LONG TOWS SHINE AS MONDUS WINS SECOND NIGHT OF TEXAS WINTER Nationals

[rebelracewriter]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, November 30, 2007

 

LONG TOWS SHINE AS MONDUS WINS SECOND NIGHT OF TEXAS

WINTER NATIONALS WHILE SHRYOCK CLINCHES USMTS SOUTHERN

SERIES TITLE

 

BAYTOWN, Texas (Nov. 30) — It was the second night of the

inaugural Texas Winter Nationals Friday as the toughest

Modified pilots in the Lone Star State and throughout the

South converged on the Houston Raceway Park in Baytown,

Texas, but it was the two drivers who ventured the most

miles to get there that basked in the limelight.

 

In the 35-lap USMTS Southern Series main event, Alan

Mondus made his long tow from Lakeville, Minn., pay off as

he led every lap to capture his career-first USMTS main

event win and the $2,000 that went along with it. The

19-year-old beat polesitter Jamie Burford of Keatchie,

La., through the first turn at the drop of the green flag,

then cruised to victory from there.

 

Burford held firmly to the second spot for the next 34

laps, but exiting the final turn with the checkered flag

in sight, Burford tagged the tire barrier at the bottom of

the racetrack. Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla., had

followed Burford throughout the race, and had nowhere to

go in the melee as he and Burford skidded to a stop and

wound up finishing 18th and 19th, respectively.

 

That opened the door for fourth-running Shane Hebert of

Scott, La., who crossed the finish line in the runner-up

position. After the race, however, Hebert's Modified came

up too light at the scales and he was disqualified. That

gave the second-place paycheck to Willy Kraft, who was

looking at a fifth-place finish with one left-hand turn

remaining the feature.

 

Howard Willis of Dayton, Texas, had the best showing of

the Lone Star State drivers, garnering third after

starting 14th. Chris Henigan of Marshall, Texas, was

fourth while Fertile, Iowa's Kelly Shryock rounded out the

top-5.

 

With his fifth-place finish, Shryock earned enough points

to clinch the title to become the first USMTS Southern

Series champion. It was a measure of vindication for

Shryock, who also won the first O'Reilly USMTS National

Championship in 1999. The veteran racer and Skyrocket

Chassis builder proceeded to win eight straight O'Reilly

USMTS National Championship titles before relinquishing

his throne for the first time this season.

 

Thursday's opening night winner, Paul White, finished

sixth after qualifying for the main event by winning the

third Real Racing Wheels “B” Main. Scott Green started

20th and finished seventh, followed by Bobby Malchus in

eighth, John O. Whittington, ninth, and Morgan Bagley was

10th.

 

While Shryock has locked up the top spot in the USMTS

Southern Series points heading into Saturday's finale at

Houston Raceway Park, Randy Timms will secure the

runner-up spot when he fires his motor on Saturday. The

battle for third in the rankings is up for grabs, however,

as three drivers enter the last race of the season

separated by a mere 11 points. Steve Holzkamper, who was

sixth coming into Thursday's show, moved up to third on

Friday with 1665 points. Greg Skaggs is fourth with 1659

markers while Hughes dropped two spots to fifth with 1654

points. Sixth through 10th are Tommy Weder Jr. (1648),

Green (1399), Zack VanderBeek (1166), Rodney Sanders

(1152) and Steven Whiteaker Jr. (1097). Burford's

late-race mishap cost him a spot in the top-10, but

nonetheless trails Whiteaker by just 13 points.

 

The action continues on Saturday with the inaugural Texas

Winter Nationals finale. Gates open at 4 p.m. with hot

laps at 6 and racing at 6:30. The USMTS Southern Series

main event will pay $3,000 to win and $250 to start.

Limited Mods will also be running for $1,000 to win and

$60 to start.

 

Houston Raceway Park is a state-of-the-art 3/8-mile

high-banked clay oval located east of Houston on I-10 to

Exit 798, then 3.0 miles south on SR 146, then 0.8 mile

southeast on FM 1405, then 1.5 miles northeast on FM 565

in Baytown, Texas. For more information, call the track

office at (281) 383-RACE or visit www.houstonraceway.com

online.

 

All USMTS rules will apply. American Racer is the Official

Tire of the USMTS, and any driver seeking to receive USMTS

Southern Series points and/or contingency awards must use

the American Racer KK-704 racing tire. The Hoosier G60

tire will also be allowed for this race, but must be

mounted on all four wheels with no grooving allowed.

 

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring

Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit

www.usmts.com online.

 

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

 

OFFICIAL RESULTS

USMTS Southern Series

Inaugural Texas Winter Nationals - Night 2 of 3

Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas

Friday, Nov. 30, 2007

 

Showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown

and starting position in parentheses. The top 13 drivers

in Home Pride Passing Points accumulated in the Heats are

locked into the “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for

starting positions 1-8.

 

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT #1 (8 laps):

1. 16 - Chris Henigan -- Marshall, TX (2)

2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (10)

3. A1 - Phil Dixon -- Crosby, TX (8)

4. 9 - Brent Nicholas -- Baytown, TX (1)

5. 01 - Billy Robinson -- Blanchard, LA (7)

6. 125 - Andy Clower -- Grand Saline, TX (3)

7. 70 - Tom Barben -- Andleton, TX (4)

8. 12x - Dennis Lecroy -- Houston, TX (11)

9. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (5) DNF

10. 8j - Charlie Morrow -- Deville, LA (6) DNF

11. 98 - Darryl Seals -- Vidor, TX (9) DNF

 

HEAT #2 (8 laps):

1. 55m - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (1)

2. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (3)

3. 721 - Doug Cameron -- San Antoino, TX (5)

4. 561 - David Horner -- Houston, TX (4)

5. 8 - Steve Miller -- Georgetown, TX (7)

6. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (9)

7. 17 - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (6)

8. 3g - Glen Grant -- Houston, TX (8)

9. 156 - Steve Pugh -- Willis, TX (2)

10. 15p - John Parker -- Many, LA (10) DNS

 

HEAT #3 (8 laps):

1. 9h - Shane Hebert -- Scott, LA (2)

2. 50m - Mark McKim -- Friendswood, TX (3)

3. 4 - Tom Hameka -- Dickson, TX (1)

4. 4r - Derek Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (7)

5. 99 - Derick Grigsby -- Marshall, TX (9)

6. 4$ - Kalif Selier -- Katy, TX (4)

7. 40f - Steven Fite -- Bastrop, TX (6)

8. 127 - Edward Wickham -- Baytown, TX (8)

9. 121 - Dan Sikes -- Crosby, TX (10)

10. 7jr - Chad Ewell -- Forney, TX (5) DNF

 

HEAT #4 (8 laps):

1. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (1)

2. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (2)

3. 21 - Chris Brown -- Cleveland, TX (7)

4. 1w - Howard Willis -- Dayton, TX (10)

5. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (3)

6. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (8)

7. 117 - Brennan Poole -- Woodlands, TX (4)

8. 18 - Pete Sagmiller -- Spring, TX (6)

9. 88xxx - Clyde Dunn Jr. -- Sunnyville, TX (5)

10. 96 - Foster Ellison -- Richwood, TX (9)

 

HEAT #5 (8 laps):

1. 83 - Willy Kraft -- Woodwood, OK (7)

2. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (2)

3. 51 - Jeff Wood -- Willis, TX (5)

4. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (10)

5. 10 - Kenny Battarbee -- Houston, TX (9)

6. 96x - Michael Knighten -- Shreveport, LA (4)

7. 7 - Robert Corbello -- Beaumont, TX (3)

8. 17 - Brad Lasater -- Garland, TX (1)

9. 7x - Corey Babbitt -- Channelview, TX (6) DNF

10. 3j - Kevin Dupont -- Carencro, LA (8) DNF

 

HEAT #6 (8 laps):

1. 19b - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (3)

2. 5w - John O. Whittington -- Vidor, TX (4)

3. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (9)

4. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (1)

5. 5r - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (10)

6. 15 - Kevin Battarbee -- Housto, TX (6)

7. 9x - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (2)

8. 129 - Bryan Vollmer -- Tomball, TX (8)

9. 118 - John Arthur -- Sour Lake, TX (5) DNF

10. 211 - Chad Fitzgerald -- Baytown, TX (7) DNF

 

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 3 advance):

1. 1w - Howard Willis -- Dayton, TX (1)

2. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (7)

3. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (2)

4. 4r - Derek Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (3)

5. 99 - Derick Grigsby -- Marshall, TX (4)

6. 117 - Brennan Poole -- Woodlands, TX (10)

7. 96x - Michael Knighten -- Shreveport, LA (8)

8. 8 - Steve Miller -- Georgetown, TX (6)

9. 70 - Tom Barben -- Andleton, TX (9)

10. 17 - Brad Lasater -- Garland, TX (12)

11. 3g - Glen Grant -- Houston, TX (11) DNF

12. 561 - David Horner -- Houston, TX (5) DNF

13. 7x - Corey Babbitt -- Channelview, TX (14) DNF

14. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (13) DNF

15. 3j - Kevin Dupont -- Carencro, LA (16) DNF

16. 15p - John Parker -- Many, LA (15) DNS

 

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 3 advance):

1. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (1)

2. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (5)

3. 17 - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (9)

4. 4 - Tom Hameka -- Dickson, TX (3)

5. 721 - Doug Cameron -- San Antoino, TX (2)

6. 15 - Kevin Battarbee -- Housto, TX (8)

7. 156 - Steve Pugh -- Willis, TX (13)

8. 7 - Robert Corbello -- Beaumont, TX (10)

9. 125 - Andy Clower -- Grand Saline, TX (7)

10. 127 - Edward Wickham -- Baytown, TX (11)

11. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (6)

DNF

12. 10 - Kenny Battarbee -- Houston, TX (4) DNF

13. 129 - Bryan Vollmer -- Tomball, TX (12) DNF

14. 7jr - Chad Ewell -- Forney, TX (15) DNF

15. 118 - John Arthur -- Sour Lake, TX (14) DNS

16. 211 - Chad Fitzgerald -- Baytown, TX (16) DNS

 

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (15 laps, top 3 advance):

1. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (1)

2. 5r - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (3)

3. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (6)

4. 51 - Jeff Wood -- Willis, TX (2)

5. 9 - Brent Nicholas -- Baytown, TX (4)

6. 88xxx - Clyde Dunn Jr. -- Sunnyville, TX (13)

7. 01 - Billy Robinson -- Blanchard, LA (5)

8. 4$ - Kalif Selier -- Katy, TX (7)

9. 18 - Pete Sagmiller -- Spring, TX (11)

10. 9x - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (10)

11. 8j - Charlie Morrow -- Deville, LA (14)

12. 40f - Steven Fite -- Bastrop, TX (9)

13. 96 - Foster Ellison -- Richwood, TX (15)

14. 121 - Dan Sikes -- Crosby, TX (12)

15. 12x - Dennis Lecroy -- Houston, TX (8) DNF

16. 98 - Darryl Seals -- Vidor, TX (16) DNS

 

“A” MAIN (35 laps):

1. 55m - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (3)

2. 83 - Willy Kraft -- Woodward, OK (4)

3. 1w - Howard Willis -- Dayton, TX (14)

4. 16 - Chris Henigan -- Marshall, TX (8)

5. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (6)

6. 2w - Paul White -- Temple, TX (16)

7. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (20)

8. 5r - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (19)

9. 5w - John O. Whittington -- Vidor, TX (10)

10. 17 - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (21)

11. 27 - Greg Skaggs -- Bixby, OK (12)

12. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (23)

13. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (7)

14. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (15)

15. 4r - Derek Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (24)

16. 02 - Tommy Weder Jr. -- Woodward, OK (17)

17. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- East Woodward, OK (18)

18. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (2) DNF

19. 19b - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (1) DNF

20. A1 - Phil Dixon -- Crosby, TX (9) DNF

21. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (22) DNF

22. 50m - Mark McKim -- Friendswood, TX (13) DNF

23. 21 - Chris Brown -- Cleveland, TX (11) DNF

24. 9h - Shane Herbert -- Scott, LA (5) DQ - Light

 

Lap Leaders: Mondus 1-35.

Total Laps Led: Mondus 35.

Pole Award: Kraft.

Provisional Starters: Holzkamper, Ramirez.

Olympic Fire Protection Hard Charger: Green (started 20th,

finished 7th).

Next USMTS Southern Series Event: Saturday, Dec. 1,

Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas.

USMTS Southern Series Points: Shryock 1899, Timms 1743,

Holzkamper 1665, Skaggs 1659, Hughes 1654, Weder 1648,

Green 1399, VanderBeek 1166, Sanders 1152, Whiteaker 1097.

USMTS Southern Series Home Pride Passing Points: Weder

88½, Shryock 87, Hughes 79½, Skaggs 75, Timms 63.

 

Contingency Awards:

GRT Race Cars – not awarded.

Hawk Performance – Malchus.

Isky Racing Cams – Henigan.

Kevko Oil Pans & Components – Shryock, Timms.

KSE Racing Products – Kraft, Henigan.

Marsh Racing Wheels – not awarded..

Nitroquest Web Solutions - Willis.

Quarter Master – Mondus, Whittington.

QuickTime Performance Parts – Green.

Real Racing Wheels – Willis, VanderBeek, White.

[rebelracewriter]

After the rained out race in Corpus two weeks ago, my girlfriend and I went down to the beach........Who did we run into but Alan, his dad, and a guy from his crew..

 

We spent an hour or so talking to them all.....very nice group and for a young kid, he has head squarely on his shoulders.(I don't think dad will let him forget that either..LOL) His dad was a past snowmobile racer and can obviously tune on racecar as well.

 

It wasn't odd that we ran into a race team on the beach, but it was unexpected it was them from Minnesota and not one of the local teams. We talked racing, money(in racing), safety and squished some jellyfish.....that they didn't know anything about.

 

That's one of the things I like about racing........more friends that you just haven't met yet!!

 

Congrats to Alan on his first USMTS win!!!!