Gustin triples up with USMTS triumph at Monett
MONETT, Mo. -- Ryan Gustin continued his charge toward claiming his first USMTS National Championship Sunday with a win at the Monett Speedway – his third during the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship powered by Swan Energy.
Just like he did the previous night at the Lucas Oil Speedway, Keith Foss led the opening lap of the main event from the front row, but just like the previous night saw Gustin overtake him for the lead and go on to take the checkered flag.
After starting third on the 28-car grid for the 40-lap WIX Filters “A” Main, a caution flag on the third lap helped Gustin get by Kelly Shryock for second. One lap later, ‘The Reaper’ blasted by Foss for the lead and never looked back over the remaining 36 caution-free laps around the high-banked 3/8-mile clay oval.
The win was worth $2,110 to Gustin as he improved his record during ‘The Hunt’ to a perfect 3-0 and widened his lead over Shryock in the points standings.
Terry Phillips finished third Sunday night while Foss held off defending USMTS National Champion Jason Hughes for the fourth spot.
Sixth through tenth went to 2007 USMTS National Champion Jason Krohn, Jon Tesch, Johnny Scott, Zack VanderBeek and multi-time track champion Johnny Bone Jr.
Rick Beebe finished 11th after starting 21st and earned the Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger Award.
The tireless USMTS touring titans get a two-day rest before embarking on a five-night swing through Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.
On Wednesday, Aug. 17, the Ogilvie Raceway in Ogilvie, Minn., plays host to the United States Modified Touring Series for the first time ever. The series follows that up with another debut appearance on Thursday at the Rice Lake Speedway in Rice Lake, Wis.
Friday finds the USMTS Modifieds back at the Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wis., and then treks to the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa, on Saturday. The weekend wraps up on Sunday, Aug. 21, at the Nobles County Speedway in Worthington, Minn., to put the first one-third of ‘The Hunt’ in the books.
