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Kelly Shryock tops USMTS “Halloween Havoc” at Gator Motorplex

The USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series completed their TrackTek Racing Fuels Halloween Havoc doubleheader at the Gator Motorplex Saturday, and for the second straight night Kelly Shryock walked up and drew the pole position for the start of the main event.

But unlike Friday where he slipped back to a fifth-place finish by the end of the race, the nine-time USMTS National Champion stayed right where he started on Saturday and captured his first USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series checkered flag in 34 races. His last win came on Dec. 1, 2007, where he clinched the USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series title that season.

Midway through Saturday’s 40-lap Sunoco “A” Main, Shryock encountered lapped traffic on the quarter-mile, high-banked, clay oval. As he went to the outside of a lapped car, Morgan Bagley took the inside and appeared to have a shot at overtaking the leader. The backmarker, however, made a dash to the infield and forced Bagley down with him. By the time Bagley got all four wheels back on the racing surface, he had dropped to fifth while Jon Tesch assumed the runner-up position.

Tesch was able to close in on Shryock during the final laps of the event, but was unable to challenge for the top spot.

The win was worth $3,000 to the Fertile, Iowa, veteran, while Bagley recovered to place third behind Tesch.

Jason Hughes had to come through a Real Racing Wheels “B” Main to make the feature race, and picked up ten spots en route to a fourth-place finish. Rodney Sanders was fifth, Scott Green grabbed sixth for the second night in a row, Joshua Majek took seventh, William Gould raced from 18th to eighth, Bryan Rowland finished ninth and Garrett Durrett rounded out the top-10. Majek pocketed the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award by racing to seventh from 20th on the 26-car starting grid.

With two events in the books and six to go in the Hunt for the USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series Championship presented by Dirt Modified Magazine, Shryock clings to a scant 11-point lead over Hughes (234 to 223) in the 2009 title chase standings. Tesch is close behind with 215 points, followed by Sanders (195), Bagley (180), Chris Henigan (177), Green (167), Bumper Jones (165), Rowland (164) and Friday night’s winner John O Whittington (161).

UP NEXT …
The weekend of Nov. 19-21 will find the mud-slinging Modifieds of the USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series returning to the Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas, for a big tripleheader paying $1,000 to win on Thursday, $2,000 on Friday and $3,000 on Saturday.

Chris Brown of nearby Cleveland held off Rodney Sanders and found his way to the winner’s circle when the series made their debut at the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval on May 8.

2009 Battleground Speedway track champion Phil Dixon joins Frank Kitchenhoff Jr., David Horner, Danny Barringer, Pete Sagmiller, Corey Babbitt, Phillip French, Tracy Denby Sr., Danny Ducote, Howard Willis and several other of the weekly warriors expected to contend for the winner’s trophy each night.
The pit gates will be open all day beginning on Wednesday, Nov. 18, for teams arriving early. Pit gates will officially open at 4:00 each night, with grandstands opening at 5:00, hot laps at 6:00 and racing to follow.

USRA Southern Limited Modifieds will also compete all three nights. Hobby Stocks will join the program on Friday night. Saturday night’s show will feature Pure Stocks in action.

The Battleground Speedway is a 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval located east of Houston on I-10 to Highland Exit 787, then 4.0 miles north on FM 2100 (Crosby Lynchburg Rd.). For more information, call 832-421-RACE or check out www.battlegroundspeedway.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 –Hunt for the USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series Championship presented by Dirt Modified Magazine TrackTek Racing Fuels Halloween Havoc - Night 2 of 2
Gator Motorplex, Willis, Texas - Saturday, October 24, 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. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (1)
2. 5 - Steve Holzkamper — Gentry, AR (6)
3. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (2)
4. 16 - Chris Henigan — Marshall, TX (9)
5. 97j - Jeff Hoegh — New Caney, TX (3)
6. 12h - Jeff Huckaby — Texarkana, TX (5)
7. 71 - Tracy Denby Sr. — Vidor, TX (8)
8. 68 - Danny Barringer — Lufkin, TX (7)
9. E - Howard Willis — Dayton, TX (4) DNF

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 58 - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (2)
2. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (6)
3. 18 - Jack Sullivan — Greenbrier, AR (4)
4. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (5)
5. 5w - John O Whittington — Vidor, TX (9)
6. 111 - Bumper Jones — Mesilla Park, NM (3)
7. 10 - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (8)
8. 148 - Russell Moore — Conroe, TX (7)
9. 18c - Cody Smith — Kaufman, TX (1) DNF

BUTLERBUILT HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (1)
2. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (2)
3. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (4)
4. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (3)
5. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (7)
6. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (8)
7. 51 - Tracy Denby Jr. — Vidor, TX (5)
8. 56 - David Horner — Houston, TX (6)
9. 4d - Tim Donlinger — Rochester, MN (9) DNS

AWESOME RACEWEAR HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 12c - Corey Babbitt — Channelview, TX (3)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (5)
3. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (6)
4. 55 - Kyle Anderson — Tomball, TX (2)
5. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (7)
6. A1 - Phil Dixon — Crosby, TX (1)DNF
7. 82 - Joshua Majek — Corpus Christi, TX (8) DNF
8. 21 - David Winslett — Bossier City, LA (9) DNF
9. 8j - Dustin Hyde — Texarkana, TX (4) DNF

INTERCOMP HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 14 - Jon Tesch — Watertown, SD (2)
2. 51w - Jeff Wood — Willis, TX (1)
3. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (3)
4. 07 - Keith Wright — Conroe, TX (6)
5. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (5)
6. L1 - Larry Clevenger — Greenwood, LA (7)
7. 129 - Bryan Vollmer — Tomball, TX (9)
8. 05 - Michael Robertson — Minden, LA (4) DNF
9. 2w - Paul White — Temple, TX (8) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (4)
2. 18 - Jack Sullivan — Greenbrier, AR (1)
3. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (2)
4. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (7)
5. 111 - Bumper Jones — Mesilla Park, NM (9)
6. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (6)
7. E - Howard Willis — Dayton, TX (15)
8. 4d - Tim Donlinger — Rochester, MN (16)
9. 56 - David Horner — Houston, TX (14)
10. 2w - Paul White — Temple, TX (17)
11. 10 - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (11)
12. 129 - Bryan Vollmer — Tomball, TX (10)
13. 55 - Kyle Anderson — Tomball, TX (5) DNF
14. 07 - Keith Wright — Conroe, TX (3) DNF
15. 51 - Tracy Denby Jr. — Vidor, TX (12) DNF
16. L1 - Larry Clevenger — Greenwood, LA (8) DNF
17. 68 - Danny Barringer — Lufkin, TX (13) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (1)
2. 5w - John O Whittington — Vidor, TX (3)
3. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (4)
4. 82 - Joshua Majek — Corpus Christi, TX (11)
5. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (5)
6. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (7)
7. 71 - Tracy Denby Sr. — Vidor, TX (10)
8. 97j - Jeff Hoegh — New Caney, TX (6)
9. 12h - Jeff Huckaby — Texarkana, TX (8)
10. 18 - Cody Smith — Kaufman, TX (15)
11. 21 - David Winslett — Bossier City, LA (12)
12. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (2) DNF
13. 05 - Michael Robertson — Minden, LA (14) DNF
14. 148 - Russell Moore — Conroe, TX (13) DNF
15. A1 - Phil Dixon — Crosby, TX (9) DNF
16. 8j - Dustin Hyde — Texarkana, TX (16) DNS

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (1)
2. 14 - Jon Tesch — Watertown, SD (8)
3. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (4)
4. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (14)
5. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (13)
6. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (3)
7. 82 - Joshua Majek — Corpus Christi, TX (20)
8. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (18)
9. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (5)
10. 58 - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (7)
11. E - Howard Willis — Dayton, TX (26)
12. 5 - Steve Holzkamper — Gentry, AR (6)
13. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (17)
14. 16 - Chris Henigan — Marshall, TX (12)
15. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (9)
16. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (24)
17. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (19)
18. 111 - Bumper Jones — Mesilla Park, NM (21)
19. 18 - Jack Sullivan — Greenbrier, AR (15)
20. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (22)
21. 12c - Corey Babbitt — Channelview, TX (2) DNF
22. 51w - Jeff Wood — Willis, TX (11) DNF
23. 5w - John O Whittington — Vidor, TX (16) DNF
24. 18 - Cody Smith — Kaufman, TX (23) DNF
25. 129 - Bryan Vollmer — Tomball, TX (25) DNF
26. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (10) DNF
Sunoco Lap Leader: Shryock 1-40.
Total Laps Led: Shryock 40.
AFCO Pole Winner: Babbitt.
Provisional Starters: Smith, Robinson, Vollmer (track), Willis (track).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Majek (started 20th, finished 7th).
Next Race: Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 19-21, Battleground Speedway, Highlands, Texas.
Points Standings: Shryock 234, Hughes 223, Tesch 215, Sanders 195, Bagley 180, Henigan 177, Green 167, Jones 165, Rowland 164, Whittington 161.
Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Points: W. Armstrong 293, J. Armstrong 274, Henigan 262, Durrett 257, Davis 243.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 155, ASI 137, Sput’s 123, Rowland 88, BMS 73.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 171, Skyrocket 162, Ramirez 138, TRE 127, GRT 124.
Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Babbitt.
American Racer – Vollmer.
ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems – Hughes.
Isky Racing Cams – Green.
KSE Racing Products – Majek.
Marsh Racing Wheels – J. Armstrong.
Nitroquest – Bagley.
Quarter Master – Shryock, Gould.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Majek.
Real Racing Wheels – Davis, Robinson.

by Jeff Nun

John O Whittington takes USMTS win at Gator Motorplex with a last-lap pass

The Hunt for the USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series Championship presented by Dirt Modified Magazine kicked off Friday night at the Gator Motorplex with the TrackTek Racing Fuels Halloween Havoc - the first of eight events that will culminate with the crowning of the third USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series champion.

Although the annual holiday is still a week away, race fans Friday night were already bagging a treat.

Nine-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock drew the pole position for the main event and jumped out to the early lead.

Shryock set a torrid pace around the quarter-mile high-banked clay oval before Jon Tesch wrestled the lead away on lap 8.

Tesch led the next 26 laps, however, there still 27 left.

On the final lap, John O Whittington made his move and snuck by Tesch to take the lead, then crossed beneath the checkers to score his first USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series victory.

The win was worth $2,000 to the resident of nearby Vidor, Texas, in his 41st career start with America’s premier dirt modified tour.

Tesch had to settle for the runner-up paycheck while Bumper Jones finished third.

Chris Henigan earned the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award by finishing fourth after starting 15th on the 26-car Sunoco “A” Main grid.

Shryock slipped to a fifth-place finish by the end of the contest, but it was enough to move him into the points lead in the Hunt for the USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series Championship presented by Dirt Modified Magazine.

Jason Hughes came into Friday’s event as the points leader, but the defending USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series champ’s title defense got off to a rocky start.

After suffering a blown engine in his heat race, Hughes inserted a new powerplant and passed nine cars in the second Real Racing Wheels “B” Main but came up one spot short of qualifying for the main event and had to use a provisional starting spot for the feature race.

He made the most of it, muscling his way past 15 competitors to finish eighth, but earning no passing points as a provisional starter.

Scott Green finished sixth in the main event, AFCO Pole Award winner Cody Smith was seventh, Shane Hebert was ninth and Steve Holzkamper rounded out the top-10 finishers.

Shryock, the 2007 USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series champion, leads Hughes by just 5 points with seven races remaining in the title chase, while Tesch, Henigan and Whittington jumped up to third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Sixth through tenth are Jones, Rodney Sanders, Hebert, Steven Whiteaker Jr. and Bryan Rowland.

Several other points races are also heating up entering the final stretch.

Wes Armstrong continues to lead the Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year points standings over his brother, Jason, by nine points, but Henigan was able to close the gap with his stout run in Friday’s nightcap.

Chad Davis is fourth and Garrett Durrett is fifth with all five within striking distance of the top spot.

Whittington was the 2008 Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Award winner.

The COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year points race has Mullins Race Engines up front with a nine-point advantage over A.S.I. Racing Engines, while the defending champ’s Hughes Racing Chassis maintains a slim lead over Shryock’s Skyrocket Chassis stable in the 2009 Chassis Builders Championship points.

TALKIN’ ’BOUT WILLIS …

The TrackTek Racing Fuels Halloween Havoc will continue on Saturday with the main event winner pocketing $3,000. Pit gates open at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, grandstands open at 11:00 with USMTS Modified hot laps at 6:45 and racing at 7:00.

Also competing will be USRA Southern Limited Modifieds, Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Pure Stocks. Support classes will begin their hot laps at 1:30 and complete their qualifying heats prior to action in the USMTS Modifieds.

For spectator comfort, bring your lawn chair or blanket to watch the races from the hill or the grandstands. Plus, during intermission kids can ride the Gator School Bus around the track for an unforgettable racing experience.

Drivers are reminded that mufflers are mandatory at the Gator Motorplex. Contact Day Motorsports by calling 800-543-6238 or online at www.daymotorsports.com. The Gator Motorplex also has a limited supply of auger inserts for sale at the track - call Randy at 936-856-9729 (office), 936-588-6127 (track) or 936-537-5265 (alternate) for more information and to check availability.

The Gator Motorplex is a 1/4-mile high-banked clay oval located off I-45 to Shepherd Hill (Exit 98), then east, then 1.4 miles south on SR 75. The track’s official website is online at www.gatormotorplex.net or call 936-588-6127 for more information.

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
Hunt for the USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series Championship presented by Dirt Modified Magazine
TrackTek Racing Fuels Halloween Havoc - Night 1 of 2
Gator Motorplex, Willis, Texas
Friday, October 23, 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. 14 - Jon Tesch — Watertown, SD (1)
2. 05 - Michael Robertson — Minden, LA (3)
3. 71 - Tracy Denby Sr. — Vidor, TX (6)
4. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (8)
5. 51 - Tracy Denby Jr. — Vidor, TX (4)
6. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (7)
7. 4d - Tim Donlinger — Rochester, MN (9)
8. 32 - Doug Byrns — Willis, TX (2)
9. 12h - Jeff Huckaby — Texarkana, TX (5)
10. 51w - Jeff Wood — Willis, TX (10)

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 21 - David Winslett — Bossier City, LA (4)
2. 18 - Cody Smith — Kaufman, TX (8)
3. 82 - Joshua Majek — Corpus Christi, TX (5)
4. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (6)
5. 148 - Russell Moore — Conroe, TX (2)
6. 55 - Kyle Anderson — Tomball, TX (7)
7. 129 - Bryan Vollmer — Tomball, TX (1)
8. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (10)
9. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (3) DNF
10. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (10) DNS

BUTLERBUILT HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (2)
2. 5w - John O Whittington — Vidor, TX (7)
3. 07 - Keith Wright — Conroe, TX (1)
4. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (6)
5. 10 - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (3)
6. 12c - Corey Babbitt — Channelview, TX (4)
7. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (5)
8. 267 - Aaron Drewry — Magnolia, TX (8)
9. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (9)
10. 7 - Dwayne Acree — Montgomery, TX (10) DNS

AWESOME RACEWEAR HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (4)
2. 5 - Steve Holzkamper — Gentry, AR (1)
3. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (2)
4. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX
5. 16 - Chris Henigan — Marshall, TX (7)
6. 2w - Paul White — Temple, TX (5)
7. 955 - Chad Comer — Warren, TX (8)
8. 68 - Danny Barringer — Lufkin, TX (3)
9. 8j - Dustin Hyde — Texarkana, TX (9) DNS

INTERCOMP HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 156 - Steve Pugh — Anderson, TX (1)
2. 111 - Bumper Jones — Mesilla Park, NM (4)
3. E - Howard Willis — Dayton, TX (3)
4. 58 - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (5)
5. L1 - Larry Clevenger — Greenwood, LA (2)
6. 56 - David Horner — Houston, TX (7)
7. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (6)
8. 18 - Jack Sullivan — Greenbrier, AR (8) DNS
9. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (9) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (2)
2. 16 - Chris Henigan — Marshall, TX (5)
3. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (1)
4. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (4)
5. 12c - Corey Babbitt — Channelview, TX (9)
6. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (17)
7. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (3)
8. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (12)
9. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (16)
10. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (18)
11. 32 - Doug Burns — Willis, TX (13)
12. 129 - Bryan Vollmer — Tomball, TX (11)
13. 4d - Tim Donlinger — Rochester, MN (10)
14. 55 - Kyle Anderson — Tomball, TX (8)
15. 68 - Danny Barringer — Lufkin, TX (14)
16. L1 - Larry Clevenger — Greenwood, LA (7) DNF
17. 12h - Jeff Huckaby — Texarkana, TX (15) DNF
18. 148 - Russell Moore — Conroe, TX (6) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (3)
2. 58 - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (4)
3. E - Howard Willis — Dayton, TX (2)
4. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (7)
5. 56 - David Horner — Houston, TX (8)
6. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (15)
7. 10 - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (6)
8. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (11)
9. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (12)
10. 18 - Jack Sullivan — Greenbrier, AR (14)
11. 2w - Paul White — Temple, TX (9)
12. 955 - Chad Comer — Warren, TX (10)
13. 267 - Aaron Drewry — Magnolia, TX (13)
14. 07 - Keith Wright — Conroe, TX (1) DNF
15. 51w - Jeff Wood — Willis, TX (17) DNF
16. 51 - Tracy Denby Jr. — Vidor, TX (5) DNF
17. 7 - Dwayne Acree — Montgomery, TX (18) DNS
18. 8j - Dustin Hyde — Texarkana, TX (16) DNS

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 5w - John O Whittington — Vidor, TX (5)
2. 14 - Jon Tesch — Watertown, SD (3)
3. 111 - Bumper Jones — Mesilla Park, NM (6)
4. 16 - Chris Henigan — Marshall, TX (15)
5. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (1)
6. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (2)
7. 18 - Cody Smith — Kaufman, TX (8)
8. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (23)
9. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (13)
10. 5 - Steve Holzkamper — Gentry, AR (11)
11. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (24)
12. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (17)
13. 82 - Joshua Majek — Corpus Christi, TX (12)
14. 12c - Corey Babbitt — Channelview, TX (21)
15. 156 - Steve Pugh — Anderson, TX (7)
16. 21 - David Winslett — Bossier City, LA (4)
17. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (20)
18. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (14)
19. 56 - David Horner — Houston, TX (22)
20. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (19)
21. 58 - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (16)
22. 05 - Michael Robertson — Minden, LA (9) DNF
23. E - Howard Willis — Dayton, TX (18) DNF
24. 71 - Tracy Denby Sr. — Vidor, TX (10) DNF
25. 129 - Bryan Vollmer — Tomball, TX (25) DNF
26. 32 - Doug Byrns — Willis, TX (26) DNF

Sunoco Lap Leaders: Shryock 1-8, Tesch 9-34, Whittington 35.
Total Laps Led: Tesch 26, Shryock 8, Whittington 1.
AFCO Pole Winner: Smith.
Provisional Starters: Hughes, Bagley, Vollmer (track), Byrns (track).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Henigan (started 15th, finished 4th).
Next Race: Saturday, Oct. 24, Gator Motorplex, Willis, Texas.
Points Standings: Shryock 131, Hughes 126, Tesch 114, Henigan 113, Whittington 110, Jones 106, Sanders 103, Hebert 97, Whiteaker 92, Rowland 90.
Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Points: W. Armstrong 272, J. Armstrong 263, Henigan 239, Davis 233, Durrett 232.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 147, ASI 136, Sput’s 113, Rowland 79, BMS 66, PTS 66.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 165, Skyrocket 156, Ramirez 129, TRE 123, GRT 121.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Smith.
American Racer – Vollmer.
ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems – Wright.
Isky Racing Cams – Tesch.
KSE Racing Products – Henigan.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Byrns.
Nitroquest – Jones.
Quarter Master – Whittington, Hughes.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Smith.
Real Racing Wheels – Bagley, Hughes.

Texan Rodney Sanders, 19, notches first USMTS National Tour Modified win

Rodney Sanders had been close before, but the 19-year-old from Happy, Texas, finally sealed he deal Friday night as he captured the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour event at the LA Raceway in La Monte, Mo.

After two seasons of racing under the USMTS banner in his family-owned Modified, Sanders teamed up with Bryan Rowland for an all-out assault on the 2009 campaign. Rowland got his career-first win earlier this season in a USMTS Southern Series event while Sanders recorded 13 top-five and 22 top-ten finishes this year before tasting victory for the first time Friday night.

Sanders drew the outside of the front row for the start of the 35-lap Sunoco “A” Main and raced wheel to wheel with polesitter Chad Wheeler for the first lap around the smooth 3/8-mile dirt oval, leading the first lap by a nose.

Nobody got any closer than that until the final lap of the caution-free contest.

While Sanders stretched his advantage to as much as a full straight-away during the first half of the race, Jason Hughes was working his way to the front of the pack from the seventh spot, grabbing second from Wheeler on lap 17.

Hughes shortened the distance between himself and Sanders with each passing lap, and finally moved up on the leader’s bumper with three laps to go.

With Sanders struggling to find a way around a lapped car running the same line on the darkening racing surface, Hughes took a peek to the inside on the final lap. Sanders, however, was able to out-race Hughes down the back-stretch and crossed the finish line with Hughes glued to his tail.

Despite turning the fastest lap times over the final 10 laps, the absence of a yellow flag left Zack VanderBeek without an opportunity to challenge the lead duo, but took home a third-place finish and the PBM Performance Products Hard Charger Award after starting 13th. VanderBeek earned his spot in the main event after winning the first Real Racing Wheels “B” Main from the 10th starting spot.

Wheeler hung on for a fourth-place paycheck while AFCO Pole Award winner Jason Krohn rounded out the top-5 finishers. Sixth through tenth, respectively, went to Dustin Boney, Johnny Bone Jr., Jim Moody, Dean Wille and Jason Thompson.

In contrast to the last three USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour races where a rough and tacky-fast racing surface contributed to less than half of the field finishing the feature races, the track surface at the LA Raceway Friday night was dry and smooth as all 26 main event starters finished the race.

Hughes continues to lead the Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region points standings, while Sanders jumped into the runner-up spot and trails Hughes by 30 points (913 to 883). VanderBeek is third with 862 markers, followed by Kelly Shryock (859), Boney (795), Bone (769), Dereck Ramirez (767), Rowland (743), Jon Tesch (717) and Scott Green (714).

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER …

On Saturday night, the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour makes their long-awaited return to the “Diamond of Dirt Tracks” as they return to the state-of-the-art Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo.

The 2nd running of the “Diamond of Dirt Tracks” Modified Nationals will see pit gates opening at 4:00 and grandstand gates opening at 5:00. Hot laps begin at 6:45 and the first heat race takes the green flag at 7:00. Also on the racing card will be the Show-Me Late Model Series.

Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons on Friday at the Casey’s General Stores locations in Lincoln, Stockton and Warsaw. Check out www.caseys.com for more information or to find the location nearest you.

The Lucas Oil Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.2 mile south of US 54 on SR 83, then east. For more information, call the track hotline at 417-282-5984 or visit www.lucasoilspeedway.com online.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Sat., June 27 … Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, Mo.
Thurs., July 23 … Fayette County Speedway, West Union, Iowa
Fri.-Sat., July 24-25 … Elko Speedway, Elko, Minn.
Mon., Aug. 3 … Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, Iowa
Tues., Aug. 4 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, Iowa

As they did on Friday night from the LA Raceway, WatchModsLive.com will be providing a live feed of the Lucas Oil Speedway show. The entire event will be broadcast live online and in real time. For more information, go to WatchModsLive.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.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour (Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region)
3rd Annual Event
LA Raceway, La Monte, Mo.
Friday, June 26, 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. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (2)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (3)
3. 22 - Dustin Boney — Tonganoxie, KS (7)
4. 65 - Tommy Myer — Blooming Prairie, MN (9)
5. 15 - Nathan Mayes — Springdale, AR (4)
6. 5c - Don Crnkovich — Lenexa, KS (6)
7. 33z - Zack VanderBeek — New Sharon, IA (8)
8. 112 - Justin Moon — Sedalia, MO (1)
9. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (5)

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 89 - Tate Cole — Muskogee, OK (2)
2. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (1)
3. 90 - Terry Schultz — Sedalia, MO (8)
4. 2 - Grant Junghans — Manhattan, KS (6)
5. 12 - Johnny Bone Jr. — Pea Ridge, AR (9)
6. 17 - Lucas Conley — Spring Hill, KS (3)
7. 20 - Jason Thompson — Concordia, MO (5)
8. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (4)
9. 96 - Chad Lyle — Lone Jack, MO (7)

BRODIX HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 88 - Chad Wheeler — Muskogee, OK (2)
2. 18 - Chase Junghans — Manhattan, KS (3)
3. 68 - Dean Wille — Warrensburg, MO (7)
4. 11p - Curt Potter — Boonville, MO (6)
5. 42 - Daulton Greven — Bolivar, MO (8)
6. 12m - Christopher Moon — Sedalia, MO (5)
7. 12 - Nathan Vaughn — Lincoln, MO (4)
8. 9j - Darrell Jones — Ashland, MO (1)
9. 21m - Steven Martin — Ozark, MO (9) DNS

AWESOME RACEWEAR HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (1)
2. 00 - Jim Moody — Odessa, MO (5)
3. 14 - Shawn Nations — Macks Creek, MO (3)
4. 15 - Richard Payne — Jefferson City, MO (7)
5. 48 - Jimmy Dowell — Boonville, MO (2)
6. 25 - Scott Roberts — Columbia, MO (8)
7. 21 - Johnny Fennewald — Appleton City, MO (6) DNF
8. 22 - Luke Feeback — Harrisonville, MO (4) DNF
9. 10p - Jason Pursley — Hermitage, MO (9) DNS

INTERCOMP HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 7k - Jason Krohn — Slayton, MN (4)
2. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (5)
3. 66 - Darryl Turner — Columbia, MO (2)
4. 66t - Tyler Schmidt — Easton, KS (1)
5. 24d - Scott Allen — Urbana, MO (6)
6. 88d - Matt Dotson — Sturgeon, MO (7)
7. 14 - Jon Tesch — Watertown, SD (8) DNF
8. 8 - Wesley Summers — Wellington, MO (3) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 33z - Zack VanderBeek — New Sharon, IA (10)
2. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (1)
3. 20 - Jason Thompson — Concordia, MO (11)
4. 15 - Richard Payne — Jefferson City, MO (2)
5. 66 - Darryl Turner — Columbia, MO (3)
6. 21m - Steven Martin — Ozark, MO (16)
7. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (13)
8. 11p - Curt Potter — Boonville, MO (4)
9. 17 - Lucas Conley — Spring Hill, KS (9)
10. 22 - Luke Feeback — Harrisonville, MO (14)
11. 48 - Jimmy Dowell — Boonville, MO (7)
12. 88d - Matt Dotson — Sturgeon, MO (8)
13. 24d - Scott Allen — Urbana, MO (6) DNF
14. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (15) DNF
15. 21 - Johnny Fennewald — Appleton City, MO (12) DNF
16. 42 - Daulton Greven — Bolivar, MO (5) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 12 - Johnny Bone Jr. — Pea Ridge, AR (4)
2. 2 - Grant Junghans — Manhattan, KS (3)
3. 65 - Tommy Myer — Blooming Prairie, MN (1)
4. 25 - Scotty Roberts — Columbia, MO (7)
5. 14 - Jon Tesch — Watertown, SD (10)
6. 15 - Nathan Mayes — Springdale, AR (6)
7. 5c - Don Crnkovich — Lenexa, KS (8)
8. 96 - Chad Lyle — Lone Jack, MO (15)
9. 14 - Shawn Nations — Macks Creek, MO (2)
10. 112 - Justin Moon — Sedalia, MO (12)
11. 12 - Nathan Vaughn — Lincoln, MO (11)
12. 12m - Christopher Moon — Sedalia, MO (9)
13. 66t - Tyler Schmidt — Easton, KS (5)
14. 8 - Wesley Summers — Wellington, MO (14)
15. 9j - Darrell Jones — Ashland, MO (13)
16. 10p - Jason Pursley — Hermitage, MO (16) DNS

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (2)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (7)
3. 33z - Zack VanderBeek — New Sharon, IA (13)
4. 88 - Chad Wheeler — Muskogee, OK (1)
5. 7k - Jason Krohn — Slayton, MN (4)
6. 22 - Dustin Boney — Tonganoxie, KS (9)
7. 12 - Johnny Bone Jr. — Pea Ridge, AR (14)
8. 00 - Jim Moody — Odessa, MO (5)
9. 68 - Dean Wille — Warrensburg, MO (10)
10. 20 - Jason Thompson — Concordia, MO (17)
11. 90 - Terry Schultz — Sedalia, MO (8)
12. 89 - Tate Cole — Muskogee, OK (6)
13. 18 - Chase Junghans — Manhattan, KS (12)
14. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (3)
15. 14 - Jon Tesch — Watertown, SD (22)
16. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (11)
17. 65 - Tommy Myer — Blooming Prairie, MN (18)
18. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (23)
19. 2 - Grant Junghans — Manhattan, KS (16)
20. 15 - Richard Payne — Jefferson City, MO (19)
21. 21m - Steven Martin — Ozark, MO (24)
22. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (15) -1 Lap
23. 48 - Jimmy Dowell — Boonville, MO (25) -1 Lap
24. 25 - Scotty Roberts — Columbia, MO (20) -1 Lap
25. 112 - Justin Moon — Sedalia, MO (26) -1 Lap
26. 66 - Darryl Turner — Columbia, MO (21) -1 Lap

Lap Leader: Sanders 1-35.
Total Laps Led: Sanders 35.
AFCO Pole Winner: Krohn.
Provisional Starters: Rowland, Martin, Dowell (track), J. Moon (track).
PBM Performance Products Hard Charger: VanderBeek (started 13th, finished 3rd).
Next Race: Saturday, June 27, Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, Mo. (Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region).
Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region Points: Hughes 913, Sanders 883, VanderBeek 862, Shryock 859, Boney 795, Bone 769, Ramirez 767, Rowland 743, Tesch 717, Green 714.
DandyLand Farms Rookie of the Year Points: G. Junghans 371, Mike Hansen 322, Rich Lewerke 201, Mike Albertsen 193, Cole 149.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 246, Mullins 192, ASI 149, JR 124, AEM 79.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 233, Ramirez 218, Hughes 201, GRT 125, Harris 120.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Krohn.
American Racer – Shryock.
Isky Racing Cams – Ramirez.
KSE Racing Products – Schultz.
PBM Performance Products – VanderBeek.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Turner.
Nitroquest – VanderBeek.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Schultz.
Quarter Master – Sanders, Moody.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Bone.
Real Racing Wheels – Martin, Mayes.
Ruter Farms – ?????.

by Jeff Nun

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.

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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.

Jason Hughes best at Houston Raceway Park in 3rd round of USMTS “Texas Shootout”

What was billed as the ’Showdown in Baytown’ turned into a beat down Saturday night at Jason Hughes spanked the field to capture the checkered flags at the Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas, during the third night of the 3rd Annual Rinehart Texas Shootout.

The defending USMTS Southern Series champion is always a threat to win when he pulls through the gate at any event. But when he dominates his heat race then draws the pole position for the main event, your odds betting against him are about the same as winning Saturday night’s $109 million Powerball jackpot (which, by the way, nobody won).

The green flag waved over a 26-car field Saturday night to kick off the 35-lap Sunoco “A” Main, and that was the only flag displayed until the white flag flew 34 laps later. By the time Hughes crossed the finish line at the end of the caution-free event, he was long gone from his closest competitor and had lapped 12 of the 23 finishers.

The win, worth $3,000, was the fifth of the season for Hughes and his fourth in six starts in the West Region of the USMTS Southern Series. It was also the second win of his career at the 3/8-mile clay oval as he became the first USMTS driver to record multiple wins at the facility.

Bryan Rowland survived to take home the runner-up paycheck ahead of AFCO Pole Award winner Jon Tesch, who turned his luck around this week with a third-place finish. Howard Willis was fourth and Dereck Ramirez grabbed the fifth spot.

Sixth through tenth, respectively, were Rodney Sanders, Bobby Malchus, Steven Whiteaker Jr., Shane Hebert and Kelly Shryock, who started 22nd after claiming the fifth and final transfer spot in the second Real Racing Wheels “B” Main. Between the two races, Shryock passed 21 cars in 50 laps and earned the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award.

Hebert also captured the 20-lap USRA Southern Limited Modified main event prior to the feature race for the USMTS Modifieds.

The USMTS Southern Series West Region points belongs to Hughes as he holds a 97-point advantage over Sanders (614 to 517). Shryock is third with 501 points, followed by Rowland (477), Whiteaker (469), Hebert (440), Tesch (436), Bumper Jones (397), Morgan Bagley (393) and Eddie Martin (387).

The four-night, four-track Rinehart Texas Shootout points has Hughes leading with 302 points, followed by Sanders (280), Rowland (278), Shryock (255), and John O Whittington (251). An extra $500 awaits the top points earner over the course of the four-race swing, with $300 going to second and $200 for third.

SUNDAY, MAY 10 - GATOR MOTORPLEX

The four-race weekend wraps up tomorrow (Sunday, May 10) at the Gator Motorplex in Willis – a do-over for the rained-out show on April 18. Gates will open early at 12 noon, with hot laps slated for 3:30 and the first green flag flying 4:00. Also competing will be USRA Southern Limited Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Pure Stocks.

Past USMTS Southern Series winners at the Gator Motorplex include Greg Skaggs (2007) and Steve Holzkamper (2008). Local favorites than fans can expect to see defending their home turf are Kevin Sturgess, Bryan Vollmer, Doug Byrns, Keith Wright, Monty Locke, Alan Drewry, Steve Pugh, Derek Knowles, Kalif Sellier, Jeff Wood and others.

The Gator Motorplex is a 1/4-mile high-banked clay oval located off I-45 to Shepherd Hill (Exit 98), then east, then 1.4 miles south on SR 75. The track’s official website is online at www.gatormotorplex.net.

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.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Southern Series (West Region)
Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas
3rd Annual Rinehart Texas Shootout - Event #3 of 4
Saturday, May 9, 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. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (1)
2. 71k - Kevin Sustaire — Emery, TX (2)
3. 51 - Eddie Martin — Stilwell, OK (6)
4. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (5)
5. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX
6. 5w - John O Whittington — Vidor, TX (4)
7. 18t - Tim Clonch — Quinlan, TX (7)
8. 115 - Brian Stipe — Baytown, TX (8)
9. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (3)
10. 23b - Brandon Davis — Castle Rock, CO (9)

HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 51 - Tracy Denby Jr. — Vidor, TX (1)
2. 4m - Bobby Malchus — Red Oak, TX (3)
3. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (2)
4. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (7)
5. 10k - Kenny Battarbee — Houston, TX (4)
6. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (5)
7. 91 - Robert Metz Jr. — Lumberton, TX (9)
8. 18 - Cody Smith — Kaufman, TX (10)
9. 05x - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (6) DNF
10. 129 - Bryan Vollmer — Tomball, TX (8) DNF

HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 14 - Jon Tesch — Watertown, SD (4)
2. E - Howard Willis — Dayton, TX (5)
3. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (8)
4. A1 - Phil Dixon — Crosby, TX (7)
5. 75 - Alan Sharpensteen — Amarillo, TX (9)
6. 97j - Jeff Hoegh — New Caney, TX (1)
7. 121 - Kevin Sturgess — Tomball, TX (2)
8. 68 - Danny Barringer — Lufkin, TX (6)
9. 7g - Mark Smith — Lufkin, TX (3) DNF
10. 56 - David Horner — Houston, TX (10) DNS

HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 85d - Mark Dotson — Cameron, MO (2)
2. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (4)
3. 14t - Tristan Dycus — Midlothian, TX (3)
4. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (6)
5. 71 - Tracy Denby Sr. — Vidor, TX (7)
6. 10 - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (9)
7. 9n - Brent Nicholas — Baytown, TX (5)
8. 51w - Jeff Wood — Willis, TX (8)
9. 07 - Keith Wright — Conroe, TX (1)
10. 10j - Jeremy Ishmael — Tyler, TX (10)

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (4)
2. 111 - Bumper Jones — Mesilla Park, NM (1)
3. 88xxx - Clyde Dunn Jr. — Sunnyville, TX (6)
4. 12c - Corey Babbitt — Channelview, TX (8)
5. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (7)
6. 9 - Doug Begnaud — Cypress, TX (5)
7. 88b - Brian Boram — Orange, TX (2)
8. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (3) DNF
9. 00 - Darrel Dawson — Midlothian, TX (9) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (2)
2. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (4)
3. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (3)
4. 5w - John O Whittington — Vidor, TX (8)
5. 10 - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (7)
6. 111 - Bumper Jones — Mesilla Park, NM (1)
7. 75 - Alan Sharpensteen — Amarillo, TX (5)
8. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (15)
9. 115 - Brian Stipe — Baytown, TX (13)
10. 71 - Tracy Denby Sr. — Vidor, TX (6)
11. 88b - Brian Boram — Orange, TX (12)
12. 91 - Robert Metz Jr. — Lumberton, TX (10)
13. 121 - Kevin Sturgess — Tomball, TX (11)
14. 51w - Jeff Wood — Willis, TX (14)
15. 97j - Jeff Hoegh — New Caney, TX (9)
16. 7g - Mark Smith — Lufkin, TX (16) DNF
17. 129 - Bryan Vollmer — Tomball, TX (18) DNF
18. 00 - Darrel Dawson — Midlothian, TX (17) DNS
19. 10j - Jeremy Ishmael — Tyler, TX (19) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (5)
2. 12c - Corey Babbitt — Channelview, TX (1)
3. A1 - Phil Dixon — Crosby, TX (2)
4. 10k - Kenny Battarbee — Houston, TX (7)
5. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (14)
6. 18t - Tim Clonch — Quinlan, TX (10)
7. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (4)
8. 14t - Tristan Dycus — Midlothian, TX (3)
9. 9 - Doug Begnaud — Cypress, TX (9)
10. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (6)
11. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (8)
12. 9n - Brent Nicholas — Baytown, TX (11)
13. 07 - Keith Wright — Conroe, TX (16)
14. 23b - Brandon Davis — Castle Rock, CO (17) DNF
15. 68 - Danny Barringer — Lufkin, TX (13) DNF
16. 18 - Cody Smith — Kaufman, TX (12) DNS
17. 05x - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (15) DNS
18. 56 - David Horner — Houston, TX (18) DNS

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (1)
2. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (3)
3. 14 - Jon Tesch — Watertown, SD (4)
4. E - Howard Willis — Dayton, TX (8)
5. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (7)
6. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (2)
7. 4m - Bobby Malchus — Red Oak, TX (9)
8. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (15)
9. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (13)
10. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (22)
11. 12c - Corey Babbitt — Channelview, TX (16)
12. 88xxx - Clyde Dunn Jr. — Sunnyville, TX (11) -1 Lap
13. 5w - John O Whittington — Vidor, TX (19) -1 Lap
14. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (17) -1 Lap
15. 85d - Mark Dotson — Cameron, MO (6) -1 Lap
16. 71k - Kevin Sustaire — Emery, TX (12) -1 Lap
17. 51 - Tracy Denby Jr. — Vidor, TX (5) -1 Lap
18. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (24) -1 Lap
19. 111 - Bumper Jones — Mesilla Park, NM (23) -1 Lap
20. 10k - Kenny Battarbee — Houston, TX (20) -1 Lap
21. 51 - Eddie Martin — Stilwell, OK (10) -1 Lap
22. 10 - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (21) -1 Lap
23. A1 - Phil Dixon — Crosby, TX (18) -1 Lap
24. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (14) DNF
25. 9n - Brent Nicholas — Baytown, TX (26) DNF
26. 9 - Doug Begnaud — Cypress, TX (25) DNF

Lap Leaders: Hughes 1-35.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 35.
AFCO Pole Winner: Tesch.
Provisional Starters: Jones, W. Armstrong, Begnaud (track), Nicholas (track).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Shryock (started 22nd, finished 10th).
Next Race: Sunday, May 10, Gator Motorplex, Willis, Texas (West Region).
West Region Points: Hughes 614, Sanders 517, Shryock 501, Rowland 477, Whiteaker 469, Hebert 440, Tesch 436, Jones 397, Bagley 393, Martin 387.
Rinehart Texas Shootout Points: Hughes 302, Sanders 280, Rowland 278, Shryock 255, Whittington 251.
Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Points: W. Armstrong 184, J. Armstrong 169, Sustaire 157, Schmidt 148, C. Davis 139.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: ASI 85, Mullins 82, Sput’s 53, Young’s 49, Rowland 41.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 93, Skyrocket 92, Ramirez 76, TRE 71, GRT 70.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Tesch.
American Racer – Whittington.
Isky Racing Cams – Hughes.
KSE Racing Products – Shryock.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Begnaud.
Nitroquest – Tesch.
Quarter Master – Hughes, Whiteaker.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Malchus.
Real Racing Wheels – Jones, Clonch.

Bryan Rowland triumphs in a tale of two teams in USMTS battle at Golden Triangle

Jon Tesch was well on his way to a runaway win Thursday night at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park, but a mid-race caution set up a tag-team royal rumble that saw two teammates tangle while two other teammates triumphed.

Forty-one USMTS Southern Series combatants suited up for the opening event of the 3rd Annual Rinehart Trucking Texas Shootout, which features four events over four straight nights at four distinct dirt tracks in the Lone Star State.

Tesch drew the pole position for the start of the 40-lap Sunoco “A” Main with teammate Dereck Ramirez drawing the second spot to create a Ramirez Race Cars front row.

At the drop of the green flag, Ramirez was unable to wrestle the lead away from Tesch, who added to his advantage with each passing lap. Halfway through the race, Tesch’s lead was more than a straight-away over Ramirez who his hands full with USMTS Southern Series points leader Jason Hughes.

The event’s first caution waved on lap 22, however, which bunched the field for a double-file restart. Tesch led the field to the green again with Ramirez beating Hughes in the drag race to the first turn.

Ramirez closed the gap between himself and Tesch as they entered the third turn nose to tail. A bump in the road forced Tesch to momentarily back off of the gas pedal which earned him a bump from behind by Ramirez. The tag from his teammate was enough to send Tesch into a spin while Ramirez scooted past while Hughes swerved to avoid the melee.

Hughes slipped back to third as teammates Bryan Rowland and Rodney Sanders assumed the top two spots. With Tesch stopping at the edge of the infield, the caution waved again and Ramirez was forced to join Tesch at the rear of the field for the restart.

While Hughes was looking to claim his fourth straight main event victory in the West Region of the USMTS Southern Series, Rowland and Sanders were both seeking their first under the USMTS banner.

Rowland, 29, and Sanders, 19, were both contenders for last year’s top rookie honors in the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour while the elder pilot was also a candidate for the Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Award in the USMTS Southern Series. Rowland and Sanders finished third and fifth, respectively in the National Tour battle while Rowland wound up seventh in the Southern Series rookie rankings.

Thursday night, however, the pair was fast and flawless over the final 18 circuits as they finished first and second. Rowland’s career-first win was worth $2,000 to the Woodward, Okla., native while Sanders recorded a career-best runner-up finish in his matching #20 Skyrocket Chassis.

Hughes – the defending USMTS Southern Series champion – followed in third and 2007 USMTS Southern Series titleist Kelly Shryock came home fourth ahead of New Mexico’s Bumper Jones.

Sixth through tenth at the finish line were Steven Whiteaker Jr., Eddie Martin, last year’s Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year John O Whittington, Chris Brown and KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award winner Morgan Bagley, who was third in last year’s rookie race.

Tesch could only climb back to 11th while Ramirez, who was the runner-up in both Rookie of the Year contests last season, wound up 14th in Thursday’s nightcap.

Hughes still sits solidly atop the West Region standings with 409 points. Sanders moved up to second, just two points ahead of Shryock (338 to 336). Whiteaker is fourth with 308 markers, followed by Rowland (304), Martin (289), Shane Hebert (286), Tesch (280), Randy Timms (256), Jones (250).

NIGHT 2 OF 3 …

Friday, May 8, will find the mud-slinging Modifieds of the USMTS Southern Series making their debut at the rejuvenated Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas, for Round 2 of the 3rd Annual Rinehart Trucking Texas Shootout.

Pit gates will open at 3:00 for the inaugural event, with grandstand gates swinging open at 5:00. Hot laps are slated for 6:00 and the first heat race is scheduled to take to the track at 7:00. USRA Southern Limited Modifieds will also join the racing program Friday night.

The Battleground Speedway is a 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval located east of Houston on I-10 to Highland Exit 787, then 4.0 miles north on FM 2100 (Crosby Lynchburg Rd.). For more information, call 832-421-RACE or check out www.battlegroundspeedway.net online.

On Saturday, May 9, the Houston Raceway Park in Baytown is on the invasion menu and the four-race weekend wraps up at the Gator Motorplex in Willis on Sunday, May 10.

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.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Southern Series (West Region)
Golden Triangle Raceway Park, Beaumont, Texas
3rd Annual Rinehart Trucking Texas Shootout - Event #1 of 4
Thursday, May 7, 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. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (2)
2. E - Howard Willis — Dayton, TX (1)
3. 111 - Bumper Jones — Mesilla Park, NM (5)
4. 5w - John O Whittington — Vidor, TX (3)
5. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (9)
6. 2w - Paul White — Temple, TX (7)
7. C3 - Chad Comer — Warren, TX (6)
8. 91 - Robert Metz Jr. — Lumberton, TX (8)
9. 25 - Corey Neil — Beaumont, TX (4)

HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (5)
2. 14 - Jon Tesch — Watertown, SD (8)
3. 51w - Jeff Wood — Willis, TX (1)
4. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (7)
5. 71 - Tracy Denby Sr. — Vidor, TX (3)
6. 97j - Jeff Hoegh — New Caney, TX (6)
7. 29 - Mike Walling — Baytown, TX (4)
8. 68 - Danny Barringer — Lufkin, TX (2)

HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (4)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (3)
3. 12c - Corey Babbitt — Channelview, TX (5)
4. 21 - Chris Brown — Cleveland, TX (7)
5. 9 - Doug Begnaud — Cypress, TX (6) DNF
6. 88b - Brian Boram — Orange, TX (1) DNF
7. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (2) DNF
8. 18 - Cody Smith — Kaufman, TX (8) DNS

HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (2)
2. 71k - Kevin Sustaire — Emery, TX (4)
3. 51 - Eddie Martin — Stilwell, OK (5)
4. 10 - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (1)
5. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (7)
6. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (8)
7. 4m - Bobby Malchus — Red Oak, TX (6)
8. 51 - Tracy Denby Jr. — Vidor, TX (3)

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (3)
2. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (5)
3. 75 - Alan Sharpensteen — Amarillo, TX (1)
4. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (6)
5. L1 - Larry Clevenger — Greenwood, LA (7)
6. 7g - Mark Smith — Lufkin, TX (8)
7. 89n - John Neff — Lumberton, TX (4)
8. 8 - Steve Miller — Georgetown, TX (2)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (4)
2. 51 - Eddie Martin — Stilwell, OK (1)
3. 21 - Chris Brown — Cleveland, TX (2)
4. 25 - Corey Neil — Beaumont, TX (15)
5. C3 - Chad Comer — Warren, TX (10)
6. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (11)
7. 51 - Tracy Denby Jr. — Vidor, TX (14)
8. 75 - Alan Sharpensteen — Amarillo, TX (3)
9. 71 - Tracy Denby Sr. — Vidor, TX (7)
10. 89n - John Neff — Lumberton, TX (12)
11. 68 - Danny Barringer — Lufkin, TX (13)
12. 7g - Mark Smith — Lufkin, TX (8)
13. L1 - Larry Clevenger — Greenwood, LA (6) DNF
14. 10 - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (5) DNF
15. 97j - Jeff Hoegh — New Caney, TX (9) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (3)
2. 5w - John O Whittington — Vidor, TX (4)
3. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (1)
4. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (7)
5. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (5)
6. 88b - Brian Boram — Orange, TX (9)
7. 4m - Bobby Malchus — Red Oak, TX (11)
8. 2w - Paul White — Temple, TX (8)
9. 51w - Jeff Wood — Willis, TX (2)
10. 8 - Steve Miller — Georgetown, TX (14)
11. 29 - Mike Walling — Baytown, TX (10) DNF
12. 9 - Doug Begnaud — Cypress, TX (6) DNF
13. 91 - Robert Metz Jr. — Lumberton, TX (12) DNF
14. 18 - Cody Smith — Kaufman, TX (13) DNS

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (5)
2. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (8)
3. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (9)
4. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (7)
5. 111 - Bumper Jones — Mesilla Park, NM (11)
6. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (6)
7. 51 - Eddie Martin — Stilwell, OK (15)
8. 5w - John O Whittington — Vidor, TX (16)
9. 21 - Chris Brown — Cleveland, TX (17)
10. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (20)
11. 14 - Jon Tesch — Watertown, SD (1)
12. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (18)
13. 71k - Kevin Sustaire — Emery, TX (4)
14. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (3)
15. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (2)
16. 4m - Bobby Malchus — Red Oak, TX (23)
17. 10 - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (24)
18. C3 - Chad Comer — Warren, TX (21)
19. 71 - Tracy Denby Sr. — Vidor, TX (25)
20. 12c - Corey Babbitt — Channelview, TX (12)
21. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (14)
22. 91 - Robert Metz Jr. — Lumberton, TX (26) DNF
23. 25 - Corey Neil — Beaumont, TX (19) DNF
24. E - Howard Willis — Dayton, TX (10) DNF
25. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (22) DNF
26. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (13) DNF

Lap Leaders: Tesch 1-22, Rowland 23-40.
Total Laps Led: Tesch 22, Rowland 18.AFCO Pole Award: Rowland.Provisional Starters: Malchus, Schmidt, Denby Sr. (track), Metz (track).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Bagley (started 20th, finished 10th).
Next Race: Friday, May 8, Battleground Speedway, Highlands, Texas (West Region).
West Region Points: Hughes 409, Sanders 338, Shryock 336, Whiteaker 308, Rowland 304, Martin 289, Hebert 286, Tesch 280, Timms 256, Jones 250.
Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Points: J. Armstrong 149, W. Armstrong 142, Schmidt 121, Davis 119, Sustaire 113.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: A.S.I. 67, Mullins 64, Sput’s 44, Young’s 39, BMS 38.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 74, Skyrocket 73, TRE 65, GRT 65, Ramirez 64.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Rowland.
American Racer – Walling.
Isky Racing Cams – Shryock.
KSE Racing Products – Bagley.
Marsh Racing Wheels – W. Armstrong.
Nitroquest – Hughes.
Quarter Master – Rowland, Whittington.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Martin.
Real Racing Wheels – Gould, Boram.

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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: Casey’s General Stores.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Awesome Racewear, AwesomeRaceSuits.com, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, COMP Cams, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Intercomp, Karl Chevrolet, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, Nitroquest, PBM Performance Products, Sunoco Race Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: ASi Racewear, Bear Tire, Big Dog Chassis & Fabrication, DandyLand Farms, Day Motor Sports, Diamond Oil Company, Gressel Oil Field Service, Just Say Yes, Ramirez Race Cars, Lone Star Super Gas, Olympic Fire Protection, Ruter Farms, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, Hyperco, ISKY Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Out-Pace Racing Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Real Racing Wheels, US Brake.

USMTS Modifieds set for four-night Texas Shootout, May 7-10

Four events in the Lone Star State are up next for the USMTS Southern Series with a possible $8,500 to win as drivers look to make their move in the West Region points standings during the 3rd Annual Rinehart Trucking Texas Shootout.

More than $60,000 in purse money will be up for grabs during the 3rd Annual Rinehart Trucking Texas Shootout, including a $2,000 top prize at each of the four events and a points fund provided by Rinehart Trucking which will pay $500 to the top points earner, $300 for second and $200 for third over the course of the four-race swing.

With three West Region races in the books so far this season, defending USMTS Southern Series champion Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla., is three-for-three and leads the top-notch touring titans into Texas as the current points leader over 2007 USMTS Southern Series titleist and eight-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa. Texan Rodney Sanders of Happy is third in the rankings, followed by Steven Whiteaker Jr. of Corpus Christi. Shane Hebert of Lafayette, La., is fifth; Johnny Bone Jr. of Pea Ridge, Ark., is sixth; and Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D., sits seventh. Three Sooner State speedsters round out the top 10: Eddie Martin of Stilwell, Randy Timms of Wheatland and Woodward’s Bryan Rowland.

Other USMTS Southern Series drivers expected to make some noise this weekend include Kevin Sustaire, Wes Armstrong, Dereck Ramirez, Bobby Malchus, Jason Armstrong, Morgan Bagley, Bumper Jones, Kyle Schmidt, William Gould, Chase Allen, Shawn Brassfield, Chad Davis, Alan Sharpensteen, Cody Smith, Steve Holzkamper, Chad Wheeler, Scott Green, Kip Hughes, Jeremy Morris, Larry Clevenger, Tate Cole, Mike Dillard, Dustin Hyde, Pat McVicker, Melvin Pilcher, Jeremy Ross, Timothy Culp, John O Whittington, Tim Clonch, Troy Taylor Jr., Jack Sullivan, Tristan Dycus, Jerry Standifer, Tyler Townsend, Nathan Bichsel, Allen Chickering, Brandon Davis, Ron Gould Jr. and Grant Junghans.

THURSDAY, MAY 7 - GOLDEN TRIANGLE RACEWAY PARK

On Thursday, May 7, the quadrupleheader kicks off at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont for a re-scheduled date that was rained-out on April 17.

Howard Willis of Vidor, Texas, sat on the pole and never relinquished the lead as he captured the season-opening USMTS Southern Series main event last year. Four events were held at the track (then called Motorama Speedway) in 2007 with Kelly Shryock, Steve Holzkamper, Tommy Weder Jr. and Jason Hughes sharing the honors.

Among the regulars expected to defend their home turf are Corey Neil, Darryl Seals, Corey Babbitt, Robert Metz, Johnny Brown, John Baker, Mike Walling, Brian Boram, Mike Girardo and John Neff Jr.

Pit and grandstand gates will open at 5:00 with hot laps at 7:00 and racing at 7:45. Also on the racing card will be USRA Southern Limited Modifieds ( and Hobby Stocks.

The Golden Triangle Raceway Park is a 1/4-mile high-banked clay oval located 9.5 miles west of I-10 on US 90 (SSR). For race day information, call the track hotline at 409-752-7200 or 409-781-2801 or visit www.motoramaspeedway.com on the World Wide Web.

FRIDAY, MAY 8 - BATTLEGROUND SPEEDWAY

Friday, May 8, will find the mud-slinging Modifieds of the USMTS Southern Series making their debut at the rejuvenated Battleground Speedway in Highlands. The 3/8-mile oval opened on March 31, 1984, and operated through 2001 before closing. It re-opened briefly from 2004-06 under the name Highland Motor Speedway, changing the name back to Battleground Speedway just before closing again.

“My goal is to make Battleground Speedway the premier facility for dirt track racing in Southeast Texas,” said Mike Walling, who purchased the complex in September 2008.

With a successful World of Outlaws Late Model Series event already under their belt in 2009, the facility boasts a 4,000-seat grandstand topped by a new press box. The former press box was blown off the stands and landed in the nearby woods when Hurricane Ike rocked the area last September – just four days after Walling assumed ownership of the track.

Phil Dixon, Bubba Gates, Tommy Stanley, Danny Barringer, Paul White, Corey Neil, Benny Perry, Corey Babbitt, Frank Kitchenhoff and Pete Sagmiller are just a few of the weekly warriors expected to contend for the winner’s trophy Friday night.

Pit gates will open at 3:00 for the inaugural event, with grandstand gates swinging open at 5:00. Hot laps are slated for 6:00 and the first heat race is scheduled to take to the track at 7:00. USRA Southern Limited Modifieds will also join the racing program Friday night.

The Battleground Speedway is a 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval located east of Houston on I-10 to Highland Exit 787, then 4.0 miles north on FM 2100 (Crosby Lynchburg Rd.). For more information, call 832-421-RACE or check out www.battlegroundspeedway.net online.

SATURDAY, MAY 9 - HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK

On Saturday, May 9, the Houston Raceway Park in Baytown is on the invasion menu with the 2nd Annual Showdown at Baytown. With seven shows since 2007, more USMTS Southern Series events have been held at HRP than any other facility – and, weather permitting, the total will increase to 11 with the conclusion of the 3rd Annual Texas Winter Nationals, Dec. 3-5.

The nine-year-old facility has a main grandstand seating capacity of 7,500 which includes fourteen VIP luxury suites and boasts a state-of-the-art Musco Lighting system for TV productions.

Paul White won the first-ever USMTS Southern Series event at Houston Raceway Park. Since then, trips to victory lane have also been made by Alan Mondus, Kelly Shryock, Jason Hughes, Tommy Weder Jr., Johnny Bone Jr. and Zack VanderBeek.

Local aces expected to compete include David Smith, Chris Brown, Corey Neil, Kevin Batterbee, Joe Mayhew, Kenny Batterbee, Ed Wickham, Brent Nicholas, Brian Spindleman, Brian Sellier and others.

Pit gates will open at 4:00 on Saturday with grandstands opening at 6:00. Hot laps are at 6:30 and racing begins at 7:00. USRA Southern Limited Modifieds will round out the night’s racing card.

The Houston Raceway Park is a state-of-the-art 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval located east of Houston on I-10 to Exit 798, then 3.0 miles south on SR 146, then 0.9 miles southeast on FM 1405, then 1.5 miles northeast on FM 565. For more information, call the track office at 281-383-RACE or visit www.houstonraceway.com online.

SUNDAY, MAY 10 - GATOR MOTORPLEX

The four-race weekend wraps up at the Gator Motorplex in Willis on Sunday, May 10, to make-up the rained-out show on April 18. Gates will open early at 12 noon, with hot laps slated for 3:30 and the first green flag flying 4:00. Also competing will be USRA Southern Limited Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Pure Stocks.

Fans can meet the drivers prior to hot laps and a free meal from Hickory Hut Concessions are part of the special Mothers Day prizes that will be distributed at the races. Mother’s Day prize sponsors include Speed Tan, Gene’s Hickory Hut, Performance Tinters, SDR Photography, Checkerflag Diner, Waffle House, Starbucks, Sonic, Subway and more.

Past USMTS Southern Series winners at the Gator Motorplex include Greg Skaggs (2007) and Steve Holzkamper (2008).

Local favorites than fans can expect to see defending their home turf are Kevin Sturgess, Bryan Vollmer, Doug Byrns, Keith Wright, Monty Locke, Alan Drewry, Steve Pugh, Derek Knowles, Kalif Sellier, Jeff Wood and others.

The Gator Motorplex is a 1/4-mile high-banked clay oval located off I-45 to Shepherd Hill (Exit 98), then east, then 1.4 miles south on SR 75. The track’s official website is online at www.gatormotorplex.net.

RULES & PROCEDURES: All USMTS rules apply. Qualifying will be done by heat race passing points and Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains. Draw for heat race starting spot ends 15 minutes before hot laps begin. The American Racer KK704 is the Official Tire of the USMTS; however drivers may use the Hoosier G60 but will not earn points or be eligible for points funds. 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.

PROVISIONALS: Four provisional starters shall be added to the rear of the Sunoco “A” Main each night - two from USMTS points and two from track points.

TOP DOG BONUS: Drivers ranked among the top-10 in West Region points are guaranteed a minimum of $300. Drivers ranked 11th through 15th earn a minimum of $200. Driver must have perfect attendance in the USMTS Southern Series West Region to be eligible.

LICENSES: There is no requirement to purchase a USMTS 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, contingency awards, points funds, provisional starting spots, increased media recognition, a personalized driver profile page at www.usmts.com and more. The cost of a USMTS Southern Series license is $200.

ENTRY FEES: Pre-entry is $90 for non-licensed drivers or $80 for drivers with a USMTS license. Late entry for all drivers is $100. Drivers may call USMTS headquarters at (515) 832-7944 on Tuesday, May 5, to secure the early entry rate.

PAYOFF: Licensed - 1. $2000, 2. $1500, 3. $1000, 4. $800, 5. $700, 6. $600, 7. $500, 8. $450, 9. $400, 10. $350, 11. $320, 12. $300, 13. $275, 14-26. $250, Tow $80; Non-Licensed - 1. $2000, 2. $1200, 3. $800, 4. $600, 5. $500, 6. $400, 7. $350 , 8. $300, 9. $250, 10. $230, 11. $210, 12-26. $200, Tow $60.

USMTS SOUTHERN SERIES - WEST REGION POINTS STANDINGS:
1. 12 - Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla. … 312
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock, Fertile, IA, . 246
3. 20 - Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas … 237
4. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas … 227
5. 9 - Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La. … 222
6. 12 - Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, Ark. … 216
7. 14 - Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D. … 210
8. 51 - Eddie Martin, Stilwell, Okla. … 203
8. 5t - Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla. … 203
10. 20r - Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla. … 199
11. 71k - Kevin Sustaire, Emery, Texas … 181
12. 5a - Wes Armstrong, Marshall, Texas … 179
13. 4r - Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla. … 177
14. 4m - Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas … 167
14. 57 - Jason Armstrong, Marshall, Texas … 167
16. 5r - Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas … 164
17. 111 - Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M. … 160
17. 10 - Kyle Schmidt, Farmington, Ark. … 160
19. 60 - William Gould, Calera, Okla. … 145
19. 30 - Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas … 145
21. 91b - Shawn Brassfield, Ada, Okla. … 135
21. 52 - Chad Davis Tulsa, Okla., … 135
21. 75 - Alan Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas … 135
21. 18 - Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas … 135
25. 5 - Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark. … 130
26. 88 - Chad Wheeler, Muskogee, Okla. … 129
27. 25 - Scott Green, Derby, Kan. … 120
28. GO - Kip Hughes, Enid, Okla. … 102
29. 9j - Jeremy Morris, Lowell, Ark. … 95
30. L1 - Larry Clevenger, Greenwood, La. … 90
30. 89 - Tate Cole, Muskogee, Okla. … 90
30. 66x - Mike Dillard, Allen, Texas … 90
30. 8j - Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, Texas … 90
30. 6 - Pat McVicker, Woodward, Okla. … 90
30. 47 - Melvin Pilcher, Springdale, Ark. … 90
30. 38 - Jeremy Ross, Locust Grove, Okla. … 90
30. C8 - Timothy Culp, West Monroe, La. … 90
38. 5w - John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas … 85
39. 18 - Tim Clonch, Quinlan, Texas … 77
40. 76 - Troy Taylor Jr., Dallas, Texas … 67
41. 18 - Jack Sullivan, Greenbrier, Ark. … 64
42. 14 - Tristan Dycus, Midlothian, Texas … 54
43. 2 - Jerry Standifer, Howe, Okla. … 45
43. 12 - Tyler Townsend, Longview, Texas … 45
43. 58 - Nathan Bichsel, Amarillo, Texas … 45
43. 26 - Allen Chickering, Okarche, Okla. … 45
43. 23b - Brandon Davis, Castle Rock, Colo. … 45
43. 05 - Ron Gould Jr., McLoud, Okla. … 45
43. 2 - Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan. … 45

USMTS SOUTHERN SERIES - 2009 SCHEDULE:
Fri Mar 20 … I-30 Speedway, Little Rock, AR (winner: Michael Robertson) [E]
Sat Mar 21 … I-30 Speedway, Little Rock, AR (winner: Johnny Bone Jr.) [E]
Fri Apr 3 … West Siloam Speedway, West Siloam Springs, OK (winner: Jason Hughes) [W]
Sat Apr 4 … West Siloam Speedway, West Siloam Springs, OK (winner: Jason Hughes) [W]
Fri Apr 24 … Texarkana 67 Speedway, Texarkana, AR (winner: Jason Hughes) [E]
Sat Apr 25 … Champion Park Speedway, Haughton, LA (winner: Johnny Bone Jr.) [E]
Sun Apr 26 … Boothill Speedway, Greenwood, LA (winner: Jack Sullivan) [E]
Fri May 1 … Lake Country Speedway, Ardmore, OK (winner: Jason Hughes) [W]
Thu May 7 … Golden Triangle Raceway Park, Beaumont, TX ($2,000 to win) [W]
Fri May 8 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($2,000 to win) [W]
Sat May 9 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($2,000 to win) [W]
Sun May 10 … Gator Motorplex, Willis, TX ($2,000 to win) [W]
Tue Jun 9 … Tri-State Speedway, Pocola, OK ($2,000 to win) [E]
Wed Jun 10 … I-30 Speedway, Little Rock, AR ($2,000 to win) [E]
Thu Jun 11 … Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Vivian, LA ($2,000 to win) [E]
Fri Jun 12 … Fast Trax Speedway, Chatham, LA ($2,000 to win) [E]
Sat Jun 13 … Drew County Speedway, Monticello, AR ($2,000 to win) [E]
Sun Jun 14 … Boothill Speedway, Greenwood, LA ($2,000 to win) [E]
Thu Oct 1 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($1,000 to win)
Fri Oct 2 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($2,000 to win) [H]
Sat Oct 3 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($3,000 to win) [H]
Fri Oct 23 … Gator Motorplex, Willis, TX ($2,000 to win) [H]
Sat Oct 24 … Gator Motorplex, Willis, TX ($3,000 to win) [H]
Fri Nov 27 … Texana Raceway Park, Edna, TX ($1,000 to win) [H]
Sat Nov 28 … Texana Raceway Park, Edna, TX ($2,000 to win) [H]
Sun Nov 29 … Texana Raceway Park, Edna, TX ($3,000 to win) [H]
Thu Dec 3 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($2,000 to win) [H]
Fri Dec 4 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($3,000 to win) [H]
Sat Dec 5 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($4,000 to win) [H]

[E] = East Region
[W] = West Region
[H] = Championship Hunt

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.

USMTS Press Release

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