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Déjà vu as Hughes captures first checkers of 2010 for USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour

HUMBOLDT, Kan. (March 13) – Near-freezing temperatures did not deter more than 1,000 winter-weary, action-hungry race fans Saturday night as they gathered to witness the 2010 season opener for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour at the Humboldt Speedway.

Nearly six months since the last checkered flag waved to close the curtain on last year’s grueling campaign at the Featherlite Fall Jamboree, the 2010 season began the same way the 2009 season ended – with Jason Hughes hoisting the winner’s hardware in victory lane.

Forty-five teams packed the pit area of Ron and Rhenda Whitworth’s facility just outside Humboldt, Kan., for the fifth annual Havoc at The Hummer. After five heat races and a pair of Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains, a field of 26 drivers took the green flag to start the 40-lap “A” Main.

Starting on the outside of the front row, Colt Mather got the jump on polesitter Dereck Ramirez to lead the first lap while Hughes went door to door with Ramirez at the flagstand to complete the circuit.

By the time they reached the start-finish line for the second time, Hughes was in front with Mather giving chase. Despite four caution flags over the next 38 orbits that kept the field within striking distance, Hughes went unchallenged the rest of the way to score his sixth career victory at the quarter-mile semi-banked clay oval.

Ignition problems sidelined Ramirez on lap 9 and ended a top-five run while Mather lost the handle on his machine during the 22nd lap while fending off local favorite John Allen of nearby Chanute, Kan., for the runner-up spot.

The incident brought out the race’s final yellow flag and ended the night for Mather, along with Steve Holzkamper, Jon Tesch and Johnny Bone Jr.

Although the only challenge left for Hughes was negotiating lapped traffic, the fans in the jam-packed grandstands were treated to a thrilling battle between Allen and Kelly Shryock as they swapped control of the second position virtually every lap during the last half of the race.

With back-markers coming into play, Allen was able to nip the nine-time USMTS National Champion by a bumper at the finish line to earn the runner-up paycheck.

Meanwhile, Mark Dotson was a man on a mission. After grabbing the sixth and final transfer spot in the first Real Racing Wheels “B” Main, Dotson started the main event in the 25th spot, but by the end of the race he had clawed his way to a fourth-place finish ahead of Mike Hansen.

In addition to garnering the PBM Performance Products Hard Charger Award, Dotson’s massive pile of passing points propelled him to the top of the points standings in the Falcon Wind Power Mo-Kan Region with a two-point cushion (108 to 106) over Hughes.

Brian Bolin was nearly as impressive as he raced to a sixth-place finish after starting 23rd on the grid. Terry Schultz snared seventh, Dan Daniels took eighth, Ryan Whitworth nabbed ninth and former dirt late model and ASA Challenge Series veteran Rick Beebe rounded out the top-ten in his USMTS debut.

With one race in the books, Allen and Bolin sit tied for third in the standings with 98 markers, followed by Shryock (95), Daniels (86), Whitworth (85), Beebe (75), Ryan Ruter (69), Holzkamper (64) and Tesch (64).

With his top-ten finish, Whitworth claimed the top spot in the DandyLand Farms Rookie of the Year points, followed by Beebe, Austin Siebert, Jamie Ragland and Johnny Scott.

After setting their clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Savings Time, the teams will set their Modifieds up for another round of action on Sunday and another $2,000 top prize for the winner. Gates will open at noon on Sunday with hot laps 3 p.m. and racing at 3:30.

B-Mods and Factory Stocks will also be on the racing card. Drivers conforming to local Humboldt Speedway B-Modified, USRA B-Mod or IMCA SportMod rules are welcome to compete in the B-Mod division. The event will award points in the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series for licensed USRA B-Mod drivers.

The Humboldt Speedway is a quarter-mile semi-banked clay oval located on US 169 to the Humboldt Exit, then 0.1 mile west, then 0.5 mile south, then 0.9 mile east on Georgia Rd. For more information call 620-431-2470 (office) or 620-473-3694 (track) or visit www.humboldtspeedway.com.

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 Casey’s General Stores National Tour – Falcon Wind Power Mo-Kan Region
5th Annual Havoc at The Hummer – Event #1 of 2
Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, Kan.
Saturday, March 13, 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. (1) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
2. (2) 21 Johnny Fennewald (R), Appleton City, Mo.
3. (4) 40 Jessy Willard, Pleasanton, Kan.
4. (3) 9d Scott Daniels, Humboldt, Kan.
5. (8) 63 Ryan Whitworth (R), Humboldt, Kan.
6. (6) 12g Jeremy Green, Enid, Okla.
7. (5) 11s Scotty Bough, Nevada, Mo.
8. (7) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
9. (9) 11 Josh Griggs (R), Dewey, Okla.

HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 8 Colt Mather, Webster, Iowa.
2. (4) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
3. (7) 12h Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa.
4. (3) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.
5. (2) 39 Gary Langworthy Jr., Coffeyville, Kan.
6. (5) 3d Dan Daniels, Humboldt, Kan.
7. (8) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
8. (9) 23 Brandon Davis (R), Castle Rock, Colo.
9. (6) 31 John Williams (R), Haughton, La.

DIRTHEAD.COM HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 98 John Allen, Chanute, Kan.
2. (4) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
3. (3) 22b Rick Beebe (R), Shawnee, Kan.
4. (6) 48 Jimmy Dowell, Boonville, Mo.
5. (8) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo.
6. (9) 52 Ryan McAninch, Wichita, Kan.
7. (5) 47 Melvin Pilcher (R), Springdale, Ark.
8. (1) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
9. (7) X2 Brian Bolin, Fort Scott, Kan.

EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (1) 12 Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla.
2. (2) 90 Terry Schultz, Sedalia, Mo.
3. (3) 1st Johnny Scott (R), Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (4) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
5. (8) 20 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla.
6. (6) 12b Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, Ark.
7. (9) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan.
8. (5) 81 Danny Charles, Bashor, Kan.
9. (7) 3b Nic Bidinger, Perry, Kan.

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (1) 15r Jamie Ragland (R), Lebanon, Mo.
2. (4) 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark.
3. (2) 36 Kenny Wallace, Concord, N.C.
4. (5) 1c Chris Deaton (R), Wann, Okla.
5. (7) 16 Austin Siebert (R), Grandview, Mo.
6. (3) 12x Cody Elnicki, Girard, Kan.
7. (8) 73 Mickey Burrell (R), Fair Grove, Mo.
8. (6) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
9. (9) 17 Lucas Conley (R), Spring Hill, Kan.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (1) 36 Kenny Wallace, Concord, N.C.
2. (5) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
3. (8) 12b Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, Ark.
4. (6) 52 Ryan McAninch, Wichita, Kan.
5. (15) X2 Brian Bolin, Fort Scott, Kan.
6. (3) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo.
7. (9) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan., $90.
8. (13) 81 Danny Charles, Bashor, Kan., $75.
9. (4) 9d Scott Daniels, Humboldt, Kan., $75.
9. (16) 17 Lucas Conley (R), Spring Hill, Kan., $90.
10. (11) 47 Melvin Pilcher (R), Springdale, Ark., $90.
11. (2) 1c Chris Deaton (R), Wann, Okla., $90.
12. (10) 73 Mickey Burrell (R), Fair Grove, Mo., $90.
13. (14) 11 Josh Griggs (R), Dewey, Okla., $90.
14. (7) 12g Jeremy Green, Enid, Okla., $75.
15. (12) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., $90.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (4) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.
2. (7) 3d Dan Daniels, Humboldt, Kan.
3. (2) 63 Ryan Whitworth (R), Humboldt, Kan.
4. (5) 16 Austin Siebert (R), Grandview, Mo.
5. (1) 48 Jimmy Dowell, Boonville, Mo.
6. (10) 11s Scotty Bough, Nevada, Mo.
7. (15) 3b Nic Bidinger, Perry, Kan., $75.
8. (6) 39 Gary Langworthy Jr., Coffeyville, Kan., $90.
10. (3) 20 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla., $90.
11. (14) 31 John Williams (R), Haughton, La., $90.
12. (12) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, $90.
13. (11) 23 Brandon Davis (R), Castle Rock, Colo., $90.
14. (9) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, $90.
15. (8) 12x Cody Elnicki, Girard, Kan., $75.
16. (13) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., $90.

“A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (4) 12 Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $2,000.
2. (5) 98 John Allen, Chanute, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $1,500.
3. (7) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $1,000.
4. (25) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo., GRT/Stoa, 40, $900.
5. (9) 12h Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa, GRT/PerfOnly, 40, $800.
6. (23) X2 Brian Bolin, Fort Scott, Kan., Hughes/Yeoman, 40, $700.
7. (11) 90 Terry Schultz, Sedalia, Mo., Mach1/Schultz, 40, $550.
8. (18) 3d Dan Daniels, Humboldt, Kan., Hughes/Marlar, 40, $600.
9. (20) 63 Ryan Whitworth (R), Humboldt, Kan., Bamboozle/PMS, 39, $550.
10. (13) 22b Rick Beebe (R), Shawnee, Kan., Hughes/Yancy’s, 39, $500.
11. (24) 48 Jimmy Dowell, Boonville, Mo., DirtWorks/Dowell, 39, $350.
12. (12) 40 Jessy Willard, Pleasanton, Kan., Mach1/K&W, 39, $300.
13. (16) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa, Sidebiter/Stoa, 36, flat tire, $400.
14. (6) 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark., TRE/Shinook, 22, crash, $375.
15. (17) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D., Ramirez/Sput’s, 22, crash, $350.
16. (19) 12b Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, Ark., TRE/Homegrown, 22, crash, $300.
17. (2) 8 Colt Mather, Webster, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 22, crash, $300.
18. (3) 15r Jamie Ragland (R), Lebanon, Mo., Allen/Richmont, 22, mechanical, $300.
19. (22) 16 Austin Siebert (R), Grandview, Mo., GRT/Buzzard, 21, mechanical, $300.
20. (15) 36 Kenny Wallace, Concord, N.C., Impressive/Mullins, 13, flat tire, $300.
21. (1) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Ramirez/Sput’s, 9, ignition, $300.
22. (14) 1st Johnny Scott (R), Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/Mullins, 9, rear end, $300.
23. (8) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 9, flat tire, $300.
24. (21) 52 Ryan McAninch, Wichita, Kan., Custom/McAninch, 9, mechanical, $250.
25. (10) 21 Johnny Fennewald (R), Appleton City, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 8, crash, $300.
26. (26) 11s Scotty Bough, Nevada, Mo., DirtWorks/Wehmeyer, 6, mechanical, $250.

 (R) = DandyLand Farms Rookie of the Year candidate.

Lap Leaders: Mather 1, Hughes 2-40.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 39, Mather 1.
AFCO Pole Winner: Allen.
PBM Performance Products Hard Charger: Dotson (started 25th, finished 4th).
Next Race: Sunday, March 14, Humboldt Speedway.
Falcon Wind Power Mo-Kan Region Points: Dotson 108, Hughes 106, Allen 98, Bolin 98, Shryock 95, Daniels 86, Whitworth 85, Beebe 75, Ruter 69, Holzkamper 64, Tesch 64.
DandyLand Farms Rookie of the Year Points: Whitworth 85, Beebe 75, Siebert 58, Ragland 56, Scott 52.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 10, Sput’s 9, Stoa 8, PerfOnly 7, Yeoman 6.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 10, Skyrocket 9, GRT 8, Bamboozle 7, DirtWorks 6.

Contingency Awards:Ai-Racing – Whitworth.
American Racer – Elnicki.
Eibach Springs – Hughes.
Isky Racing Cams – Rowland.
KSE Racing Products – Allen.
PBM Performance Products – Dotson.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Bough.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Dowell.
Quarter Master – Hughes, D. Daniels.
QuickTime Inc. – Schultz.
Real Racing Wheels – Dotson, Bough.

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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: Casey’s General Stores, Castle Rock Recruiting.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Race Tires, Awesome Racewear, AwesomeRacesuits.com, Intercomp, Karl Chevrolet, Kevko Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, RACEceiver.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: ASi Racewear, Bear Tire, Big Dog Chassis & Fabrication, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, DandyLand Farms, Day Motor Sports, Dirt Track Racing School, Dirthead.com, Falcon Wind Power, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Gressel Oil Field Service, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Just Say Yes, Olympic Fire Protection, Ramirez Race Cars, Ruter Farms, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Ai-Racing, Belleville Motorsports, COMP Cams, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Forty9 Designs, GRT Race Cars, Hyperco, Isky Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Out-Pace Racing Products, PBM Performance Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Inc, Real Racing Wheels, RHS – Racing Head Service, US Brake.