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Jason Hughes sails to USMTS Modified win at Houston Raceway Park

Jason Hughes was in a class by himself in 2009, winning ten main events en route to claiming his second straight USMTS Southern Series crown.

After three days of racing at the Houston Raceway Park, it looks like Hughes will be the man to beat again in 2010.

As the weekend wore on and the stakes got higher and higher, the 35-year-old chassis builder from Westville, Okla., got better and better. He scored a fifth-place finish on Thursday, came home second on Friday, and then wrapped up the 3rd Annual Texas Winter Nationals presented by Ed Rinehart for County Commissioner with an impressive $5,000 victory on Saturday night.

“That’ll help pay some of the bills,” Hughes said in victory lane. “We kept fighting, my crew has been working hard all weekend and the car kept getting better. This is how we wanted to start the season.

“This is by far the biggest crowd we’ve seen since we’ve started running here, and it’s nice to get the win in front of all these people.”

Prior to the drop of the green flag, Hughes had his work cut out for him as he sat tenth on the 26-car starting grid. On Thursday he started and finished fifth, then could only manage to climb one spot from third to second on Friday night.

Bumper Jones used his pole position to jump out to the early lead in Saturday’s “A” Main while drivers shuffled positions behind him.

Friday’s winner Jeremy Payne rocketed past three cars down the back-stretch two laps later to grab the runner-up spot while Hughes followed suit and quickly moved to fourth behind eighth-starting Steven Whiteaker Jr.

Jones, Payne and Whiteaker raced bumper to bumper for the next nine laps while Hughes trailed by four car-lengths. Racing side by side out of the fourth turn on lap 11, Whiteaker and Payne made contact with Payne holding on to the second spot.

One lap later, the race’s first yellow flag waved as Whiteaker came to a halt on the front-stretch with a flat tire.

After leaving the pit area with fresh rubber, Whiteaker tagged the rear of the field while Hughes inherited the third spot. Payne elected to start on the inside, leaving Hughes to his right for the double-file restart.

At the drop of the green flag, Hughes dove hard into the first turn and powered around Jones in turn two. Payne shadowed Hughes down the back-stretch and wrestled second place away from Jones in the next corner.

Within five laps, Hughes had extended his advantage to nearly a full straight-away over Payne and his teammate Terry Phillips. Phillips, however, nearly spun on lap 19 and gave up the position to Mike Hansen while Jones remained close behind in fifth.

Despite heavy lapped traffic throughout the second-half of the 40-lapper, Hughes remained flawless as he sailed to his 21st career USMTS Southern Series victory and 81st overall under the USMTS banner.

Payne, Hansen and Phillips held on for second, third and fourth, respectively, while John O Whittington nipped Jones for the fifth-place paycheck.

Morgan Bagley snagged seventh, Rodney Sanders earned an eight-place finish, Chris Henigan nabbed ninth and defending Texas Winter Nationals champion Zack VanderBeek raced from eighteenth to finish tenth.

The win also propelled Hughes into the points lead on the strength of his nine passing points and three lap leader bonus points in the main event. Phillips sits six points behind Hughes (292 to 286) in second with Payne just one more point back in third. Whittington is fourth with 276 markers, followed by Jones (259), Bagley (257), Kelly Shryock (227), Dereck Ramirez (201), Shane Hebert (191) and Steve Holzkamper (191).

Lee Patton leads the current crop of rookie contenders, followed by Tristan Dycus, Darrel Dawson, Shane Killingsworth and nine other drivers tied for fifth.

Up next for the USMTS Southern Series is a tripleheader in the Sooner State. The series makes its debut at the Creek County Speedway in Kellyville, Okla., on Thursday, March 18, then moves on to the Outlaw Motor Speedway near Muskogee on Friday, March 19. The weekend winds up at the West Siloam Speedway in West Siloam Springs on Saturday, March 20. All three events are expected to attract a powerful field of entries as points will be awarded for both the USMTS Southern Series and USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also follow the USMTS on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Southern Series
3rd Annual Texas Winter Nationals presented by Ed Rinehart for County Commissioner – Event #3 of 3
Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas
Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed, reason out (if any) and money won. The top 14 drivers in passing points accumulated in the heat races are locked into the “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (2) 5r Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas.
2. (4) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
3. (5) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas.
4. (1) 15 Kevin Battarbee (R), Houston, Texas.
5. (10) E Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas.
6. (9) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
7. (7) 5 Jon Mitchell, Texarkana, Texas.
8. (6) 9 Shane Killingsworth (R), Dallas, Texas.
9. (11) 7x Rory Jordan (R), Victoria, Texas.
10. (12) 51 Jeff Wood, Willis, Texas.
11. (8) 17 Brad Lasater, Garland, Texas.
12. (3) 8 Steve Miller, Georgetown, Texas.

HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (2) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo.
2. (10) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.
3. (4) 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyville, Texas.
4. (1) 58 Nathan Bichsel (R), Amarillo, Texas.
5. (7) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La.
6. (11) 10 Kenny Battarbee (R), Houston, Texas.
7. (12) 21 Johnny Fennewald, Appleton City, Mo.
8. (8) 12c Corey Babbitt, Channelview, Texas.
9. (3) 18L Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.
10. (9) R5 Hunter Rasdon (R), Jonesboro, Ark.
11. (6) 10 Kyle Schmidt, Farmington, Ark.
12. (5) 23 Brandon Davis (R), Castle Rock, Colo.

HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas.
2. (7) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan.
3. (11) 16 Chris Henigan, Marshall, Texas.
4. (8) 34 Ben Stephens (R), Hattiesburg, Miss.
5. (9) 8g Greg Dinsmore, Kerrville, Texas.
6. (5) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
7. (10) 14t Tristan Dycus (R), Midlothian, Texas.
8. (4) 8j Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, Texas.
9. (1) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla.
10. (12) 20 Troy Seidl (R), Magnolia, Texas.
11. (3) 69 Randy Heston (R), Stinnett, Texas.
12. (6) 17x Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.

EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (3) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M.
2. (2) JP5 Lee Patton (R), Ruston, La.
3. (1) 410 Brad Doherty (R), Ennis, Texas.
4. (9) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
5. (7) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
6. (10) 190 Shawn Stephenson (R), Howe, Texas.
7. (11) 44 Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, Minn.
8. (4) 56 David Horner, Houston, Texas.
9. (12) 2 Jerry Standifer (R), Howe, Okla.
10. (8) 55 Kyle Anderson (R), Tomball, Texas.
11. (5) 25 John Allen, Chanute, Kan.
12. (6) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (3) 12h Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa.
2. (11) 74 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
3. (2) 30 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas.
4. (10) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
5. (1) 99 Derick Grigsby, Marshall, Texas.
6. (6) 98 Darryl Seals, Vidor, Texas.
7. (4) 56 Steve Pugh, Anderson, Texas.
8. (7) 9 Brent Nicholas (R), Baytown, Texas.
9. (5) 5a Wes Armstrong, Marshall, Texas.
10. (9) 96 Foster Ellison III, Richwood, Texas.
11. (8) 76 Jesse Manning, Brazoria, Texas.

HEAT RACE #6 (8 laps):
1. (2) 12 Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla.
2. (3) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
3. (5) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
4. (1) 00 Darrel Dawson (R), Midlothian, Texas.
5. (10) 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark.
6. (11) 20 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla.
7. (8) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas.
8. (7) 64 Jay Sale (R), Edmond, Okla.
9. (4) 68 Danny Barringer, Lufkin, Texas.
10. (9) 186 Jeremy Gossett (R), Amarillo, Texas.
11. (6) 7g Mark Smith, Lufkin, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (1) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
2. (7) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
3. (8) 21 Johnny Fennewald, Appleton City, Mo.
4. (11) 12c Corey Babbitt, Channelview, Texas.
5. (15) R5 Hunter Rasdon (R), Jonesboro, Ark., $120.
6. (5) 00 Darrel Dawson (R), Midlothian, Texas, $120.
7. (3) 30 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas, $120.
8. (16) 186 Jeremy Gossett (R), Amarillo, Texas, $120.
9. (9) 98 Darryl Seals, Vidor, Texas, $100.
10. (19) 17x Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., $100.
11. (14) 68 Danny Barringer, Lufkin, Texas, $120.
12. (17) 69 Randy Heston (R), Stinnett, Texas, $120.
13. (6) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La., $120.
14. (4) 8g Greg Dinsmore, Kerrville, Texas, $100.
15. (2) 34 Ben Stephens (R), Hattiesburg, Miss., $120.
16. (10) 56 Steve Pugh, Anderson, Texas, $120.
17. (12) 9 Brent Nicholas (R), Baytown, Texas, $120.
18. (13) 18L Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., $120.
19. (18) 7g Mark Smith, Lufkin, Texas, $120.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (6) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
2. (2) 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyville, Texas.
3. (1) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas.
4. (3) E Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas.
5. (5) 10 Kenny Battarbee (R), Houston, Texas, $120.
6. (9) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas, $120.
7. (4) 15 Kevin Battarbee (R), Houston, Texas, $120.
8. (17) 25 John Allen, Chanute, Kan., $120.
9. (8) 14t Tristan Dycus (R), Midlothian, Texas, $120.
10. (15) 55 Kyle Anderson (R), Tomball, Texas, $120.
11. (19) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., $120.
12. (14) 51 Jeff Wood, Willis, Texas, $120.
13. (10) 2 Jerry Standifer (R), Howe, Okla., $120.
14. (12) 64 Jay Sale (R), Edmond, Okla., $120.
15. (18) 8 Steve Miller, Georgetown, Texas, $120.
16. (13) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla., $100.
17. (16) 17 Brad Lasater, Garland, Texas, $120.
18. (7) 99 Derick Grigsby, Marshall, Texas, $120.
19. (11) 8j Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, Texas, $120.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (1) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
2. (3) 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark.
3. (8) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
4. (2) 410 Brad Doherty (R), Ennis, Texas.
5. (7) 44 Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, Minn., $120.
6. (6) 190 Shawn Stephenson (R), Howe, Texas, $120.
7. (16) 10 Kyle Schmidt, Farmington, Ark., $120.
8. (13) 5a Wes Armstrong, Marshall, Texas, $120.
9. (5) 20 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla., $120.
10. (12) 7x Rory Jordan (R), Victoria, Texas, $120.
11. (9) 5 Jon Mitchell, Texarkana, Texas, $120.
12. (14) 20 Troy Seidl (R), Magnolia, Texas, $120.
13. (18) 23 Brandon Davis (R), Castle Rock, Colo., $120.
14. (10) 9 Shane Killingsworth (R), Dallas, Texas, $120.
15. (11) 56 David Horner, Houston, Texas, $120.
16. (15) 96 Foster Ellison III, Richwood, Texas, $100.
17. (4) 58 Nathan Bichsel (R), Amarillo, Texas, $120.
18. (17) 76 Jesse Manning, Brazoria, Texas, $100.

“A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (10) 12 Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $5,000.
2. (6) 74 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 40, $3,000.
3. (4) 12h Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa, GRT/PerfOnly, 40, $2,000.
4. (12) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 40, $1,500.
5. (9) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas, Pierce/CB, 40, $1,000.
6. (1) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M., TRE/ASI, 40, $800.
7. (3) 5r Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas, Shaw/Rowland, 40, $700.
8. (13) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Sanders, 40, $600.
9. (2) 16 Chris Henigan, Marshall, Texas, Kraft/PTS, 40, $500.
10. (18) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $450.
11. (16) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $400.
12. (5) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $350.
13. (20) 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark., TRE/Shinook, 40, $350.
14. (17) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Kraft/Craft, 40, $350.
15. (19) 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyville, Texas, Kraft/Wells, 39, $300.
16. (11) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., Skyrocket/ASI, 39, $350.
17. (25) E Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas, Evolution/Fox, 39, $350.
18. (24) 12c Corey Babbitt, Channelview, Texas, TRE/CAM, 39, $300.
19. (14) JP5 Lee Patton (R), Ruston, La., Harris/PTS, 39, $350.
20. (22) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas, DirtWorks/Harris, 39, $350.
21. (26) 410 Brad Doherty (R), Ennis, Texas, GRT/Ewell, 39, $350.
22. (23) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 32, flat tire, $350.
23. (7) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 28, throttle spring, $350.
24. (15) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Ramirez/Sput’s, mechanical, 27, $350.
25. (8) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas, Hughes/Rowland, flat tire, 15, $350.
26. (21) 21 Johnny Fennewald, Appleton City, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 10, transmission, $350.

Lap Leaders: Jones 1-12, Hughes 13-40.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 28, Jones 12.
AFCO Pole Winner: Whiteaker.
PBM Performance Products Hard Charger: Hughes (started 10th, finished 1st).
Next Race: Thursday, March 18, Creek County Speedway, Kellyville, Okla.
Points Standings: Hughes 292, Phillips 286, Payne 285, Whittington 276, Jones 259, Bagley 257, Shryock 227, Ramirez 201, Hebert 191, Holzkamper 191.
Rookie of the Year Points: Patton 175, Dycus 149, Dawson 141, Killingsworth 140, Stephenson 135, Battarbee 135, Sale 135, Gossett 135, Stephens 135, Jordan 135, Seidl 135, Standifer 135, Bischel 135, Battarbee 135, Anderson 135, Nicholas 135, Heston 135, Davis 135.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Hatfield 28, Mullins 25, CB 20, Rowland 19, PerfOnly 17.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: GRT 28, Hughes 25, Shaw 21, Pierce 21, Skyrocket 19.

Contingency Awards:
Ai-Racing – Phillips.
American Racer – not awarded.
Eibach Springs – Jones.
Isky Racing Cams – Bagley.
KSE Racing Products – Payne.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Fennewald.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Timms.
PBM Performance Products – Hughes.
Quarter Master – Hughes, Sanders.
QuickTime – Bagley.
Real Racing Wheels – Dawson, C. Smith, Stephenson.

By Jeff Nun, USMTS
Photo compliments of USMTS

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.

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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.

Halloween Havoc featuring the USMTS Modifieds is set for Gator Motorplex Friday and Saturday, Oct 23 and 24

The Annual Halloween Havoc is set to get under way tonight and Saturday at Gator Motorplex. Located in Willis, Texas.

With this event Gator Motorplex becomes the venue for the opening event of the Hunt for the USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series Championship presented by Dirt Modified Magazine.

Friday will be the opening round of the ’Hunt’ with a $2,000 top prize up for grabs. Pit gates will open at 1 p.m., hot laps start at 3:30. On Saturday, the ante gets upped with a $3,000-to-win main event capping off the evening. Pit gates open at 10 a.m. on Saturday, with hot laps at 1:30 p.m.

Kelly Shryock captured his ninth USMTS National Championship recently, while rival Jason Hughes came up short in his bid for the crown and wound up third in the final standings.

The roles are reversed this time as Hughes leads the charge to the Gator Motorplex as the points leader in the Hunt for the USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series Championship presented by Dirt Modified Magazine, while Shryock is now the pursuer and ranked second. After finishing third and fourth in both the East and West Region points, Rodney Sanders and Steven Whiteaker Jr. come into the ’Hunt’ ranked third and fourth, respectively, while Louisiana’s Shane Hebert sits fifth.

Past USMTS Dirthead.com Southern Series winners at the Gator Motorplex include Greg Skaggs (2007), Steve Holzkamper (2008) and Jason Hughes, who captured the main event earlier this season on May 10.

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.

Also competing will be USRA Southern Limited Modifieds, Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Pure Stocks.

Gator Motorplex is a quarter-mile high-banked clay oval featuring weekly Saturday night racing action with Modifieds, Street Stocks, Sprints, Limited Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, and  Pure Stocks. Fans are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair or blanket to watch the races from “The Hill” or from the grandstands. The track is 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.

THE HUNT FOR THE USMTS DIRTHEAD.COM SOUTHERN SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY DIRT MODIFIED MAGAZINE

Points Standings:
1. 12 Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla. …  50
2. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa … 46
3. 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas … 42
4. 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas … 38
5. 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La. … 19
6. 5r Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas … 18
6. 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla. …  18
8. 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla. …  17
9. 16 Chris Henigan, Marshall, Texas … 15
9. 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D. … 15
11. 18 Jack Sullivan, Greenbrier, Ark. … 14
12. 12b Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, Ark. … 12
12. 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M. … 12
12. 51 Eddie Martin, Stilwell, Okla. …  12
12. 02x B.J. Robinson, Shreveport, La. … 12
16. 05x Garrett Durrett, Simsboro, La. … 11
17. 57 Jason Armstrong, Marshall, Texas … 10
17. 5a Wes Armstrong, Marshall, Texas … 10
17. 52 Chad Davis, Tulsa, Okla. …  10
17. 60 William Gould, Calera, Okla. …  10
17. 4m Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas … 10
17. 10 Kyle Schmidt, Farmington, Ark. … 10
23. 19 Jamie Burford, Keatchie, La. … 5
23. 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan. … 5
23. 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark. … 5
23. 12h Jeff Huckaby, Texarkana, Texas … 5
23. 8j Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, Texas … 5
23. 05 Michael Robertson, Minden, La. … 5
23. 75 Alan Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas … 5
23. 18 Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas … 5
23. 71k Kevin Sustaire, Emery, Texas … 5
23. 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla. …  5
23. 12t Tyler Townsend, Longview, Texas … 5
23. 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas … 5

Schedule of Events:
Round 1 – Fri., Oct. 23 … Gator Motorplex, Willis, TX ($2,000 to win)
Round 2 – Sat., Oct. 24 … Gator Motorplex, Willis, TX ($3,000 to win)
Round 3 – Thurs., Nov. 19 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($1,000 to win)
Round 4 – Fri., Nov. 20 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($2,000 to win)
Round 5 – Sat., Nov. 21 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($3,000 to win)
Round 6 – Thurs., Dec. 3 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($2,000 to win)
Round 7 – Fri., Dec. 4 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($3,000 to win)
Round 8 – Sat., Dec. 5 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($4,000 to win)

Schedule is tentative and subject to change.

by Jeff Nunn and from the Gator Motorplex website.

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

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.

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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

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.

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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

Johnny Bone, Jr, goes wire-to-wire in Louisiana in fourth leg of USMTS Southern Speedweek

The USMTS Southern Series invaded the Fast Trax Speedway in Chatham, La., Friday night for the fourth of six rounds of racing action comprising the 3rd Annual USMTS Southern Speedweek.

For the second straight year, Johnny Bone Jr. of Pea Ridge, Ark., drew the pole position for the 35-lap Sunoco “A” Main, and for the second straight year led every lap en route to a $2,000 payday at the 3/8-mile semi-banked dirt oval.

“It’s scary when you’re up front and you have to guess where to put the car,” Bone said in victory lane. “The car was good and the track was in pretty good shape — there were plenty of lines to run and I could hear somebody behind me.”

That somebody was Chris Henigan of Marshall, Texas, who hounded Bone the entire distance but had to settle for his second runner-up finish in three nights.

A restart with four laps to go set up a shoot-out to the finish line with Rodney Sanders nipping eight-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock at the stripe. Two-time Speedweek winner and current USMTS Southern Series points leader Jason Hughes came from the 12th starting spot to finish fifth.

Bryan Rowland raced from 15th on the 26-car starting grid to grab sixth and earned the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award. AFCO Pole Award winner B.J. Robinson finished seventh, Chad Wheeler was eighth, Randy Timms hung on for a ninth-place finish and Scott Green rounded out the top-10 finishers.

While Hughes maintained his points lead in the East Region with 739 markers, while Bone jumped ahead of Shryock with one point to spare (728 to 727). Sanders is fourth (713), followed by Steven Whiteaker Jr. (664), Henigan (657), Steve Holzkamper (643), Jack Sullivan (639) and Morgan Bagley (610), with Dereck Ramirez and Robinson tied for the tenth position with 601 points each.

The Fast Shafts Challenge bonus money remained safe after Friday’s show and is now worth $500 on Saturday night at the Drew County Speedway if that driver is utilizing a nine-inch Ford rearend. If the award is not won Saturday, the bounty will climb to $600 For Sunday’s finale at the Boothill Speedway.

SATURDAY, JUNE 13 … DREW COUNTY SPEEDWAY, MONTICELLO, ARK.

The Drew County Speedway (formerly called Monticello Speedway) in Monticello, Ark., plays host to Round 5 of the USMTS Southern Speedweek presented by Commercial Bank on Saturday, June 13.

En route to winning the 2008 USMTS Southern Series crown, Jason Hughes took the win last year at Monticello, followed closely by Kelly Shryock, Johnny Bone Jr., Timothy Culp and Scott Green.

Track points leader Seth Reed is expected to be on hand to defend his home turf along with Grant Box, Richard Anders, Matt Stacy, Jody Davidson, Johnathon Crib, Kevin Ferrell, Terry Maloney, Casey Findley, Manuel Williams II and more.

The pits and tailgate suites open at 4:30, grandstands open at 5:30, hot laps and playground start at 6:00 and the show starts at 7:00. USRA Southern Limited Modifieds will be racing for $500 to win, with Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Mini-Stocks also on the racing card.

The Drew County Speedway is a 1/4-mile semi-banked dirt oval located 7.2 miles south of US 278 on US 425 (WSR). For more info, call 870-367-RACE or see www.drewcountyspeedway.net on the Web.

The six-race, six-track, three-state USMTS Southern Speedweek wraps up on Sunday at the Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, La., where the East Region Champion will emerge along with the first batch of drivers qualified for The Hunt for the USMTS Southern Series Championship.

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 (East Region)
3rd Annual USMTS Southern Speedweek - Event #4 of 6
Fast Trax Speedway, Chatham, La.
Friday, June 12, 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 - Dougie Murphrey — Tullos, LA (1)
2. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (2)
3. 05 - Michael Robertson — Minden, LA (4)
4. 88 - Chad Wheeler — Muskogee, OK (3)
5. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (6)
6. 12t - Tyler Townsend — Longview, TX (5)
7. 47 - Randy Thompson — Farmerville, LA (10)
8. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (7)
9. 94 - Patrick Linn — Little Rock, AR (8)
10. 2 - Jerry Standifer — Howe, OK (9) DNF

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (8)
2. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (1)
3. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (9)
4. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (6)
5. 5 - Steve Holzkamper — Gentry, AR (5)
6. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (3)
7. 1st - Johnny Scott — Las Cruces, NM (10)
8. D6 - Chris Huckabay — Monroe, LA (7) DNF
9. 21 - David Winslett — Bossier City, LA (4) DNF
10. K2 - Chris Keiffer — West Monroe, LA (2) DNF

BRODIX HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 6x - Kyle Pleasant — Natchitoches, LA (3)
2. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX
3. 4m - Bobby Malchus — Red Oak, TX (4)
4. 10k - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (1)
5. JP5 - Lee Patton — Quitman, LA (7)
6. X - Bud Mullins — West Monroe, LA (6)
7. 94c - Stephen Chevalier — Downsville, LA (8)
8. 66 - Mike Paillou — Pass Christian, MS (9)
9. C3 - Nicholas Brown — Hodge, LA (5)

AWESOME RACEWEAR HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 18 - Jack Sullivan — Greenbrier, AR (2)
2. 16 - Chris Henigan — Marshall, TX (4)
3. 05x - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (1)
4. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (8)
5. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (5)
6. 7x - Chris Dawson — Post, TX (7)
7. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (6)
8. 58 - Nathan Bichsel — Amarillo, TX (9)
9. 1x - Jason Cowan — Chester, TX (3) -1 Lap

INTERCOMP HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. — Pea Ridge, AR (1)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (3)
3. 19 - Jamie Burford — Keatchie, LA (2)
4. 8j - Dustin Hyde — Texarkana, TX (5)
5. C8 - Timothy Culp — West Monroe, LA (8)
6. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (4)
7. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (7)
8. 12c - Corey Babbitt — Channelview, TX (9)
9. 12h - Jeff Huckaby — Texarkana, TX (6)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 05 - Michael Robertson — Minden, LA (1)
2. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (3)
3. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (6)
4. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (7)
5. 12t - Tyler Townsend — Longview, TX (9)
6. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (12)
7. X - Bud Mullins — West Monroe, LA (10)
8. 94c - Stephen Chevalier — Downsville, LA (11)
9. 94 - Patrick Linn — Little Rock, AR (15)
10. 10k - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (5)
11. 58 - Nathan Bichsel — Amarillo, TX (13)
12. C8 - Timothy Culp — West Monroe, LA (4)
13. C3 - Nicholas Brown — Hodge, LA (16) DNF
14. 05x - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (2) DNF
15. 12h - Jeff Huckaby — Texarkana, TX (17) DNF
16. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (14) DNF
17. 47 - Randy Thompson — Farmerville, LA (8) DNF
18. K2 - Chris Keiffer — West Monroe, LA (18) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 4m - Bobby Malchus — Red Oak, TX (1)
2. 88 - Chad Wheeler — Muskogee, OK (4)
3. 7x - Chris Dawson — Post, TX (7)
4. 19 - Jamie Burford — Keatchie, LA (2)
5. 1st - Johnny Scott — Las Cruces, NM (8)
6. JP5 - Lee Patton — Quitman, LA (5)
7. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (10)
8. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (9)
9. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (11)
10. 66 - Mike Paillou — Pass Christian, MS (12)
11. D6 - Chris Huckabay — Monroe, LA (14)
12. 8j - Dustin Hyde — Texarkana, TX (3)
13. 1x - Jason Cowan — Chester, TX (16) DNF
14. 21 - David Winslett — Bossier City, LA (15) DNF
15. 2 - Jerry Standifer — Howe, OK (17) DNF
16. 12c - Corey Babbitt — Channelview, TX (13) DNF
17. 5 - Steve Holzkamper — Gentry, AR (6) DNS

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. — Pea Ridge, AR (1)
2. 16 - Chris Henigan — Marshall, TX (3)
3. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (10)
4. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (5)
5. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (12)
6. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (15)
7. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (6)
8. 88 - Chad Wheeler — Muskogee, OK (16)
9. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (2)
10. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (9)
11. 05 - Michael Robertson — Minden, LA (13)
12. JP5 - Lee Patton — Quitman, LA (25)
13. 25 - Dougie Murphrey — Tullos, LA (7)
14. 7x - Chris Dawson — Post, TX (18)
15. 6x - Kyle Pleasant — Natchitoches, LA (4)
16. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (11)
17. 19 - Jamie Burford — Keatchie, LA (20)
18. 05x - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (23)
19. 1st - Johnny Scott — Las Cruces, NM (22)
20. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (19)
21. 12t - Tyler Townsend — Longview, TX (21) DNF
22. 4m - Bobby Malchus — Red Oak, TX (14) DNF
23. X - Bud Mullins — West Monroe, LA (26) DNF
24. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (24) DNF
25. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (17) DNF
26. 18 - Jack Sullivan — Greenbrier, AR (8) DNF

Lap Leader: Bone 1-35.
Total Laps Led: Bone 35.
AFCO Pole Winner: Robinson.
Provisional Starters: Durrett, J. Armstrong, Patton (track), Mullins (track).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Rowland (started 15th, finished 6th).
Next Race: Saturday, June 13, Drew County Speedway, Monticello, Ark. (East Region).
East Region Points: Hughes 739, Bone 728, Shryock 727, Sanders 713, Whiteaker 664, Henigan 657, Holzkamper 643, Sullivan 639, Bagley 610, Ramirez 601, Robinson 601.
Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Points: W. Armstrong 237, J. Armstrong 233, Davis 203, Schmidt 201, Kevin Sustaire 180.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 120, a.s.i. 113, Sput’s 87, Young’s 69, BMS 59.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 140, Skyrocket 129, TRE 105, Ramirez 105, GRT 102.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Robinson.
American Racer – Bagley.
Fast Shafts – not awarded.
Isky Racing Cams – Robinson.
KSE Racing Products – Rowland.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Sullivan.
Nitroquest – Sanders.
Quarter Master – Bone, Wheeler.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Robinson.
Real Racing Wheels – W. Armstrong, Patton.

Jason Hughes emerges in USMTS Southern Speedweek thriller at Ark-La-Tex Speedway

Last year the USMTS Southern Series made it’s debut at the Ark-La-Tex Speedway in Vivian, La., with much fanfare coming into the event. High winds and a blazing hot sun contributed to a darkened dry racetrack early in the program that ended with a follow-the-leader freight train around the top of the track during the feature race.

Thursday night’ affair at Gene Boyter’s quarter-mile bullring couldn’t have been more different.

Rain the night before and throughout the early morning deluged the facility, but Boyter’s crew worked and shaped the clay continually up until race time. What resulted was a smooth surface with ever-changing multiple grooves that produced one of the most thrilling main events of the season.

Sixteen-year-old Texan Tyler Townsend earned the AFCO Pole Award by racing from sixth to first in the sixth and final heat race for the 51 entries, then redrew the pole position for the 40-lap Sunoco “A” Main on the third of six nights comprising the 3rd Annual Southern Speedweek.

16-year old Tyler Townsend from Longview sat on the pole and battled for the lead most of the race

Unfortunately for Townsend, joining him on the front row was defending USMTS Southern Series Champion Jason Hughes, who was seeking his eighth win of the season and second in three nights of Speedweek.

Undeterred, Townsend jumped out to lead the first lap with Hughes in pursuit. While Townsend hugged the inside lane, Hughes continued his charge around the high side of the racetrack as the two battled side by side for the first ten laps.

Fresh off a victory in the USRA Southern Limited Modified feature that preceded the USMTS Southern Series nightcap, Timothy Culp of nearby West Monroe moved in to challenge Townsend on lap 12 while Hughes faded back into a fight for third with Lee Patton.

On lap 15, Culp completed the pass around Townsend to take the lead and began to open up a four-car-length advantage over the next five laps. Townsend, however, began reeling Culp back in as the teenage duo came into lapped traffic while Patton disposed of Hughes, who now had his hands full with Rodney Sanders.

Culp made contact with a lapped car on lap 31, which sent the backmarker spinning to a stop in turn 2 to bring out the first of four late-race caution flags that kept the field tightly bunched for the remaining nine orbits.

On the restart, Culp again shot out to a big lead with Patton moving around Townsend for second while Hughes began gaining ground using the top groove. One lap later, Culp’s machine belched a cloud of smoke as engine failure dashed his hopes of winning his first USMTS Southern Series race.

With Patton now on the point, cautions for separate spins on laps 34 and 35 slowed the pace with Townsend challenging the leader on the low side while Hughes worked the outside groove. Hughes inched ahead of Patton to lead the 37th lap before the final yellow flag waved to set up a green-white-checkered finish.

Hughes, who looked to be out of the picture at the mid-point of the race, rode the rim over the final two laps to take the checkered flag and pocket the $2,000 top prize. Sanders followed Hughes around the high side and beat Patton by a nose to claim the runner-up paycheck. Kelly Shryock, who started 12th, took the fourth spot with about a foot of bumper to spare over Townsend.

Finishing sixth through tenth, respectively, were Scott Green, Randy Timms, Jason Armstrong, Chris Henigan and Dereck Ramirez.

The KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award went to Bryan Rowland, who started 22nd and finished 12th.

With the win, Hughes took over the top spot in the East Region points standings for the USMTS Southern Series, and leads Shryock by just nine points (648 to 639). Johnny Bone Jr. dropped two spots to third with 625 points, while Sanders moved up two spots to fourth with 615 markers. Wednesday night’s winner Steven Whiteaker Jr. is fifth with 604, followed by Steve Holzkamper (598), Jack Sullivan (589), Morgan Bagley (565), Henigan (561) and Ramirez (547).

The family feud continues in the battle for the Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Award. After failing to qualify for Thursday’s main event, Wes Armstrong now leads his younger brother, Jason, by just five points (227 to 222). Chad Davis is third with 193 points, followed by Kyle Schmidt (191) and Kevin Sustaire (180).

FRIDAY, JUNE 12 … FAST TRAX SPEEDWAY, CHATHAM, LA.

The Fast Trax Speedway in Chatham, La., is the site of event #4 on the USMTS Southern Speedweek schedule. Bone captured the Speedweek win last year with Hughes, Tommy Weder Jr., Shryock and Elias Anderson finishing second through fifth.

Among the favorites from the local racers to challenge for the checkers are points leader Dougie Murphrey, Randy Thompson, Kyle Pleasant, Patton, Bud Mullins, Kent Hollingsworth, Jody Davidson, Sammy Knighten, Chase Del Rio, Richard Roberts and others.

The wide straight-aways and corners are popular for producing two- and three-wide racing, which makes this a very competitive short track.

Pit gates open at 4:00, grandstand gates swing open at 5:00, hot laps take to the track at 6:30 and the racing action kicks off at 7:00.

USRA Southern Limited Modifieds will also be on the racing card going for $500 to win.

The Fast Trax Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked dirt oval located 4.0 miles southeast of SR 34 on SR 4 (NSR). For more information, call 318-249-2443 or visit www.fasttraxspeedway.net online.

The Drew County Speedway in Monticello, Ark., plays host to round 5 of USMTS Southern Speedweek on Saturday, with the six-race swing wrapping up on Sunday at the Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, La.

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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USMTS Southern Series (East Region)
3rd Annual USMTS Southern Speedweek - Event #3 of 6
Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Vivian, La.
Thursday, June 11, 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. JP5 - Lee Patton — Quitman, LA (3)
2. 5 - Steve Holzkamper — Gentry, AR (7)
3. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (1)
4. 18 - Jack Sullivan — Greenbrier, AR (2)
5. 9 - Kyle Cummings — Sibley, LA (5)
6. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (6)
7. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (4)
8. 05 - Michael Robertson — Minden, LA (9)
9. 7x - Chris Dawson — Post, TX (8) DNF

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. C8 - Timothy Culp — West Monroe, LA (5)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (1)
3. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (8)
4. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (7)
5. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (4)
6. 27 - Mike Washburn — Shreveport, LA (6)
7. 42 - James Longpine — Drummond, OK (2)
8. 7 - Brent Stewart — Haughton, LA (3)
9. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (9) DNS

BRODIX HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (4)
2. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. — Pea Ridge, AR (2)
3. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (7)
4. 88 - Chad Wheeler — Muskogee, OK (5)
5. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (1)
6. 26 - Patrick Linn — Little Rock, AR (9)
7. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (6)
8. 33x - Brad Pannell — Broken Bow, OK (8)
9. 21 - David Winslett — Bossier City, LA (3) DNF

AWESOME RACEWEAR HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (1)
2. 12j - Jason Ingalls — Hallsville, TX (2)
3. 05x - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (5)
4. 8j - Dustin Hyde — Texarkana, TX (7)
5. 19 - Jamie Burford — Keatchie, LA (8)
6. 2 - Jerry Standifer — Howe, OK (4)
7. 88 - James Harper — Monroe, LA (3)
8. 12c - Corey Babbitt — Channelview, TX (6)

INTERCOMP HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 1st - Johnny Scott — Las Cruces, NM (5)
2. 16 - Chris Henigan — Marshall, TX (3)
3. 1 - Brett Frazier — Haughton, LA (4)
4. D6 - Chris Huckabay — Monroe, LA (7)
5. 12h - Jeff Huckaby — Texarkana, TX (1)
6. 66 - Mike Paillou — Pass Christian, MS (6)
7. L1 - Larry Clevenger — Greenwood, LA (2)
8. 1 - Chris Patton — Ruston, LA (8) DNS

AMERICAN RACER HEAT RACE #6 (8 laps):
1. 12t - Tyler Townsend — Longview, TX (6)
2. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (3)
3. 58 - Nathan Bichsel — Amarillo, TX (5)
4. 4m - Bobby Malchus — Red Oak, TX (1)
5. C81 - Cade Dillard — Robeline, LA (7)
6. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (2)
7. 6 - Tippy Bickham — Shreveport, LA (4)
8. 10k - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (8)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. — Pea Ridge, AR (1)
2. 05x - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (2)
3. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (5)
4. 19 - Jamie Burford — Keatchie, LA (6)
5. 8j - Dustin Hyde — Texarkana, TX (4)
6. 05 - Michael Robertson — Minden, LA (16)
7. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (9)
8. 26 - Patrick Linn — Little Rock, AR (8)
9. 12h - Jeff Huckaby — Texarkana, TX (10)
10. 66 - Mike Paillou — Pass Christian, MS (12)
11. 27 - Mike Washburn — Shreveport, LA (11)
12. 7x - Chris Dawson — Post, TX (19)
13. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (13)
14. 21 - David Winslett — Bossier City, LA (20)
15. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (14)
16. 4m - Bobby Malchus — Red Oak, TX (7) DNF
17. 33x - Brad Pannell — Broken Bow, OK (17) DNF
18. L1 - Larry Clevenger — Greenwood, LA (15) DNF
19. 1 - Chris Patton — Ruston, LA (18) DNS
20. 1 - Brett Frazier — Haughton, LA (3) NS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 12j - Jason Ingalls — Hallsville, TX (1)
2. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (3)
3. C81 - Cade Dillard — Robeline, LA (7)
4. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (9)
5. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (10)
6. 12c - Corey Babbitt — Channelview, TX (17)
7. 42 - James Longpine — Drummond, OK (13)
8. 88 - James Harper — Monroe, LA (14)
9. 7 - Brent Stewart — Haughton, LA (16)
10. 58 - Nathan Bichsel — Amarillo, TX (2) DNF
11. 10k - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (18) DNF
12. 6 - Tippy Bickham — Shreveport, LA (15) DNF
13. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (19) DNF
14. 2 - Jerry Standifer — Howe, OK (11) DNF
15. 18 - Jack Sullivan — Greenbrier, AR (6) DNF
16. 9 - Kyle Cummings — Sibley, LA (8) DNF
17. 88 - Chad Wheeler — Muskogee, OK (5) DNF
18. D6 - Chris Huckabay — Monroe, LA (4) DNF
19. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (12) DNF

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (2)
2. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (4)
3. JP5 - Lee Patton — Quitman, LA (6)
4. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (12)
5. 12t - Tyler Townsend — Longview, TX (1)
6. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (9)
7. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (11)
8. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (17)
9. 16 - Chris Henigan — Marshall, TX (10)
10. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (16)
11. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (20)
12. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (22)
13. 8j - Dustin Hyde — Texarkana, TX (21)
14. 5 - Steve Holzkamper — Gentry, AR (8)
15. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (26)
16. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. — Pea Ridge, AR (13) DNF
17. 12j - Jason Ingalls — Hallsville, TX (14) DNF
18. 27 - Mike Washburn — Shreveport, LA (25) DNF
19. C8 - Timothy Culp — West Monroe, LA (7) DNF
20. 05x - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (15) DNF
21. C81 - Cade Dillard — Robeline, LA (18) DNF
22. 19 - Jamie Burford — Keatchie, LA (19) DNF
23. 1st - Johnny Scott — Las Cruces, NM (3) DNF
24. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (23) DNF
25. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (5) DNF
26. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (24) DNS

Lap Leaders: Townsend 1-5, Hughes 6, Townsend 7-14, Culp 15-33, L. Patton 34-36, Hughes 37-40.
Total Laps Led: Culp 19, Townsend 13, Hughes 5, L. Patton 3.
AFCO Pole Winner: Townsend.
Provisional Starters: Gould, Bagley, Washburn (track), Robinson (track).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Rowland (started 22nd, finished 12th).
Next Race: Friday, June 12, Fast Trax Speedway, Chatham, La. (East Region).
East Region Points: Hughes 648, Shryock 639, Bone 625, Sanders 615, Whiteaker 604, Holzkamper 598, Sullivan 589, Bagley 565, Henigan 561, Ramirez 547.
Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Points: W. Armstrong 227, J. Armstrong 222, Davis 193, Schmidt 191, Kevin Sustaire 180.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 114, a.s.i. 105, Sput’s 80, Young’s 68, Rowland 57.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 133, Skyrocket 121, Ramirez 100, TRE 95, GRT 93.

Contingency Awards:AFCO Racing Products – Townsend.
American Racer – Bichsel.
Fast Shafts – not awarded.
Isky Racing Cams – L. Patton.
KSE Racing Products – Rowland.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Gould.
Nitroquest – L. Patton.
Quarter Master – Hughes, J. Armstrong.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Timms.
Real Racing Wheels – Robertson, Babbitt.

Corpus Christi’s Steven Whiteaker, Jr, triumphs in wild USMTS Southern Series tilt in Arkansas

Steven Whiteaker Jr. of Corpus Christi, Texas, combined skill, luck and timing Wednesday night to score his career-first USMTS Southern Series main event win at the I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark.

Starting deep in the field in the 17th spot, the 21-year-old Whiteaker made it known early on that he wanted to stand out from the crowd. While most of the Modifieds on the track were running a low or middle line on the multi-grooved quarter-mile, Whiteaker chose to chew away at the top side of the racing surface.

The strategy paid off as Whiteaker had no cars to contend with in front of him — only those cars to his left as he passed them.

Jared Landers drew the pole position for the 40-lap Sunoco “A” Main, and threatened to turn the show into a yawner up front as he stretched out his lead to nearly a full straight-away a few laps into the race, then again after a couple of restarts during the middle stages of the contest.

With eight laps to go, Whiteaker began battling with AFCO Pole Award winner Steve Holzkamper for what looked like a certain runner-up finish for one of the two as Landers had checked out. But two laps later, USMTS Southern Series East Region points leader Jack Sullivan came to a stop on the track to bring out the caution flag and tighten up the pack.

As the green flag waved for the final six-lap shootout, Landers led the field into the first turn. Holzkamper closed in on his bumper while Whiteaker flashed by on the outside as they raced down the back-stretch.

With a right rear tire going flat, Landers slowed coming out of the fourth turn. Unable to get off the track, the oncoming pack scattered while several cars made contact with Landers coming to rest at the entrance of turn 1 and nearly tipping over on his side.

Holzkamper, who came into the night’s event ranked second in the East Region points standings, was part of the crash that sent both he and Landers to the pits and left Whiteaker on the point for the race’s final restart.

With Chris Henigan using the low line, Whiteaker stayed true to the top side of the racing surface and held off the fellow Texan to collect the $2,000 top prize and his first USMTS Southern Series checkered flag.

Another Lone Star State ace, Morgan Bagley, finished third with Garrett Durrett coming home fourth.

Earlier in the program, Kelly Shryock finished third in the third and final Real Racing Wheels “B” Main to earn the final transfer spot in the main event. Finishing fourth in the same race was Tuesday’s feature winner at the Tri-State Speedway, Jason Hughes, who had to use a provisional to join the feature race starting line-up.

Despite starting 22nd, Shryock clawed his way to a fifth-place finish in the main event and passed one more competitor than Whiteaker to earn the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award. Dustin Hyde was sixth, Johnny Bone Jr. grabbed seventh, Mike Bowers was eighth and Hughes raced from 23rd on grid to finish ninth.

Mike Sellers used a track provisional to get the 26th and final starting spot and raced to a tenth-place finish.

The East Region points got shaken up with Sullivan and Holzkamper both recording a DNF in the main event. Bone now leads the rankings by just six points (565 to 559) over Sullivan and Whiteaker, who are tied for second. Hughes is fourth with 546 points, followed by Shryock (544), Holzkamper (534), Rodney Sanders (518), Bagley (515), Henigan (486) and Dereck Ramirez (469).

Fifty-two drivers representing eight different States signed in to do battle Wednesday night in the second of six straight nights comprising the 3rd Annual USMTS Southern Speedweek.

The Fast Shafts Challenge bonus money carries over to Thursday night’s event at the Ark-La-Tex Speedway in Vivian, La., and will now be worth $300 if the winning driver is utilizing a nine-inch Ford rearend. If the award is not won, Thursday’s prize will grow to $300 and so on, with a possible $600 bonus at Sunday’s USMTS Southern Speedweek finale. To learn more about Fast Shafts, call toll-free 800-622-6617 or visit www.fastshafts.com online.

Landers came up just six laps short of collecting the Fast Shafts Challenge money, and is expected to try again Thursday night.

Wednesday’s was again on WatchModsLive.com, which broadcasted live real-time video footage from the event. All remaining USMTS Southern Series events will also be broadcast live on the World Wide Web. To learn more or to sign-up to watch all the action from the comfort of your own living room, check out www.WatchModsLive.com on the World Wide Web.

THURSDAY, JUNE 11 … ARK-LA-TEX SPEEDWAY, VIVIAN, LA.

Tomorrow (Thursday, June 11) will find the tireless touring titans at Gene Boyter’s Ark-La-Tex Speedway in Vivian, La. In the first-ever USMTS Southern Series show here last year, first-time USMTS competitor Duke Whiseant of Texarkana, Ark., took home the hardware over Johnny Bone Jr., Jason Hughes, Tommy Weder Jr. and Steve Holzkamper.

Local aces Odie Green, Justin Sprayberry, Mike Washburn, Dick Haynes, Dwayne Brown, Greg Garrett, Lee Patton, Tippy Bickham, Jason Ingalls, Michael Robertson and others are expected to make a statement in protecting their home turf against the invading USMTS forces.

Pit gates open at 4:00, grandstand gates swing open at 5:00, hot laps take to the track at 7:00 and the racing action kicks off at 7:30. Factory Stocks will also be racing for $300 to win, along with the USRA Southern Limited Modifieds going for $500 to win.

Beginning at the Ark-La-Tex Speedway event, the final four events will all feature the USRA Southern Limited Modifieds racing for $500 to win each night.

The Ark-La-Tex Speedway a 1/4-mile semi-banked dirt oval located 0.6 mile south of SR 2 on SR 1, then 0.7 mile west on Airport Rd., then 2.2 miles south on Boyter Lane Rd. (ESR). For race day information, call the track hotline at 318-375-3470 or click your way to www.arklatexspeedway.net on the World Wide Web.

Fast Trax Speedway in Chatham, La., is the site of event #4 on the USMTS Southern Speedweek schedule on Friday night, the Drew County Speedway in Monticello, Ark., plays host to round 5 on Saturday and the six-race swing wraps up on Sunday at the Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, La.

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 (East Region)
Southern Speedweek - Event #2 of 6
I-30 Speedway, Little Rock, Ark.
Wednesday, June 10, 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. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (2)
2. 05 - Michael Robertson — Minden, LA (3)
3. 16 - Chris Henigan — Marshall, TX (8)
4. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (7)
5. 60b - Mike Bowers — North Little Rock, AR (9)
6. 10k - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (4)
7. 15w - Lee Walchli — Lavaca, AR (5)
8. 5j - John Schwab — Liberal, KS (6)
9. 7s - Steven Schaberg — Glenwood, AR (1) DNF

BRODIX HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 8j - Dustin Hyde — Texarkana, TX (1)
2. 777 - Jared Landers — Benton, AR (4)
3. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (2)
4. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (3)
5. F1 - Randy Weaver — Little Rock, AR (5)
6. 12t - Tyler Townsend — Longview, TX (8)
7. 26s - Jon Stinson — Walls, MS (7)
8. 26 - Patrick Linn — Little Rock, AR (9)
9. 11s - Mike Sellers — Little Rock, AR (6) DNF

AWESOME RACEWEAR HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 5 - Steve Holzkamper — Gentry, AR (4)
2. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (2)
3. 12h - Jeff Huckaby — Texarkana, TX (5)
4. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (8)
5. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (7)
6. 601 - Curtis Cook — Conway, AR (9)
7. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (3)DNF
8. XXX - Rick Hearnsberger — Arkadelphia, AR (1) DNF
9. 1 - Chris Patton — Ruston, LA (6) DNF

INTERCOMP HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (2)
2. 4m - Bobby Malchus — Red Oak, TX (4)
3. 05x - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (6)
4. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX
5. 42 - James Longpine — Drummond, OK (1)
6. 7x - Chris Dawson — Post, TX (3)
7. 401k - Travis Broach — Mapleville, AR (7)
8. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (8)DNF

AMERICAN RACER HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 18 - Jack Sullivan — Greenbrier, AR (3)
2. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. — Pea Ridge, AR (1)
3. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (5)
4. 36 - Kenny Wallace — Concord, NC (7)
5. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (6)
6. 458 - Sammy Chamberlain — Cabot, AR (4)
7. 71 - Robert Baker — Benton, AR (8) DNF
8. 1st - Johnny Scott — Las Cruces, NM (2) DQ (finished first, did not go to scales)

KEVKO OIL PANS & COMPONENTS HEAT RACE #6 (8 laps):
1. 2 - Tyler Stevens — Searcy, AR (1)
2. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (4)
3. 21 - David Winslett — Bossier City, LA (7)
4. 15 - Grant Box — White Hall, AR (3)
5. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (5) DNF
6. 2 - Jerry Standifer — Howe, OK (2) DNF
7. 17f - Casey Findley — Bryant, AR (6) DNF
8. 6 - Wayne Patton — Ruston, LA (8) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 36 - Kenny Wallace — Concord, NC (3)
2. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (4)
3. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (2)
4. 12t - Tyler Townsend — Longview, TX (7)
5. 1st - Johnny Scott — Las Cruces, NM (12)
6. 5t - Randy Timms — Wheatland, OK (1)
7. 11s - Mike Sellers — Little Rock, AR (13)
8. 5j - John Schwab — Liberal, KS (11)
9. 15w - Lee Walchli — Lavaca, AR (9) DNF
10. 458 - Sammy Chamberlain — Cabot, AR (8) DNF
11. 401k - Travis Broach — Mapleville, AR (10) DNF
12. 20r - Bryan Rowland — Woodward, OK (5) DNF
13. F1 - Randy Weaver — Little Rock, AR (6) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. — Pea Ridge, AR (1)
2. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (5)
3. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (3)
4. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (2)
5. 10k - Kyle Schmidt — Farmington, AR (7)
6. 42 - James Longpine — Drummond, OK (6)
7. 26s - Jon Stinson — Walls, MS (9)
8. 2 - Jerry Standifer — Howe, OK (8)
9. XXX - Rick Hearnsberger — Arkadelphia, AR (11) DNF
10. 57 - Jason Armstrong — Marshall, TX (4) DNF
11. 17f - Casey Findley — Bryant, AR (10) DNF
12. 6 - Wayne Patton — Ruston, LA (12) DNF
13. 1 - Chris Patton — Ruston, LA (13) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (15 laps, top 3 advance):
1. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (2)
2. 60b - Mike Bowers — North Little Rock, AR (3)
3. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (6)
4. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (11)
5. 601 - Curtis Cook — Conway, AR (5)
6. 7x - Chris Dawson — Post, TX (7)
7. 25 - Scott Green — Derby, KS (9)
8. 26 - Patrick Linn — Little Rock, AR (10)
9. 12h - Jeff Huckaby — Texarkana, TX (1)
10. 15 - Grant Box — White Hall, AR (4) DNF
11. 7s - Steven Schaberg — Glenwood, AR (12) DNF
12. 71 - Robert Baker — Benton, AR (8) DNS

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (40 Laps):
1. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. — Corpus Christi, TX (17)
2. 16 - Chris Henigan — Marshall, TX (2)
3. 5r - Morgan Bagley — Longview, TX (4)
4. 05x - Garrett Durrett — Simsboro, LA (13)
5. 3 - Kelly Shryock — Fertile, IA (22)
6. 8j - Dustin Hyde — Texarkana, TX (7)
7. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. — Pea Ridge, AR (15)
8. 60b - Mike Bowers — North Little Rock, AR (19)
9. 12 - Jason Hughes — Westville, OK (23)
10. 11s - Mike Sellers — Little Rock, AR (26)
11. 60 - William Gould — Calera, OK (24)
12. 36 - Kenny Wallace — Concord, NC (14)
13. 02x - B.J. Robinson — Shreveport, LA (21)
14. 4r - Dereck Ramirez — Woodward, OK (16)
15. 21 - David Winslett — Bossier City, LA (11)
16. 05 - Michael Robertson — Minden, LA (12)
17. 4m - Bobby Malchus — Red Oak, TX (9)
18. 52 - Chad Davis — Tulsa, OK (20)
19. 20 - Rodney Sanders — Happy, TX (6)
20. 5a - Wes Armstrong — Marshall, TX (10) DNF
21. 777 - Jared Landers — Benton, AR (1) DNF
22. 5 - Steve Holzkamper — Gentry, AR (3) DNF
23. F1 - Randy Weaver — Little Rock, AR (25) DNF
24. 18 - Jack Sullivan — Greenbrier, AR (8) DNF
25. 2 - Tyler Stevens — Searcy, AR (5) DNF
26. 9 - Shane Hebert — Lafayette, LA (18) DNF

Lap Leaders: Landers 1-34, Whiteaker 35-40.
Total Laps Led: Landers 34, Whiteaker 6.
AFCO Pole Winner: Holzkamper.
Provisional Starters: Hughes, Gould, Sellers (track), Weaver (track).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Shryock (started 22nd, finished 5th).
Next Race: Thursday, June 11, Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Vivian, La. (East Region).
East Region Points: Bone 565, Sullivan 559, Whiteaker 559, Hughes 546, Shryock 544, Holzkamper 534, Sanders 518, Bagley 515, Henigan 486, Ramirez 469.
Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Points: W. Armstrong 217, J. Armstrong 199, Schmidt 181, Kevin Sustaire 180, Davis 174.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 104, a.s.i. 96, Sput’s 72, Young’s 68, Rowland 56.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 123, Skyrocket 112, Ramirez 94, TRE 92, GRT 81.

Contingency Awards:AFCO Racing Products – Holzkamper.
American Racer – Hughes.
Fast Shafts – not awarded.
Isky Racing Cams – Sanders.
KSE Racing Products – Shryock.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Hebert.
Nitroquest – Bagley.
Quarter Master – Whiteaker, Bowers.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Bone.
Real Racing Wheels – Timms, Longpine, Dawson.

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