Track Schedules

Shryock holds off Hughes for Silver Dollar National preliminary win at I-80 Speedway

GREENWOOD, Neb. (July 22) – They threw everything but the kitchen sink at Kelly Shryock but the nine-time USMTS National Champion turned away each and every challenge to win the 30-lap WIX Filters “A” Main at the I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., for opening night at the inaugural Silver Dollar Nationals.

Like many of his previous 171 career victories with the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy, Shryock was just plain good, but a little good fortune – or bad fortune, depending on which way you look at it – also played a part in putting the 46-year-old from Fertile, Iowa, in victory lane for the eighth time this season.

Shryock started third in his heat race and was on his way to finishing in the same position when the second-place car of Rodney Sanders blew a motor on the final lap and allowed Shryock to go by for the runner-up finish.

That gave Shryock just enough passing points to earn the eighth and final redraw for the main event. After the other seven qualifiers were done with their draws only the Ace of Spades remained, giving Shryock the pole position for the start of the feature race.

It was outside front row starter Mike Steensma, however, who gained the advantage at the drop of the green flag and jumped out front to lead the first two laps around the high-banked 4/10-mile clay oval.

Shryock battled back on the high side of the corners and powered his way around Steensma to lead lap 3 just before the first of three cautions slowed the action when Johnny Scott’s engine expired down the back-stretch.

The restart saw Shryock maintain his advantage over Steensma but Ryan Gustin, who came from the last row of his heat race to beat Steensma, was up to third after drawing the seventh starting spot.

Four laps later, Gustin drove underneath Steensma to claim second place and with 15 of the 30 laps in the books, ‘The Reaper’ was all over the rear bumper of Shryock’s #3 Skyrocket.

Lap 16 saw the second yellow flag wave when Ryan Schaffer stopped on the track with steam billowing from under his hood. While under caution, 2007 USMTS National Champion Jason Krohn relinquished the sixth position as he pulled into the pits with an overheating engine, joining Kyle Berck and Zack VanderBeek who suffered the same fate earlier in the race.

When the green flag unfurled again, Jeremy Payne jumped up to challenge Shryock and Gustin as the trio wrestled for real estate in turn 2 while Steensma and Jason Hughes shadowed them in fourth and fifth.

Shryock and Gustin continued to battle for the top spot lap after lap with Shryock on the high side and Gustin hugging the bottom groove, and then drag-racing side by side down the long back-stretch on several occasions.

Suddenly, Gustin slowed with 22 laps complete and ducked into the pits with a blown engine. Meanwhile, the race’s third and final caution reared its head for debris n the track while Corey Dripps’ night also came to an end with mechanical troubles.

The final restart with eight to go found Payne challenging Shryock for the lead, but keeping one eye behind him as Hughes was pressuring for the spot. Two laps later, Hughes secured second place and began to reel in Shryock.

Crossing beneath the white flag, Hughes pulled door to door with Shryock and then dove to the bottom of the first turn while Shryock remained faithful to the cushion lurking just inches away from the outside wall.

Hughes edged out to about a two-car-length advantage through the corner, but Shryock powered by on the outside once again and held his ground into the next corner and back to the checkered flag to take the win and avoid a repeat of earlier this year when Hughes passed him on the final lap to win in Humboldt, Kan.

Payne held on for a third-place showing behind the defending USMTS National Champion while Sanders came from 15th on the grid to grab the fourth spot. Earlier, Sanders came from last to finish second in Real Racing Wheels “B” Main #1 after swapping engines following his heat race disappointment.

Steensma crossed the finish line in fifth and 2008 USMTS National Champion Tim Donlinger raced from 18th to sixth to earn the Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger Award. Seventh through tenth were Dereck Ramirez, Chris Spieker, Terry Phillips and Jacob Dahle.

The USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy is back in action for a second straight night on Saturday for the finale of the inaugural Silver Dollar Nationals at the I-80 Speedway. Along with a complete show of USMTS Modifieds, Late Models will be racing for $25,000 to win in their main event.

Saturday night’s race will be the final event in the Farm Boy BBQ Sauce Great Plains Region where Shryock holds a 49-point cushion over Gustin for the regional title. Sanders, Jason Grimes, Krohn, VanderBeek, Chase Junghans, Dripps, Jon Tesch and Scott Ward round out the top-10 standings.

The I-80 Speedway is a high-banked 4/10-mile clay oval located just two blocks north of I-80 at exit 420 (Ashland/Greenwood Exit), halfway between Omaha and Lincoln, Neb. For more information, call 402-659-3301 or check out www.i-80speedway.com.

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

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy
Farm Boy BBQ Sauce Great Plains Region
2nd Annual Event/Inaugural Silver Dollar Nationals
I-80 Speedway, Greenwood, Neb.
Friday, July 22, 2011

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 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.

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (2) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.
2. (3) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
3. (6) 33z Kyle Berck, Marquette, Neb.
4. (9) 02 Jacob Dahle, Morristown, Minn.
5. (8) 37w Scott Ward, Watertown, S.D.
6. (5) 26 Scott Styskal, David City, Neb.
7. (4) 72 Mike Lineberry, Arlington, Neb.
8. (7) 2c Tyler Smith, Gibbon, Neb.
9. (1) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
2. (4) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (3) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
4. (5) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
5. (8) 3d Tim Donlinger, Rochester, Minn.
6. (7) 11 Ryan Peckham (R), Corning, Iowa.
7. (6) 8c Chad Andersen, Omaha, Neb.
8. (2) 83 Jesse Cowles, Council Bluffs, Iowa.

EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (7) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
2. (5) 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, Minn.
3. (8) 74x Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
4. (2) 31j Jeremy Rasmussen, Bella Vista, AR.
5. (3) 99 Jason Grimes (R), Jamestown, N.D.
6. (1) 70 Jesse Dennis, Prescott, Iowa.
7. (4) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
8. (6) 31h Rich Hesse, Hinton, Iowa.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (1) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M.
2. (3) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.
3. (6) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
4. (4) R21 Ryan Schaffer (R), Corning, Iowa.
5. (7) 56 Chris Spieker, Massena, Iowa.
6. (5) 4 Brandon Kenny, Woodward, Okla.
7. (8) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa.
8. (2) 311 Adam Schrag, Hutchinson, Kan.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (2) 37w Scott Ward, Watertown, S.D.
2. (11) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
3. (4) 56 Chris Spieker, Massena, Iowa.
4. (7) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa.
5. (3) 31j Jeremy Rasmussen, Bella Vista, Ark.
6. (8) 8c Chad Andersen, Omaha, Neb.
7. (6) 70 Jesse Dennis, Prescott, Iowa, Skyrocket/Midstate, $75.
8. (1) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
9. (9) 2c Tyler Smith, Gibbon, Neb., TSC/Smith, $75.
10. (10) 31h Rich Hesse, Hinton, Iowa, Sidebiter/HarryHeads, $75.
11. (5) 11 Ryan Peckham (R), Corning, Iowa, IROC/PerfAuto, $90.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (1) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
2. (4) 99 Jason Grimes (R), Jamestown, N.D.
3. (2) 3d Tim Donlinger, Rochester, Minn.
4. (8) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
5. (3) R21 Ryan Schaffer, Corning, Iowa.
6. (6) 4 Brandon Kenny, Woodward, Okla.
7. (9) 83 Jesse Cowles, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Razor/JR, $75.
8. (10) 311 Adam Schrag, Hutchinson, Kan., GRT/Crissman, $75.
9. (7) 72 Mike Lineberry, Arlington, Neb., Harris/Roberts, $90.
10. (5) 26 Scott Styskal, David City, Neb., Razor/Jacobs, $75.

WIX FILTERS “A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. (1) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ProPower, 30, $2100.
2. (11) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 30, $1500.
3. (5) 74 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 30, $1000.
4. (15) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Geddes, 30, $900.
5. (2) 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, Minn., Hughes/Sput’s, 30, $700.
6. (18) 3d Tim Donlinger, Rochester, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 30, $600.
7. (3) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 30, $550.
8. (17) 56 Chris Spieker, Massena, Iowa, IROC/PerfMach, 30, $500.
9. (14) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 30, $450.
10. (12) 02 Jacob Dahle, Morristown, Minn., Hughes/, 30, $425.
11. (25) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., GRT/Sput’s, 30, $400.
12. (8) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M., GRT/Sput’s, 30, $375.
13. (13) 37w Scott Ward, Watertown, S.D., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 30, $400.
14. (21) 31j Jeremy Rasmussen, Bella Vista, Ark., TRE/Donrich, 30, $250.
15. (16) 99 Jason Grimes (R), Jamestown, N.D., Hughes/Dakota, 30, $400.
16. (24) 4 Brandon Kenny, Woodward, Okla., Ramirez/Sput’s, 30, $250.
17. (23) 8c Chad Andersen, Omaha, Neb., Pierce/, 30, $250.
18. (19) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa, BC/Mullins, 22, drive shaft, $400.
19. (7) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 22, engine, $500.
20. (4) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa, Sidebiter/Sput’s, 18, suspension, $300.
21. (9) 7K Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn., Hughes/Sput’s, 16, overheating, $400.
22. (22) R21 Ryan Schaffer, Corning, Iowa, Bullet/Mullins, 16, overheating, $250.
23. (20) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 13, fan belt, $500.
24. (10) 33 Kyle Berck, Marquette, Neb., Razor/JR, 8, overheating, $250.
25. (6) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/ASI, 3, engine, $250.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Integra Lap Leaders: Steensma 1-2, Shryock 3-30.
Total Laps Led: Shryock 28, Steensma 2.
Margin of Victory: 0.260 second.
AFCO Pole Winner: Gustin.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Donlinger (started 18th, finished 6th).
Ruter Farms Long Tow Award: Jones (1,172 miles).
Provisional Starter: Junghans.
Next Race: Saturday, July 23, I-80 Speedway, Greenwood, Neb.
Farm Boy BBQ Sauce Great Plains Region Points: Shryock 880, Gustin 831, Sanders 797, Grimes 758, Krohn 744, VanderBeek 742, Junghans 695, Dripps 694, Jon Tesch 672, Ward 641.
Rookie of the Year Points: Grimes 1600, Clyde Dunn Jr. 976, Jimmy Ray 971, Keith Foss 869, Lucas Schott 862.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 397, ProPower 318, Sput’s 283, Geddes 185, ASI 167.
Tiger Rear Ends Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 417, Skyrocket 365, GRT 274, BC 156, Ramirez 80.

Contingency Awards:
American Racer – Hughes.
CPD Racing Tools – not awarded.
Eibach Springs – Gustin.
Forty9Designs.com – Sanders, Phillips.
Hooker Harness – Jones.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Shryock.
ISKY Racing Cams – Ruter.
KSE Racing Products – Jones.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Scott.
New Vision Graphics – Ramirez.
Nitroquest – Peckham.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Donlinger.
PBM Performance Products – Jones.
Real Racing Wheels – Dennis.
Ruter Farms – Jones.
WIX Filters – Shryock.

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

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Awesome Race Suits, Cheetos, Intercomp, Karl Chevrolet, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, RACEceiver, SLAP Energy, Snickers.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arnold Motor Supply, ASi Racewear, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, DAY Motor Sports, Dirthead.com, DirtKnights.com, Dirt Track Racing School, DrySlik Dirt Trak Racewear, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Karl Performance Parts, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Olympic Fire Protection, Ramirez Race Cars, Ruter Farms, Schwab’s Tinker Shop, Sybesma Graphics, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, COMP Cams, CPD Racing Tools, Eibach Springs, Erson Cams, Fast Shafts, Forty9Designs.com, Genesis Shocks, Hooker Harness, Hypercoil Springs, ISKY Racing Cams, The Joie of Seating, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Out-Pace Racing Products, PBM Performance Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, RHS – Racing Head Service, Tiger Rear Ends, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, WIX Filters.