TUCSON, Ariz. -- Ryan Gustin’s edition of the 2015 Keyser Manufacturing Wild West Shootout certainly wasn’t going according to plan.
Having experienced multiple engine failures in both his modified and late model, the winner of the 2014 late model finale had high hope entering this year’s mini-series. The young driver from Marshalltown, Iowa, went go winless until the he captured the modified main event on Sunday night after a spirited battle with Rodney Sanders and Ricky Thornton Jr.
On this night, Gustin benefited from another’s misfortune to land his Gressel Racing/McCartney Trucking Hughes Chassis in victory lane.
At the drop of the green, Thornton led away from the pole followed by Sanders, Fito Gallardo, Mike Stearns, Grant Junghans and Gustin. Stearns and Gustin each wasted little time in moving forward as both passed Sterns on lap 2 with Junghans also moving by Gallardo on lap 3. Gustin also got past Stearns on lap 4 and then Junghans for third on lap 6.
The leaders were blasting around the tricky USA Raceway cushion when Sanders jumped it on lap 7 and Gustin shot underneath to take the runner-up spot. However, that move was negated when the caution flew.
On the restart Thornton led Sanders and Gustin, but Gustin got the advantage on Sanders when the Happy, Texas, driver made contact with the outside wall as the cushion inched ever closer to the concrete lap after hair-raising lap. The race's next yellow flew on lap 14 when Junghans slowed from fourth with terminal problems.
Thornton again led from the green as Gustin began to apply pressure with Sanders giving chase. Gustin was in the tire tracks of Thornton as the duo raced in turns 1-2, however, he was beginning to enter turn 3 on the low side and drifting to the outside in an attempt to pull the side-job on the leader.
Several times between laps 15-20, Gustin pulled alongside Thornton in turns 3-4 only to see Thornton fend off the challenge and continue up front. Gustin's maneuvers began to increase in intensity with just five laps remaining as he was trying to pull off the pass both ends of the speedway.
As the top two raced into turn 3 on lap 23, Thornton inexplicitly pulled low giving the high line to Gustin. The race-long leader experienced heartbreak as he slowed and could do nothing but pull to the infield as Gustin sailed past for the lead.
No one could mount a challenge over the final two laps and Gustin streaked to his second career Keyser Manufacturing Wild West Shootout modified win.
Heat #1: Joey Moriarty, Mike Stearns, Blake Jegtvig, Grant Junghans, Alex Stanford, Christy Georges, Dane Jorgenson, DNS - Brad Diercks.
Heat #2: Fito Gallardo, Royal Jones, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Chad Olsen, Ward Imrie, Matt Gilbertson, Dusty Riggs, Rich Mann.
Heat #3: Ryan Gustin, Jake Gallardo, Brady Gerdes, Rodney Sanders, Dan Hilsabeck, Vince Lucas, Jimmy Ray, Rick Spencer.
A-Main: Ryan Gustin, Rodney Sanders, Jake Gallardo, Mike Stearns, Fito Gallardo, Blake Jegtvig, Dan Hilsabeck, Alex Stanford, Christy Georges, Warm Imrie, Brady Gerdes, Royal Jones, Vince Lucas, Jimmy Ray, Dane Jorgenson, Rick Spencer, Dusty Riggs, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Grant Junghans, Matt Gilbertson, Joey Moriarty, Rich Mann, Chad Olsen, DNS - Brad Diercks.
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