Hughes keeps title hopes alive with another win at ‘The Creek’

SPRING VALLEY, Minn. (August 1, 2013) – Jason Hughes moved one step closer to claiming his second USMTS National Championship Saturday night with a decisive victory at the Deer Creek Speedway during the 8th Annual BP Labor Day Dual presented by Baudoin Oil.

Fresh off of his first win of the year one night earlier, Joey Jensen drew the pole and took charge of the 40-lap main event at the onset with Dereck Ramirez, Jeremy Payne and Hughes in hot pursuit.

Hughes quickly disposed of Payne and Ramirez, and then began to run down Jensen when the race’s first caution came out on lap 4. Five laps later, Hughes made his move and drove past Jensen to lead the ninth go-around.

From there, Hughes was flawless and sailed to his fourth win during the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup and ninth overall in 2013. It was also his second win at ‘The Creek’ where he pocketed $20,000 just over a month ago after winning the World Modified Dirt Track Championship.

This win—the 120th of his career—was worth $5,300 which included a $2,000 bonus for taking part in the Big Dog Buy-In.

2007 USMTS National Champion Jason Krohn followed Hughes into second on lap 11. The race’s final yellow flag with four laps to go allowed Craig Thatcher to get by for the runner-up spot and Krohn had to settle for third at the finish line.

Payne held on for a fourth-place finish ahead of Stormy Scott. Jensen was sixth, Ryan Gustin took seventh, Johnny Scott was eighth, Rodney Sanders collected the Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger Award for racing from 19th on the starting grid to ninth at the finish and Steve Wetzstein rounded out the top 10.

With just two races remaining in the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup, Johnny Scott holds down the top spot by just 12 points over Sanders (1362 to 1350) while Hughes narrowed the margin to just 23 markers out of first place.

Stormy Scott is fourth in the rankings and still mathematically alive in the title chase, albeit on life support. Payne is fifth, followed by Zack VanderBeek, Kelly Shryock, Ramirez, Gustin and Lucas Schott.

Thanks to tonight’s win by its owner, Hughes Racing Chassis clinched the 2013 Tiger Rear Ends Manufacturers Championship for the fourth straight year. GRT Race Cars will finish second in the standings for the second year in a row, while MB Customs has secured third place in its first year of USMTS competition. Skyrocket Chassis and LG2 Chassis are locked in for fourth and fifth in the year-end standings.

After a two-year hiatus, the series will return to the Cresco Speedway in Cresco, Iowa, on Sunday, Sept. 1, for a pivotal race during the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup. The Labor Day Weekend tilt will mark the 18th occasion that the lead-footed USMTS Modifieds have invaded the 4/10-mile clay oval at the Howard County Fairgrounds, and the first since Aug. 4, 2011, when Kelly Shryock notched his ninth career win at Cresco.

Mike Spaulding won the inaugural event here in 2002 while Alan Mondus won his first and only USMTS event at Cresco in 2006. Al Hejna and Jason Krohn each have two wins while Zack VanderBeek and Corey Dripps both have tasted victory once at Cresco. Joining the stellar line-up will be the Iron Man Challenge featuring USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods. USRA Hobby Stock will round out the four-class program.

Pit gates open at 4:00, grandstands open at 4:30, hot laps begin at 6:00 and the first heat race gets the green flag at 6:30. Grandstand admission is $17 for adults ages 18 and older, $10 for students ages 13-17 and kids ages 12 and under get in for free. Pit passes are $35.

Fans can save $2 on an adult grandstand ticket with a coupon available on race day at the Casey’s General Store located at 601 2nd Ave. SW in Cresco. USMTS competitor Trevor Hunt and his Snickers-sponsored modified will be on hand for a meet ‘n’ greet with fans from 12-2 p.m.

The Cresco Speedway is located 2 blocks north of SR 9 on SW 7th. Race day info is available by calling 563-547-3400 or at www.mhcfair.com. The Howard County Fairgrounds campground features seasonal camping with water, electrical hook-ups and a sewer dumping station. The camping fee is $10 per night or $50 per week. Long term stays are available for discounted rate.

The final USMTS points race during ‘The Hunt’ will take place on the first night of the 15th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Thursday, Sept. 19, back at the Deer Creek Speedway.

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 or check out our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup – Round 15 of 17
Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.
Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013

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. (3) 91 Craig Thatcher, Knapp, Wis.
2. (1) 2g Troy Girolamo, Eleva, Wis.
3. (2) 8 Bobby Swanson, Kasson, Minn.
4. (9) 90 Steve Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn.
5. (5) 10 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
6. (8) 4 Bill Byholm (R), Glidden, Wis.
7. (7) 4 Craig Shaw, Dexter, Minn.
8. (6) 36 Jeff Conner (R), Panora, Iowa.
9. (4) 89 Steve Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.

JRi SHOCKS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (2) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
2. (1) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa.
3. (8) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
4. (4) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
5. (5) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
6. (3) R Ron Ver Beek, Oskaloosa, Iowa.
7. (7) 95 Keith Foss, Winona, Minn.
8. (9) 49 Bob Timm, Winona, Minn.
9. (6) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.

EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) V2 Joey Jensen, Forest Lake, Minn.
2. (3) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.
3. (2) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
4. (4) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
5. (6) 02 Jacob Dahle, Morristown, Minn.
6. (8) 99 Josh Angst, Winona, Minn.
7. (5) 45 Todd Scharkey, Kasson, Minn.
8. (7) 19 Mike Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.
9. (9) 68 Tyler Clark, Rochester, Minn.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (2) 01 Masen Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask., Canada.
2. (4) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
3. (6) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (7) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (5) 1k Pat Graham, Ames, Iowa.
6. (8) 23k Darwin Karau, Kasson, Minn.
7. (1) 00 Mark Gartner, Mapleton, Minn.
8. (3) 21x Joe Wernecke, Dodge Center, Minn.

DAY MOTOR SPORTS HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (3) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
2. (1) 99h Trevor Hunt (R), Kearney, Mo.
3. (5) 50iii Brandon Davis, Medford, Minn.
4. (4) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
5. (2) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
6. (7) 4a Joel Alberts, Mantorville, Minn.
7. (8) 71 Jason Cummins, New Richland, Minn.
8. (6) 29h Joe Horgdal, Kasson, Minn.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (2) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (5) 02 Jacob Dahle, Morristown, Minn.
3. (1) 90 Steve Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn.
4. (6) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
5. (4) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
6. (8) 99 Josh Angst, Winona, Minn.
7. (10) 71 Jason Cummins, New Richland, Minn., GRT/Sput’s, $80.
8. (15) 89 Steve Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.
9. (16) 68 Tyler Clark, Rochester, Minn., /, $80.
10. (11) 95 Keith Foss, Winona, Minn., Skyrocket/Grove, $100.
11. (12) 00 Mark Gartner, Mapleton, Minn., /, $80.
12. (14) 21x Joe Wernecke, Dodge Center, Minn., Sidebiter/KSE, $80.
13. (7) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, $100.
14. (9) 4a Joel Alberts, Mantorville, Minn., GRT/Action, $100.
15. (13) 36 Jeff Conner (R), Panora, Iowa, Skyrocket/RoushYates, $100.
16. (3) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, $100.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (1) 50iii Brandon Davis, Medford, Minn.
2. (3) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
3. (4) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
4. (11) 45 Todd Scharkey, Kasson, Minn.
5. (13) 19 Mike Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.
6. (7) 4 Bill Byholm (R), Glidden, Wis.
7. (12) 49 Bob Timm, Winona, Minn., GRT/BuckBuilt, $100.
8. (2) 8 Bobby Swanson, Kasson, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, $80.
9. (9) R Ron Ver Beek, Oskaloosa, Iowa, Skyrocket/Midstate, $80.
10. (15) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
11. (8) 23k Darwin Karau, Kasson, Minn., Killer/Flyin’J, $100.
12. (5) 10 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn., GRT/BuckBuilt, $100.
13. (14) 29h Joe Horgdal, Kasson, Minn., Killer/Flyin’J, $80.
14. (6) 1k Pat Graham, Ames, Iowa, Skyrocket/Karl, $100.
15. (10) 4 Craig Shaw, Dexter, Minn., Harris/KSE, $80.

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (4) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $5300.
2. (7) 91 Craig Thatcher, Knapp, Wis., GRT/TriStar, 40, $2200.
3. (5) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn., MBCustom/Sput’s, 40, $1700.
4. (2) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/RoushYates, 40, $1200.
5. (13) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., GRT/Tim’s, 40, $1100.
6. (1) V2 Joey Jensen, Forest Lake, Minn., GRT/Tim’s, 40, $800.
7. (16) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $700.
8. (9) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., GRT/ProPower, 40, $750.
9. (19) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, 40, $700.
10. (17) 90 Steve Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $550.
11. (14) 50iii Brandon Davis, Medford, Minn., GRT/KSE, 40, $500.
12. (3) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 40, $450.
13. (21) 19 Mike Sorensen, Rochester, Minn., Hughes/Action, 40, $425.
14. (18) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn., Hughes/Sput’s, 40, $400.
15. (22) 99 Josh Angst, Winona, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $375.
16. (25) 89 Steve Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $350.
17. (24) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Hughes/Sput’s, 40, $500.
18. (20) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ProPower, 40, $500.
19. (12) 99h Trevor Hunt (R), Kearney, Mo., GRT/Geddes, 40, $400.
20. (10) 2g Troy Girolamo, Eleva, Wis., GRT/Baxter, 40, $275.
21. (8) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $300.
22. (6) 01 Masen Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask., Canada, GRT/Tim’s, 40, $400.
23. (15) 02 Jacob Dahle, Morristown, Minn., Hughes/Sput’s, 35, $300.
24. (11) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa, Rage/RoushYates, 35, $300.
25. (23) 4 Bill Byholm (R), Glidden, Wis., MBCustom/Koch, 23, $300.
DNS – 45 Todd Scharkey, Kasson, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 0, $275.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leaders: Jensen 1-8, Hughes 9-40.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 32, Jensen 8.
Margin of Victory: 1.702 seconds.
Provisional Starters: VanderBeek, Whiteaker.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Sanders (started 19th, finished 9th).
Next Race: Sunday, Sept. 1, Cresco Speedway, Cresco, Iowa.
Points Standings: J. Scott 1362, Sanders 1350, Hughes 1339, S. Scott 1264, Payne 1229, VanderBeek 1143, Shryock 1074, Ramirez 1053, Gustin 1049, Schott 1036.
Rookie of the Year Points: Hunt 1689, Joey Galloway 1547, Big Eagle 1324, Conner 1104, Adam Penn 598.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: ProPower 404, Mullins 379, RoushYates 353, Geddes 350, Sput’s 332.
Tiger Rear Ends Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 451, GRT 426, MBCustom 389, Skyrocket 305, LG2 221.

Contingency Awards:
AERO Race Wheels – Byholm.
American Racer – Big Eagle.
Beyea Custom Headers – Thatcher.
BSB Manufacturing – S. Scott, Gustin.
Buck Monson Photos – Hughes.
Crane Cams – Hughes.
Dominator Race Products – Girolamo.
Edelbrock – Krohn.
Eibach Springs – Jensen.
FK Rod Ends – Angst.
Forty9Designs.com – Schott, Hunt.
Fuel Safe – Jensen.
GRT Race Cars – Thatcher.
Hooker Harness – Sorensen.
JRi Shocks – Myer.
KEVKO Oil Pans & Components – Sanders.
Keyser Manufacturing – Wetzstein.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Dripps.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Sanders.
MSD Ignition – Hughes.
PBM Performance Products – Big Eagle, Hughes.
Power Lift Racing Products – VanderBeek.
Real Racing Wheels – all non-qualifiers.
VP Racing Fuels – Hughes.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, AMP Energy, Casey’s General Stores, Cheetos, COMP Cams, Day Motor Sports, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, RACEceiver, RacinDirt.com, Snickers.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: 4s Motorsports, Allgayer Inc., Arbor Masters, ASi Racewear, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Erson Cams, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, FVP, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Lecolift, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Olympic Fire Protection, Ramirez Motorsports, Ruter Farms, Something Inked, United Cellular Services.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, Bell Racing Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, CPD Racing Tools, Crane Cams, Dominator Race Products, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Five1seven Designs, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Fuel Safe, Genesis Racing Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Hooker Harness, JRi Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, MSD Ignition, PBM Performance Products, Power Lift Racing Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Sybesma Graphics, Tiger Rear Ends, VP Racing Fuels.

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