Hughes fires opening shot, wins USMTS National Championship Series opener

BAYTOWN, Texas (Feb. 24) – Start Jason Hughes deep in the field of a USMTS main event and he is still a favorite to win on any given night at any given track, but put him on the front row on a racetrack where he has won more time than any other driver and he borders on unbeatable.

Friday night at the Royal Purple Raceway, Hughes started on the front row of the 40-lap “A” Main and that was as close as anybody got to the 2010 USMTS National Champion as led every lap en route to a $4,000 victory on the second night of the 3rd Annual Texas Spring Nationals.

Defending USMTS National Champion Ryan Gustin got by polesitter Stormy Scott after a restart with seven laps to go and claimed the runner-up spot while Scott settled for third.

John O Whittington, who won here a year ago, was fourth and nine-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock rounded out the top 5 finishers.

“We got lucky and drew the front row outside and kind of cruised around and saved our equipment,” Hughes said following the win. “I saw Stormy show his nose a time or two so I’d gas it up and go on a little bit and then kind of cruised it to save my tires a little bit.

“I didn’t want to abuse my equipment and get passed on the last lap.”

Unlike Thursday night’s race where weather played havoc with the track and made for a bumpy racing surface in some areas, Friday’s feature provided a smooth slick surface but still plenty of action.

“Last night after 35 laps I could hardly breathe when we got done,” Hughes said. “But tonight we had a lot smoother race track. They’ve worked on the track, I figure they’ll work on it some more and it’ll be event better tomorrow like it was last year.”

The win was number 105 for his USMTS career and gave Hughes his sixth triumph at the quarter-mile clay oval in Baytown, Texas. It also put the 37-year-old from Watts, Okla., in the driver’s seat in his quest to claim the USMTS National Championship and the $30,000 check that awaits the champion.

Clyde Dunn Jr. earned a sixth-place finish Friday night to give Hughes Racing Chassis three of the first six to cross the finish line. Chris Henigan, Rodney Sanders, Steen Whiteaker Jr. and Johnny Scott completed the top 10.

Watch a video recap of Friday night's action on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFHLA8VZPdk.

The nation’s elite open-wheel dirt Modified drivers return on Saturday for another $4,000-to-win, $400-to-start USMTS National Championship Series event. USRA Western Flyer HotMods will also be racing for $900 to win.

The pit gate opens at 2 p.m., grandstands open at 4 and the first heat race hits the track at 5:30.

The Royal Purple Raceway is located just 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. For more information, call the track office at 281-383-7223 or visit www.royalpurpleraceway.com online.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS National Championship Series
3rd Annual Texas Spring Nationals – Night 2 of 3
Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, Texas
Friday, Feb. 24, 2012

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. (3) 97 Cade Dillard (R), Robeline, La.
2. (4) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
3. (8) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
4. (9) 12c Corey Babbitt, Channelview, Texas.
5. (2) 24 Sean Jones, Mansfield, Texas.
6. (10) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.
7. (7) 127 Glen Hibbard (R), Euless, Texas.
8. (6) 41 Jordan Foster (R), Henry, S.D.
9. (5) 19 Pete Sagmiller, Spring, Texas.
10. (11) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
11. (1) 22 Brad Buck (R), Paragould, Ark.
DNS - 56 David Horner, Houston, Texas.

HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (2) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (5) 16 Chris Henigan, Marshall, Texas.
3. (4) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
4. (3) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.
5. (9) 6x Rob Litton (R), Alexandria, La.
6. (6) 2j John Anderson, Omaha, Neb.
7. (7) 91 Joe Duvall, Chelsea, Okla.
8. (10) 14 David Ashley, Zachary, La.
9. (8) 23 Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas.
10. (1) 77 Brian Craighead (R), Farmerville, La.
11. (11) 25 Ron Keith (R), Shawnee, Kan.

EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas.
2. (3) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
3. (5) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
4. (2) 1 T.J. Herndon (R), Atwood, Tenn.
5. (4) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo.
6. (6) 14t Tristan Dycus, Midlothian, Texas.
7. (7) 5¢ Chris Buhler (R), Baton Rouge, La.
8. (10) 44 Marcus Berndt (R), Katy, Texas.
9. (8) 68 Danny Barringer, Lufkin, Texas.
10. (11) 5* Casey Penn (R), Shreveport, La.
11. (9) 27f James Allen Farmer (R), Aubrey, Texas.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (1) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
2. (3) 8t Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, Texas.
3. (2) 60 Kurt Krauskopf (R), Decorah, Iowa.
4. (4) A1 Phil Dixon, Crosby, Texas.
5. (7) 88t William Turner (R), Yukon, Okla.
6. (8) J17 Jacob Gallardo (R), Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (10) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
8. (9) 73 Mickey Burrell, Fair Grove, Mo.
9. (6) 11 Danny Hebert (R), Duson, La.
10. (5) 5m Joe Mayhew, Highlands, Texas.
DNS - 11x Rich Lofthus (R), Bloomer, Wis.

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (2) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (1) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
3. (4) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La.
4. (3) 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, Minn.
5. (7) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
6. (8) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
7. (9) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
8. (6) G17 Fito Gallardo (R), Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (10) 00 Jay Marshall (R), Brooksville, Fla.
10. (5) 715 Jeff Hoegh, New Caney, Texas.

RACINDIRT.COM HEAT RACE #6 (8 laps):
1. (1) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr., Sunnyville, Texas.
2. (6) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
3. (3) C3 Charlie Morrow (R), Pitkin, La.
4. (8) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
5. (2) 8 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas.
6. (9) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas.
7. (4) 23 Brandon Davis, Castle Rock, Colo.
8. (7) 5 Wes Armstrong, Marshall, Texas.
9. (11) 76 Jesse Manning (R), Brazoria, Texas.
10. (10) 21 Troy Seidl, Magnolia, Texas.
11. (5) 7x Rory Jordan, Victoria, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (1) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
2. (2) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La.
3. (8) 2j John Anderson, Omaha, Neb.
4. (6) 24 Sean Jones, Mansfield, Texas.
5. (5) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, $100.
6. (7) J17 Jacob Gallardo (R), Las Cruces, N.M., GRC/BMS, $100.
7. (11) 73 Mickey Burrell, Fair Grove, Mo., TRE/Ruble, $100.
8. (14) 11 Danny Hebert (R), Duson, La., Pierce/ASI, $100.
9. (3) 6x Rob Litton (R), Alexandria, La.
10. (9) 127 Glen Hibbard (R), Euless, Texas, CAM/Stinson, $100.
11. (4) A1 Phil Dixon, Crosby, Texas, Fast1/Jackson, $100.
12. (10) 23 Brandon Davis, Castle Rock, Colo.
13. (15) 77 Brian Craighead (R), Farmerville, La., DirtWorks/Sput’s, $100.
14. (12) 5 Wes Armstrong, Marshall, Texas, TRE/AMS, $100.
15. (13) 19 Pete Sagmiller, Spring, Texas, Skyrocket/Coates, $100.
16. (16) 21 Troy Seidl, Magnolia, Texas, Skyrocket/CNC, $100.
17. (17) 27f James Allen Farmer (R), Aubrey, Texas, BillsBuilt/BK’s, $100.
DNS - 56 David Horner, Houston, Texas, Skyrocket/Sput’s, $100.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (5) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.
2. (3) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.
3. (1) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
4. (7) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
5. (6) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo., GRT/KSE, $100.
6. (8) 14t Tristan Dycus, Midlothian, Texas, Kraft/Wells, $100.
7. (4) 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, Minn., Hughes/Sput’s, $100.
8. (13) 23 Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas, Evolution/Fox, $100.
9. (10) 14 David Ashley, Zachary, La., Pierce/Tim’s, $100.
10. (14) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., GRT/Sput’s, $100.
11. (2) 60 Kurt Krauskopf (R), Decorah, Iowa, Harris/Sput’s, $100.
12. (9) 91 Joe Duvall, Chelsea, Okla., Hughes/BMS, $100.
13. (15) 5m Joe Mayhew, Highlands, Texas, Skyrocket/Houston, $100.
14. (12) 76 Jesse Manning (R), Brazoria, Texas, Evolution/Hall, $100.
15. (16) 22 Brad Buck (R), Paragould, Ark., TRE/SCP, $100.
16. (11) 41 Jordan Foster (R), Henry, S.D., GRT/Sput’s, $100.
DNS - 11x Rich Lofthus (R), Bloomer, Wis., Hughes/Tim’s, $100.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (12 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (1) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
2. (2) C3 Charlie Morrow (R), Pitkin, La.
3. (5) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas.
4. (8) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
5. (3) 1 T.J. Herndon (R), Atwood, Tenn., GRT/JRM, $100.
6. (7) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla., Hughes/Geddes, $100.
7. (6) 8 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas, CAM/Allard, $100.
8. (11) G17 Fito Gallardo (R), Las Cruces, N.M., GRC/BMS, $100.
9. (14) 5* Casey Penn (R), Shreveport, La., Hughes/Geddes, $100.
10. (4) 88t William Turner (R), Yukon, Okla.
11. (16) 25 Ron Keith (R), Shawnee, Kan.
12. (9) 5¢ Chris Buhler (R), Baton Rouge, La., Pierce/RPM, $100.
13. (10) 44 Marcus Berndt (R), Katy, Texas, DirtWorks/AARE, $100.
14. (15) 715 Jeff Hoegh, New Caney, Texas, Skyrocket/AARE, $100.
15. (13) 68 Danny Barringer, Lufkin, Texas, Skyrocket/Craft, $100.
16. (17) 7x Rory Jordan, Victoria, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, $100.
17. (12) 00 Jay Marshall (R), Brooksville, Fla., Hughes/Sput’s, $100.

“A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (2) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $4000.
2. (3) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $2200.
3. (1) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., GRT/Yeoman, 40, $1600.
4. (4) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas, Pierce/CB, 40, $1200.
5. (10) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ProPower, 40, $1000.
6. (5) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr., Sunnyville, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $700.
7. (6) 16 Chris Henigan, Marshall, Texas, GRT/Riggins, 40, $700.
8. (11) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Geddes, 40, $600.
9. (16) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $550.
10. (7) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/ProPower, 40, $500.
11. (15) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D., GRT/Sput’s, 40, $475.
12. (9) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., GRT/Sput’s, 40, $450.
13. (14) 12c Corey Babbitt, Channelview, Texas, TRE/CAM, 40, $425.
14. (13) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo., GRT/Mullins, 40, $400.
15. (25) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 40, $400.
16. (26) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 40, $400.
17. (22) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan., GRT/Mullins, 40, $400.
18. (12) 8t Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, Texas, CAM/CMS, 40, $400.
19. (27) 23 Brandon Davis, Castle Rock, Colo., Hughes/Geddes, 40, $100.
20. (28) 6x Rob Litton (R), Alexandria, La., Skyrocket/Mullins, 40, $100.
21. (29) 25 Ron Keith (R), Shawnee, Kan., GRT/Mullins, 40, $100.
22. (24) 24 Sean Jones, Mansfield, Texas, PCR/Brooks, 40, $400.
23. (20) C3 Charlie Morrow (R), Pitkin, La., Pierce/Wall2Wall, 40, $300.
24. (30) 88t William Turner (R), Yukon, Okla., Hughes/Wells, 40, $100.
25. (23) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas, Skyrocket/CB, 36, mechanical, $300.
26. (8) 97 Cade Dillard (R), Robeline, La., Impressive/Parker, 36, mechanical, $400.
27. (21) 2j John Anderson, Omaha, Neb., GRT/Sput’s, 31, mechanical, $400.
28. (19) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn., Hughes/Sput’s, 15, mechanical, $400.
29. (18) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La., Hughes/ASI, 13, mechanical, $400.
30. (17) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 5, mechanical, $400.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leader: Hughes 1-40.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 40.
Margin of Victory: 0.860 second.
Pole Winner: Dillard.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Phillips (started 25th, finished 15th).
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck: Payne.
Provisional Starters: Davis, Litton, Keith, Turner.
Next Race: Saturday, Feb. 25, Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, Texas.
USMTS National Championship Series Points: Hughes 103, Gustin 95, S. Scott 91, Whittington 87, Shryock 84, Dunn 81, Henigan 78, Sanders 76, Whiteaker 74, J. Scott 72.
Rookie of the Year Points: J. Gallardo 119, Litton 99, Penn 98, Keith 98, Dillard 95, Turner 95.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Yeoman 16, Mullins 16, Geddes 14, Hatfield 12, ProPower 12.
Tiger Rear Ends Manufacturers Championship Points: GRT 19, Hughes 19, Pierce 15, TRE 12, Skyrocket 12.

Contingency Awards:
American Racer – Foster.
Dominator Race Products – Payne.
Eibach Springs – Whittington.
Forty9Designs.com – Whittington, Whiteaker.
ISKY Racing Cams – Dillard.
KSE Racing Products – Dillard.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Payne.
Nitroquest – Farmer, Foster, Marshall.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Phillips.
PBM Performance Products – Hughes.
Real Racing Wheels – Rowland, Dotson, Herndon.

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USMTS TITLE SPONSORS: Casey’s General Stores, Swan Energy.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Awesome Race Suits, Cheetos, Dominator Race Products, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, Nitroquest, RACEceiver, SLAP Energy, Snickers.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arnold Motor Supply, ASi Racewear, Beebe Heating & Air Conditioning, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, DAY Motor Sports, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Mesilla Valley Transportation, O’Brien Enterprises, Olympic Fire Protection, Ramirez Race Cars, Ruter Farms, Sybesma Graphics, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AERO Race Wheels, COMP Cams, Eibach Springs, Erson Cams, Forty9Designs.com, ISKY Racing Cams,  KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, PBM Performance Products, Real Racing Wheels, Tiger Rear Ends.