out for him and keep him safe, I can sleep better at night knowing this.”

The PGM team with Stephan McCurley behind the wheel and Mike McCurley as crew chief, are making steady improvements on a race-by-race basis he currently 13th in ARCA driver points. “We are getting better every race, says Stephan. We are both learning with this experience. It would be great if more opportunities come for me from this, so my dad could get a break!” He laughs. “But I don’t know if he would know what do with himself, he has always been there for me, wrench in hand- ready to do whatever. I hope he can help out my brother and sister if they want to race, too.”

Father and son, driver and crew chief, best friends on and off the track, the McCurley’s have something special that only life in racing has brought them. Mike has run his own successful ‘driver development’ program for his son, that has done more than advance a career, but given them a bond and trust that many only wish they had with their sons and daughters. Many more challenges may be ahead for Stephan, but he knows he will always have his dad there for him.

To learn more about Stephan and Mike McCurley please visit: www.stephanmccurley.com

by McCurley Racing

ASCS Gult South ready for Golden Triangle Raceway Park / Houston Raceway Park weekend double

Aaron Reutzel has already matched an American Sprint Car Series Gulf South Region record. Now, he’ll try to establish a new mark with the series’ second of four Golden Triangle Raceway Park – Houston Raceway Park weekend doubles this Friday and Saturday.

Since a twelfth place finish in the season opener at Beaumont’s Golden Triangle Raceway Park, the 19-year-old from Clute, TX, has reeled off nine consecutive top-ten feature finishes to stretch out a 73-point edge over Ray Allen Kulhanek in the ASCS Gulf South championship points chase.

That run of nine top-tens in a row matches the marks previously established by Kelly Angelette, Greg Rilat and Brandon Berryman. Angelette posted his nine in a row over the final eight evnst of 2003 and then the 2004 season opener, Rilat ran off nine in a row in 2006 while Berryman’s run came last year in his charge to a second straight title.

None of those three were successfully able to make it ten in a row, however. Reutzel will have that chance on Friday night atop Beaumont’s Golden Triangle Raceway Park before moving on to the high-banked, ¼-mile Houston Raceway Park in Baytown on Saturday night.

While Reutzel’s lead at the one-third mark is a healthy one at 73 markers, only 19 points separate the four drivers ranked from second to fifth including Kulhanek (Magnolia, TX), Tommy Bryant (Conroe, TX), Berryman (Missouri City, TX) and Channin Tankersley (Highlands, TX).

The balance of the current top ten in Gulf South points includes Scottie McDonald (New Caney, TX), Jimmy Brooks (College Station, TX), Kent Lewis, Jr. (Willis, TX), Greg Rilat (Texas City, TX) and Gary Watson (Beaumont, TX).

Gary Wright has topped two of the three Gulf South features contested at Golden Triangle this year with Tommy Bryant also taking a Beaumont win. Eric Baldaccini snared his first career ASCS win in the series’ stop at Houston Raceway Park last month.

Friday’s card offers up $2,000 to win, with Saturday’s feature winner collecting $3,000.

Friday’s card at Golden Triangle Raceway Park is slated to get under way at 7:45 p.m., with Saturday’s action at Houston Raceway Park set to go green at 7:00 p.m.

Golden Triangle Raceway Park is located 9.5 miles west of I-10 on US 90 near Beaumont, TX. For more information, contact the track at 409-752-7200.

Houston Raceway Park is located east of Houston on I-10 to Exit 798, then three miles south on State Road 146, then 0.8 miles southeast on FM 1405, then 1.5 miles northeast on FM 565. For more information, contact the track at 281-383-7223.

The ASCS Gulf South Region is set for 27 nights of racing action at eleven different tracks throughout Texas in 2009.

The American Sprint Car Series, in its 18th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing events, brings the best of Sprint Car racing to nearly 100 different tracks throughout 25 states and Canada in 2009. Anchored by the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of a dozen different Regions throughout the nation.

Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at Golden Triangle Raceway Park:
5/16/09 - Gary Wright
5/16/09 - Tommy Bryant (4/24 Makeup Feature)
3/6/09 - Gary Wright
8/15/08 - Channin Tankersley
7/18/08 - Gary Watson
5/9/08 - Channin Tankersley
2/29/08 - Jason Johnson
9/28/07 - Jason Johnson
6/22/07 - Michael Dupuy
5/18/07 - Brandon Berryman
4/6/07 - Jason Johnson
9/29/06 - Kevin Ramey
8/18/06 - Jason Johnson
6/23/06 - Gary Watson
8/19/05 - Ray Allen Kulhanek
6/17/05 - Ray Allen Kulhanek
4/15/05 - Travis Rilat
9/18/04 - Kelly Angelette
7/9/04 - Stephen Chevallier
* 9/28/02 - Michael Dupuy
* 9/27/02 - Tim Crawley
7/5/02 - Buddy Bodden
5/24/02 - Jason Johnson
* 4/5/02 - Zach Chappell

Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at Houston Raceway Park:
5/16/09 - Eric Baldaccini
9/27/08 - Jason Johnson
6/21/08 - Michael Dupuy
5/10/08 - Brandon Berryman
3/1/08 - Jack Dover
9/29/07 - Brandon Berryman
8/18/07 - Travis Rilat
5/19/07 - Johnny Miller
9/30/06 - Ray Allen Kulhanek
8/19/06 - Brad Best
6/24/06 - Ray Allen Kulhanek
4/8/06 - Travis Rilat
8/20/05 - Lane Whittington
6/18/05 - Ray Allen Kulhanek
7/10/04 - Kevin Ramey

* - Indicates events held in conjunction with ASCS National Tour.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

by Lonnie Wheatley

Jon Tesch turns 33, Spanks USMTS field in South Dakota - Kenny Wallace second

Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D., celebrated his 33rd birthday with the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour Tuesday night at the Park Jefferson Speedway, but it was Tesch that gave the spanking.

The “Wizard of Watertown” started seventh in the 35-lap Sunoco “A” Main, took the lead from Chris Abelson on lap 11 then proceeded to run away and hide from the field as he took the checkered flag while a three-way tussle for the runner-up spot was taking place half a lap behind on the back-stretch.

Jay Noteboom, who won the inaugural USMTS event at the Jefferson, S.D., 4/10-mile oval in 2005, grabbed the top spot from polesitter Jake Neal on the first lap as he powered around the extreme high side of the racing surface with Abelson following into the second position.

The pair of local favorites waged a fierce battle for the first eight laps before Noteboom pulled off the track with a flat tire, handing the lead over to Abelson.

Back-to-back cautions on laps 9 and 10 revealed that Abelson’s engine was sputtering as he was unable to get up to speed quickly on the restarts. Tesch took the lead away on the second restart while Abelson completed just two more laps before exiting the race with a broken motor.

From that point on it was a dominating birthday celebration for Tesch as he lapped up to the seventh-place finisher in scoring his fifth USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour event of 2009.

Despite Tesch’s attempt to turn the contest into a yawner, a spirited fight for second place kept the fans in the seats as NASCAR veteran Kenny Wallace held off Mike Hansen and Al Hejna to take the runner-up spot. For Wallace, it was his best finish in 26 career starts with the USMTS.

Bobby Moore grabbed the fifth spot, while Corey Dripps earned the PBM Performance Products Hard Charger Award by racing to a sixth-place finish from 21st on the starting grid. Tommy Myer finished seventh as the final car on the lead lap, with Dereck Ramirez, Grant Junghans and Mike Lineberry rounding out the top-10 at the checkered flag.

The win was worth $2,000 to Tesch and wrestled the Great Plains Region points lead away from Myer. Tesch’s advantage is 12 points over Myer (391 to 379), with Hejna in third with 362 markers. Fourth is Dripps (360), followed by Kelly Shryock (334), Lineberry (283), Neal (283), Ramirez (274), Rich Lewerke (266) and Mike Steensma (257).

Tesch is also the current points leader in the Central States Region and is ranked second in the Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region.

NEXT EVENT …

Wednesday will find the mud-slinging Modified masters at Earl Benson’s Casino Speedway for the 5th Annual Team Electronics Summer Slam.

The fan-friendly facility is in its 56th year of racing on the shores of beautiful Lake Kampeska in Tesch’s hometown of Watertown, S.D., and racers will find plenty of parking in the new pit area, a new concrete wall encompassing the racing surface and new track lighting… Plus food and beverages are now delivered directly to the drivers in the pit area.

Tesch is a two-time USMTS winner at the Casino Speedway where he was a three-time track champion (1998, 2000-01). He captured the main event in 2006 but spun out on the first lap of the 2007 race while another Watertown racer, Scott Ward, won the race. Tesch bounced back to win last year’s contest and comes into this year’s contest as the clear favorite.

Myer won the inaugural event at the Casino Speedway, four years ago today.

Local favorites expected to compete include Scott Hansen, Kent Arment, Ryan Engels, Jay Triplett, Darren Bistodeau, Joel Waba, Arne Anderson, Todd Stark, David Orr, Jordan Foster and more.

Pit gates open at 3:00 and grandstands open up at 5:00. Hot laps are set for 6:30 with racing action at 7:00. WISSOTA Street Stocks will also be in action.

Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons on race day at all three Casey’s General Stores locations in Watertown.

The Casino Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located 4 miles northwest of US 212 on SR 20, then 0.7 mile south on Stokes-Thomas Lake Rd. (next to the city park). For more information call the track office at (605) 882-1221 or the track hotline on race day at (605) 882-2855. The track’s Official Website can be found at www.casinospeedway.com.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information from the USMTS.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour (Great Plains Region)
5th Annual All-Star Challenge
Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, S.D.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown and starting position in parentheses. The top 12 drivers in passing points accumulated in the heat races are locked into the Sunoco “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. 14j - Jake Neal — Omaha, NE (2)
2. 12h - Mike Hansen — Alton, IA (1)
3. 86jr - Dirk Kirk — Sloan, IA (4)
4. 72 - Mike Lineberry — Fremont, NE (8)
5. 4e - Justin Elmer — Buffalo, WY (6)
6. 1m - Matt Sheesley — Rapid City, SD (7)
7. B1 - Scott Ward — Watertown, SD (5) DNF
8. 83 - Jesse Cowles — Council Bluffs, IA (3) DNF

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 36 - Kenny Wallace — Concord, NC (2)
2. 65 - Tommy Myer — Blooming Prairie, MN (5)
3. 14 - Jon Tesch — Watertown, SD (6)
4. 7 - Al Hejna — Clear Lake, IA (8)
5. 48 - Bobby Moore — Sioux City, IA (4)
6. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (7)
7. 97 - Rich Lewerke — Garner, IA (1)
8. Z3 - Mike Albertsen — Audubon, IA (3)

BRODIX HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 7n - Jay Noteboom — Hinton, IA (2)
2. 2 - Grant Junghans — Manhattan, KS (6)
3. 18 - Chase Junghans — Manhattan, KS (1)
4. 7k - Jason Krohn — Slayton, MN (8)
5. M80 - Jim Mathieson — Sioux City, IA (3)
6. 29g - Rich Hesse — Hinton, IA (7)
7. 80x - Jeff Berens — Dakota Dunes, SD (5)
8. 31b - Jacob Brown — Sioux City, IA (4)

AWESOME RACEWEAR HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 98 - Josh Reisch — Luverne, MN (3)
2. 1x - Chris Abelson — Sioux City, IA (4)
3. 10 - Mike Steensma — Luverne, MN (1)
4. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (7)
5. 32 - Steven Pfeifer — Bowbells, ND (6)
6. 20 - Anthony Mann — Luverne, MN (5) DNF
7. 31 - Corey Dripps — Waterloo, IA (2) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 4 advance):
1. 48 - Bobby Moore — Sioux City, IA (4)
2. 29g - Rich Hesse — Hinton, IA (6)
3. 18 - Chase Junghans — Manhattan, KS (2)
4. 86jr - Dirk Kirk — Sloan, IA (1)
5. 31b - Jacob Brown — Sioux City, IA (10)
6. 1m - Matt Sheesley — Rapid City, SD (5)
7. 80x - Jeff Berens — Dakota Dunes, SD (8)
8. 83 - Jesse Cowles — Council Bluffs, IA (9)
9. 4e - Justin Elmer — Buffalo, WY (3) DNF
10. B1 - Scott Ward — Watertown, SD (7) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 4 advance):
1. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (1)
2. 10 - Mike Steensma — Luverne, MN (2)
3. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (5)
4. 32 - Steven Pfeifer — Bowbells, ND (3)
5. 31 - Corey Dripps — Waterloo, IA (8)
6. 20 - Anthony Mann — Luverne, MN (6)
7. Z3 - Mike Albertsen — Audubon, IA (9) DNF
8. 97 - Rich Lewerke — Garner, IA (7) DNF
9. M80 - Jim Mathieson — Sioux City, IA (4) DNF

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 14 - Jon Tesch — Watertown, SD (7)
2. 36 - Kenny Wallace — Concord, NC (8)
3. 12h - Mike Hansen — Alton, IA (9)
4. 7 - Al Hejna — Clear Lake, IA (11)
5. 48 - Bobby Moore — Sioux City, IA (13)
6. 31 - Corey Dripps — Waterloo, IA (21)
7. 65 - Tommy Myer — Blooming Prairie, MN (5)
8. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (14) -1 Lap
9. 2 - Grant Junghans — Manhattan, KS (2) -1 Lap
10. 72 - Mike Lineberry — Fremont, NE (10) -1 Lap
11. 14j - Jake Neal — Omaha, NE (1) -1 Lap
12. 18 - Chase Junghans — Manhattan, KS (17) -1 Lap
13. 31b - Jacob Brown — Sioux City, IA (24) -1 Lap
14. Z3 - Mike Albertsen — Audubon, IA (22) DNF
15. 83 - Jesse Cowles — Council Bluffs, IA (23) DNF
16. 1x - Chris Abelson — Sioux City, IA (6) DNF
17. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (18) DNF
18. 29g - Rich Hesse — Hinton, IA (15) DNF
19. 32 - Steven Pfeifer — Bowbells, ND (20) DNF
20. 7n - Jay Noteboom — Hinton, IA (3) DNF
21. 10 - Mike Steensma — Luverne, MN (16) DNF
22. 86jr - Dirk Kirk — Sloan, IA (19) DNF
23. 98 - Josh Reisch — Luverne, MN (4) DNF
24. 7k - Jason Krohn — Slayton, MN (12) DNF

Lap Leaders: Noteboom 1-8, Abelson 9-10, Tesch 11-35.
Total Laps Led: Tesch 25, Noteboom 8, Abelson 2.
AFCO Pole Winner: Reisch.
Provisional Starters: Dripps, Albertsen, Cowles (track), Brown (track).
Ruter Farms Long Tow: Pfeifer (639.89 miles).
PBM Performance Products Hard Charger: Dripps (started 21st, finished 6th).
Next Race: Wednesday, June 17, Casino Speedway, Watertown, S.D. (Great Plains Region).
Great Plains Region Points: Tesch 391, Myer 379, Hejna 362, Dripps 360, Shryock 334, Lineberry 283, Neal 283, Ramirez 274, Lewerke 266, Steensma 257.
DandyLand Farms Rookie of the Year Points: Junghans 292, Hansen 234, Lewerke 182, Tate Cole 124, Albertsen 122.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 194, Mullins 153, a.s.i. 139, JR 86, AEM 59.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 184, Ramirez 178, Hughes 164, GRT 93, Harris 92.

Contingency Awards:AFCO Racing Products – Reisch.
American Racer – Kirk.
Isky Racing Cams – Neal.
KSE Racing Products – Wallace
PBM Performance Products – Dripps.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Krohn.
Nitroquest – Hansen.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Neal.
Quarter Master – Tesch, Ramirez.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Myer.
Real Racing Wheels – Sheesley, Mann.
Ruter Farms – Pfeifer.

Tripleheader up next for USMTS Modifieds in South Dakota

The USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour is back in action this week with a tripleheader at three South Dakota speedplants on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, June 16-18.

All three events will award valuable points in the Great Plains Region and each night’s Sunoco “A” Main will see the winner pocket $2,000 while all other main event starters will earn at least $250.

Among the drivers expected for the three-race test of ultimate toughness are Tommy Myer, Jon Tesch, Kelly Shryock, Al Hejna, Corey Dripps, Rich Lewerke, Jake Neal, Mike Lineberry, Scott Green, Mike Steensma, Dereck Ramirez, Jay Poidinger, Don Gerritsen Jr., Jason Krohn, Grant Junghans, Mike Albertsen, Jim Mathieson, Josh Reisch, Anthony Mann, Dan DeMey, Rich Hesse, Scott Ward, Brandon Aggen, Dean Mahlstedt, Chris Prussman and others.

Race fans will get an added bonus and drivers will get an added challenge as NASCAR fan favorite and television personality Kenny Wallace will be in attendance all three days. Wallace will be signing autographs and entertaining the fans, as well as looking for his first USMTS victory. More information about “The Hermanator” is available at www.kennywallace.com.

TUESDAY, JUNE 16 - PARK JEFFERSON SPEEDWAY

The swing kicks off on Tuesday at the Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, S.D., as track promoter Denny Moore welcomes the tough-as-nails touring titans for the 5th Annual All-Star Challenge. Past winners of the event include Jay Noteboom (2005), Kelly Shryock (2006), Jason Krohn (2007) and Jason Hughes (2008).

Bob Moore, Chris Abelson, Reese Coffee, Dirk Kirk, Denny Johnson, Mark Gaskill, Jason Briese, Leon Mulder, Jesse Cowles and Dean Palmer are just a few of the weekly Modified competitors at Park Jeff expected to be on hand to defend their home turf.

Pit gates open at 4:00, grandstand gates open at 6:00, hot laps begin at 7:00 and the first heat race is slated to take the green flag at 7:30. B-Mods and Hornets will also be on the racing card.

Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons on race day at the Casey’s General Stores locations in Elk Point and throughout nearby Sioux City.

The Park Jefferson Speedway is a 4/10-mile semi-banked clay oval located off of I-29 at Exit 4, then 2 blocks east to SR 105, then 1.8 miles north. For more information, call (712) 274-6324 or (605) 966-5517 on race day or visit www.parkjeffersonspeedway.com online.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 - CASINO SPEEDWAY

Wednesday will find the mud-slinging Modified masters at Earl Benson’s Casino Speedway for the 5th Annual Team Electronics Summer Slam.

The fan-friendly facility is in its 56th year of racing on the shores of beautiful Lake Kampeska in Watertown, S.D., and racers will find plenty of parking in the new pit area, a new concrete wall encompassing the racing surface and new track lighting… Plus food and beverages are now delivered directly to the drivers in the pit area.

Jon Tesch is a two-time USMTS feature winner at his home track where he was a three-time track champion (1998, 2000-01). Tesch captured the main event in 2006 but spun out on the first lap of the 2007 race while another Watertown racer, Scott Ward, won the race. Tesch bounced back to win last year’s contest and comes into this year’s battle as the clear favorite.

The 32-year-old has four USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour wins this season and is the current points leader in the Central States Region. He’s ranked second in both the Great Plains Region and Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region.

Tommy Myer won the inaugural event at the Casino Speedway on June 16, 2005, and is the current points leader in the Great Plains Region.

Local favorites expected to compete include Scott Hansen, Kent Arment, Ryan Engels, Jay Triplett, Darren Bistodeau, Joel Waba, Arne Anderson, Todd Stark, David Orr, Jordan Foster and more.

Pit gates open at 3:00 and grandstands open up at 5:00. Hot laps are set for 6:30 with racing action at 7:00. WISSOTA Street Stocks will also be in action.

Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons on race day at all three Casey’s General Stores locations in Watertown.

The Casino Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located 4 miles northwest of US 212 on SR 20, then 0.7 mile south on Stokes-Thomas Lake Rd. (next to the city park). For more information call the track office at (605) 882-1221 or the track hotline on race day at (605) 882-2855. The track’s Official Website can be found at www.casinospeedway.com.

THURSDAY, JUNE 18 - HUSET’S SPEEDWAY

Greg and Steve Rubin’s historic Huset’s Speedway will rumble on Thursday night as the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour pays a visit to the popular 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval for the fourth straight year.

Eight-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, visited victory lane in the first two installments at the speedplant near Sioux Falls, S.D., in 2006-07. Al Hejna scored his first USMTS win of 2008 at Huset’s Speedway while Shryock’s bid for a third straight win ended with a crash on the first lap of the main event.

Gates open at 5:00 with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:00. Also on the racing card will be USRA B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks racing for national points in the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series.

The Huset’s Speedway is located east of Brandon on I-90 to Exit 406, then 2.5 miles south on SR 11. For more information, call the track office at (605) 582-3819 or the track hotline on race day at (605) 582-3536 or check out www.husets-speedway.com on the World Wide Web.

FAST FACTS

PROCEDURES: Qualifying will be done by heat race passing points and Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains. If 40 or less cars are entered, 12 will qualify through heat races and 8 through Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains with 4 provisionals creating a 24-car starting field. If 41 or more cars are entered, 12 will qualify through heat races and 10 through Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains with 4 provisionals creating a 26-car starting field.

RULES: All USMTS rules apply. Roll bar padding and a window net are required. If utilizing a flat tappet or BRODIX aluminum spec head engine, the minimum weight of the racecar must be 2,400 lbs. If utilizing steel or aluminum heads with a 23-degree valve angle, the minimum weight must be 2,450 lbs. If utilizing raised runner heads or heads with less than a 23-degree valve angle, the minimum weight must be 2,500 lbs. Racecars with aluminum heads other than the approved BRODIX aluminum spec heads must have 25 lbs. in front of mid-plate. Complete rules are online at www.usmts.com.

PROVISIONALS: Four provisional starting spots will be awarded in each Sunoco “A” Main starting field. The first two provisionals will be awarded to non-qualified drivers ranked highest in USMTS regional points. The second two provisionals will be awarded to non-qualified drivers ranked highest in Modified track points for the hosting racetrack.

TOP DOG BONUS: Drivers ranked in the top-10 in regional points are guaranteed a minimum of $400 at each event where that driver is among the top-10 in points for the region.

LICENSES: There is no requirement to purchase a license to compete in any USMTS event. However, benefits enjoyed by licensed drivers includes higher event purses and bonus payouts, increased tow money, discounted entry fees, points funds, provisional starting spots, increased media recognition, a personalized driver profile page at www.usmts.com and more. The cost of a license is $150 for each region.

PAYOFF (Licensed/Non-Licensed): 1. $2000/$2000, 2. $1500/$1500, 3. $1000/$1000, 4. $900/$800, 5. $800/$700, 6. $700/$600, 7. $650/$550, 8. $600/$500, 9. $550/$450, 10. $500/$400, 11. $450/$350, 12. $425/$300, 13. $400/$275, 14. $375/$250, 15. $350/$250, 16-26. $300/$250, Tow $90/$75.

GREAT PLAINS REGION POINTS STANDINGS:
1. 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn. … 301
2. 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D. … 282
3. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa … 275
4. 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa … 268
5. 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa … 264
6. 97 Rich Lewerke, Garner, Iowa … 221
7. 14j Jake Neal, Omaha, Neb. …. 213
8. 72 Mike Lineberry, Fremont, Neb. …. 211
9. 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan. …. 210
10. 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, Minn. … 204
11. 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla. …. 192
12. 49x Jay Poidinger, Somerset, Wis. … 167
13. 27 Don Gerritsen Jr., Rock Rapids, Iowa … 166
14. 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn. … 161
15. 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan. …. 160
16. Z3 Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa … 159
17. M80 Jim Mathieson, Sioux City, Iowa … 151
18. 98 Josh Reisch, Luverne, Minn. … 126
19. 20 Anthony Mann, Luverne, Minn. … 120
20. 15 Dan DeMey, Denison, Iowa … 117
21. 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa … 109
21. 29g Rich Hesse, Hinton, Iowa … 109
23. 1f Jason Friesen, Sutton, Neb. …. 94
24. 9 Ken Schrader, Concord, N.C. …. 82
25. B1 Scott Ward, Watertown, S.D. … 65
26. 01 Brandon Aggen, Rushmore, Minn. … 55
27. 7n Jay Noteboom, Hinton, Iowa … 53
28. 21m Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, Iowa … 50
29. 3 Arne Anderson, Watertown, S.D. … 45
29. 70 Jesse Dennis, Prescott, Iowa … 45
29. 11c Chris Prussman, Brookings, S.D. … 45

GREAT PLAINS REGION SCHEDULE:
Fri Mar 6 … Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE (winner: Tommy Myer)
Thu Jun 4 … Buena Vista Raceway, Alta, IA (winner: Al Hejna)
Fri Jun 5 … Murray County Speedway, Slayton, MN (winner: Al Hejna)
Tue Jun 16 … Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, SD ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 17 … Casino Speedway, Watertown, SD ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 18 … Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, SD ($2,000 to win)
Sun Jun 21 … Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, MN ($2,000 to win)

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information from the USMTS.

by Jeff Nun

Lone Star Speedzone Video Cast - 6/15/2009

In this Lone Star Speedzone Video Cast, Nick Holt talks with I-37 Raceway Track Director Jim Knudtson.

061509 - TSRS Late Model Young Gun Interviews

“Bringing you all the racing action across the great state of Texas.” ^TM

Interviewed in this show were:
Cody Smith - 05
Dillon Spreen - 81
Jake Kruger - 14
Kendall Bumbera - 72

Press play on the player below to listen

Direct download link

Late caution lifts Jason Hughes to third Speedweek win and USMTS Southern Series Regional Crown

The USMTS Southern Series wrapped up the 2009 edition of Speedweek Sunday at the Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, La., with another nail-biting finish to cap off the six-day, six-track swing.

As the final checkered flag of the season waved for the grueling East Region campaign, the outcome told the tale of two seasons for the two winningest drivers in United States Modified Touring Series history.

As the sun began to set on the 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located just west of Shreveport, the green flag flew to start the 30-lap Sunoco “A” Main with polesitter Garrett Durrett of Simsboro leading his first lap of the season. His reign was short-lived, however, as Fertile, Iowa’s Kelly Shryock bolted from his second row starting spot to take the lead on lap 2.

From there, Shryock took off from the field as he left the rest of the 23 starters to battle it out for second place. Meanwhile, current USMTS Southern Series points leader Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla., was making his way through the field from eighth on the starting grid.

With five laps to go and a lead of nearly seven seconds on Hughes, Shryock appeared to be on his way to ending the longest winless streak of his career. But instead of the win he so desperately wanted, Shryock got the caution flag he didn’t want.

“Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year points leader Wes Armstrong had his engine expire in the middle of turn 4, which brought out the yellow flag and erased Shryock’s advantage. One lap after the restart, Hughes powered by Shryock to snare the top spot and go on to score his third win of Speedweek.

Bobby Malchus turned in his best performance of the season with a third-place showing, Bryan Rowland snuck by Durrett for fourth and Randy Timms notched a sixth-place finish. Provisional starters Rodney Sanders and Steven Whiteaker Jr. gave the fans a show as they raced from 23rd and 24th on the starting grid to finish seventh and eighth, respectively. Chris Henigan took ninth and Dustin “Tater” Hyde rounded out the top-10.

For Shryock, it was his fifth straight top-5 finish of the week but extended the eight-time USMTS National Champion’s hiatus from the winners circle to 49 events, including 25 in the USMTS Southern Series where his last win came at the Houston Raceway Park in the 2007 season finale.

At the other end of the spectrum, Sunday’s $2,000 victory was the ninth for Hughes in the USMTS Southern Series this year, and an even dozen overall when factoring in his three additional wins in the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour.

Combined, the pair of chassis-building Modified aces own more than 200 USMTS-sanctioned wins and came into Sunday’s contest ranked first and second in the USMTS Southern Series East Region points and left the Boothill Speedway in the same order.

Hughes came into Speedweek ranked sixth in the East Region and trailing points leader Jack Sullivan by 55 markers. He leaves with the East Region title, beating Shryock by 29 points (947 to 918). Sanders wound up third with 877, followed by Whiteaker (836), Johnny Bone Jr. (804), Henigan (786), Sullivan (759), Dereck Ramirez (738), B.J. Robinson (721) and Durrett (709).

Hughes is the defending USMTS Southern Series Champion and Shryock claimed the crown during the inaugural season for the series in 2007.

The top-10 in points — plus any other drivers with perfect attendance in the East Region — are now qualified for The Hunt for the USMTS Southern Series Championship which features 11 nights of racing at four tracks in the Lone Star State to determine the 2009 USMTS Southern Series Champion.

With perfect attendance, fourteen additional drivers join the top-10 finishers in the Class of 2009: Morgan Bagley, Scott Green, Hyde, Michael Robertson, William Gould, Steve Holzkamper, Jason and Wes Armstrong, Malchus, Chad Davis, Shane Hebert, Jeff Huckaby, Jamie Burford and Kyle Schmidt.

The Hunt for the USMTS Southern Series Championship will kick off Oct. 1-3 at the Battleground Speedway in Highlands, followed by Round 2 on Oct. 23-24 at the Gator Motorplex in Willis. Round 3 takes place at the Texana Raceway Park in Edna, Nov. 27-29, and the season concludes with the crowing of the 2009 USMTS Southern Series Champion at the 3rd Annual Texas Winter Nationals at the Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Dec. 3-5.

USMTS officials are looking at possible dates in August for scheduling and/or rescheduling two or three events in Texas which will complete the West Region. In the event that no dates can be arranged, the West Region points will become final with seven races in the books and Hughes securing the West Region title.

Twenty-two drivers in the West Region are currently qualified for The Hunt for the USMTS Southern Series Championship, including Hughes, Shryock, Sanders, Whiteaker, Hebert, Bagley, Ramirez, Malchus, the Armstrong brothers, Gould, Timms, Schmidt and Davis, plus Bryan Rowland, Jon Tesch, Bumper Jones, Eddie Martin, John O Whittington, Kevin Sustaire, Alan Sharpensteen and Cody Smith.

Up next for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour is a Great Plains Region tripleheader in South Dakota. Tuesday, June 16, takes the touring titans to the Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson before trekking to the Casino Speedway in Watertown on Wednesday and the Huset’s Speedway in Brandon on Thursday.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information from the USMTS.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Southern Series (East Region)
3rd Annual USMTS Southern Speedweek - Event #6 of 6
Boothill Speedway, Greenwood, La.
Sunday, June 14, 2009

Showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown and starting position in parentheses. The top 12 drivers in passing points accumulated in the heat races are locked into the Sunoco “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. 7x - Chris Dawson — Post, TX (1)
2. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (3)
3. 18 - Jack Sullivan — Greenbrier, AR (6)
4. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (2)
5. 19 - Jamie Burford — Keatchie, LA (4)
6. C8 - Timothy Culp — West Monroe, LA (8)
7. 05 - Michael Robertson — Minden, LA (7)
8. 12h - Jeff Huckaby — Texarkana, TX (5)
9. M15 - Kenny Martin — Castor, LA (9)

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (1)
2. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (2)
3. 1st - Johnny Scott — Las Cruces, NM (3)
4. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (5)
5. 40 - Greg Garrett — Texarkana, TX (8)
6. 9x - Chad Perot — Hall Summit, LA (7)
7. 12j - Jason Ingalls — Hallsville, TX (6)
8. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX
9. 96 - Michael Knighten — Shreveport, LA (4)

BRODIX HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 05x - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (3)
2. 1 - Brett Frazier — Haughton, LA (7)
3. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (2)
4. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (5)
5. 75 - Patrick Daniel — Wills Point, TX (1)
6. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (6)
7. 36 - Rickey Brown — Avinger, TX (4)
8. 6 - Tippy Bickham — Shreveport, LA (8) DNS

AWESOME RACEWEAR HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 8j - Dustin Hyde — Texarkana, TX (2)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (8)
3. 2g - Kenny Gaddis — Hallsville, TX (7)
4. 78 - Billy Brutchin — Gladewater, TX (6)
5. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (5)
6. 17 - Brad Lasater — Garland, TX (3)
7. X - Bud Mullins — West Monroe, LA (4)
8. 7g - Mark Smith — Lufkin, TX (1) DNF

INTERCOMP HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 4m - Bobby Malchus — Red Oak, TX (1)
2. 16 - Chris Henigan — Marshall, TX (3)
3. L1 - Larry Clevenger — Greenwood, LA (4)
4. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (5)
5. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (8)
6. 27 - Mike Washburn — Shreveport, LA (2)
7. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (7)
8. C1 - Eoin Dunn — Haughton, LA (6)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (2)
2. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (4)
3. L1 - Larry Clevenger — Greenwood, LA (1)
4. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (5)
5. 12h - Jeff Huckaby — Texarkana, TX (13)
6. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (12)
7. 05 - Michael Robertson — Minden, LA (10)
8. M15 - Kenny Martin — Castor, LA (15)
9. 9x - Chad Perot — Hall Summit, LA (8)
10. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (7)
11. 19 - Jamie Burford — Keatchie, LA (6)
12. 17 - Brad Lasater — Garland, TX (9)
13. 7g - Mark Smith — Lufkin, TX (14)
14. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (3) DNS
15. 36 - Rickey Brown — Avinger, TX (11) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 1st - Johnny Scott — Las Cruces, NM (1)
2. 40 - Greg Garrett — Texarkana, TX (4)
3. 75 - Patrick Daniel — Wills Point, TX (6)
4. 27 - Mike Washburn — Shreveport, LA (9)
5. 96 - Michael Knighten — Shreveport, LA (15)
6. X - Bud Mullins — West Monroe, LA (11)
7. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (3)
8. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (8)
9. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (12)
10. C8 - Timothy Culp — West Monroe, LA (7)
11. C1 - Eoin Dunn — Haughton, LA (14)
12. 78 - Billy Brutchin — Gladewater, TX (2)
13. 12j - Jason Ingalls — Hallsville, TX (10) DNS
14. 6 - Tippy Bickham — Shreveport, LA (13)NS
15. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (5) DQ (did not go to scale)

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (8)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (3)
3. 4m - Bobby Malchus — Red Oak, TX (4)
4. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (9)
5. 05x - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (1)
6. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (12)
7. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (23)
8. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (24)
9. 16 - Chris Henigan — Marshall, TX (10)
10. 8j - Dustin Hyde — Texarkana, TX (5)
11. 96 - Michael Knighten — Shreveport, LA (22)
12. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (13)
13. 18 - Jack Sullivan — Greenbrier, AR (11)
14. 7x - Chris Dawson — Post, TX (2)
15. 1st - Johnny Scott — Las Cruces, NM (14)
16. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (15)
17. 12h - Jeff Huckaby — Texarkana, TX (21)
18. 40 - Greg Garrett — Texarkana, TX (16)
19. 75 - Patrick Daniel — Wills Point, TX (18)
20. 2g - Kenny Gaddis — Hallsville, TX (6)
21. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (19) DNF
22. 1 - Brett Frazier — Haughton, LA (7) DNF
23. 27 - Mike Washburn — Shreveport, LA (20) DNF
24. L1 - Larry Clevenger — Greenwood, LA (17) DNF

Lap Leaders: Durrett 1, Shryock 2-27, Hughes 28-30.
Total Laps Led: Shryock 26, Hughes 3, Durrett 1.
AFCO Pole Winner: Shryock.
Provisional Starters: Sanders, Whiteaker.
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Knighten (started 22nd, finished 11th).
Next USMTS Southern Series Race: TBA (West Region) or Thursday, Oct. 1, Battleground Speedway, Highlands, Texas (The Hunt).
Next USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour Race: Tuesday, June 16, Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, S.D. (Great Plains Region).
East Region Points (final): Hughes 947, Shryock 918, Sanders 877, Whiteaker 836, Bone 804, Henigan 786, Sullivan 759, Ramirez 738, Robinson 721, Durrett 709.
Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Points: W. Armstrong 262, J. Armstrong 253, Davis 223, Durrett 215, Henigan 214.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 140, a.s.i. 128, Sput’s 103, Young’s 82, Rowland 67.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 159, Skyrocket 146, Ramirez 120, TRE 115, GRT 114.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Shryock.
American Racer – Frazier.
Fast Shafts – not awarded.
Isky Racing Cams – Dawson.
KSE Racing Products – Knighten.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Clevenger.
Nitroquest – Malchus.
Quarter Master – Hughes, Whiteaker.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Sanders.
Real Racing Wheels – J. Armstrong, Mullins.

by Jeff Nun

Young Jake Kruger notches another Texas Super Racing Series Late Model win at Thunderhill Raceway

Fifteen year-old Jake Kruger beat some of the best Late Model and Super Late Model drivers in Texas in claiming his third TSRS Late Model feature win of the season Saturday night at Thunderhill Raceway in Kyle, Texas.

Racing in the “Kyle Area Chamber of Commerce 75,” Kruger used his inside, second row starting spot to hang out seasoned-veteran Robert Barker on the outside at the start to move into second place behind Cody Smith - another young gun in the popular TSRS LM Series – going through turns one and two.

Cody Smith apparently didn’t get the bite he needed coming off the second turn and Kruger forced his way under and made it stick to take the lead before a lap was in the books.

Two more teens - Levi Krauss and Dillon Spreen – took advantage of Barker’s unfortunate outside predicament a lap later and brought Super Late Model star Casey Smith with them. Barker finally found a way to the inside, but not before he was well back in the pack.

On the third circuit Krauss saw the same opening that Kruger had taken advantage of a lap or two earlier and got under Cody Smith to claim second.

Meanwhile, right behind the top three Spreen was feeling lots of pressure from Casey Smith – and perhaps Smith’s front bumper - on the fifth circuit. Spreen hung on for half a lap, but Casey Smith was not to be denied and he scooted under Spreen, bringing Barker with him and dropping Spreen to sixth.

A lap seven spin by Robert Walton brought out the first caution flag.

On the clean restart it was Kruger, Krauss, Cody Smith, Casey Smith, Barker, Spreen, TSRS point leader Bobby Teer and Cary Stapp with everyone holding their line for a lap as Kruger opened a few car lengths advantage over Krauss and the rest.

As Kruger’s lead widened, the field began stacking up behind Krauss who was driving a very consistent, steady line. On lap 16 Casey Smith worked his way past Cody Smith (no relation) to take over third. The experienced Smith then started to work on Krauss as Kruger opened up an even bigger lead. Smith looked inside and outside, but Krauss wouldn’t make the driving error that Smith was hoping for.

Over the next 10 laps Smith gave Krauss a love tap or two in the turns, but Krauss held solid.

The field had a chance to cool their tires a bit at the lap-29 point when the yellow flag flew for a spin by Kendall Bumbera down the front straight.

Taking the green on lap 35 were Kruger, Krauss, Casey Smith, Cody Smith, Robert Barker, Spreen, Teer, Craig Selman and Bumbera.

Kruger moved out cleanly as the green waved and quickly opened a small gap on Krauss, who took a big bump from Smith going through turns three and four. Krauss was again able to fend off the challenge and again the field stacked up behind him. Casey Smith showed the patience of a veteran, but everyone in the place knew that something had to give soon.
Sure enough, a few laps later Casey Smith began to get serious and after a bit of paint swapping he was able to get under Krauss going down the back straight and took over second as Cody Smith took advantage of the same opening to move Krauss back to fourth.

Over the next several laps the Smiths began a fierce battle for second with lots of beating and banging. Cody Smith was finally able to force his way past Casey Smith, but a lap later Cody Smith went sliding off the track into the weeds off turn three with a flat tire. Cody Smith pitted and rejoined the field at the rear on the restart.

The rest of the way Kruger was able to maintain the point as Smith was unable to mount an effective offensive. But the battle for third through six became intense as the laps wound down. Krauss and Barker put on a show for third for the fans as did Teer and Cody Smith for fifth.

At the checkered it was Kruger by two car lengths over Casey Smith, who had a couple of car lengths on Krauss. Teer won the war for fourth over Cody Smith while Barker had to settle for sixth.

Unofficial results of the TSRS Late Model Series “Kyle Area Chamber of Commerce 75”

1. 14 Jake Kruger, 75 laps
2. 1 Casey Smith, 75
3. 4 Levi Krauss, 75
4. 2 Bobby Teer, Jr, 75
5. 05 Cody Smith, 75
6. 17 Robert Barker, 75
7. 81 Dillon Spreen, 75
8. 99 Cary Stapp, 75
9. 72 Kendall Bumbera ,75
10. 38 Craig Sellman, 58
11. 49 Robert Walton, 33

by Nick Holt
Photos by Jeff Garvin

Round five of USMTS Speedweek goes to Jared Landers; Corpus Christi’s Steve Whiteaker third

Jared Landers completed some unfinished business Saturday night as he won the USMTS Southern Series main event at the Drew County Speedway in Monticello, Ark., leading the final 32 of 35 laps for his second career USMTS Modified victory.

On Wednesday night, Landers was on his way to a convincing victory in Round 2 of Speedweek at the I-30 Speedway in Little Rock when a flat tire with five laps to go ended his night on the hook of a wrecker instead of victory lane.

Landers bounced back strong on Saturday with a decisive win in the Sunoco “A” Main over current USMTS Southern Series points leader Jason Hughes.

In addition to the $2,000 paycheck for the triumph, Landers also pocketed an additional $500 from Fast Shafts for his efforts. The Fast Shafts Challenge bonus money went unclaimed during the first four nights of Speedweek, but went home with Landers, who was utilizing a nine-inch Ford rearend in Saturday’s win.

Steven Whiteaker Jr., who was the beneficiary of Landers’ misfortune and went on to win Wednesday’s event, finished third behind Hughes, while Chris Dawson recorded his career-best USMTS Southern Series finish with a fourth-place effort.

Eight-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock claimed the fifth spot, followed by Dereck Ramirez, Rodney Sanders, Randy Timms, Johnny Bone Jr. and Bryan Rowland rounding out the top-10.

Ramirez garnered the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger after racing to a sixth-place finish from 17th on the 26-car starting grid.

With one race remaining in the East Region, Hughes holds a 20-point lead over Shryock (839 to 819) going into Sunday’s Speedweek curtain-closer. Bone is third with 804 markers, followed by Sanders (799), Whiteaker (760), Chris Henigan (711), Jack Sullivan (693), Ramirez (693), B.J. Robinson (661) and Morgan Bagley (655).

SUNDAY, JUNE 14 … BOOTHILL SPEEDWAY, GREENWOOD, LA.

The six-race USMTS Southern Speedweek wraps up on Sunday, June 14, at the Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, La., and will also see the emergence of the 2009 USMTS Southern Series East Region champion, as well as the first batch of drivers qualified for this year’s Hunt for the USMTS Southern Series Championship later this year.

Billy Robinson, Randy Paine Jr., Michael Knighton, Tony Lindsey, Mike Washburn, Ronnie McAteer, Dustin Randol, Josh Worn, Derrick Grigsby and Michael Easley are just a few of the local Boothill Speedway heavy-hitters expected to contend for a spot in the Sunoco “A” Main and the $2,000 top prize.

Pits open at 4:00, grandstands open at 5:00, hot laps begin at 6:00 and the first heat race is slated to hit the track at 6:30. USRA Southern Limited Modifieds will again be racing for $500, with Factory Stocks also joining the action-packed festivities.

The Boothill Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located west of Shreveport on I-20 to the Carthage-Morningsport Exit #3, then 0.2 mile north, then east on McGee Rd. For more information, call 318-938-5373 or check out www.boothillspeedway.net online.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information from the USMTS.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Southern Series (East Region)
3rd Annual USMTS Southern Speedweek - Event #5 of 6
Drew County Speedway, Monticello, Ark.
Saturday, June 13, 2009

Showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown and starting position in parentheses. The top 12 drivers in passing points accumulated in the heat races are locked into the Sunoco “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. 7x - Chris Dawson — Post, TX (1)
2. 66 - Mike Paillou — Pass Christian, MS (4)
3. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (2)
4. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (7)
5. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (10)
6. 16 - Chris Henigan — Marshall, TX (5)
7. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (3)
8. 51 - John Polasini — Leland, MS (9)
9. 88s - Seth Reed — Rison, AR (6)
10. 8 - Jodey Reep — El Dorado, AR (8)

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (7)
2. 4m - Bobby Malchus — Red Oak, TX (4)
3. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. — Pea Ridge, AR (6)
4. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (3)
5. 8j - Dustin Hyde — Texarkana, TX (1)
6. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (9)
7. X - Bud Mullins — West Monroe, LA (5)
8. 99 - Phillip James — Dewitt, AR (8)
9. 58 - Nathan Bichsel — Amarillo, TX (2)

BRODIX HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 777 - Jared Landers — Benton, AR (5)
2. 60b - Mike Bowers — North Little Rock, AR (2)
3. 1st - Johnny Scott — Las Cruces, NM (4)
4. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (7)
5. 26 - Patrick Linn — Little Rock, AR (1)
6. 18a - Richard Anders — El Dorado, AR (6)
7. 88 - Chad Wheeler — Muskogee, OK (3)
8. JP5 - Lee Patton — Quitman, LA (8)
9. 12t - Tyler Townsend — Longview, TX (9)

AWESOME RACEWEAR HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (9)
2. 12h - Jeff Huckaby — Texarkana, TX (4)
3. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (1)
4. 05 - Michael Robertson — Minden, LA (6)
5. 10k - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (5)
6. 05x - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (7)
7. 15 - Grant Box — White Hall, AR (2)
8. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (8)
9. 44 - Rob Neal — Smackover, AR (3)

INTERCOMP HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (1)
2. 18 - Jack Sullivan — Greenbrier, AR (5)
3. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (8)
4. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (7)
5. 19 - Jamie Burford — Keatchie, LA (2)
6. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (9)
7. 94c - Stephen Chevalier — Downsville, LA (3)
8. 74 - Matt Stacy — Crossett, AR (4)
9. 2 - Jerry Standifer — Howe, OK (6)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (2)
2. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (4)
3. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (3)
4. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (6)
5. 88 - Chad Wheeler — Muskogee, OK (11)
6. 16 - Chris Henigan — Marshall, TX (9)
7. 19 - Jamie Burford — Keatchie, LA (8)
8. 94c - Stephen Chevalier — Downsville, LA (12)
9. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (10)
10. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (14)
11. 1st - Johnny Scott — Las Cruces, NM (1)
12. 88s - Seth Reed — Rison, AR (15)
13. 2 - Jerry Standifer — Howe, OK (17)
14. 26 - Patrick Linn — Little Rock, AR (7) DNF
15. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (5) DNF
16. 12t - Tyler Townsend — Longview, TX (16) DNS
17. 99 - Phillip James — Dewitt, AR (13) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (2)
2. 05 - Michael Robertson — Minden, LA (4)
3. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (1)
4. 8j - Dustin Hyde — Texarkana, TX (6)
5. 18a - Richard Anders — El Dorado, AR (9)
6. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (3)
7. JP5 - Lee Patton — Quitman, LA (13)
8. X - Bud Mullins — West Monroe, LA (10)
9. 44 - Rob Neal — Smackover, AR (16)
10. 10k - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (7)
11. 8 - Jodey Reep — El Dorado, AR (17)
12. 51 - John Polasini — Leland, MS (12) DNF
13. 74 - Matt Stacy — Crossett, AR (14) DNF
14. 05x - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (8) DNF
15. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (5) DNF
16. 15 - Grant Box — White Hall, AR (11) DNF
17. 58 - Nathan Bichsel — Amarillo, TX (15) DNS

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 777 - Jared Landers — Benton, AR (5)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (7)
3. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (8)
4. 7x - Chris Dawson — Post, TX (3)
5. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (13)
6. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (17)
7. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (15)
8. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (14)
9. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. — Pea Ridge, AR (11)
10. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (6)
11. 8j - Dustin Hyde — Texarkana, TX (20)
12. 88 - Chad Wheeler — Muskogee, OK (21)
13. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (4)
14. 05x - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (24)
15. 60b - Mike Bowers — North Little Rock, AR (12)
16. 18a - Richard Anders — El Dorado, AR (22)
17. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (19)
18. 12h - Jeff Huckaby — Texarkana, TX (10)
19. 66 - Mike Paillou — Pass Christian, MS (2)
20. 16 - Chris Henigan — Marshall, TX (23) DNF
21. 18 - Jack Sullivan — Greenbrier, AR (1) DNF
22. 15 - Grant Box — White Hall, AR (26) DNF
23. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (18) DNF
24. 4m - Bobby Malchus — Red Oak, TX (9) DNF
25. 05 - Michael Robertson — Minden, LA (16) DNF
26. 88s - Seth Reed — Rison, AR (25) DNF

Lap Leaders: Sullivan 1-3, Landers 4-35.
Total Laps Led: Landers 32, Sullivan 3.
AFCO Pole Winner: Whiteaker.
Provisional Starters: Henigan, Durrett, Reed (track), Box (track).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Ramirez (started 17th, finished 6th).
Next Race: Sunday, June 14, Boothill Speedway, Greenwood, La. (East Region).
East Region Points: Hughes 839, Shryock 819, Bone 804, Sanders 799, Whiteaker 760, Henigan 711, Sullivan 693, Ramirez 693, Robinson 661, Bagley 655.
Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Points: W. Armstrong 247, J. Armstrong 243, Davis 213, Schmidt 211, Henigan 191.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 130, a.s.i. 121, Sput’s 94, Young’s 78, Homegrown 63, BMS 63.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 149, Skyrocket 137, Ramirez 112, TRE 111, GRT 107.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Whiteaker.
American Racer – James.
Fast Shafts – Landers.
Isky Racing Cams – Dawson.
KSE Racing Products – Ramirez.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Reed.
Nitroquest – Whiteaker.
Quarter Master – Landers, Timms.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Sanders.
Real Racing Wheels – Henigan, Patton.

by Jeff Nunn
USMTS Photos

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