Track Schedules

Tesch cruises to Kasson Klash triumph
By Todd Narveson

KASSON, Minn. (Sept. 4) -- It was a cool and crisp early September evening Sunday at the Dodge County Speedway for the 10th Annual Kasson Klash and round 14 of The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship powered by Swan Energy.

After two nights of rain-outs in the Southern Minnesota area, race fans turned out in good numbers to take in the racing action.

Forty-two USMTS Modifieds signed in, and after qualifying seven of the top eight drivers in passing points were drivers from the local area.

Kasson’s Bobby Swanson and Steve Wetzstein of West Concord drew the front row and led the 27-car field to the green flag for the 40-lap WIX Filters “A” Main.

Wetzstein led lap 1 as Mike Sorensen drove to second. Five laps later, Sorensen drove around the outside of Wetzstein for the lead while the battle for second was intense when four cars slugged it out for that spot.

Defending event winner Jon Tesch bolted from tenth and quickly got to the top five and set sail on the top of the speedway.

The ‘Wizard of Watertown’ zoomed to second and then tracked down Sorensen for the lead on lap 18. A caution came out one lap later and that slowed the pack down.

Tesch took off on the restart, as Keith Foss challenged Sorensen for second. They battled tooth and nail for the runner-up spot while Tesch cruised away.

Points leader Ryan Gustin was up to sixth, but clipped an infield tire on lap 24 and spun to bring out the second caution. Gustin went to the work area and rejoined the race at the back, eventually winding up 19th.

There was another quick yellow flag period on lap 26 when Lucas Schott spun. When the green flag came back out Tesch again stormed away from the pack.

Meanwhile, Foss stole second while Kelly Shryock, Jay Ihrke and Johnny Scott went three-abreast for sixth.

Shryock got to the top five before another caution on lap 37 set up a three-lap dash to the finish.

Tesch took off and picked up his third win of 2011 and second of ‘The Hunt.’ He also took home a $500 bonus from Hanson Tire Service of Leroy.

Shryock made a late-race charge to second with Sorensen in third while Scott finished fourth and Foss finished out the top five.

The USMTS is back in action on Thursday, Sept. 15, for a make-up race at the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan., which was rained out three weeks ago.

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
The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship powered by Swan Energy
10th Annual Kasson Klash
Dodge County Speedway, Kasson, Minn.
Sunday, September 4, 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) 96x Jay Ihrke, Dover, Minn.
2. (3) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
3. (1) 02 Jacob Dahle, Elk Horn, Neb.
4. (5) R4 Ron Ver Beek, Oskaloosa, Iowa.
5. (7) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
6. (8) 22 Dustin Boney, Platte City, Mo.
7. (6) 45 Todd Scharkey, Kasson, Minn.
8. (4) 1x Cody Erickson, Ulen, Minn.
9. (9) 69 Lucas Schott (R), Chatfield, Minn.

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 90 Steve Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn.
2. (8) 99s Bobby Swanson, Kasson, Minn.
3. (6) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (7) 23k Darwin Karau, Kasson, Minn.
5. (9) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
6. (3) 77 Tom Brink (R), Winona, Minn.
7. (2) 20 Cole Queensland (R), Grand Meadow, Minn.
8. (5) 17 Garry Oskerson, Fairmont, Minn.
9. (4) 0 Les Duellman, Winona, Minn.

EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 71 Jason Cummins, New Richland, Minn.
2. (4) 99 Jason Grimes (R), Jamestown, N.D.
3. (1) 11 Ryan Peckham (R), Corning, Iowa.
4. (3) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
5. (6) 49 Bob Timm, Winona, Minn.
6. (8) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
7. (5) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
8. (7) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (5) 19 Mike Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.
2. (3) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
3. (4) 50iii Brandon Davis (R), Medford, Minn.
4. (2) 4a Joel Alberts, Mantorville, Minn.
5. (1) 29h Joe Horgdal (R), Kasson, Minn.
6. (7) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa.
7. (8) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
8. (6) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (2) 99 Josh Angst, Winona, Minn.
2. (4) 95 Keith Foss (R), Winona, Minn.
3. (5) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
4. (8) 01 Brandon Aggen, Rushmore, Minn.
5. (1) 59 Hank Rollinger Jr., Buffalo City, Wis.
6. (6) 9 Nick Herrick, West Concord, Minn.
7. (3) 75 James Parker, Dodge Center, Minn.
8. (7) 21x Joe Wernecke, Dodge Center, Minn.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 7 advance):
1. (4) R4 Ron Ver Beek, Oskaloosa, Iowa.
2. (1) 01 Brandon Aggen, Rushmore, Minn.
3. (11) 20 Cole Queensland (R), Grand Meadow, Minn.
4. (7) 59 Hank Rollinger Jr., Buffalo City, Wis.
5. (14) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
6. (3) 11 Ryan Peckham (R), Corning, Iowa.
7. (15) 69 Lucas Schott (R), Chatfield, Minn.
8. (10) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, $90.
9. (13) 17 Garry Oskerson, Fairmont, Minn., Shaw/Weseman, $75.
10. (2) 23k Darwin Karau, Kasson, Minn., DK/FlyinJ, $75.
11. (6) 49 Bob Timm, Winona, Minn., Hughes/Sput’s, $75.
12. (12) 75 James Parker, Dodge Center, Minn., $75.
13. (9) 77 Tom Brink (R), Winona, Minn., TRE/Grove, $75.
14. (5) 4a Joel Alberts, Mantorville, Minn., Skyrocket/Action, $75.
15. (8) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 7 advance):
1. (1) 50iii Brandon Davis (R), Medford, Minn.
2. (4) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
3. (2) 02 Jacob Dahle, Elk Horn, Neb.
4. (7) 22 Dustin Boney, Platte City, Mo.
5. (3) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
6. (5) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
7. (8) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa.
8. (10) 45 Todd Scharkey, Kasson, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, $75.
9. (9) 9 Nick Herrick, West Concord, Minn., $75.
10. (12) 1x Cody Erickson, Ulen, Minn., Impressive/Mullins, $75.
11. (11) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Hillson/CRE, $90.
12. (13) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa, BC/Mullins, $90.
13. (14) 21x Joe Wernecke, Dodge Center, Minn., Sidebiter/KSE, $75.
14. (6) 29h Joe Horgdal (R), Kasson, Minn., Skyrocket/FlyinJ, $75.
15. (15) 0 Les Duellman, Winona, Minn., DirtDueler/Brink, $75.

WIX FILTERS “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (10) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D., GRT/Sput’s, 40, $2100.
2. (9) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ProPower, 40, $1710.
3. (3) 19 Mike Sorensen, Rochester, Minn., Hughes/Action, 40, $1000.
4. (11) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/ASI, 40, $900.
5. (4) 95 Keith Foss (R), Winona, Minn., Skyrocket/Brink, 40, $800.
6. (6) 71 Jason Cummins, New Richland, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $700.
7. (2) 90 Steve Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $650.
8. (14) 50iii Brandon Davis (R), Medford, Minn., BC/GMPP, 40, $600.
9. (21) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Geddes, 40, $660.
10. (24) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $700.
11. (5) 96x Jay Ihrke, Dover, Minn., Fegers/Dean, 40, $450.
12. (20) 22 Dustin Boney, Platte City, Mo., Hughes/Sput’s, 40, $525.
13. (27) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 40, $400.
14. (7) 99 Jason Grimes (R), Jamestown, N.D., Hughes/Dakota, 40, $375.
15. (15) 01 Brandon Aggen, Rushmore, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $350.
16. (23) 11 Ryan Peckham (R), Corning, Iowa, IROC/PerfMach, 40, $300.
17. (16) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn., GRT/GMPP, 40, $500.
18. (26) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa, BC/JR, 40, $400.
19. (12) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $610.
20. (25) 69 Lucas Schott (R), Chatfield, Minn., Hughes/Action, 40, $400.
21. (22) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $510.
22. (18) 02 Jacob Dahle, Elk Horn, Neb., Hughes/Sput’s, 38, mechanical, $300.
23. (8) 99 Josh Angst, Winona, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 38, mechanical, $300.
24. (13) R4 Ron Ver Beek, Oskaloosa, Iowa, Skyrocket/Midstate, 38, mechanical, $300.
25. (19) 59 Hank Rollinger Jr., Buffalo City, Wis., Hughes/Sput’s, 25, mechanical, $300.
26. (1) 99s Bobby Swanson, Kasson, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 19, mechanical, $300.
27. (17) 20 Cole Queensland (R), Grand Meadow, Minn., Skyrocket/Action, 17, mechanical, $300.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Integra Lap Leaders: Wetzstein 1-6, Sorensen 7-17, Tesch 18-40.
Total Laps Led: Tesch 23, Sorensen 11, Wetzstein 6.
Margin of Victory: 1.717 seconds.
AFCO Pole Winner: Sorensen.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Hughes (started 24th, finished 10th).
Provisional Starter: Ramirez.
Next Race: Thursday, Sept. 15, Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, Kan.
National Championship Points: Gustin 1355, Shryock 1261, Hughes 1221, Tesch 1202, Scott 1162, VanderBeek 1111, Boney 1037, Myer 974, Sanders 973, Ramirez 958.
Rookie of the Year Points: Grimes 1708, Foss 1610, Schott 1605, Clyde Dunn Jr. 976, Jimmy Ray 971.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 553, ProPower 455, Sput’s 430, ASI 264, Geddes 252.
Tiger Rear Ends Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 590, Skyrocket 519, GRT 419, BC 248, Sidebiter 163.

Contingency Awards:
American Racer – Erickson.
CPD Racing Tools – not awarded.
Eibach Springs – Cummins.
Forty9Designs.com – Scott, Sanders.
Hooker Harness – Boney.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Tesch.
ISKY Racing Cams – Ihrke.
The Joie of Seating – Wetzstein, Ihrke.
KSE Racing Products – Angst.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Queensland.
New Vision Graphics – Wetzstein.
Nitroquest – Alberts, Horgdal.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Hughes.
PBM Performance Products – Sorensen.
Real Racing Wheels – Beebe, Hillson.
Ruter Farms – not awarded.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Cummins.
WIX Filters – Tesch.

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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.