Sobbing turns away challengers to top USMTS feature at Lakeside Speedway

KANSAS CITY, Kan.—The USMTS Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental returned to action for the first time in 20 days on Friday, and Jesse Sobbing returned to Widow Wax Victory Lane for the first time in 233.

Sobbing, who captured two main event wins last year during his campaign to become USMTS Rookie of the Year, took the lead at the start of the 32-lap feature at the Lakeside Speedway and had to tip-toe through a mine field of threats to stay there until the end.

Stormy Scott, who came from dead last to win his heat race earlier in the program, was the first to challenge Sobbing for the top spot but was never able to seal the deal.

Eventually, 12th-starting Rodney Sanders made his way to the front and provided the toughest test to Sobbing’s position.

Following the race’s first caution on lap 18 just as the leaders were getting into lapped traffic, Sanders shot past Sobbing and held a two-car-lengths advantage at the flagstand to complete the 19th lap.

But exiting the second turn with clear sailing in front of him, the rear end of Sanders’s Modified broke loose and he nearly brought his race car to a halt in order to keep from spinning.

After what Sanders later chalked up to “driver error,” Sobbing regained the advantage while Sanders now had his hands full with defending track champion Kerry Davis and Johnny Scott.

Two late-race yellow flags in the final three laps created a flurry of tense moments, including a crowd-pleasing stab for the lead by Davis, but Sobbing was able to withstand every challenge and came home with his third career USMTS triumph.

The win was worth $3,000 to the Malvern, Iowa, racer, and came on the eve of returning to the site of his first-ever win at the Randolph County Raceway in Moberly, Mo.

It also marked the first win in USMTS competition for Harris Auto Racing since Sept. 4, 2009, when Ryan Gustin held off Kelly Shryock for a ‘Hunt’ win at the Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minn.

Sobbing piloted an MB Custom chassis last year.

Sanders recovered to finish second ahead of Johnny Scott, Davis and Dereck Ramirez.

MSD Central Region points leader Jason Hughes was sixth, last week’s USRA Modified feature winner here—Todd Shute—earned the seventh spot, Zack VanderBeek was eighth, Cade Dillard came from 17th to ninth and Terry Phillips came from 19th to take tenth.

On Saturday, the Randolph County Raceway hosts the 6th Annual Sydenstricker Farm & Lawn Shootout to mark the second year in a row that the USMTS will invade the high banks in Moberly, Mo.

VanderBeek, Jon Tesch, Michael Long, Jason Hughes and Jason Krohn have all tasted victory on the high banks, along with Jesse Sobbing who captured his career-first USMTS win here last year.

Fresh off of an opening night USRA Modified victory, defending track champion Robbie Reed will put his vast knowledge of his home track to good use as he will have a full field of top notch competition.

Also on the night’s racing card will be the Iron Man Challenge for Out-Pace USRA B-Mods, ULMA late Models, Macon Coca Cola 4-Cylinders and Claypoole Construction Hobby Stocks.

Happy hour runs from 5-6 p.m. with all Coca-Cola products, hot dogs and Bud products just $1 each (no beer bucket specials until after 6). So come early, get your favorite seat and enjoy happy hour before the nation’s best dirt track drivers buckle in to put on one awesome night of racing action.

Gates open at 5, hot laps are at 6:15 and racing starts at 7. General admission is $20, kids ages 6-13 are $10 and children 5 and under get in for free.

Fans can pick up $2-off discount coupon at Casey’s General Stores locations in Higbee, Madison, Moberly and Paris. To find the location nearest you, visit www.caseys.com.

The Randolph County Raceway is located 3.5 miles east of US 63 on US 24 (5 miles east of Moberly). For more information, call (660) 651-8599 or check out www.randolphcountyraceway.com on the World Wide Web.

Then on Sunday, April 24, the series makes its debut at the exciting Atchison County Raceway in Atchison, Kan., for the inaugural USMTS “Cage Match” with pit gates opening at 3 p.m., grandstands opening at 4:30, hot laps at 6:45 and the first heat race at 7.

General admission tickets are $20 for adults, youth ages 6-12 are $5 and children 5 and under are free. Pit passes are $35. Fans can pick up $2-off discount coupon at Casey’s General Stores locations in Atchison, Highland, Platte City, St. Joseph and Wathena. To find the location nearest you, visit www.caseys.com.

For the third straight night, the Iron Man Challenge featuring Out-Pace USRA B-Mods will share the spotlight.

The Atchison County Raceway is located 2.0 miles north of Atchison on Sedgewick Rd. (past 302nd St.). For more information, call (913) 370-2520 and see www.acraceway.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 at www.facebook.com/usmts, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts and Instagram at www.instagram.com/usmts or subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
USMTS Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental – MSD Central Region presented by Day Motor Sports
5th Annual Tompkins Industries Rumble on the River’s Edge
Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.
Friday, April 22, 2016

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed and money won. The top 12 drivers in passing points accumulated in the heat races were locked into the “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

MSD HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (1) 68 Kerry Davis, Parkville, Mo.
2. (2) 21t Lance Town, Wellsville, Kan.
3. (8) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
4. (9) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
5. (7) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
6. (3) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
7. (5) 37 Mike Jergens (R), Plover, Iowa.
8. (6) 1k Tim Karrick, Basehor, Kan.
9. (4) 92 Jim Peeler, Trimble, Mo.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (9) 2s Stormy Scott, Arroyo Hondo, N.M.
2. (3) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
3. (1) 4 Billy Vogel (R), West Fargo, N.D.
4. (8) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
5. (6) 01 Joey Galloway, Manor, Sask., Canada.
6. (2) 18z Zane DeVilbiss, Farmington, N.M.
7. (4) 99 Jett Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask., Canada.
8. (5) 70 Aaron Marrant, Richmond, Mo.
9. (7) 00 Masen Big Eagle, Manor, Sask., Canada.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (4) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (2) 4w Tyler Wolff (R), Fayetteville, Ark.
3. (6) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa.
4. (5) 5 Todd Shute (R), Des Moines, Iowa.
5. (3) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
6. (8) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
7. (9) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
8. (1) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
9. (7) 34 Mark Schafman, Edwardsville, Kan.

HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (1) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
2. (2) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
3. (8) 87 Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, Kan.
4. (4) 3b Nic Bidinger, Perry, Kan.
5. (5) 33 Chad Lyle, Oak Grove, Mo.
6. (3) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
7. (6) B29 Blonde Bomber Mitchell, Pea Ridge, Ark.
8. (7) 20rt Ricky Thornton Jr. (R), Chandler, Ariz.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (2) 5 Todd Shute (R), Des Moines, Iowa.
2. (1) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
3. (3) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
4. (5) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
5. (4) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
6. (9) 1k Tim Karrick, Basehor, Kan.
7. (12) 34 Mark Schafman, Edwardsville, Kan.
8. (7) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
9. (10) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., GRT/Mullins, $90.
10. (6) 18z Zane DeVilbiss, Farmington, N.M., DeVilbiss/GMPP, $75.
11. (8) 99 Jett Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask., Canada, GRT/ProPower, $90.
12. (11) 92 Jim Peeler, Trimble, Mo., Shocker/KSE, $75.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (2) 3b Nic Bidinger, Perry, Kan.
2. (4) 33 Chad Lyle, Oak Grove, Mo.
3. (10) 20rt Ricky Thornton Jr. (R), Chandler, Ariz.
4. (9) 70 Aaron Marrant, Richmond, Mo.
5. (3) 01 Joey Galloway, Manor, Sask., Canada.
6. (11) 00 Masen Big Eagle, Manor, Sask., Canada, GRT/Tim’s, $90.
7. (5) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., GRT/Mullins, $90.
8. (1) 4 Billy Vogel (R), West Fargo, N.D., LG2/Durham, $90.
9. (6) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
10. (7) 37 Mike Jergens (R), Plover, Iowa, Harris/KSE, $90.
11. (8) B29 Blonde Bomber Mitchell, Pea Ridge, Ark., Hughes/BMS, $75.

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES “A” MAIN (32 laps):
1. (2) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa, Harris/GMPP, 32, $3000.
2. (12) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, 32, $1700.
3. (8) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Lethal/Durham, 32, $1200.
4. (3) 68 Kerry Davis, Parkville, Mo., GRT/Sput’s, 32, $900.
5. (6) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., LG2/Cornett, 32, $900.
6. (7) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 32, $800.
7. (13) 5 Todd Shute (R), Des Moines, Iowa, Victory/Karl, 32, $700.
8. (11) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, LG2/Sput’s, 32, $650.
9. (17) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., MBCustom/ASI, 32, $600.
10. (19) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Durham, 32, $550.
11. (20) 70 Aaron Marrant, Richmond, Mo., GRT/Burlington, 32, $400.
12. (5) 87 Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, Kan., Venom/Driskell, 32, $450.
13. (18) 20rt Ricky Thornton Jr. (R), Chandler, Ariz., Victory/Karl, 32, $425.
14. (21) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo., MBCustom/Mullins, 32, $400.
15. (16) 33 Chad Lyle, Oak Grove, Mo., MBCustom/Sput’s, 32, $300.
16. (14) 3b Nic Bidinger, Perry, Kan., GRT/Mullins, 32, $350.
17. (26) 34 Mark Schafman, Edwardsville, Kan., BillsBuilt/Burlington, 32, $250.
18. (9) 21t Lance Town, Wellsville, Kan., Phoenix/Driskell, 32, $300.
19. (24) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/Wornhor, 32, $300.
20. (10) 4w Tyler Wolff (R), Fayetteville, Ark., MBCustom/Hatfield, 32, $300.
21. (23) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa, Hilsabeck/Mullins, 32, $300.
22. (22) 01 Joey Galloway, Manor, Sask., Canada, GRT/ProPower, 32, $300.
23. (4) 2s Stormy Scott, Arroyo Hondo, N.M., Lethal/Mullins, 31, $300.
24. (25) 1k Tim Karrick, Basehor, Kan., Skyrocket/Millert, 22, $300.
25. (15) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Durham, 16, $250.
26. (1) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan., Mullens/Mullens, 16, $300.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leaders: Sobbing 1-18, Sanders 19, Sobbing 20-32.
Total Laps Led: Sobbing 31, Sanders 1.
Margin of Victory: 0.576 second.
Provisional Starters: Duvall, Hilsabeck, Karrick (track), Schafman (track).
Sybesma Graphics Pole Award: S. Scott.
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Sanders (started 12th, finished 2nd).
Entries: 35.
Next Race: Saturday, April 23, Randolph County Raceway, Moberly, Mo.
MSD Central Region Points: Hughes 184, Sanders 174, VanderBeek 167, Sobbing 165, Shute 159, Ramirez 150, Phillips 146, Dillard 144, Hilsabeck 137, Duvall 123.
Rookie of the Year Points: Wolff 764, B. Bauman 718, C. Bauman 650, Kyle Strickler 553, Vogel 546.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 125, Geddes 110, Sput’s 95, Durham 92, GMPP 56.
Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 121, MBCustoms 117, LG2 102, GRT 84, Harris 79.

Contingency Awards:
Allstar Performance – VanderBeek.
American Racer – VanderBeek.
Bell Helmets – Schafman.
Beyea Custom Headers – Ramirez.
BSB Manufacturing – Hilsabeck.
Day Motor Sports – S. Scott, Karrick.
Deatherage Opticians – Wolff.
Edelbrock – J. Scott.
Eibach Springs – Fuqua.
Fast Shafts – S. Scott.
FK Rod Ends – Lyle.
Forty9Designs.com – Siebert, Duvall.
Fuel Safe – Hughes.
GRT Race Cars – Davis.
Hooker Harness – Thornton.
Integra Shocks & Springs – Town.
Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service – Bidinger.
Kevko Oil Pans & Components – Dillard.
Keyser Manufacturing – Phillips.
KSE Racing Products – Sanders.
Midwest Sheet Metal – Payne.
MSD – Davis, Sobbing.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Bidinger.
PBM Performance Products – J. Scott.
QA1 – S. Scott.
Real Racing Wheels – non-qualifiers.
Sybesma Graphics – S. Scott.
VP Racing Fuels – Sobbing.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Marrant.
Wilwood Engineering – Shute.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Argo Manufacturing, Casey’s General Stores, Chix Gear Racewear, COMP Cams, CP-Carrillo, Day Motor Sports, Deatherage Opticians, Fast Shafts, Intercomp, Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service, Kevko Oil Pans & Components, KSE Racing Products, Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment, Malvern Trust & Savings Bank, MSD, RacerWebsite.com, RacinDirt.com, RealTruck.com, S&S Fishing & Rental, The Joie of Seating, VP Racing Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: AMP Energy Drink, Arizona Sport Shirts, ASi Racewear, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Duvall Electric, ElbowsUp.com, Erson Cams, I-29 Trailer Sales, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Oreo, Production Jars, Rivers Edge Scrap Management, Snickers, Sour Patch Kids, YouDirt.com.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bell Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, BSB Manufacturing, Driven Racing Oil, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Fuel Safe Racing Cells, Genesis Racing Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Holley Performance Products, Hooker Custom Harness, Integra Shocks & Springs, Keyser Manufacturing, Midwest Sheet Metal, Out-Pace Racing Products, PBM Performance Products, QA1 Precision Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Sybesma Graphics, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Engineering.