Gustin wires USMTS field at Lansing, sweeps Memorial Day doubleheader

LANSING, Minn. (May 30) – After an afternoon show at the Dodge County Speedway in Kasson, Minn., the teams of the USMTS National Tour loaded up and headed 35 miles south to the Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minn., for an Memorial Day evening program on Monday.

A windy day robbed the 3/8-mile clay oval of moisture, but the racing was not without plenty of action and a little controversy.

For the second time today, Yeager Machine Upper Midwest Region points leader Ryan Gustin drew the pole position for the start of the 40-lap WIX Filters “A” Main, but unlike the previous feature race earlier in the day Gustin went out and led every lap of Monday night’s main event.

He did not go unchallenged, however, as rookie Brandon Davis ran down the leader near the halfway point of the race and with 24 laps complete made a move to the inside of Gustin for the lead.

Gustin slid up out of the fast lane exiting turn 2 and opened the door for Davis to sneak underneath. The two drag-raced down the back-stretch with Davis nosing ahead, but Gustin drove deeper into turn 3 and fought back for the spot.

Door to door, the two made contact which caused Gustin’s machine to bounce through the turn but he was able to keep his car going forward. Davis was not as fortunate, however, as he spun to a stop at the top of the turn to bring out the race’s second and final caution, and ended his bid for his career-first USMTS victory.

Gustin went unchallenged the rest of the way and took the checkered flag more than five seconds ahead of runner-up Dereck Ramirez, who turned in his best performance of the season driving a new Hughes Chassis he debuted Saturday night.

Corey Dripps finished third, Keith Foss was fourth and Steve Wetzstein took the fifth spot. Sixth through tenth positions went to 21st-starting Todd Scharkey, Lucas Schott, Jon Tesch, Mark Noble and Zack VanderBeek.