BAYTOWN, Texas -- Johnny Scott of Las Cruces, N.M., captured the 50-lap main event Saturday night as the USMTS National Championship Series wrapped up three nights of racing during the 3rd Annual Texas Spring Nationals at the Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas.
Scott inherited the lead on lap 8 when Jeremy Payne’s spun coming off of turn 4 while leading comfortably. Scott led the remainder of the distance on the 3/8-mile clay oval, earning a $4,000 payday.
Defending USMTS National Champion Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, stormed from 16th on the grid to finish second, with Steven Whiteaker Jr., John O Whittington and Friday night’s winner, Jason Hughes, rounding out the top 5.
“It was a crazy race,” Scott said in victory lane. “There at the beginning, Payne kind of got me on the bottom so I just tucked in behind him and then all of a sudden I seen him spin and we had a caution and I took the lead.
“I just figured if I just keep it on the bottom we might be able to pull this thing off. I just tried to hit my line every time around the bottom.”
For the second straight night, Gustin had to settle for the runner-up finish but sits atop the USMTS National Championship Series points standings. Hughes, Scott, Whittington and Whiteaker complete the top 5.
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