Mather gets first USMTS win, turns away Gustin in classic clash at Highway 3 Raceway
ALLISON, Iowa -- On the same track where Ryan Gustin won his first-ever USMTS Modified feature race nearly four years ago, Colt Mather withstood Gustin’s challenges Thursday night at the Highway 3 Raceway to capture his career-first victory with the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy.
The 24-year-old from Webster, Iowa, was fast right off the trailer, winning his heat race to earn the AFCO Pole Award and then bolting to the front of the main event in just five laps from the seventh starting spot.
After a dominating performance in his heat race, Eric Dailey jumped out to a big lead from the outside of the front row and looked to be the driver to beat in the 25-lap WIX Filter “A” Main, but after just two laps smoke began to billow from underneath his mount and one lap later Dailey was parked in the infield and out of the race with terminal engine trouble.
Dailey’s exit handed the lead over to Gustin, but his reign at the front was ever shorter as Mather scooted by on the inside of Gustin to lead the fifth lap.
From that moment on, Mather and Gustin rewarded the huge crowd that packed the grandstands on a chilly Thursday night with a thrilling battle that saw the pair race neck and neck with every passing lap.
While Mather settled in on the low side of the track, Gustin churned the cushion of clay on the high side but the two met up again twice every lap as they raced down the front- and back-stretches virtually side by side.
With 10 laps to go, Gustin moved down right next to Mather on the low side in turn 3 and was able to wrestle away the top spot as he completed lap 15.
Recent history has shown that Gustin grabbing the lead puts a fork in the rest of the field, but Mather fought back the next lap and challenged Gustin in the same corner.
Two laps later, Mather powered by Gustin as they exited the fourth turn and reclaimed the lead. From there, Mather was flawless and beat Gustin to the finish line by two car-lengths.
Since his first win in August 2008 at the half-mile dirt oval at the age of 17, Gustin has garnered an additional series-best 31 wins. His impact on the sport was reflected by Mather’s comments in victory lane.
“I can’t believe I just beat Ryan Gustin,” Mather exclaimed as he removed his helmet in the winner’s circle. “You’re not supposed to be able to do that.”
Zack VanderBeek had the best seat in the house for watching the Mather-Gustin heavyweight bout, and took home a third-place finish while Rodney Sanders claimed the fourth spot.
Al Hejna strapped into his new BC Chassis for the first time this season and completed the first step in his quest to reverse the disappointing 2010 season. Despite starting 17th on the 25-car grid, the ‘A-Train’ raced past 12 competitors to finish fifth.
Despite Hejna’s prolific passing exhibition, the Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger Award went to Jon Tesch who climbed his way to a sixth-place finish after starting 22nd. Ryan Dolan, Tommy Myer, Steve Stewart and Dan Bohr rounded out the top-10 finishers.
