USMTS ‘Hunters’ get SLAP’d as Payne energizes season with Humboldt triumph

HUMBOLDT, Kan. -- Jeremy Payne’s rebuilding season took a turn for the better Friday when he roared to his first United States Modified Touring Series win of the season in round 2 of the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup at the Humboldt Speedway.

It was Payne’s first USMTS victory in more than a year. His last win came at the inaugural Silver Dollar Nationals at the I-80 Speedway and, more importantly, it was his first USMTS triumph since forming his own team at the end of 2011.

After a successful five-year partnership competing in both Modifieds and Late Models with Terry Phillips Racing, Payne set out last December to form his own team with his focus squarely on contending for a USMTS title.

“It’s been pretty tough,” Payne said of his baptism by fire as a young owner/driver this year. “I knew what it consisted of and that it would be a challenge. When you kind of struggle, that makes it more difficult. Probably a little more difficult than I thought.”

Just being in contention for the checkered flag this year has been a struggle for the 26-year-old from Springfield, Mo., let alone contending for a championship. But that all changed around 11 p.m. Friday night.

In his second night driving the #186 GRT Modified with new sponsor SLAP Energy Drinks, Payne was relentless in his pursuit of early leader Johnny Scott. He finally wrestled the lead away on lap 15 and led the remaining 25 laps to earn the $3,000 winner’s share of the prize money.

From the outside of the front row, Scott grabbed the lead from polesitter Jason Cummins at the drop of the green flag. By the second lap, fifth-starting Ryan Gustin was on Scott’s tail and challenged the leader for nine laps until Payne scooted underneath the defending USMTS national champion to take over second place.

Three laps later, Payne took control and was never challenged after that. Gustin got by Scott on laps 19, but could never get closer than two car-lengths to Payne, who notched his seventh career USMTS winner’s trophy.

Rodney Sanders, Bryan Rowland, Randy Timms, Zack VanderBeek and Al Hejna finished sixth through tenth, respectively. In addition to earning his first top-10 of the campaign, Hejna also pocketed the Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger Award after starting 17th on the 26-car grid.

UP NEXT …

On Saturday, the USMTS Modifieds make their much-anticipated return to the “Diamond of Dirt Tracks” as ‘The Hunt’ returns to the state-of-the-art Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., for the 3rd Annual Lucas Slick Mist Show-Me Shootout.

Gates open at 5 p.m., hot laps begin at 7 and racing starts at 7:30 p.m. Also on hand will be B-Mods Factory Stocks.

Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons on Friday at the Casey's General Store in Wheatland, located just two blocks from the racetrack. Jason Cummins and his Cheetos-sponsored USMTS Modified will be there from 12-2 p.m. to meet ‘n’ greet fans.

The Lucas Oil Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.2 mile south of US 54 on SR 83, then east. For more information, call the track hotline at 417-282-5984 or visit www.lucasoilspeedway.com online.

On Sunday, the series makes its 14th appearance at Randy Mooneyham’s Monett Speedway in Monett, Mo., for the 7th Annual USMTS Summer Shootout.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ustmts and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
USMTS Casey’s Cup Series
Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, Kan.
Friday, Aug. 10, 2012

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed, reason out (if any) and money won. The top 12 drivers in passing points accumulated in the heat races are locked into the “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

BEYEA CUSTOM HEADERS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (2) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
2. (3) 98 John Allen, Chanute, Kan.
3. (6) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
4. (1) 9d Scott Daniels, Humboldt, Kan.
5. (5) 02 Tanner Mullens (R), Wichita, Kan.
6. (8) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
7. (7) B Allan Broers (R), Edgerton, Kan.
8. (4) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck (R), Waukee, Iowa.

HOOKER HARNESS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (4) 20s Stormy Scott (R), Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (2) 85 Thomas Tillison Jr. (R), Wellston, Okla.
3. (1) 97 Cade Dillard (R), Robeline, La.
4. (3) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa.
5. (5) 52 Mitch Keeter, Joplin, Mo.
6. (8) 118 Terry Beckham II, Webb City, Mo.
7. (6) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
8. (7) 44 Christy Georges (R), El Paso, Texas.

EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
2. (5) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (6) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
4. (7) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa.
5. (4) 0 Richie Gustin, Gilman, Iowa.
6. (3) 86j Travis Johnson (R), Enid, Okla.
7. (2) 73 Mickey Burrell, Fair Grove, Mo.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (2) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
2. (3) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
3. (5) 20z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
4. (4) 9d8 Paden Phillips, Chanute, Kan.
5. (6) 99h Trevor Hunt (R), Liberty, Mo.
6. (7) 21b Bryce Schniepp (R), Wichita, Kan.
7. (1) 6 Chris Theodore (R), Coweta, Okla.

RACINDIRT.COM HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (2) 71 Jason Cummins, New Richland, Minn.
2. (3) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
3. (5) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.
4. (7) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
5. (1) 21c Cody Schniepp (R), Wichita, Kan.
6. (4) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
7. (6) 51 Eddie Martin, Stillwell, Okla.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (1) 20z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
2. (3) 97 Cade Dillard (R), Robeline, La.
3. (2) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa.
4. (12) 51 Eddie Martin, Stillwell, Okla.
5. (8) 118 Terry Beckham II, Webb City, Mo.
6. (4) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa.
7. (5) 99h Trevor Hunt (R), Liberty, Mo., Hughes/Hatfield, $90.
8. (6) 52 Mitch Keeter, Joplin, Mo., Hoffman/Yeoman, $75.
9. (11) 73 Mickey Burrell, Fair Grove, Mo., TRE/Ruble, $90.
10. (7) 21c Cody Schniepp (R), Wichita, Kan., BillsBuilt/Dave, $75.
11. (13) 44 Christy Georges (R), El Paso, Texas, GRT/Barnett, $90.
12. (10) B Allan Broers (R), Edgerton, Kan., Hughes/Driskell, $75.
13. (9) 86j Travis Johnson (R), Enid, Okla., Hughes/Dunsworth, $90.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (2) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
2. (1) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.
3. (7) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
4. (3) 9d Scott Daniels, Humboldt, Kan.
5. (9) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
6. (10) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
7. (8) 21b Bryce Schniepp (R), Wichita, Kan., Kraft/Dave, $75.
8. (6) 0 Richie Gustin, Gilman, Iowa, GRT/Yeoman, $90.
9. (4) 9d8 Paden Phillips, Chanute, Kan., BillsBuilt/Allen’s, $75.
10. (12) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck (R), Waukee, Iowa.
11. (5) 02 Tanner Mullens (R), Wichita, Kan.
12. (11) 6 Chris Theodore (R), Coweta, Okla., Boyd/STK, $90.

SWAN ENERGY “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (4) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/RoushYates, $3000.
2. (5) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, $1700.
3. (7) 20s Stormy Scott (R), Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/ProPower, 40, $1200.
4. (2) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/ProPower, 40, $1000.
5. (9) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $900.
6. (10) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Geddes, 40, $800.
7. (3) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 40, $700.
8. (6) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla., Hughes/Geddes, 40, $650.
9. (13) 20z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Hughes/Sput’s, 40, $600.
10. (17) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa, BC/JRM, 40, $650.
11. (11) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 40, $500.
12. (15) 97 Cade Dillard (R), Robeline, La., Impressive/Parker, 40, $450.
13. (1) 71 Jason Cummins, New Richland, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $400.
14. (19) 51 Eddie Martin, Stillwell, Okla., Hughes/Geddes, 40, $250.
15. (16) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa, Sidebiter/Sput’s, 40, $350.
16. (8) 98 John Allen, Chanute, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $325.
17. (18) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ProPower, 40, $400.
18. (23) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa, BC/ProPower, 39, $300.
19. (25) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck (R), Waukee, Iowa, GRT/Mullins, 39, $400.
20. (24) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 39, $300.
21. (26) 02 Tanner Mullens (R), Wichita, Kan., Hughes/BMR, 19, mechanical, $100.
22. (14) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 17, mechanical, $400.
23. (12) 85 Thomas Tillison Jr., Wellston, Okla., Hughes/Geddes, 6, suspension, $250.
24. (20) 9d Scott Daniels, Humboldt, Kan., TRE/Jack’s, 4, mechanical, $250.
25. (21) 118 Terry Beckham II, Webb City, Mo., TRE/Beckham, 3, suspension, $250.
26. (22) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo., GRT/Mullins, 3, suspension, $300.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Integra Lap Leaders: J. Scott 1-14, Payne 15-40.
Total Laps Led: Payne 26, J. Scott 14.
Margin of Victory: 0.612 second.
Provisional Starters: Hilsabeck, Mullens.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Hejna (started 17th, finished 10th).
Next Race: Saturday, Aug. 11, Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, Mo.
USMTS Casey’s Cup Series Points: Ryan Gustin 311, Sanders 278, S. Scott 273, J. Scott 264, Hughes 250, Rowland 238, Payne 215, Ramirez 215, Timms 211, T. Phillips 209.
Rookie of the Year Points: S. Scott 2105, Hilsabeck 1449, Ron Keith 1219, Casey Penn 956, Tillison 789.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 387, Geddes 349, ProPower 324, Sput’s 297, RoushYates 228.
Tiger Rear Ends Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 456, GRT 406, Skyrocket 340, Sidebiter 175, BC 142.