VanderBeek Snags Win on Home Turf

The finale of the evening would be the USMTS thirty-lap feature. Pole sitter Ryan Gustin rocketed to the lead and quickly opened up a comfortable margin as Corey Dripps settled in behind. Jason Krohn worked under Dripps and took over the second position while Zack VanderBeek passed Kelly Shryock on the inside for fourth on lap four. Dripps would regain the second spot after finding some momentum on the cushion to get back by Krohn, and a few laps later VanderBeek also found a quick way past Krohn for third. VanderBeek made the pass on the inside of Dripps on lap eleven and began to shrink Gustin's margin with each lap. As VanderBeek closed in with some help from lapped traffic, the caution flag erased what was going to be an interesting few laps and allowed the drivers to catch their breath with eleven laps to go.

Gustin must have looked at the leader board entering turn one under yellow as he dove to the inside groove on the restart and thwarted VanderBeek's momentum, but little did he know that it opened up the door for Dripps on the top shelf. Dripps used the high line to get by VanderBeek for second before taking the lead away from Gustin with nine laps to go. Gustin would continue to run the low line after using the high side the entire first half of the race and pull even with Dripps down the back stretch with four to go. Gustin would change his entry line into turn one and allowed VanderBeek to squeeze under him to take over second with two laps remaining. VanderBeek continued to claw his way closer to Dripps and he would make the pass in turn two after taking the white flag. Dripps would power his machine to the top side in turn three, but it wasn't enough as Zack VanderBeek took home the trophy at his home track. Corey Dripps would finish second, Ryan Gustin was third, Colt Mather fourth, and Kelly Shryock completed the top five.

While the car counts were less then stellar, those in attendance provided great racing action in all divisions. I was impressed that the track stayed in great shape throughout the night and did not get dusty despite the hot temperatures.

I'd like to thank Todd and Janet Staley along with Public Relations director Jeff Nun for their hospitality tonight. Nun is a guy who is readily available to answer many of my questions that I have brought up in the past along with providing great detail in his press releases. Jeff has also allowed me to get my name out into a few different media outlets as he uses my blog for the USRA stock cars from Fort Dodge when I attend, and for that I am greatly appreciative!

The USMTS series heads south to the Davis County Fairgrounds in Bloomfield Thursday night as part of the Davis County Fair.