As the United States Modified Touring Series invaded the I-35 Speedway for the 14th time in 14 seasons Sunday, Ryan Gustin scored his third USMTS Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental victory of the year and third of his career at the clay oval in Winston, Mo.
Keith Foss beat polesitter Nick Nevins to the first corner at the start of the 40-lap main event and led the first 13 laps before problems under the hood of Nevins’s machine ended his night and brought out the first and only caution flag of the race.
Running fourth behind Foss, Cade Dillard and Nevins, Gustin advanced to third for the restart and quickly shot around Dillard to take over second. He went around Foss to snag the lead two laps later, but Foss battled back and regained control on lap 17.
As the leaders approached the flagstand to complete the 19th lap, Gustin powered his familiar blue and gold No. 19r back in front for good.
A few laps later, lapped traffic played havoc with Gustin for several laps but ‘The Reaper’ was finally able to dispatch the back-markers and then sailed away to a comfortable 5.739-second victory over Foss, Dillard, Stormy Scott and Dereck Ramirez.
Johnny Scott came from tenth to finish sixth, Austin Siebert was seventh, two-time defending USMTS National Champion Rodney Sanders snared the eighth spot, Dennis Elliot earned ninth and Rookie of the Year points leader Austin Arneson rounded out the top 10.
Thanks to his triumph over the 41 other entries Sunday night, Gustin scored a $3,000 paycheck for his 71st career USMTS win and slid ahead of Stormy Scott with one point to spare in the points standings for the MSD Central Region presented by Day Motor Sports.
Next week, the Best of the Best in open-wheel dirt modified racing will descend upon the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan., for the King of America V presented by Chix Gear on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 26-28.
The winner of Saturday’s 100-lap main event will earn $10,000 while every driver making the big dance will pocket no less than $1,000 to start the race.
Last month, the USMTS forged an agreement with MAVTV to televise five events that will be tape-delayed broadcast on the growing cable network. The series of shows will begin with the upcoming King of America V presented by Chix Gear, and bring the USMTS and its competitors to a national television audience while also giving our sponsors and those of the drivers some invaluable exposure.
Each driver will run four heat races from four different starting positions—two on Thursday and two on Friday. Passing points will be combined for each driver using the best three of their four heat races. From there, the top 12 drivers in overall points from Thursday and Friday will be locked into the first six rows of Saturday’s “A” Main.
Also on Thursday and Friday, the top 16 points-earners each night will run a feature race with $1,000 up for grabs to the winner.
In addition to the USMTS Modifieds, the Holley Iron Man Series featuring USRA B-Mods will run a complete show of heat races and main events all three days. Thursday’s winners gets $500, Friday’s winner gets $2,000 and Saturday’s winner goes home with $1,000. An entry form for USRA B-Mods is available on the USRA website at www.usraracing.com or by calling the USRA offices at 515-832-6000.
Two-time and defending USMTS National Champion Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas, is the defending King of America. Marshalltown, Iowa’s Ryan Gustin, who captured the USMTS title in 2011-12, won the 2013 event and Stormy Scott of Las Cruces, N.M., won the event in 2012. Nine-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock won the inaugural race in 2011.
There will be an open practice for all drivers on Wednesday from 6-9 p.m. Admission to the grandstands is free. Pit passes are $20.
Three-day reserved seat tickets are on sale now. Three-day reserved tickets are $55. All other seats will be sold on the day of the race. Call 515-832-7944 to order now.
While the event is being recorded for the MAVTV broadcast this summer, there’s no need to wait to see all of the action. RacinDirt.com will carry every lap of every race all three nights live via pay-per-view. Order your live broadcast package today at www.RacinDirt.com.
The Humboldt Speedway is a located 0.1 mile west of US 169 at the Humboldt Exit, then 0.5 mile south, then 0.9 mile east on Georgia Rd. For more information call 620-431-2470 or visit www.humboldtspeedway.com. For camping, ATV and/or golf cart permits call 620-473-3694.
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/usmts, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts or subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.
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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
USMTS Casey’s Cup Series powered by S&S Fishing & Rental – MSD Central Region presented by Day Motor Sports
I-35 Speedway, Winston, Mo.
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed and money won. The top 12 drivers in passing points accumulated in the heat races were locked into the “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.
MSD HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (2) 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
2. (1) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (3) 69N Cory Wray, Jamesport, Mo.
4. (7) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
5. (5) 29H Joe Horgdal, Kasson, Minn.
6. (4) 49 Bob Timm, Winona, Minn.
7. (8) 97 Houston Johnson, Kansas City, Mo.
8. (9) R21 Ryan Schaffer, Corning, Iowa.
9. (6) 78 Danny Crane, Columbia, Mo.
DAY MOTOR SPORTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 4R Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
2. (9) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
3. (6) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
4. (2) 18 Caleb Dillard, Robeline, La.
5. (7) 99 Jesse Sobbing (R), Malvern, Iowa.
6. (3) 33Z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
7. (4) 23K Darwin Karau, Kasson, Minn.
8. (5) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
9. (8) 2g Troy Girolamo, Eleva, Wis.
EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) 22 Nick Nevins, Lisbon, Iowa.
2. (2) 29 Dennis Elliot, Mt. Ayr, Iowa.
3. (3) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
4. (5) 23K Ben Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan.
5. (6) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
6. (4) 40 Jessy Willard, Mound, Kan.
7. (7) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
8. (8) 29 Preston Seratt (R), Dyersburg, Tenn.
PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (3) 95 Keith Foss, Winona, Minn.
2. (4) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (8) 10 Austin Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D.
4. (2) 38 Ronnie Gould III (R), Seminole, Okla.
5. (5) 5D Shayne Bailey, Lathrop, Mo.
6. (6) 30 Darin Wendt, Williston, N.D.
7. (7) 22H Clay Hale, Cameron, Mo.
8. (1) 98 Austin Johnson, Kansas City, Mo.
USMTS.COM HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (2) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
2. (1) 96A Alex Engelstad (R), Beltrami, Minn.
3. (5) 2 Casey Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D.
4. (7) 69 Zach Sanders, Kearney, Mo.
5. (6) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
6. (3) 11 Darren Shaw, Lawson, Mo.
7. (4) 92 Tyler Grooms, Trenton, Mo.
8. (8) 40 Brian Green (R), Pierce City, Mo.
REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (1) 2 Casey Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D.
2. (5) 99 Jesse Sobbing (R), Malvern, Iowa.
3. (3) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
4. (11) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
5. (8) 33Z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
6. (6) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
7. (2) 69 Zach Sanders, Kearney, Mo.
8. (4) 18 Caleb Dillard, Robeline, La., Sidebiter/PTS, $75.
9. (7) 5D Shayne Bailey, Lathrop, Mo., Skyrocket/Walker, $75.
10. (13) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., Impressive/Gade, $90.
11. (9) 30 Darin Wendt, Williston, N.D., Shaw/Hardcharger, $75.
12. (10) 97 Houston Johnson, Kansas City, Mo., Hughes/Yancy’s, $75.
13. (12) 92 Tyler Grooms, Trenton, Mo., Hughes/Grooms, $75.
14. (14) 98 Austin Johnson, Kansas City, Mo., BillsBuilt/Yancy’s, $75.
15. (15) 78 Danny Crane, Columbia, Mo., Hughes/JD, $90.
REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (1) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
2. (3) 23K Ben Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan.
3. (2) 69N Cory Wray, Jamesport, Mo.
4. (5) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
5. (7) 49 Bob Timm, Winona, Minn.
6. (15) 2g Troy Girolamo, Eleva, Wis.
7. (14) 40 Brian Green (R), Pierce City, Mo.
8. (8) 40 Jessy Willard, Mound, Kan.
9. (11) 22H Clay Hale, Cameron, Mo., Jet/GMPP, $75.
10. (10) 23K Darwin Karau, Kasson, Minn., Killer/Flyin’J, $75.
11. (9) 11 Darren Shaw, Lawson, Mo., Shaw/Yancy’s, $75.
12. (4) 38 Ronnie Gould III (R), Seminole, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, $90.
13. (13) 29 Preston Seratt (R), Dyersburg, Tenn., MBR/Mullins, $90.
14. (6) 29H Joe Horgdal, Kasson, Minn., GRT/Action, $75.
15. (12) R21 Ryan Schaffer, Corning, Iowa., LG2/GMPP, $90.
CASEY’S GENERAL STORES “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (5) 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $3000.
2. (2) 95 Keith Foss, Winona, Minn., Hughes/Grove, 40, $1700.
3. (3) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., LG2/Geddes, 40, $1200.
4. (8) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/ProPower, 40, $1000.
5. (6) 4R Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., LG2/Cornett, 40, $900.
6. (10) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., MBCustom/Mullins, 40, $800.
7. (7) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo., GRT/Mullins, 40, $700.
8. (9) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, 40, $650.
9. (11) 29 Dennis Elliot, Mt. Ayr, Iowa, GRT/Elliott, 40, $500.
10. (4) 10 Austin Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D., GRT/Durham, 40, $550.
11. (12) 96A Alex Engelstad (R), Beltrami, Minn., MBR/Speedwerx, 40, $500.
12. (17) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., MBCustom/Sput’s, 40, $450.
13. (16) 23K Ben Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan., GRT/Mullins, 40, $425.
14. (15) 2 Casey Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D., GRT/Durham, 40, $400.
15. (19) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ASI, 40, $375.
16. (22) 49 Bob Timm, Winona, Minn., LG2/BuckBuilt, 40, $350.
17. (18) 69N Cory Wray, Jamesport, Mo., BMS/Cameron, 40, $250.
18. (25) 40 Brian Green (R), Pierce City, Mo., MBR/Marti, 40, $300.
19. (14) 99 Jesse Sobbing (R), Malvern, Iowa, MBCustom/Sput’s, 40, $300.
20. (26) 40 Jessy Willard, Mound, Kan., TRE/Willard, 40, $300.
21. (20) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn., LG2/BuckBuilt, 40, $300.
22. (13) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/Mullins, 39, $300.
23. (27) 69 Zach Sanders, Kearney, Mo., GRT/Burlington, 39, $250.
24. (24) 2g Troy Girolamo, Eleva, Wis., GRT/Baxter, 39, $300.
25. (21) 33Z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, LG2/Sput’s, 29, $300.
26. (23) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., Impressive/Gade, 25, $300.
27. (1) 22 Nick Nevins, Lisbon, Iowa, Shaw/Gade, 13, $250.
(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.
Lap Leaders: Foss 1-15, Gustin 16, Foss 17-18, Gustin 19-40.
Total Laps Led: Gustin 23, Foss 17.
Margin of Victory: 5.739 seconds.
Provisional Starters: Green, Willard, Z. Sanders (track).
Sybesma Graphics Pole Award: Cade Dillard.
Hard Charger: B. Timm (started 22nd, finished 16th).
Entries: 42.
Next Race: March 26-28, Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway.
MSD Central Region Points: Gustin 191, S. Scott 190, Ramirez 179, Foss 167, Cade Dillard 161, R. Sanders 154, C. Arneson 151, A. Arneson 148, Shryock 146, Siebert 146.
Rookie of the Year Points: A. Arneson 1073, Sobbing 957, C. Arneson 858, Kates 801, Austin Theiss 613.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 101, Durham 93, Cornett 83, Geddes 83, Sput’s 77.
Manufacturers Championship Points: LG2 114, GRT 107, MBCustom 104, Hughes 100, Hilsabeck 56.
Contingency Awards:
AERO Race Wheels – Nevins.
Allstar Performance – Sanders.
American Racer – Hale.
Beyea Custom Headers – Ramirez.
BSB Manufacturing – J. Timm.
Chix Gear Racewear – Cade Dillard.
Deatherage Opticians – Foss.
Edelbrock – Nevins.
Eibach Springs – Junghans.
FK Rod Ends – Shryock.
Forty9Designs.com – C. Arneson, Sobbing.
Fuel Safe – J. Scott.
GRT Race Cars – Elliott.
Hooker Harness – Kates.
KEVKO Oil Pans & Components – Elliott.
Keyser Manufacturing – A. Arneson.
KSE Racing Products – S. Scott.
Marsh Racing Wheels – C. Bauman.
Midwest Sheet Metal – Nevins.
MSD Ignition – Gustin.
PBM Performance Products – Foss, Gustin.
QA1 – Foss.
R2C Performance Products – Foss.
Real Racing Wheels – all non-qualifiers.
Sybesma Graphics – Cade Dillard.
Tilton Engineering – S. Scott.
VP Racing Fuels – Gustin.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Engelstad.
Wilwood Disc Brakes – Siebert.
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