FAIRMONT, Minn. (Aug. 29) – Romping Ruter roars in USMTS ‘Hunt’ feature at Fairmont
Romping Ruter roars in USMTS ‘Hunt’ feature at Fairmont
FAIRMONT, Minn. (Aug. 29) – Ryan Ruter was unstoppable Wednesday night as the United States Modified Touring Series invaded the Fairmont Raceway for the first of five straight nights of racing and the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup reached the halfway point in the 18-race campaign.
Driving the #555 Sidebiter Chassis, the 28-year-old from Kanawha, Iowa, took the lead on the first lap from the outside of the front row and then led all 35 circuits to record his second feature win of the 2012 season and seventh of his career.
The win was worth $3,000 and completed a perfect night after winning his heat race and earning the most AFCO Passing Points among the 32-car field.
Within four laps around the big Martin County Fairgrounds half-mile oval, Ruter had nearly a half-straight-away advantage over Johnny Scott, but a caution flag on lap 5 erased the separation.
Ruter was gone again when the green flag returned. Meanwhile, Jason Hughes slipped by Scott on the restart while Zack VanderBeek, Kelly Shryock and Jason Krohn waged a three-car battle behind the wheel of their brand new race cars.
A late-race yellow flag gave Ruter’s chasers some false hope as he pulled away once again on the restart. Hughes narrowed the gap in the closing laps but crossed the finish line three car-lengths behind Ruter in second.
Scott nipped Shryock at the stripe for third while VanderBeek held on to a fifth-place finish ahead of Krohn. Defending USMTS national champion and new father Ryan Gustin wound up seventh, Stormy Scott came from 25th to nab the eighth spot, Jeremy Payne was ninth and points leader Rodney Sanders took tenth – his 27th top-10 finish in 28 starts.
The USMTS teams head just 30 miles east on I-90 Thursday to compete at the Jackson Speedway for the first time since the 2010 season. The Iron Man Challenge featuring USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods will also be in action with gates opening at 5 p.m., hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:30.
Al Hejna and his #7 Snickers Modified will be at the Casey’s General Store at 603 3rd St. in Jackson from 12-2 p.m. on Thursday. While you’re there, pick up $2-off grandstand tickets for that night’s show.
The Jackson Speedway is a semi-banked half-mile gumbo clay oval located 0.25 mile south of I-90 (exit 73) on US 71, then 1.0 mile east on CR 38, then 1.0 mile south on CR 51. For more information call 507-841-1957 or visit www.jacksonspeedway.com online.
The five-race Labor Day Weekend swing through Minnesota moves to the Chateau Raceway in Lansing on Friday, Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley on Saturday and wraps up Sunday at the Dodge County Speedway in Kasson.
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
United States Modified Touring Series
The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup – Round 9 of 18
Fairmont Raceway, Fairmont, Minn.
Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012
Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder 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) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
2. (2) 1a Dwaine Hanson, Lakefield, Minn.
3. (5) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
4. (3) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
5. (6) 2s Stormy Scott (R), Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (4) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck (R), Waukee, Iowa.
7. (8) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
8. (7) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa.
HOOKER HARNESS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
2. (4) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.
3. (3) 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, Minn.
4. (6) 00 Mark Gartner (R), Mapleton, Minn.
5. (7) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
6. (2) 99h Trevor Hunt (R), Liberty, Mo.
7. (8) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
8. (5) 22 Jeff Ignaszewski (R), Wells, Minn.
EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (4) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.
2. (5) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
3. (3) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
4. (6) 11 Ryan Peckham, Corning, Iowa.
5. (7) 7 Eric Dailey, Armstrong, Iowa.
6. (2) 95 Oliver Kollofski, Fairmont, Minn.
7. (8) 5* Casey Penn (R), Shreveport, La.
8. (1) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa.
PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (1) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (4) 71 Jason Cummins, New Richland, Minn.
3. (6) 63 Josh Meyer, Fairmont, Minn.
4. (3) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
5. (2) 0 Richie Gustin, Gilman, Iowa.
6. (5) 5 Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn.
7. (7) 27 Don Gerritsen Jr., Rock Rapids, Iowa.
8. (8) 17 Garry Oskerson, Fairmont, Minn.
REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (10 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (2) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
2. (3) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
3. (7) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
4. (6) 95 Oliver Kollofski, Fairmont, Minn.
5. (9) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa.
6. (1) 00 Mark Gartner (R), Mapleton, Minn.
7. (5) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck (R), Waukee, Iowa, GRT/Mullins, $75.
8. (4) 2s Stormy Scott (R), Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (8) 5* Casey Penn (R), Shreveport, La., Hughes/Geddes, $75.
10. (10) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa.
REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (10 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (5) 99h Trevor Hunt (R), Liberty, Mo.
2. (2) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
3. (6) 5 Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn.
4. (9) 22 Jeff Ignaszewski (R), Wells, Minn.
5. (8) 27 Don Gerritsen Jr., Rock Rapids, Iowa.
6. (10) 17 Garry Oskerson, Fairmont, Minn.
7. (1) 11 Ryan Peckham, Corning, Iowa, IROC/PerfAuto, $75.
8. (7) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
9. (3) 7 Eric Dailey, Armstrong, Iowa, Skyrocket/Grawmondbeck’s, $75.
10. (4) 0 Richie Gustin, Gilman, Iowa, GRT/Yeoman, $75.
SWAN ENERGY “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. (2) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa, Sidebiter/Sput’s, $3000.
2. (5) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, $1700.
3. (3) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/ProPower, $1200.
4. (7) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ProPower, $1000.
5. (4) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Hughes/Sput’s, $900.
6. (8) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn., MBC/Sput’s, $800.
7. (10) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, $700.
8. (25) 2s Stormy Scott (R), Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/ProPower, $650.
9. (16) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/RoushYates, $600.
10. (13) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Geddes, $550.
11. (6) 71 Jason Cummins, New Richland, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, $500.
12. (27) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa, BC/JRM, $250.
13. (11) 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, Minn., Hughes/Sput’s, $400.
14. (1) 63 Josh Meyer, Fairmont, Minn., Skyrocket/JRM, $250.
15. (26) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, $400.
16. (14) 99h Trevor Hunt (R), Liberty, Mo., Hughes/Hatfield, $325.
17. (20) 22 Jeff Ignaszewski (R), Wells, Minn., Skyrocket/JP, $250.
18. (22) 27 Don Gerritsen Jr., Rock Rapids, Iowa, Razor/HarryHeads, $250.
19. (23) 00 Mark Gartner (R), Mapleton, Minn., /, $250.
20. (9) 1a Dwaine Hanson, Lakefield, Minn., Harris/, $250.
21. (17) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, $400.
22. (18) 5 Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, $300.
23. (19) 95 Oliver Kollofski, Fairmont, Minn., Skyrocket/Trondson, $300.
24. (12) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Hillson/CRE, $300.
25. (24) 17 Garry Oskerson, Fairmont, Minn., Shaw/, $250.
26. (15) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Kraft/Gaerte, $300.
27. (21) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa, BC/ProPower, $300.
(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.
Integra Lap Leader: Ruter 1-35.
Total Laps Led: Ruter 35.
Margin of Victory: 1.808 seconds.
Provisional Starters: S. Scott, Rowland, Hejna.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Payne (started 16th, finished 9th).
Next Race: Thursday, Aug. 30, Jackson Speedway, Jackson, Minn.
USMTS Casey’s Cup Series Points: Sanders 897, Ryan Gustin 889, S. Scott 839, Hughes 800, J. Scott 787, VanderBeek 734, Payne 714, Rowland 713, Shryock 683, Ramirez 672.
Rookie of the Year Points: S. Scott 2157, Hilsabeck 1508, Ron Keith 1219, Penn 1001, Thomas Tillison Jr. 904.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 443, Geddes 404, ProPower 375, Sput’s 352, RoushYates 260.
Tiger Rear Ends Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 521, GRT 470, Skyrocket 392, Sidebiter 193, BC 178.
Contingency Awards:
AERO Race Wheels – Dripps.
American Racer – draw.
Beyea Custom Headers – Hughes.
Dominator Race Products – Hillson.
Eibach Springs – Ruter.
Forty9Designs.com – Shryock, Payne.
Hooker Harness – VanderBeek.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Ruter.
KEVKO Oil Pans & Components – Payne.
KSE Racing Products – Krohn.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Noble.
Nitroquest – Penn, Richie Gustin.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Payne.
PBM Performance Products – J. Scott.
R2C Performance Products – Hughes.
Real Racing Wheels – Sanders, Hunt.
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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.
