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Ryan Gustin goes home with USMTS hardware at Heart O’ Texas Speedway

After rain wiped out plans for the inaugural USMTS event at the Heart O’ Texas Speedway each of the last two seasons, the third time was the charm as Mother Nature delivered a picture-perfect day for racing Thursday.

Forty-three of the nation’s fastest and most furious Modified drivers descended on Gene Adamcik’s quarter-mile clay oval near Waco, Texas, and delivered an exciting night of racing for the throng of fans who had waited patiently for three years.

The event was first rained-out on May 3, 2009, and at that time Ryan Gustin was just 18 years old and had just won his first and only USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy a few months earlier.

Gustin found his way back to victory lane again Thursday night, but this time for his sixth win of the season and 30th USMTS triumph in his young career.

After five heat races that clicked off without a single caution flag, Sean Jones was the AFCO Pole Award winner by earning the most passing points and then redrew the pole position for the start of the 40-lap WIX Filters “A” Main.

Jones jumped out to a four-car-length bulge in just one lap and paced the field of 26 starters through the first seven laps. Meanwhile, Rodney Sanders worked his way into second before Gustin grabbed the second spot away just before the race’s first caution.

On the restart, Jones again maintained the top spot with Gustin and Sanders giving chase, but after just one more lap Jones’ crate-powered machine veered off the track in turn 1 and came to a halt atop the embankment in turn 2, bringing out the second yellow flag.

With Jones dropping from first to last for the next restart, Gustin was in control but Sanders, 21, kept the 20-year-old Gustin within striking distance. The leaders encountered lapped traffic on lap 27 and Sanders closed in on Gustin.

With 10 laps to go, Gustin went to the high side while Sanders dove to the bottom as the two attempted to split the lapped car of Rory Jordan. As they exited turn 4, Gustin completed the pass but Jordan and Sanders made contact which sent Sanders head-on into an inside tire barrier.

The incident brought out the final caution of the race with Jimmy Ray, 13th-starting Jason Hughes and 19th-starting Johnny Scott sitting second, third and fourth behind Gustin for the restart.

Despite owning nine wins in the sixteen previous feature races so far this season, Hughes and Scott were unable to mount a challenge for the lead. However, Ray pressured Gustin in every turn for the remainder of the contest but had to settle for the runner-up paycheck at the finish line.

Hughes and Scott held on for third and fourth, respectively, while Shane Hebert climbed all the way to fifth after starting 25th and earned the Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger Award.

Brad Doherty finished sixth, Jason Grimes grabbed the seventh spot, Keith Green was eighth, Jones rebounded to finish ninth and Heart O’ Texas Speedway track points leader Chase Jupe rounded out the top-10.

The win, worth $2,000, moved Gustin into the points lead in the Day Motor Sports Southwest Region after four completed events. Scott is second, followed by Hughes, Sanders, Kelly Shryock, Bobby Malchus, Hebert, Bryan Rowland, Ray and Dereck Ramirez.

Shryock struggled in the USMTS main event, but still took home a trophy as he drove Shannon “Slider” Young’s SLY1 to victory in the 20-lap HotMod feature race.

Action moves to the Cowtown Speedway in Kennedale, Texas on Friday night for another $2,000-to-win contest. Hughes finished fourth in the last USMTS event at “The Fastest Little Dirt Track in Texas” in 2008 while three Cowtown locals – George White, Bryan Sugg and Glenn Leuschner – successfully defended their home turf and claimed the top three spots.

Pit gates will open at 4 p.m., grandstands open at 5, hot laps are at 6:30 and the green flag waves at 7 p.m. Also on the racing card will be Limited Mods and Bombers/Hobby Stocks.

The Cowtown Speedway is a quarter-mile high-banked clay oval located off of I-20 at exit 442-A, then 1.7 miles southeast on Mansfield Hwy., then 1.4 miles southwest on New Hope Rd. For day-of-race information, call 817-478-9952 or check out www.cowtownspeedway.com on the World Wide Web.

On Saturday night, May 7, the scene will be Virgil Page’s Lake Country Speedway in Ardmore, Okla., with racing slated for 8 p.m. The Lake Country Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located just off of I-35 at exit 29, then 0.7 mile east on US 70, then 1.8 miles south on US 77. For race day information, call 580-220-7565 or visit www.lakecountryspeedwayok.com online.

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, Twitter and YouTube.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy
Inaugural Event
Heart O’ Texas Speedway, Elm Mott, Texas
Thursday, May 5, 2011

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 12 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) 2 Kenny Gaddis, Hallsville, Texas.
2. (3) 303 Chase Jupe, Waco, Texas.
3. (4) 707 P.J. Egbert ®, Copperas Cove, Texas.
4. (6) 2 Paul White, Temple, Texas.
5. (1) 71h Philip Houston ®, Odessa, Texas.
6. (8) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (5) 156 Steve Pugh ®, Anderson, Texas.
8. (7) 78 Trevor Egbert ®, Salado, Texas.
9. (9) 14t Tristan Dycus, Midlothian, Texas.

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (3) 41m Steve McMackin, Greenville, Texas.
2. (1) 410 Brad Doherty ®, Ennis, Texas.
3. (2) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
4. (7) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas.
5. (4) 87 John Webb ®, Pauls Valley, Okla.
6. (6) 11 Wesley Hamilton ®, Killeen, Texas.
7. (5) 87 Justin McCoy ®, Ovilla, Texas.
8. (9) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr. ®, Sunnyville, Texas.
9. (8) 60 William Gould, Calera, Okla.

EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (6) 24 Sean Jones, Mansfield, Texas.
2. (2) 99 Jason Grimes ®, Jamestown, N.D.
3. (1) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
4. (4) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
5. (3) 7x Rory Jordan, Victoria, Texas.
6. (8) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
7. (5) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
8. (7) 88xx Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (2) 5g Keith Green, Waco, Texas.
2. (4) 9 Jimmy Ray ®, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (3) 76 Jesse Manning ®, Brazoria, Texas.
4. (7) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La.
5. (1) 76 Jeff Rowland ®, Pauls Valley, Okla.
6. (6) 82 Brandon Houk ®, Venus, Texas.
7. (5) 94 Nick Hardcastle, Corpus Christi, Texas.
8. (8) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas.

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (2) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
2. (4) 717 George Egbert IV ®, Salado, Texas.
3. (8) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
4. (3) 30 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas.
5. (1) 12g Jeremy Green ®, Enid, Okla.
6. (7) 8 Steve Miller, Georgetown, Texas.
7. (6) 45t Eric Tomlinson ®, Robinson, Texas.
8. (5) 12 Scooter Bates, Killeen, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 7 advance):1. (2) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
2. (1) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas.
3. (4) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
4. (3) 76 Jesse Manning ®, Brazoria, Texas.
5. (6) 7x Rory Jordan, Victoria, Texas.
6. (8) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
7. (13) 78 Trevor Egbert ®, Salado, Texas.
8. (5) 71h Philip Houston ®, Odessa, Texas, SRP/JR, $80.
9. (14) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas, Skyrocket/Harris, $80.
10. (12) 45t Eric Tomlinson ®, Robinson, Texas, Hughes/Outlaw, $80.
11. (10) 156 Steve Pugh ®, Anderson, Texas, Skyrocket/ProPower, $80.
12. (9) 11 Wesley Hamilton ®, Killeen, Texas, Pierce/Centex, $80.
13. (15) 14t Tristan Dycus, Midlothian, Texas, Kraft/Wells, $80.
14. (11) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, $80.
15. (7) 12g Jeremy Green ®, Enid, Okla., Ramirez/Janes, $80.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 7 advance):1. (2) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
2. (4) 30 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas.
3. (5) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla.
4. (7) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (3) 2 Paul White, Temple, Texas.
6. (13) 88xx Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas.
7. (1) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La.
8. (11) 94 Nick Hardcastle, Corpus Christi, Texas, Skyrocket/Hardcastle, $60.
9. (6) 76 Jeff Rowland ®, Pauls Valley, Okla., Hughes/Boyd’s, $80.
10. (9) 82 Brandon Houk ®, Venus, Texas, Harris/Lenmar, $80.
11. (10) 87 Justin McCoy ®, Ovilla, Texas, Skyrocket/KSP, $80.
12. (15) 60 William Gould, Calera, Okla., Shaw/BMS, $60.
13. (8) 8 Steve Miller, Georgetown, Texas, Hughes/Cantrell, $80.
14. (12) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr., Sunnyville, Texas.
15. (14) 12 Scooter Bates, Killeen, Texas, Pierce/Brooks, $60.

WIX FILTERS “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (5) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $2000.
2. (7) 9 Jimmy Ray ®, Las Cruces, N.M., AOS/GMPP, 40, $1500.
3. (13) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $1000.
4. (19) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/ASI, 40, $800.
5. (25) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La., Hughes/ASI, 40, $800.
6. (9) 410 Brad Doherty ®, Ennis, Texas, GRT/Craft, 40, $600.
7. (10) 99 Jason Grimes ®, Jamestown, N.D., Hughes/Dakota, 40, $550.
8. (2) 5g Keith Green, Waco, Texas, Hughes/, 40, $300.
9. (1) 24 Sean Jones, Mansfield, Texas, PCR/GMPP, 40, $450.
10. (8) 303 Chase Jupe, Waco, Texas, Hughes/Centex, 40, $250.
11. (23) 88xx Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas, Hughes/Wells, 40, $400.
12. (16) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Ramirez/ProPower, 40, $375.
13. (17) 87 John Webb ®, Pauls Valley, Okla., Hughes/Shoulders, 40, $350.
14. (22) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ProPower, 40, $400.
15. (6) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Geddes, 40, $400.
16. (24) 78 Trevor Egbert ®, Salado, Texas, Hughes/Centex, 40, $300.
17. (20) 7x Rory Jordan, Victoria, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $250.
18. (18) 76 Jesse Manning ®, Brazoria, Texas, Evolution/Hall, 40, $300.
19. (11) 707 P.J. Egbert ®, Copperas Cove, Texas, Hughes/Lingo, 18, radiator, $300.
20. (12) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 18, A-frame, $300.
21. (14) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas, Hughes/Chase, 17, crash, $300.
22. (26) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr. ®, Sunnyville, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, 17, crash, $300.
23. (21) 2 Paul White, Temple, Texas, Hughes/Centex, 17, suspension, $300.
24. (3) 717 George Egbert IV ®, Salado, Texas, DirtWorks/Centex, 14, radiator, $300.
25. (4) 2 Kenny Gaddis, Hallsville, Texas, Hughes/Gaddis, 13, suspension, $300.
26. (15) 30 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas, CAM/Allard, 6, steering, $300.
27. (27) 41m Steve McMackin, Greenville, Texas, DirtWorks/Cotton, did not start, 0, $100.

® = Rookie of the Year contender.

Integra Lap Leaders: Jones 1-8, Gustin 9-40.
Total Laps Led: Gustin 32, Jones 8.
Margin of Victory: 1.017 seconds.
AFCO Pole Winner: Jones.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Hebert (started 25th, finished 5th).
Provisional Starter: Dunn.
Next Race: Friday, May 6, Cowtown Speedway, Kennedale, Texas.
Day Motor Sports Southwest Region Points: Gustin 364, Scott 353, Hughes 351, Sanders 309, Shryock 305, Malchus 302, Hebert 273, B. Rowland 255, Ray 247, Ramirez 233.
Rookie of the Year Points: Dunn 727, Ray 707, P. Egbert 661, J. Rowland 638, Webb 591.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 159, ProPower 117, ASI 114, Sput’s 76, Geddes 69.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 167, Skyrocket 128, GRT 101, Ramirez 68, TRE 67.

Contingency Awards:American Racer – Shryock.
CPD Racing Tools – not awarded.
Eibach Springs – Jones.
Forty9Designs.com – Scott, Jones.
Hooker Harness – Ramirez.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Gustin.
ISKY Racing Cams – Gaddis.
KSE Racing Products – not awarded.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Allen.
New Vision Graphics – not awarded.
Nitroquest – J. Green, Dunn.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Hebert.
PBM Performance Products – not awarded.
Real Racing Wheels – Houston, J. Rowland.
Ruter Farms – not awarded.
WIX Filters – Gustin.

by Jeff Nunn, USMTS PR

Jason Hughes doubles up with USMTS win at Baytown

Jason Hughes captured his second straight USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy main event Sunday night, and pocketed $3,000 for his efforts in the fog-postponed Texas Spring Nationals at the Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas.

Less than 24 hours removed from a victory at the nearby Gator Motorplex in Willis, Texas, the defending USMTS National Champion disposed of early leader Ryan Gustin on lap 14, and then raced to a ten-car-length victory in the 40-lap nightcap.

Gustin and John O Whittington each picked up wins back in February to kick off the 2011 racing season before the third event of the tripleheader was postponed until Sunday due to thick fog rolling over the racetrack.

The win tied Hughes and Gustin at three wins apiece with just seven races in the books in the early stages of the 2011 campaign.

Randy Timms finished second and earned the Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger Award after coming al the way from 17th on the 27-car starting grid while Johnny Scott got by Gustin for third to give Hughes Chassis drives a sweep of the top four spots.

Southern New Mexico Speedway co-owner Jimmy Ray passed 13 cars en route to a fifth-place finish, and Shane Hebert followed up his $1,000 Limited Modified feature win earlier in the program with a sixth-place result in the USMTS “A” Main.

Whittington bounced back from an early-race skirmish with Kelly Shryock to finish seventh, Clyde Dunn Jr. went from 21st to eighth, Chase Allen nabbed the ninth spot and last year’s Texas Winter Nationals Champion Rodney Sanders rounded out the top-10.

With the incorporation of the USMTS Southern Series into the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy for 2011, this year’s slate is divided into six regions where drivers can compete for lucrative regional points funds and earn a chance to compete for the USMTS National Championship crown.

Each of the six regions are worth up to $2,500 for the highest points earner while the 2011 USMTS National Champion will earn $20,000.

The 2011 campaign kicked off Feb. 17-19 at the Royal Purple Raceway for the first race in the newly-formed Southeast Region. Eleven events over four weekends are scheduled, and drivers ranked among the top-10 in points or with perfect attendance in the Southeast Region after March 26 will earn a spot in the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship powered by Swan Energy.

The series will return to Baytown in November for the Southeast Region finale after the completion of ‘The Hunt.’

Next weekend will find the USMTS Modifieds back in the Lone Star State for three more $2,000-to-win events that will culminate with the first batch of qualifiers for ‘The Hunt.’

On Thursday, March 26, the Rose Bowl Speedway in Winona, Texas, welcomes the open-wheel outlaws for the first time, and then on Friday the series returns to the Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, La., before wrapping up the weekend on Saturday in Kilgore, Texas, at the Lonestar Speedway.

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, Twitter and YouTube.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy
Inaugural Texas Spring Nationals – Night 3 of 3
Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, Texas
Sunday, March 20, 2011

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 12 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) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
2. (8) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La.
3. (5) 88xx Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas.
4. (1) 76 Jesse Manning (R), Brazoria, Texas.
5. (7) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
6. (9) 156 Steve Pugh (R), Anderson, Texas.
7. (6) 10 Aaron Jorden (R), Benton, La.
8. (3) A1 Phil Dixon, Crosby, Texas.
9. (4) 87 John Webb (R), Pauls Valley, Okla.

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (5) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
2. (1) 30 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas.
3. (2) 02 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla.
4. (8) 707 P.J. Egbert (R), Copperas Cove, Texas.
5. (6) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas.
6. (7) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr. (R), Sunnyville, Texas.
7. (4) 51 Jeff Wood, Willis, Texas.
8. (9) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
9. (3) 99 Landon Anderson (R), Richmond, Texas.

EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (4) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
2. (1) 69 Lucas Schott (R), Chatfield, Minn.
3. (5) 12c Corey Babbitt, Channelview, Texas.
4. (7) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
5. (3) 69b Tim Boudreaux, Cleveland, Texas.
6. (8) 9 Jimmy Ray (R), Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (2) 9n Brent Nicholas (R), Baytown, Texas.
8. (9) 16 Chris Henigan, Marshall, Texas.
9. (6) 7x Rory Jordan, Victoria, Texas.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (3) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (2) 23 Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas.
3. (7) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas.
4. (6) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
5. (1) 56 David Horner, Houston, Texas.
6. (5) 87 Justin McCoy (R), Ovilla, Texas.
7. (8) 955 Robert Metz Jr. (R), Lumberton, Texas.
8. (9) 5m Joe Mayhew, Highlands, Texas.
9. (4) 71 Philip Houston (R), Odessa, Texas.

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (4) 95 Keith Foss (R), Winona, Minn.
2. (6) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.
3. (2) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
4. (3) 1 T.J. Herndon (R), Atwood, Tenn.
5. (8) 76 Jeff Rowland (R), Pauls Valley, Okla.
6. (5) 21 Troy Seidl (R), Magnolia, Texas.
7. (1) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas.
8. (7) 15g Bubba Gates (R), Santa Fe, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 7 advance):
1. (2) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
2. (1) 12c Corey Babbitt, Channelview, Texas.
3. (3) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
4. (8) 9 Jimmy Ray (R), Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (6) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas.
6. (13) 16 Chris Henigan, Marshall, Texas.
7. (11) 51 Jeff Wood, Willis, Texas.
8. (9) 87 Justin McCoy (R), Ovilla, Texas, Skyrocket/KSP, $90.
9. (5) 1 T.J. Herndon (R), Atwood, Tenn., GRT/KMF, $90.
10. (4) 76 Jeff Rowland (R), Pauls Valley, Okla., Hughes/Boyd’s, $90.
11. (7) 69b Tim Boudreaux, Cleveland, Texas, Skyrocket/, $75.
12. (10) 955 Robert Metz Jr. (R), Lumberton, Texas, Pierce/CB, $90.
13. (14) A1 Phil Dixon, Crosby, Texas, Fast1/Jackson, $90.
14. (16) 7x Rory Jordan, Victoria, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, $90.
15. (12) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas, Skyrocket/Harris, $90.
16. (15) 87 John Webb (R), Pauls Valley, Okla., Hughes/Shoulder’s, $90.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 7 advance):
1. (2) 02 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla.
2. (1) 707 P.J. Egbert (R), Copperas Cove, Texas.
3. (3) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
4. (12) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
5. (8) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr. (R), Sunnyville, Texas.
6. (7) 56 David Horner, Houston, Texas.
7. (11) 9n Brent Nicholas (R), Baytown, Texas.
8. (6) 156 Steve Pugh (R), Anderson, Texas, Skyrocket/ProPower, $90.
9. (13) 5m Joe Mayhew, Highlands, Texas, Skyrocket/Houston, $75.
10. (10) 10 Aaron Jorden (R), Benton, La., Hughes/PTS, $90.
11. (15) 99 Landon Anderson (R), Richmond, Texas, Skyrocket/Owens, $90.
12. (4) 76 Jesse Manning (R), Brazoria, Texas, Evolution/Hall, $90.
13. (9) 21 Troy Seidl (R), Magnolia, Texas, Skyrocket/Hovis, $90.
14. (5) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
15. (14) 15g Bubba Gates (R), Santa Fe, Texas, DustDevil/Harris, $80.
16. (16) 71 Philip Houston (R), Odessa, Texas, SRP/JR, $75.

“A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (5) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $3000.
2. (17) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $2000.
3. (1) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/ASI, 40, $1500.
4. (2) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $800.
5. (18) 9 Jimmy Ray (R), Las Cruces, N.M., AOS/AOS, 40, $700.
6. (3) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La., Hughes/ASI, 40, $600.
7. (4) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas, Pierce/CB, 40, $550.
8. (21) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr. (R), Sunnyville, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $500.
9. (8) 30 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas, CAM/Allard, 40, $450.
10. (12) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Geddes, 40, $425.
11. (14) 12c Corey Babbitt, Channelview, Texas, TRE/CAM, 40, $400.
12. (19) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $375.
13. (26) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 40, $165.
14. (10) 23 Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas, Evolution/CB, 40, $400.
15. (20) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas, Hughes/Chase, 40, $400.
16. (15) 707 P.J. Egbert (R), Copperas Cove, Texas, Hughes/Lingo, 40, $300.
17. (16) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Ramirez/ProPower, 40, $300.
18. (9) 69 Lucas Schott (R), Chatfield, Minn., Hughes/Action, 40, $300.
19. (25) 9n Brent Nicholas (R), Baytown, Texas, Hughes/CB, 40, $300.
20. (7) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, 37, mechanical, $300.
21. (23) 56 David Horner, Houston, Texas, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 34, mechanical, $300.
22. (11) 88xx Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas, Hughes/Wells, 28, mechanical, $300.
23. (24) 51 Jeff Wood, Willis, Texas, Skyrocket/WestSide, 28, mechanical, $300.
24. (13) 02 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 24, mechanical, $400.
25. (22) 16 Chris Henigan, Marshall, Texas, GRT/Mullins, 22, mechanical, $300.
26. (6) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ProPower, 9, shock, $400.
DNS - 95 Keith Foss (R), Winona, Minn., DirtDueler/Brink, 0, engine, $400.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Integra Lap Leaders: Gustin 1-13, Hughes 14-40.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 27, Gustin 13.
Margin of Victory: 1.249 seconds.
AFCO Pole Winner: Shryock.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Timms (started 17th, finished 2nd).
Ruter Farms Long Tow Award: Shryock (1,102 miles).
Provisional Starter: B. Rowland.
Next Race: Thursday, March 24, Rose Bowl Speedway, Winona, Texas.
Rookie of the Year Points: Foss 328, Ray 316, J. Rowland 315, Schott 287, Egbert 282.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 65, ProPower 43, ASI 37, CB 35, Sput’s 33.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 68, Skyrocket 48, Pierce 34, GRT 32, Evolution 31.

Contingency Awards:American Racer – Ramirez.
Eibach Springs – Gustin.
Forty9Designs.com – Gustin, Allen.
Hooker Harness – Beebe.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Hughes.
ISKY Racing Cams – Hughes.
KSE Racing Products – Foss.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Foss.
New Vision Graphics – Shryock.
Nitroquest – Webb, Houston.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Timms.
PBM Performance Products – Scott.
Real Racing Wheels – McCoy, Pugh.
Ruter Farms – Shryock.

LIMITED MODIFIEDS

“A” Main (20 laps):
1. (10) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La., $1000.
2. (9) 12m Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas, $600.
3. (17) 64 Thomas Downey, Houston, Texas, $400.
4. (7) 19 Randy Seals, Humble, Texas, $300.
5. (3) 78 Kamron Campbell, Breaux, La., $200.
6. (13) 30 Joel Couvillion, Alexandria, La., $175.
7. (4) 77 Garrett Gregory, Tomball, Texas, $150.
8. (2) 0 Shane Helton, Artesia, N.M., $125.
9. (16) 21 Paul White, Temple, Texas, $100.
10. (8) 78 Brad Ball, Highlands, Texas, $90.
11. (14) 800 Phillip Seals, Magnolia, Texas, $80.
12. (11) 29 Mike Walling, Crosby, Texas, $75.
13. (5) 147 G.W. Hessong, Edna, Texas, $75.
14. (20) 9 David Lege, Magnolia, Texas, $75.
15. (22) 14 David Jackson, Bacliff, Texas, $75.
16. (6) 10a John Matt, Crosby, Texas, $75.
17. (15) 36 Steve Hoppe, Houston, Texas, $75.
18. (21) 21 Josh Brock, Baytown, Texas, $75.
19. (18) B4 Tommy Jones, Houston, Texas, $75.
20. (12) 88 Troy Baugh, Alvin, Texas, $75.
21. (19) 531 Mike Martin, Magnolia, Texas, $75.
22. (1) 9b Danny Hebert, Duson, La., $75.

Story by USMTS PR

Jason Hughes swamps USMTS field at Gator Motorplex

Defending USMTS National Champion Jason Hughes claimed his second victory of the season Saturday night as the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy invaded the Gator Motorplex in Willis, Texas.

Keith Foss of Winona, Minn., earned the AFCO Pole Award after heat race qualifying and redrew the pole position for the 40-lap “A” Main.

The Rookie of the Year contender jumped out to lead the first 14 laps before Hughes was able to power by and take over the lead.

From there, Hughes hung on through four cautions that kept the field close, and led last year’s Texas Shootout winner, Howard Willis of Dayton, to the checkered flag with Foss scoring his second third-place finish in as many nights.

John O Whittington finished fourth, Tommy Weder Jr. was fifth, Johnny Scott came from fourteenth to sixth, Cody Smith snagged the seventh spot, Rick Beebe grabbed eighth, Jimmy Ray wound up ninth and nine-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock secured the tenth-place paycheck with a last-lap pass for position.

Along with Hughes, Whittington and Shryock were also winners at the Gator Motorplex in 2009 when three separate events were held at the quarter-mile dirt oval.

Four cautions during three laps plagued the middle portion of the feature race, with the worst being for a crash on lap 21 that sidelined six competitors including points leader Ryan Gustin, who dropped to second behind Hughes in the standings.

For the second time this season, Clyde Dunn Jr. was the most prolific passer in the main event and earned the Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger Award. The 27-year-old from Sunnyville, Texas, finished 14th after starting 26th on the grid.

Sunday will find the mud-slinging USMTS Modifieds back at the Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas, for the fog-postponed third and final day of the inaugural Texas Spring Nationals. Ryan Gustin and John O Whittington each picked up wins back in February to kick off the 2011 racing season with 80 entries in the pit area.

In addition to the USMTS Modifieds racing for $3,000 to win, Limited Modifieds will also be competing for a top prize of $1,000. Pits open at 3 p.m., grandstands gates open at 4 and racing kicks off at 6:30 p.m.

The Royal Purple Raceway is located just east of Houston on I-10 to exit 799, then 2.5 miles south on SH 99 (Grand Parkway), then 0.3 mile west on FM 565. For more information, call the track office at 281-383-7223 or visit www.royalpurpleraceway.com online.

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, Twitter and YouTube.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy
5th Annual Texas Shootout – Round 2 of 2
Gator Motorplex, Willis, Texas.
Saturday, March 19, 2011

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 12 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. (1) 02 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla.
2. (5) 56 David Horner, Houston, Texas.
3. (7) 156 Steve Pugh ®, Anderson, Texas.
4. (8) A1 Phil Dixon, Crosby, Texas.
5. (4) 715 Jeff Hoegh ®, New Caney, Texas.
6. (2) 21 Troy Seidl ®, Magnolia, Texas.
7. (9) 12c Corey Babbitt, Channelview, Texas.
8. (6) 1 T.J. Herndon ®, Atwood, Tenn.
9. (3) 30 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas.

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
2. (3) 9 Jimmy Ray ®, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (2) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
4. (5) 69 Lucas Schott ®, Chatfield, Minn.
5. (7) 15 Jared Webb ®, McKinney, Texas.
6. (8) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
7. (9) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr. ®, Sunnyville, Texas.
8. (4) 955 Robert Metz Jr. ®, Lumberton, Texas.
9. (6) 707 P.J. Egbert ®, Copperas Cove, Texas.

EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (4) 95 Keith Foss ®, Winona, Minn.
2. (1) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
3. (2) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
4. (5) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas.
5. (7) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
6. (3) 76 Jesse Manning ®, Brazoria, Texas.
7. (6) 87 John Webb ®, Pauls Valley, Okla.
8. (8) 6* Dillon Pike, Waxahachie, Texas.
9. (9) 76 Jeff Rowland ®, Pauls Valley, Okla.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (2) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.
2. (4) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
3. (3) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (1) 71h Philip Houston ®, Odessa, Texas.
5. (6) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
6. (5) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La.
7. (7) 7x Rory Jordan, Victoria, Texas.
8. (8) 129 Bryan Vollmer, Tomball, Texas.
9. (9) 07 Bob Lane, Waco, Texas.

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (1) 23 Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas.
2. (5) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas.
3. (7) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas.
4. (6) 51 Jeff Wood, Willis, Texas.
5. (3) 34 Ben Stephens ®, Hattiesburg, Miss.
6. (2) 87 Justin McCoy ®, Ovilla, Texas.
7. (4) 10 Aaron Jorden ®, Benton, La.
8. (8) 88xx Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 7 advance):
1. (4) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas.
2. (2) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
3. (6) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
4. (9) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La.
5. (3) 51 Jeff Wood, Willis, Texas.
6. (5) 15 Jared Webb ®, McKinney, Texas.
7. (1) A1 Phil Dixon, Crosby, Texas.
8. (12) 10 Aaron Jorden ®, Benton, La., Hughes/PTS, $80.
9. (10) 12c Corey Babbitt, Channelview, Texas, TRE/CAM, $80.
10. (7) 34 Ben Stephens ®, Hattiesburg, Miss., Hughes/Mullins, $80.
11. (13) 955 Robert Metz Jr. ®, Lumberton, Texas, Pierce/CB, $80.
12. (8) 21 Troy Seidl ®, Magnolia, Texas, Skyrocket/Hovis, $80.
13. (16) 76 Jeff Rowland ®, Pauls Valley, Okla., Hughes/Boyd’s, $80.
14. (14) 129 Bryan Vollmer, Tomball, Texas, Shaw/CHB, $60.
15. (11) 87 John Webb ®, Pauls Valley, Okla., Hughes/Shoulders, $80.
16. (15) 30 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 7 advance):
1. (2) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (7) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
3. (3) 69 Lucas Schott ®, Chatfield, Minn.
4. (1) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
5. (5) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
6. (6) 715 Jeff Hoegh ®, New Caney, Texas.
7. (10) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr. ®, Sunnyville, Texas.
8. (15) 707 P.J. Egbert ®, Copperas Cove, Texas, Hughes/Lingo, $80.
9. (9) 87 Justin McCoy ®, Ovilla, Texas, Skyrocket/KSP, $80.
10. (8) 76 Jesse Manning ®, Brazoria, Texas, Evolution/Hall, $80.
11. (12) 1 T.J. Herndon ®, Atwood, Tenn., GRT/KMF, $80.
12. (11) 7x Rory Jordan, Victoria, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, $80.
13. (13) 6* Dillon Pike, Waxahachie, Texas, Trick1/Allard, $60.
14. (14) 88xx Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas, Hughes/Wells, $80.
15. (4) 71h Philip Houston ®, Odessa, Texas, SRP/JR, $80.
16. (16) 07 Bob Lane, Waco, Texas, /, $60.

“A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (4) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $2000.
2. (2) 23 Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas, Evolution/CB, 40, $1500.
3. (1) 95 Keith Foss ®, Winona, Minn., DirtDueler/Brink, 40, $1100.
4. (6) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas, Pierce/CB, 40, $800.
5. (5) 02 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $700.
6. (14) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/ASI, 40, $600.
7. (10) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas, Hughes/Chase, 40, $550.
8. (7) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $500.
9. (11) 9 Jimmy Ray ®, Las Cruces, N.M., AOS/AOS, 40, $450.
10. (15) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ProPower, 40, $425.
11. (9) 156 Steve Pugh ®, Anderson, Texas, Skyrocket/105, 40, $400.
12. (19) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La., Hughes/ASI, 40, $375.
13. (8) 56 David Horner, Houston, Texas, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $350.
14. (26) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr. ®, Sunnyville, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $500.
15. (21) 51 Jeff Wood, Willis, Texas, Skyrocket/WestSide, 40, $200.
16. (25) A1 Phil Dixon, Crosby, Texas, Fast1/Jackson, 39, $300.
17. (13) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas, Skyrocket/Harris, 21, mechanical, $300.
18. (22) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 21, mechanical, $400.
19. (17) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 21, crash, $400.
20. (16) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Geddes, 21, crash, $400.
21. (20) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Ramirez/ProPower, 21, mechanical, $300.
22. (23) 15 Jared Webb ®, McKinney, Texas, DirtWorks/Warner, 21, crash, $300.
23. (12) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 21, crash, $300.
24. (3) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, 21, mechanical, $300.
25. (18) 69 Lucas Schott ®, Chatfield, Minn., Hughes/Action, 20, driveshaft, $300.
26. (27) 30 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas, CAM/Allard, 20, driveshaft, $400.
27. (24) 715 Jeff Hoegh, New Caney, Texas, Skyrocket/Graham, 40, $200.

® = Rookie of the Year contender.

Integra Lap Leaders: Foss 1-14, Hughes 15-40.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 26, Foss 14.
Margin of Victory: 1.275 seconds.
AFCO Pole Winner: Foss.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Dunn (started 26th, finished 14th).
Ruter Farms Long Tow Award: Foss (1,189 miles).
Provisional Starter: Allen.
Next Race: Sunday, March 20, Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, Texas.
Southeast Region Points: Hughes 360, Gustin 342, Whittington 327, Shryock 313, Foss 278, Smith 271, Dunn 268, Willis 266, Hebert 266, Weder 261.
Rookie of the Year Points: Foss 277, J. Rowland 270, Herndon 233, Ray 232, Schott 231.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 55, ProPower 40, Sput’s 32, CB 28, ASI 28.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 58, Skyrocket 45, GRT 30, Pierce 26, Evolution 26.

Contingency Awards:
American Racer – Dunn.
Eibach Springs – Foss.
Forty9Designs.com – Whittington, Ray.
Hooker Harness – Hebert.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Hughes.
ISKY Racing Cams – Weder.
KSE Racing Products – Horner.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Allen.
New Vision Graphics – Hughes.
Nitroquest – Allen, Houston.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Dunn.
PBM Performance Products – Whiteaker.
Real Racing Wheels – Jorden, Egbert.
Ruter Farms – Foss.

USMTS Photos
Story by USMTS Media Relations

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NEXT EVENT …

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tripleheader up next for USMTS Modifieds in South Dakota

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

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

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

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

TUESDAY, JUNE 16 - PARK JEFFERSON SPEEDWAY

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

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

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

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

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

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 - CASINO SPEEDWAY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THURSDAY, JUNE 18 - HUSET’S SPEEDWAY

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

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

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

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

FAST FACTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

by Jeff Nun

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