Ryan Gustin and the Gressel Racing team returned to USMTS racing over the Labor Day Weekend, taking in five events in five nights with the No. 19R Hughes Racing Chassis powered by Mullins Race Engines.
On Wednesday at the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa, after a fourth-place finish in his heat race, Gustin started the main event from the sixth starting spot. He climbed his way into the runner-up spot, but the racecar began to bellow heavy smoke, and when the caution flag waved on lap 14 he dove into the pits and out of the race with a punctured radiator.
Thursday at the Fairmont Raceway in Fairmont, Minn., another tough heat left him fifth but a runner-up finish in the Real Racing Wheels "B" Main put him 18th on the grid for the "A" Main. The race was short-lived, however, for 'The Reaper' as mechanical problems ended his night with just one lap complete on the bumpy racetrack.
Gustin got things turned around on Friday at the Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minn. Finishing second in his heat race put him in the redraw for the main event and he selected the sixth starting spot. Despite an ill-handling racecar, he fought to stay up front the entire 40 laps and left with a third-place finish.
Saturday at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., bad luck rejoined the team. Ready to go on the pole for his heat race, a breakdown just three laps in put the No. 19R in the pits. With too much ground to make up from the back of the Real Racing Wheels "B" Main, Gustin was unable to transfer to the big dance.
Cresco Speedway in Cresco, Iowa, was the setting on Sunday. Another tough heat race resulted in a fourth-place finish and a starting spot outside of the sixth row for the main event. Nonetheless, Gustin charged to the front and battled with the leaders midway through the race. He eventually settled for a fifth-place finish to put the wraps on the Labor Day Weekend.
For complete results from each event, log on to www.usmts.com.
Up next, Gustin will be driving a B-Mod at the $20,000-to-win B-Mod Nationals at the Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wis., on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 10-12.
Special thanks to Henryetta Ford, McCartney Welding & Roustabout Services, VP Racing Fuels, Mullins Race Engines, Midwest Hearing Aids, B&B Hydraulics, Beyea Custom Headers, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, CPD Racing Shocks, Day Motor Sports, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Integra Racing Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, Larry’s Performance Carburetors, Midwest Sheet Metal, MSD, Precise Racing Products, R2C Performance Products, Real Racing Wheels, Schaeffer’s Specialized Lubricants, Sweet Manufacturing, Sybesma Graphics, Tiger Rear Ends and Wilwood Disc Brakes for helping to keep the team up and running every week.
Check out www.GresselRacing.com to keep up with all the latest news and information about Ryan Gustin and Gressel Racing. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GresselRacing.
