‘The Reaper’ slays USMTS foes at I-35 Speedway

WINSTON, Mo. (July 12) – Ryan Gustin took the lead from Chris Brown with eight laps to go, and then sailed to his fourth USMTS National Championship Series victory of the season Thursday night at the I-35 Speedway in Winston, Mo.

Brown led the first 32 laps from the pole position, but midway through the 40-lapper Gustin began to reel in the Spring, Texas, speedster from his outside fourth row starting spot.

‘The Reaper’ was on Brown’s rear bumper when the third and final caution waved on lap 31. Two laps later, the 21-year-old from Marshalltown, Iowa, executed his patented rim-riding style around the high-banked 3/8-mile oval and pulled ahead as they came to the flagstand to complete the 33rd lap.

From there, Gustin padded his advantage to take the $4,000 top prize with his a 1.499-second cushion over Brown. The 54th win of his USMTS career was his sixth overall in 2012 and third in his last six starts as he now holds a healthy lead in the points chase.

Johnny Scott held off Zack VanderBeek for the third spot while Jon Tesch came from 12th on the starting grid to earn the final top-5 finishing position. Sixth through tenth were Dereck Ramirez, Jason Hughes, Stormy Scott, Rodney Sanders and Chase Junghans.

Richie Gustin passed 12 competitors to finish 11th in his first night out in the TC Motorsports #0 machine, but Sanders took home the Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger Award for finishing two spots higher after also passing a dozen drivers.

KANSAS CITY HERE WE COME …
For thousands of race fans, Friday the 13th is their lucky day as the USMTS National Championship Series invades the historic Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., for the first time in series history for the inaugural Beebe Heating & Air Conditioning Summer Sizzler presented by Arbor Masters.

In addition to the USMTS Modifieds waging a battle for a $5,000 top prize, the event will also feature the Iron Man Challenge featuring USRA B-Mods presented by Kaw Valley Sand & Gravel. Local Factory Stocks will also be in action.

Thanks to events sponsors Beebe Heating & Air Conditioning and Arbor Masters, an additional $1,000 has been added to the published purse. Of that amount, $500 will go to the highest-finishing driver that has never won a USMTS event, while $300 goes to the second-best finisher and $200 for the driver finishing third among those with no previous USMTS victories.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 13. Hot laps begin at 7 and the first heat race gets the green flag at 7:30.

The Lakeside Speedway is a 3/8-mile slightly-banked dirt oval located 1.0 mile west of I-435 (exit 18) on SR 5 (northwest of Kansas City, Kan.). The track hotline is 913-299-2040 or check them out the track’s official website at www.lakesidespeedway.net.

This titanic tripleheader weekend wraps up on Saturday with the USMTS road warriors returning to the Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, Okla.

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/ustmts and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS National Championship Series
I-35 Speedway, Winston, Mo.
Thursday, July 12, 2012

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 are locked into the “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

BEYEA CUSTOM HEADERS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (1) 85 Thomas Tillison Jr. (R), Wellston, Okla.
2. (4) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
3. (3) 0 Richie Gustin, Gilman, Iowa.
4. (7) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
5. (5) 98 John Allen, Chanute, Kan.
6. (2) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo.
7. (6) 88d Matt Dotson, Clark, Mo.
8. (8) 92 Jim Peeler (R), Trimble, Mo.

HOOKER HARNESS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (2) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
2. (5) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
3. (6) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.
4. (8) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
5. (4) 26 Dan Fetters, Montour, Iowa.
6. (1) 7x Chris Dawson, Lubbock, Texas.
7. (7) 42 Sam Florence (R), Trimble, Mo.
8. (3) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.

EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
2. (1) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck (R), Waukee, Iowa.
3. (4) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
4. (3) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa.
5. (7) 21m Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, Iowa.
6. (6) 98 Alex Stanford (R), Chowchilla, Calif.
7. (5) 292 Blake Peeler (R), Milan, Mo.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (1) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (3) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
3. (7) 20s Stormy Scott (R), Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (5) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
5. (2) 62 Hunter Marriott (R), Brookville, Mo.
6. (6) 25 Ron Keith (R), Shawnee, Kan.
7. (4) 99 Martin Bennett, Ankeny, Iowa.

RACINDIRT.COM HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (1) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
2. (5) 21 Chris Brown, Spring, Texas.
3. (6) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
4. (3) 91 Joe Duvall, Chelsea, Okla.
5. (7) 78 Derrick Hicks (R), Ravenwood, Mo.
6. (2) 82 David Wood (R), Rayville, Mo.
7. (4) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (10 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (1) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck (R), Waukee, Iowa.
2. (5) 21m Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, Iowa.
3. (2) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
4. (4) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa.
5. (12) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
6. (3) 0 Richie Gustin, Gilman, Iowa.
7. (6) 98 John Allen, Chanute, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, $100.
8. (13) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.
9. (9) 25 Ron Keith (R), Shawnee, Kan., GRT/Mullins, $100.
10. (8) 7x Chris Dawson, Lubbock, Texas.
11. (10) 88d Matt Dotson, Clark, Mo.
12. (11) 292 Blake Peeler (R), Milan, Mo., Shocker/Yancy’s, $100.
13. (7) 62 Hunter Marriott (R), Brookville, Mo., $100.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (10 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (2) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
2. (3) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
3. (1) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
4. (7) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo.
5. (8) 98 Alex Stanford (R), Chowchilla, Calif.
6. (4) 91 Joe Duvall, Chelsea, Okla.
7. (12) 92 Jim Peeler (R), Trimble, Mo., Shocker/Yancy’s, $100.
8. (5) 78 Derrick Hicks (R), Ravenwood, Mo., Shaw/Wyman, $100.
9. (11) 99 Martin Bennett, Ankeny, Iowa.
10. (9) 82 David Wood (R), Rayville, Mo., Shaw/FastLane, $100.
11. (10) 42 Sam Florence (R), Trimble, Mo., Allen’s/Yancy’s, $100.
12. (6) 26 Dan Fetters, Montour, Iowa, Sidebiter/KSE, $100.

SWAN ENERGY “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (8) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $4000.
2. (1) 21 Chris Brown, Spring, Texas, Skyrocket/RoushYates, 40, $2200.
3. (3) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/ProPower, 40, $1600.
4. (5) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $1200.
5. (12) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D., GRT/Sput’s, 40, $1000.
6. (2) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 40, $800.
7. (6) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $700.
8. (9) 20s Stormy Scott (R), Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/ProPower, 40, $600.
9. (21) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Geddes, 40, $650.
10. (10) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., GRT/Sput’s, 40, $500.
11. (23) 0 Richie Gustin, Gilman, Iowa, GRT/Yeoman, 40, $475.
12. (25) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa, Sidebiter/Sput’s, 40, $150.
13. (14) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 40, $425.
14. (20) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo., GRT/KSE, 40, $400.
15. (4) 85 Thomas Tillison Jr. (R), Wellston, Okla., Hughes/Geddes, 40, $400.
16. (15) 21m Dean Mahlstedt, Clear Lake, Iowa, GRT/Midstate, 40, $400.
17. (22) 98 Alex Stanford, Chowchilla, Calif., SRP/Tim’s, 40, $300.
18. (18) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo., GRT/Mullins, 40, $400.
19. (19) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa, BC/ProPower, 40, $400.
20. (13) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck (R), Waukee, Iowa, GRT/Mullins, 40, $400.
21. (17) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 30, $400.
22. (16) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/RoushYates, 30, $400.
23. (11) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn., Hughes/Sput’s, 29, $400.
24. (28) 99 Martin Bennett, Ankeny, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 28, $100.
25. (24) 91 Joe Duvall, Chelsea, Okla., Hughes/BMS, 19, $400.
26. (7) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/RoushYates, 13, $400.
27. (26) 88d Matt Dotson, Clark, Mo., GRT/BMS, 13, $100.
28. (27) 7x Chris Dawson, Lubbock, Texas, Shaw/Fletcher, 3, $100.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Integra Lap Leaders: Brown 1-32, Ryan Gustin 33-40.
Total Laps Led: Brown 32, Ryan Gustin 8.
Margin of Victory: 1.499 seconds.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Sanders (started 21st, finished 9th).
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck: Shryock.
Provisional Starters: Ruter, Dawson, Bennett, Matt Dotson.
Next Race: Friday, July 13, Lakeside Speedway, Kansas City, Kan.
USMTS National Championship Series Points: Ryan Gustin 1477, Sanders 1350, Hughes 1344, S. Scott 1267, J. Scott 1244, Shryock 1231, Brown 1150, Ramirez 1135, VanderBeek 1105, Junghans 1092.
Rookie of the Year Points: S. Scott 2015, Hilsabeck 1336, Keith 1115, Casey Penn 956, Tillison 689.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 285, Geddes 275, ProPower 245, Sput’s 223, RoushYates 149.
Tiger Rear Ends Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 348, GRT 313, Skyrocket 256, Sidebiter 115, Shaw 111.

Contingency Awards:
AERO Race Wheels – Dawson.
American Racer – Allen.
Beyea Custom Headers – Tillison.
Dominator Race Products – Shryock.
Eibach Springs – Ramirez.
Forty9Designs.com – VanderBeek, Sanders.
Hooker Harness – VanderBeek.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Brown.
KEVKO Oil Pans & Components – Sanders.
KSE Racing Products – Ryan Gustin.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Matt Dotson.
Nitroquest – Marriott, Fetters.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Sanders.
PBM Performance Products – J. Scott.
R2C Performance Products – Brown.
Real Racing Wheels – Hilsabeck, Phillips.

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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, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, RACEceiver, SLAP Energy, Snickers.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arbor Masters, Arnold Motor Supply, ASi Racewear, Beebe Heating & Air Conditioning, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Dirthead.com, DirtKnights.com, Erson Cams, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Mesilla Valley Transportation, O’Brien Enterprises, Olympic Fire Protection, Ramirez Motorsports, Road Runner Trucking, Ruter Farms, Sybesma Graphics, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, Beyea Custom Headers, COMP Cams, CPD Racing Tools, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Forty9Designs.com, Genesis Shocks, Hooker Harness, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, Keyser Manufacturing, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, PBM Performance Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Tiger Rear Ends.

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Category: I-35 Raceway, Missouri, News, Series, USMTS