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Shryock draws
first blood, conquers USMTS Southern Series opener at Houston Raceway Park
BAYTOWN, Texas (Feb. 18)
– While Kelly Shryock was counting the $2,000 he earned for winning the
USMTS Southern Series main event on Thursday night, it was equally
satisfying to the nine-time USMTS National Champion what he was not
counting.
Last year, Shryock struggled
through a career-worst 55-race winless streak that began in August of 2008
and finally ended nearly 11 months later.
But that won’t be the case
this year as he captured the 30-lap “A” Main at the Houston Raceway Park to
kick start the USMTS Southern Series season and set the tone for the rest of
the 2010 campaign.
Shryock drew the outside of
the front row for the start of the main event, but it was polesitter Mark
Dotson who led the first lap and third-starting Morgan Bagley who led the
next 15 trips around the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval.
With two-time defending USMTS
Southern Series champion Jason Hughes joining the fight at the front of the
field, the leaders encountered heavy lapped traffic at the midway point of
the race with Shryock able to edge in front of Bagley down the back-stretch
as they split a lapped car.
Before the lap could be
completed, however, the race’s first caution waved and Bagley retained the
point for the restart. The yellow flag waved two more times over the next
two laps with Bagley able to hold off Shryock on both occasions.
On the next attempt, Shryock
elected to take the outside lane for the double-file restart. Back under
green, Shryock was able to power around Bagley in the first turn and snag
the top spot away from the 23-year-old Texan.
Shryock never relinquished the
lead, but had to fend off several aggressive maneuvers from tenth-starting
Terry Phillips over the final ten laps to secure the victory.
Bagley held on for a
third-place finish, while Bumper Jones climbed to fourth from 14th on the
starting grid to earn the PBM Performance Products Hard Charger Award.
Hughes, who had captured the
last two checkered flags at the Baytown, Texas, speedplant, faded to fifth
by the end of the contest.
John O Whittington won the
second of three Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains, then advanced ten spots in the
“A” Main to pocket a sixth-place paycheck.
Jeremy Payne, Mike Hansen,
Johnny Fennewald and Steve Holzkamper rounded out the top-10 finishers.
Sixty-one USMTS Modified
filled the pit area on Thursday, and officials expect that number climb even
higher on Friday and Saturday as the prize money and forecasted temperatures
rise throughout the weekend.
Friday’s main event winner
will earn $3,000 while the victor on Saturday gets $5,000 courtesy of Ed
Rinehart for County Commissioner.
In addition to the touring
titans of the USMTS Southern Series, the racing card will feature Southern
Limited Modifieds racing for $1,000 and $1,500 to win, respectively,
courtesy of Express Race Cars.
On Friday, the pit gate opens
at 3 p.m., grandstands open at 5 and racing begins at 7. On Saturday, pit
gates open at 3 p.m., grandstands open at 4 and the first heat race hits the
track at 6 p.m. Hot laps each day will begin approximately one half-hour
before race time.
The Houston Raceway Park is a
state-of-the-art 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval with a main grandstand
seating capacity of 7,500 which includes fourteen VIP luxury suites and
boasts a modern Musco Lighting system suitable for television productions.
The facility is located east
of Houston on I-10 to Exit 799, then 2.5 miles south on SH 99 (Grand
Parkway), then 0.3 mile west on FM 565 (speedway entrance located at Gate
3). For more information, call the track office at 281-383-RACE or visit
www.houstonraceway.com
online.
Free grandstand tickets for
Friday and Saturday night are available at several locations throughout the
Houston area, or by calling the track’s ticket office at 281-383-RACE and
requesting free tickets by will-call for the USMTS race. Free event passes
that were distributed for the December event are still good for the Feb.
18-20 show this year.
To learn more about the United
States Modified Touring Series, visit
www.usmts.com
online or call 515-832-7944. You can also follow the USMTS on Facebook,
MySpace and Twitter.
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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Southern Series
3rd Annual Texas Winter Nationals
presented by Ed Rinehart for County Commissioner – Event #1 of 3
Houston Raceway
Park, Baytown, Texas
Thursday, Feb. 18,
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 14 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.
ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (8
laps):
1. (4) 8 Steve Miller, Georgetown, TX.
2. (3) 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, AR.
3. (10) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, MO.
4. (5) 18 Michael Long, Quincy, IL.
5. (8) 14t Tristan Dycus, Midlothian, TX.
6. (7) 20 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, OK.
7. (2) 9 Brent Nicholas, Baytown, TX.
8. (11) 9 Shane Killingsworth, Dallas, TX.
9. (9) 17 Brad Lasater, Garland, TX.
10. (6) 186 Jeremy Gossett, Amarillo, TX.
11. (1) 7x Rory Jordan, Victoria, TX.
HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 25 Scott Green, Derby, KS.
2. (5) 12 Jason Hughes, Westville, OK.
3. (4) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, OK.
4. (8) 5 Jon Mitchell, Texarkana, TX.
5. (2) 12 Corey Babbitt, Channelview, TX.
6. (3) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, OK.
7. (9) 9j Darrell Jones, Ashland, MO.
8. (6) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, LA.
9. (7) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, KS.
10. (10) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, TX.
HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):1.
(1) 5r Morgan Bagley, Longview, TX.
2. (2) 15h Sam Hafertepe, Sunnyville, TX.
3. (6) 21 Johnny Fennewald, Appleton City, MO.
4. (7) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, MN.
5. (3) 5a Wes Armstrong, Marshall, TX.
6. (5) 55 Kyle Anderson (R), Tomball, TX.
7. (8) 15 Kevin Battarbee (R), Houston, TX.
8. (4) 68 Danny Barringer, Lufkin, TX.
9. (9) 34 Ben Stephens (R), Hattiesburg, MS.
10. (10) 56 David Horner, Houston, TX.
EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #4 (8
laps):
1. (1) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, IA.
2. (4) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, MO.
3. (3) JP5 Lee Patton (R), Ruston, LA.
4. (6) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, OK.
5. (9) 99 Derick Grigsby, Marshall, TX.
6. (5) 190 Shawn Stephenson (R), Howe, TX.
7. (10) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, TX.
8. (8) 20 Troy Seidl (R), Magnolia, TX.
9. (7) 69 Randy Heston (R), Stinnett, TX.
10. (2) 23 Brandon Davis, Castle Rock, CO.
HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (2) 12h Mike Hansen, Alton, IA.
2. (1) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, NM.
3. (8) 74 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, MO.
4. (3) 44 Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, MN.
5. (5) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, TX.
6. (6) 25 John Allen, Chanute, KS.
7. (7) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, TX.
8. (4) 10 Kenny Battarbee (R), Houston, TX.
9. (10) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, IA.
10. (9) 22 Tracy Denby Sr., Vidor, TX.
HEAT RACE #6 (8 laps):
1. (6) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, OK.
2. (2) 8j Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, TX.
3. (1) 00 Darrel Dawson (R), Midlothian, TX.
4. (5) 10 Kyle Schmidt, Farmington, AR.
5. (8) E Howard Willis, Dayton, TX.
6. (9) 58 Nathan Bischel, Amarillo, TX.
7. (7) 2 Jerry Standifer (R), Howe, OK.
8. (3) 64 Jay Sale, Edmond, OK.
9. (4) 7g Mark Smith, Lufkin, TX.
10. (10) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, TX.
REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1
(15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (2) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, MN.
2. (3) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, OK.
3. (1) 8j Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, TX.
4. (5) 44 Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, MN.
5. (4) 10 Kyle Schmidt, Farmington, AR, $80.
6. (8) 190 Shawn Stephenson (R), Howe, TX, $80.
7. (7) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, TX, $80.
8. (6) 5a Wes Armstrong, Marshall, TX, $80.
9. (9) 15 Kevin Battarbee (R), Houston, TX, $80.
10. (14) 7g Mark Smith, Lufkin, TX, $80.
11. (12) 64 Jay Sale, Edmond, OK, $80.
12. (11) 68 Danny Barringer, Lufkin, TX, $80.
13. (13) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, KS, $80.
14. (10) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, TX, $80.
15. (16) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, TX, $80.
16. (15) 56 David Horner, Houston, TX, $80.
REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2
(15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (6) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, TX.
2. (2) JP5 Lee Patton (R), Ruston, LA.
3. (12) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, IA.
4. (4) 14t Tristan Dycus (R), Midlothian, TX.
5. (8) 25 John Allen, Chanute, KS, $80.
6. (14) 186 Jeremy Gossett (R), Amarillo, TX, $80.
7. (13) 34 Ben Stephens (R), Hattiesburg, MS, $60.
8. (7) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, OK, $60.
9. (16) 7x Rory Jordan (R), Victoria, TX, $80.
10. (11) 20 Troy Seidl (R), Magnolia, TX, $80.
11. (10) 2 Jerry Standifer (R), Howe, OK, $80.
12. (5) 58 Nathan Bischel, Amarillo, TX, $80.
13. (3) 99 Derick Grigsby, Marshall, TX, $80.
14. (1) 5 Jon Mitchell, Texarkana, TX, $80.
15. (9) 9 Shane Killingsworth (R), Dallas, TX, $80.
16. (15) 23 Brandon Davis, Castle Rock, CO, $80.
REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3
(15 laps, top 4 advance):1.
(3) 18 Michael Long, Quincy, IL.
2. (1) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, OK.
3. (10) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, LA.
4. (5) 12 Corey Babbitt, Channelview, TX.
5. (2) 00 Darrel Dawson (R), Midlothian, TX, $80.
6. (6) 20 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, OK, $80.
7. (11) 10 Kenny Battarbee (R), Houston, TX, $80.
8. (7) 55 Kyle Anderson (R), Tomball, TX, $80.
9. (15) 22 Tracy Denby Sr., Vidor, TX, $60.
10. (9) 9 Brent Nicholas (R), Baytown, TX, $80.
11. (8) 9j Darrell Jones, Ashland, MO, $60.
12. (13) 69 Randy Heston (R), Stinnett, TX, $80.
13. (12) 17 Brad Lasater, Garland, TX, $80.
14. (4) E Howard Willis, Dayton, TX, $80.
15. (14) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, TX, $80.
“A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. (2) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 30, $2,000.
2. (10) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 30, $1,500.
3. (3) 5r Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas, Shaw/Rowland, 30, $1,000.
4. (14) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M., TRE/ASI, 30, $800.
5. (5) 12 Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 30, $700.
6. (16) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas, Pierce/CB, 30, $600.
7. (9) 74 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 30, $500.
8. (8) 12h Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa, GRT/PerfOnly, 30, $450.
9. (12) 21 Johnny Fennewald, Appleton City, Mo., GRT/tbd, 30, $250.
10. (11) 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark., TRE/Shinook, 30, $350.
11. (1) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 30, $325.
12. (17) 18 Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., Kraft/Xtreme, 30, $300.
13. (18) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Ramirez/Sput’s, 30, $275.
14. (26) 12 Corey Babbitt, Channelview, Texas, TRE/Jeff, 30, $200.
15. (13) 15h Sam Hafertepe, Sunnyville, Texas, tbd/tbd, 30, $200.
16. (23) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La., Hughes/Wall2Wall, 30, $250.
17. (21) 8j Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, Texas, Ramirez/Sput’s, 30, $250.
18. (19) JP5 Lee Patton (R), Ruston, La., Harris/tbd, $250.
19. (24) 44 Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, Minn., Shaw/Tim’s, $250.
20. (25) 14t Tristan Dycus (R), Midlothian, Texas, Kraft/Barr, $250.
21. (22) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, $250.
22. (6) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 22, mechanical, $250.
23. (7) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 22, mechanical,
$250.
24. (20) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 19,
mechanical, $250.
25. (4) 8 Steve Miller, Georgetown, Texas, Hughes/tbd, 17, mechanical, $250.
26. (15) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Kraft/tbd, 15, mechanical,
$250.
Lap Leaders:
Dotson 1, Bagley 2-17, Shryock 18-30.
Total Laps Led: Bagley
16, Shryock 13, Dotson 1.
AFCO Pole Winner: Timms.
PBM Performance Products Hard
Charger: Jones (started 14th,
finished 4th).
Next Race:
Friday, Feb. 19, Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas.
Points Standings:
Phillips 103, Shryock 102, Jones 97, Bagley 94, Whittington 91, Hughes 84,
Payne 80, Holzkamper 73, Dotson 71, Ramirez 71.
Just Say Yes Rookie of the Year
Points: Dycus 59, Patton 57,
Stephenson 45, Kevin Battarbee 45, Sale 45, Gossett 45, Stephens 45, Jordan
45, Seidl 45, Standifer 45, Bischel 45,
Killingsworth 45, Dawson 45, Kenny Battarbee 45, Anderson 45, Nicholas 45,
Heston 45.
COMP Cams Engine
Builder of the Year Points:
Sput’s 10, Hatfield 9, Rowland 8, ASI 7, Mullins 6.
Chassis Builders Championship
Points: Skyrocket 10, GRT 9,
Shaw 8, TRE 7, Hughes 6.
Contingency Awards:
American Racer – not awarded.
Eibach Springs – Shryock.
Isky Racing Cams – Miller.
KSE Racing Products – Phillips.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Noble.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Dotson.
PBM Performance Products – Jones.
Quarter Master – Shryock, Hansen.
QuickTime – Payne.
Real Racing Wheels – Stephenson, Gossett, Weder.
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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: Casey’s
General Stores.
USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS:
American Racer Racing Tires, Awesome Racewear, AwesomeRaceSuits.com, BRODIX
Cylinder Heads, COMP Cams, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Intercomp, Karl
Chevrolet, Kevko Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, PBM
Performance Products, RACEceiver.
USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS:
ASi Racewear, Bear Tire, Big Dog Chassis & Fabrication, DandyLand Farms, Day
Motor Sports, Dirt Track Racing School, Dirthead.com, Falcon Wind Power,
Farm Boy BBQ, Gressel Oil Field Service, Just Say Yes, Ramirez Race Cars,
Olympic Fire Protection, Ruter Farms, Yeager Machine.
USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS:
AFCO Racing Products, Ai-Racing, Belleville Motorsports, Dynatech Racing
Exhaust, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Hyperco, Isky Racing Cams, KSE Racing
Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Out-Pace Racing Products, Quarter Master,
QuickTime, Real Racing Wheels, US Brake.
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