July 28, 2010
Schrader finds USMTS success in Fargo
W. FARGO, N.D. – On Saturday night, Ken Schrader will be celebrating the 22nd anniversary of his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory on July 31, 1988, at the Talladega Superspeedway.
But the only thing on Schrader’s mind today is rejoicing with family, crewmembers and a cheering throng of race fans after winning his first United States Modified Touring Series main event on Wednesday night at the Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, N.D.
Just 11 days ago, Schrader notched his career-best finish with the USMTS by earning a runner-up finish at the Elko Speedway in Elko, Minn., in a feature race cut short by rain on lap 32 of 40. Prior to that night, a pair of third-place finishes in 2008 was the highlight of his USMTS résumé.
The 55-year-old Fenton, Mo., native (now residing in Concord, N.C.) made his 36th career USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour start on Wednesday night while 19-year-old Ryan Gustin was in search of his 11th win in a row and second straight in as many nights.
At the drop of the green flag to start Wednesday night’s 40-lap WIX Filters “A” Main, Zack VanderBeek wrestled the top spot away from local favorite Blake Jegtvig and led the first six laps around the newly-configured 3/8-mile dirt oval.
Meanwhile, Gustin was charging to the front from his third-row starting spot and found himself on VanderBeek’s rear bumper after the race’s first caution flag waved on the sixth lap. On the restart, “The Reaper” disposed of Jegtvig in the first turn, and then powered around the outside of VanderBeek as they streaked down the back-stretch.
Gustin continued to show the way for the next 26 circuits, holding off Ryan Ruter early on while Schrader weaved his way to the front of the field. After getting by Ruter on lap 19, Schrader pulled alongside Gustin two laps later and the two provided a thrilling wheel-to-wheel battle until the yellow flag waved for the fourth time on lap 23.
When the green flag waved again, Ruter was able to sneak by Schrader for the second spot while Gustin powered away to a decisive ten-car-length lead while nine-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock and NASCAR superstar Kenny Wallace diced for the fourth position.
The race’s fifth and final caution occurred on lap 30 when the left rear tire went flat on Wallace’s machine and sent him spinning in the turn 3 and ended his hopes for his first USMTS triumph.
His misfortune, however, was just what Schrader needed.
Schrader used a strong run on the high side to muscle his way past Ruter on the restart, then set his sights on Gustin. With eight orbits remaining, Schrader dipped underneath Gustin in turn 2 and grabbed the lead for the first time as they crossed beneath the flagstand to complete lap 33.
Gustin, who was two years shy of being born into the world when Schrader snagged his victory at Talladega, could only watch as the veteran racer pulled away over the final seven laps. With his fist in the air, Schrader crossed beneath the checkered flags nearly three seconds ahead of Gustin to score the $2,000 victory.
“I’ll tell you what,” Schrader told the Red River Valley Speedway fans from victory lane. “We’ve been trying for quite a while to win one of these. What the World of Outlaws are to sprint car racing, these guys are to Modifieds. I love the series and these drivers are as good as it gets.”
Gustin held off Ruter for the runner-up paycheck while Shryock finished fourth and got his first top-10 finish in four starts in the Dart Great Plains Region presented by Allstar Performance. Jon Tesch came from the 14th starting spot to take home fifth.
Jegtvig held on to finish sixth, Corey Dripps started and finished seventh, Wallace bounced back from his flat tire with 10 laps to go and clawed his way back for an eight-place finish, VanderBeek wound up ninth and Jason Strand rounded out the top-10 for the best finish among the North Dakota posse.
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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour – Dart Great Plains Region presented by Allstar Performance.
Inaugural Event presented by Dakota Bumper Supply
Red River Valley Speedway, W. Fargo, N.D.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
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 WIX Filters “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.
ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (1) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
2. (2) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
3. (7) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
4. (4) 6t Corky Thomas, Fargo, N.D.
5. (9) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
6. (5) 31 Jason Voigt (R), St. Cloud, Minn.
7. (6) 37 Scott Ward, Watertown, S.D.
8. (3) 30 Shayne Laske, Moorhead, Minn.
9. (8) 77 Corey Seckerson, Jamestown, N.D.
NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (2) 12h Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa.
2. (6) 91 Curt Myers (R), Cameron, Wis.
3. (3) 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, Minn.
4. (8) 12 Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla.
5. (1) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa.
6. (4) 24s Mike Stearns (R), Hecla, S.D.
7. (7) 99 Bob Sagen, Arthur, N.D.
8. (5) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
9. (9) 1 Tim Thomas, W. Fargo, N.D.
SCHOENFELD HEADERS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (3) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.
2. (4) 2j Blake Jegtvig (R), Hawley, Minn.
3. (2) 17 Michael Greseth, Harwood, N.D.
4. (8) 99 Jason Grimes (R), Jamestown, N.D.
5. (1) 98 John Nord, Enderlin, N.D.
6. (7) E85 Jason Strand, Portland, N.D.
7. (5) 0 Jeff Odden, Fargo, N.D.
8. (6) B9 Bryce Bjerke, Gardner, N.D.
EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (2) 9 Ken Schrader, Concord, N.C.
2. (8) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa.
3. (4) M80 Jim Mathieson, Sioux City, Iowa.
4. (7) 36 Kenny Wallace, Concord, N.C.
5. (5) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
6. (6) 19b Jake Bitker, Halstad, Minn.
7. (3) 5 John Corell, Jamestown, N.D.
8. (1) 19r Ross Romdalvik, W. Fargo, N.D.
REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (1) 36 Kenny Wallace, Concord, N.C.
2. (3) 6t Corky Thomas, Fargo, N.D.
3. (2) 17 Michael Greseth, Harwood, N.D.
4. (5) E85 Jason Strand, Portland, N.D.
5. (7) 37 Scott Ward, Watertown, S.D.
6. (6) 24s Mike Stearns (R), Hecla, S.D.
7. (4) 98 John Nord, Enderlin, N.D., $75.
8. (9) 30 Shayne Laske, Moorhead, Minn., $75.
9. (11) 77 Corey Seckerson, Jamestown, N.D., $75.
10. (10) B9 Bryce Bjerke, Gardner, N.D., $75.
11. (8) 0 Jeff Odden, Fargo, N.D., $75.
REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (2) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
2. (1) 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, Minn.
3. (4) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
4. (8) 5 John Corell, Jamestown, N.D.
5. (5) 31 Jason Voigt (R), St. Cloud, Minn.
6. (3) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa.
7. (6) 19b Jake Bitker, Halstad, Minn., $75.
8. (10) 19r Ross Romdalvik, W. Fargo, N.D., $75.
9. (7) 99 Bob Sagen, Arthur, N.D., $75.
10. (9) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., $500.
11. (11) 1 Tim Thomas, W. Fargo, N.D., $75.
WIX FILTERS “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (8) 9 Ken Schrader, Concord, N.C., Impressive/Dickens, 40, $2000.
2. (6) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $1500.
3. (4) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa, Sidebiter/KSE, 40, $1000.
4. (9) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ASI, 40, $900.
5. (14) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D., Ramirez/Sput’s, 40, $800.
6. (1) 2j Blake Jegtvig (R), Hawley, Minn., Shaw/Mullins, 40, $700.
7. (7) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa, BC/AEM, 40, $650.
8. (13) 36 Kenny Wallace, Concord, N.C., Impressive/Mullins, 40, $500.
9. (2) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $550.
10. (19) E85 Jason Strand, Portland, N.D., Shaw/G-Force, 40, $400.
11. (23) 24s Mike Stearns (R), Hecla, S.D., Fegers/Schwarting, 40, $450.
12. (12) M80 Jim Mathieson, Sioux City, Iowa, BeerBuilt/Mathieson, 39, $425.
13. (17) 17 Michael Greseth, Harwood, N.D., J-Car/Quality, 34, shock, $275.
14. (22) 31 Jason Voigt (R), St. Cloud, Minn., RCT/Breeschoten, 25, mechanical, $375.
15. (21) 37 Scott Ward, Watertown, S.D., Arrow/Tesar, 23, mechanical, $350.
16. (15) 6t Corky Thomas, Fargo, N.D., Shaw/Mullins, 22, suspension, $250.
17. (11) 99 Jason Grimes (R), Jamestown, N.D., Hughes/Dakota, 15, tie rod, $300.
18. (10) 12 Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 14, mechanical, $300.
19. (18) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., Hughes/Sput’s, 14, mechanical, $400.
20. (20) 5 John Corell, Jamestown, N.D., Shaw/Dakota, 13, mechanical, $250.
21. (24) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa, Harris/JR, 12, handling, $300.
22. (3) 91 Curt Myers (R), Cameron, Wis., Shaw/Mullins, 8, mechanical, $300.
23. (5) 12h Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa, GRT/PerfOnly, 7, rearend, $400.
24. (16) 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 4, mechanical, $400.
(R) = DandyLand Farms Rookie of the Year contender.
WIX Filters Lap Leaders: VanderBeek 1-6, Gustin 7-32, Schrader 33-40.
Total Laps Led: Gustin 26, VanderBeek 6, Schrader 8.
Margin of Victory: 2.732 seconds.
AFCO Pole Winner: Dripps.
PBM Performance Products Hard Charger: Stearns (started 23rd, finished 11th).
Ruter Farms Long Tow: Ramirez (922.03 miles).
Next Race: Thursday, July 29, Casino Speedway, Watertown, S.D.
Dart Great Plains Region Points: Gustin 425, Tesch 374, VanderBeek 344, Steensma 295, Hansen 278, Ramirez 277, Shryock 255, Jason Krohn 217, Junghans 214, Mathieson 210.
DandyLand Farms Rookie of the Year Points: Johnny Scott 1283, Nick Deal 650, Lucas Schott 396, Ryan Peckham 373, Mark Elliott 355.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 232, Sput’s 225, ASI 164, KSE 89, AEM 87.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 231, Skyrocket 221, GRT 175, Ramirez 158, TRE 94.
Contingency Awards:
Ai-Racing – VanderBeek.
American Racer – Hansen.
Belleville Motor Sports – Tesch, Ward.
Dart Machinery – Mathieson.
Eibach Springs – not awarded.
Forty9Designs.com – Shryock, VanderBeek.
Hooker Harness – not awarded.
Isky Racing Cams – VanderBeek.
KSE Racing Products – not awarded.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Steensma.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Stearns.
PBM Performance Products – Stearns.
Quarter Master – not awarded.
QuickTime – Dripps.
Real Racing Wheels – Stearns, Hejna.
Schoenfeld Headers – Ruter.
WIX Filters – Schrader, Gustin.
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