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Hughes sails to
USMTS Southern Series victory at Houston Raceway Park
BAYTOWN, Texas (Feb. 20)
– Jason Hughes was in a class by himself in 2009, winning ten main events en
route to claiming his second straight USMTS Southern Series crown.
After three days of racing at
the Houston Raceway Park, it looks like Hughes will be the man to beat again
in 2010.
As the weekend wore on and the
stakes got higher and higher, the 35-year-old chassis builder from
Westville, Okla., got better and better. He scored a fifth-place finish on
Thursday, came home second on Friday, and then wrapped up the 3rd Annual
Texas Winter Nationals presented by Ed Rinehart for County Commissioner with
an impressive $5,000 victory on Saturday night.
“That’ll help pay some of the
bills,” Hughes said in victory lane. “We kept fighting, my crew has been
working hard all weekend and the car kept getting better. This is how we
wanted to start the season.
“This is by far the biggest
crowd we’ve seen since we’ve started running here, and it’s nice to get the
win in front of all these people.”
Prior to the drop of the green
flag, Hughes had his work cut out for him as he sat tenth on the 26-car
starting grid. On Thursday he started and finished fifth, then could only
manage to climb one spot from third to second on Friday night.
Bumper Jones used his pole
position to jump out to the early lead in Saturday’s “A” Main while drivers
shuffled positions behind him.
Friday’s winner Jeremy Payne
rocketed past three cars down the back-stretch two laps later to grab the
runner-up spot while Hughes followed suit and quickly moved to fourth behind
eighth-starting Steven Whiteaker Jr.
Jones, Payne and Whiteaker
raced bumper to bumper for the next nine laps while Hughes trailed by four
car-lengths. Racing side by side out of the fourth turn on lap 11, Whiteaker
and Payne made contact with Payne holding on to the second spot.
One lap later, the race’s
first yellow flag waved as Whiteaker came to a halt on the front-stretch
with a flat tire.
After leaving the pit area
with fresh rubber, Whiteaker tagged the rear of the field while Hughes
inherited the third spot. Payne elected to start on the inside, leaving
Hughes to his right for the double-file restart.
At the drop of the green flag,
Hughes dove hard into the first turn and powered around Jones in turn two.
Payne shadowed Hughes down the back-stretch and wrestled second place away
from Jones in the next corner.
Within five laps, Hughes had
extended his advantage to nearly a full straight-away over Payne and his
teammate Terry Phillips. Phillips, however, nearly spun on lap 19 and gave
up the position to Mike Hansen while Jones remained close behind in fifth.
Despite heavy lapped traffic
throughout the second-half of the 40-lapper, Hughes remained flawless as he
sailed to his 21st career USMTS Southern Series victory and 81st overall
under the USMTS banner.
Payne, Hansen and Phillips
held on for second, third and fourth, respectively, while John O Whittington
nipped Jones for the fifth-place paycheck.
Morgan Bagley snagged seventh,
Rodney Sanders earned an eight-place finish, Chris Henigan nabbed ninth and
defending Texas Winter Nationals champion Zack VanderBeek raced from
eighteenth to finish tenth.
The win also propelled Hughes
into the points lead on the strength of his nine passing points and three
lap leader bonus points in the main event. Phillips sits six points behind
Hughes (292 to 286) in second with Payne just one more point back in third.
Whittington is fourth with 276 markers, followed by Jones (259), Bagley
(257), Kelly Shryock (227), Dereck Ramirez (201), Shane Hebert (191) and
Steve Holzkamper (191).
Lee Patton leads the current
crop of rookie contenders, followed by Tristan Dycus, Darrel Dawson, Shane
Killingsworth and nine other drivers tied for fifth.
Up next for the USMTS Southern
Series is a tripleheader in the Sooner State. The series makes its debut at
the Creek County Speedway in Kellyville, Okla., on Thursday, March 18, then
moves on to the Outlaw Motor Speedway near Muskogee on Friday, March 19. The
weekend winds up at the West Siloam Speedway in West Siloam Springs on
Saturday, March 20. All three events are expected to attract a powerful
field of entries as points will be awarded for both the USMTS Southern
Series and USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour.
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 #3 of 3
Houston Raceway
Park, Baytown, Texas
Saturday, Feb. 20,
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. (2) 5r Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas.
2. (4) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
3. (5) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas.
4. (1) 15 Kevin Battarbee (R), Houston, Texas.
5. (10) E Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas.
6. (9) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
7. (7) 5 Jon Mitchell, Texarkana, Texas.
8. (6) 9 Shane Killingsworth (R), Dallas, Texas.
9. (11) 7x Rory Jordan (R), Victoria, Texas.
10. (12) 51 Jeff Wood, Willis, Texas.
11. (8) 17 Brad Lasater, Garland, Texas.
12. (3) 8 Steve Miller, Georgetown, Texas.
HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (2) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo.
2. (10) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.
3. (4) 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyville, Texas.
4. (1) 58 Nathan Bichsel (R), Amarillo, Texas.
5. (7) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La.
6. (11) 10 Kenny Battarbee (R), Houston, Texas.
7. (12) 21 Johnny Fennewald, Appleton City, Mo.
8. (8) 12c Corey Babbitt, Channelview, Texas.
9. (3) 18L Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.
10. (9) R5 Hunter Rasdon (R), Jonesboro, Ark.
11. (6) 10 Kyle Schmidt, Farmington, Ark.
12. (5) 23 Brandon Davis (R), Castle Rock, Colo.
HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas.
2. (7) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan.
3. (11) 16 Chris Henigan, Marshall, Texas.
4. (8) 34 Ben Stephens (R), Hattiesburg, Miss.
5. (9) 8g Greg Dinsmore, Kerrville, Texas.
6. (5) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
7. (10) 14t Tristan Dycus (R), Midlothian, Texas.
8. (4) 8j Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, Texas.
9. (1) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla.
10. (12) 20 Troy Seidl (R), Magnolia, Texas.
11. (3) 69 Randy Heston (R), Stinnett, Texas.
12. (6) 17x Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #4 (8
laps):
1. (3) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M.
2. (2) JP5 Lee Patton (R), Ruston, La.
3. (1) 410 Brad Doherty (R), Ennis, Texas.
4. (9) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
5. (7) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
6. (10) 190 Shawn Stephenson (R), Howe, Texas.
7. (11) 44 Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, Minn.
8. (4) 56 David Horner, Houston, Texas.
9. (12) 2 Jerry Standifer (R), Howe, Okla.
10. (8) 55 Kyle Anderson (R), Tomball, Texas.
11. (5) 25 John Allen, Chanute, Kan.
12. (6) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (3) 12h Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa.
2. (11) 74 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
3. (2) 30 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas.
4. (10) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
5. (1) 99 Derick Grigsby, Marshall, Texas.
6. (6) 98 Darryl Seals, Vidor, Texas.
7. (4) 56 Steve Pugh, Anderson, Texas.
8. (7) 9 Brent Nicholas (R), Baytown, Texas.
9. (5) 5a Wes Armstrong, Marshall, Texas.
10. (9) 96 Foster Ellison III, Richwood, Texas.
11. (8) 76 Jesse Manning, Brazoria, Texas.
HEAT RACE #6 (8 laps):
1. (2) 12 Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla.
2. (3) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
3. (5) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
4. (1) 00 Darrel Dawson (R), Midlothian, Texas.
5. (10) 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark.
6. (11) 20 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla.
7. (8) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas.
8. (7) 64 Jay Sale (R), Edmond, Okla.
9. (4) 68 Danny Barringer, Lufkin, Texas.
10. (9) 186 Jeremy Gossett (R), Amarillo, Texas.
11. (6) 7g Mark Smith, Lufkin, Texas.
REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1
(15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (1) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
2. (7) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
3. (8) 21 Johnny Fennewald, Appleton City, Mo.
4. (11) 12c Corey Babbitt, Channelview, Texas.
5. (15) R5 Hunter Rasdon (R), Jonesboro, Ark., $120.
6. (5) 00 Darrel Dawson (R), Midlothian, Texas, $120.
7. (3) 30 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas, $120.
8. (16) 186 Jeremy Gossett (R), Amarillo, Texas, $120.
9. (9) 98 Darryl Seals, Vidor, Texas, $100.
10. (19) 17x Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., $100.
11. (14) 68 Danny Barringer, Lufkin, Texas, $120.
12. (17) 69 Randy Heston (R), Stinnett, Texas, $120.
13. (6) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La., $120.
14. (4) 8g Greg Dinsmore, Kerrville, Texas, $100.
15. (2) 34 Ben Stephens (R), Hattiesburg, Miss., $120.
16. (10) 56 Steve Pugh, Anderson, Texas, $120.
17. (12) 9 Brent Nicholas (R), Baytown, Texas, $120.
18. (13) 18L Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., $120.
19. (18) 7g Mark Smith, Lufkin, Texas, $120.
REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2
(15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (6) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
2. (2) 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyville, Texas.
3. (1) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas.
4. (3) E Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas.
5. (5) 10 Kenny Battarbee (R), Houston, Texas, $120.
6. (9) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas, $120.
7. (4) 15 Kevin Battarbee (R), Houston, Texas, $120.
8. (17) 25 John Allen, Chanute, Kan., $120.
9. (8) 14t Tristan Dycus (R), Midlothian, Texas, $120.
10. (15) 55 Kyle Anderson (R), Tomball, Texas, $120.
11. (19) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., $120.
12. (14) 51 Jeff Wood, Willis, Texas, $120.
13. (10) 2 Jerry Standifer (R), Howe, Okla., $120.
14. (12) 64 Jay Sale (R), Edmond, Okla., $120.
15. (18) 8 Steve Miller, Georgetown, Texas, $120.
16. (13) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla., $100.
17. (16) 17 Brad Lasater, Garland, Texas, $120.
18. (7) 99 Derick Grigsby, Marshall, Texas, $120.
19. (11) 8j Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, Texas, $120.
REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3
(15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (1) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
2. (3) 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark.
3. (8) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
4. (2) 410 Brad Doherty (R), Ennis, Texas.
5. (7) 44 Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, Minn., $120.
6. (6) 190 Shawn Stephenson (R), Howe, Texas, $120.
7. (16) 10 Kyle Schmidt, Farmington, Ark., $120.
8. (13) 5a Wes Armstrong, Marshall, Texas, $120.
9. (5) 20 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla., $120.
10. (12) 7x Rory Jordan (R), Victoria, Texas, $120.
11. (9) 5 Jon Mitchell, Texarkana, Texas, $120.
12. (14) 20 Troy Seidl (R), Magnolia, Texas, $120.
13. (18) 23 Brandon Davis (R), Castle Rock, Colo., $120.
14. (10) 9 Shane Killingsworth (R), Dallas, Texas, $120.
15. (11) 56 David Horner, Houston, Texas, $120.
16. (15) 96 Foster Ellison III, Richwood, Texas, $100.
17. (4) 58 Nathan Bichsel (R), Amarillo, Texas, $120.
18. (17) 76 Jesse Manning, Brazoria, Texas, $100.
“A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (10) 12 Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $5,000.
2. (6) 74 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 40, $3,000.
3. (4) 12h Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa, GRT/PerfOnly, 40, $2,000.
4. (12) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 40, $1,500.
5. (9) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas, Pierce/CB, 40, $1,000.
6. (1) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M., TRE/ASI, 40, $800.
7. (3) 5r Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas, Shaw/Rowland, 40, $700.
8. (13) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Sanders, 40, $600.
9. (2) 16 Chris Henigan, Marshall, Texas, Kraft/PTS, 40, $500.
10. (18) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $450.
11. (16) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $400.
12. (5) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $350.
13. (20) 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark., TRE/Shinook, 40, $350.
14. (17) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Kraft/Craft, 40, $350.
15. (19) 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyville, Texas, Kraft/Wells, 39, $300.
16. (11) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., Skyrocket/ASI, 39, $350.
17. (25) E Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas, Evolution/Fox, 39, $350.
18. (24) 12c Corey Babbitt, Channelview, Texas, TRE/CAM, 39, $300.
19. (14) JP5 Lee Patton (R), Ruston, La., Harris/PTS, 39, $350.
20. (22) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas, DirtWorks/Harris, 39, $350.
21. (26) 410 Brad Doherty (R), Ennis, Texas, GRT/Ewell, 39, $350.
22. (23) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 32, flat tire,
$350.
23. (7) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 28, throttle spring,
$350.
24. (15) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Ramirez/Sput’s, mechanical, 27,
$350.
25. (8) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas, Hughes/Rowland, flat
tire, 15, $350.
26. (21) 21 Johnny Fennewald, Appleton City, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 10,
transmission, $350.
Lap Leaders:
Jones 1-12, Hughes 13-40.
Total Laps Led: Hughes
28, Jones 12.
AFCO Pole Winner: Whiteaker.
PBM Performance Products Hard
Charger: Hughes (started 10th,
finished 1st).
Next Race:
Thursday, March 18, Creek County Speedway, Kellyville, Okla.
Points Standings:
Hughes 292, Phillips 286, Payne 285, Whittington 276, Jones 259, Bagley 257,
Shryock 227, Ramirez 201, Hebert 191, Holzkamper 191.
Rookie of the Year Points:
Patton 175, Dycus 149, Dawson 141, Killingsworth 140, Stephenson 135,
Battarbee 135, Sale 135, Gossett 135, Stephens 135, Jordan 135, Seidl 135,
Standifer 135, Bischel 135, Battarbee 135, Anderson 135, Nicholas 135,
Heston 135, Davis 135.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the
Year Points: Hatfield 28,
Mullins 25, CB 20, Rowland 19, PerfOnly 17.
Chassis Builders Championship
Points: GRT 28, Hughes 25, Shaw
21, Pierce 21, Skyrocket 19.
Contingency Awards:
Ai-Racing – Phillips.
American Racer – not awarded.
Eibach Springs – Jones.
Isky Racing Cams – Bagley.
KSE Racing Products – Payne.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Fennewald.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Timms.
PBM Performance Products – Hughes.
Quarter Master – Hughes, Sanders.
QuickTime – Bagley.
Real Racing Wheels – Dawson, C. Smith, Stephenson.
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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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