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Hughes handles USMTS field at Fairmont

FAIRMONT, Minn. (August 31) – Jason Hughes captured the 30-lap main event Wednesday night as the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship powered by Swan Energy invaded the Fairmont Raceway in Fairmont, Minn.

The defending USMTS National Champion had to fight off a couple of young guns during the contest, but the 37-year-old from Watts, Okla., prevailed in the end to pocket the $2,000 top prize and his third win of ‘The Hunt.’

Polesitter Chase Junghans of Manhattan, Kan., led the pack out of the gate to start the 25-car WIX Filters “A” Main. The 18-year-old driver held the point for four laps around the big half-mile clay oval at the Martin County Fairgrounds, but Hughes muscled his way into the lead to complete the fifth lap.

Soon thereafter, points leader Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, moved into second and began reeling in the leader until a caution on lap 17 slowed the action and bunched the field for the final 13 laps.

Gustin, 20, used the restart to his advantage and nosed ahead to lead lap 19, but Hughes fought back and the pair crossed beneath the flagstand side by side with Hughes scored the leader of the 20th lap.

While they raced door to door for the lead, the pack chasing them was embroiled in some battles of their own.

Hughes was able to keep Gustin at bay for the remainder of the distance while Ryan Ruter nipped Jason Krohn by a bumper to take the third-place money.

Fairmont regular Eric Dailey rounded out the top-5 finishers.

Sixth through tenth were Dustin Boney, Kelly Shryock, Dereck Ramirez, Tommy Myer and Zack VanderBeek.

Shryock earned the Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger Award after passing nine cars in the feature.

Although Ramirez passed 17 cars, provisional starters are not eligible for the $100 cash award from the trucking giant of the Southwest.

The series kicks off the month of September tomorrow night with its second event of the season at the Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa.

Also on the racing card will be the season finale for the Iron Man Challenge featuring USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars and USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods.

Gates open at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 7.

Dustin Boney and his #22 Snickers Modified will be at the Casey’s General Store located at 100 Cherry St. in Allison from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. prior to the event.

Coupons good for $2 off adult admission will also be available at Casey’s in Cedar Falls, Nashua and Waverly.

For more information, or to find the Casey’s nearest you, visit www.caseys.com.

The Highway 3 Raceway is located 0.3 miles north of SR 3 on S. Main St. (at the Butler County Fairgrounds). For more information, call 319-267-9977 or check out www.highway3raceway.com online.

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
4th Annual Event
Fairmont Raceway, Fairmont, Minn.
Wednesday, August 31, 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) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
2. (5) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa.
3. (4) 63 Josh Meyer, Fairmont, Minn.
4. (6) 99 Jason Grimes (R), Jamestown, N.D.
5. (3) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
6. (1) 00 Mike Gartner, Mapleton, Minn.
7. (8) 69 Lucas Schott (R), Chatfield, Minn.
8. (7) 74t Tim Pessek, Hutchinson, Minn.

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.
2. (3) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
3. (2) 27 Don Gerritsen Jr., Rock Rapids, Iowa.
4. (7) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (5) 56 Chris Spieker, Massena, Iowa.
6. (6) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
7. (8) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
8. (4) 90 Steve Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn.

EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (5) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
2. (3) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
3. (4) 22 Dustin Boney, Platte City, Mo.
4. (8) 7 Eric Dailey (R), Armstrong, Iowa.
5. (6) 22 Jeff Ignaszewski, Wells, Minn.
6. (7) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
7. (1) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa.
8. (2) 11 Ryan Peckham (R), Corning, Iowa.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (1) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
2. (4) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.
3. (2) 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, Minn.
4. (6) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
5. (3) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
6. (7) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
7. (5) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
8. (8) 17 Garry Oskerson, Fairmont, Minn.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (10 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (5) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
2. (4) 56 Chris Spieker, Massena, Iowa.
3. (7) 69 Lucas Schott (R), Chatfield, Minn.
4. (2) 99 Jason Grimes (R), Jamestown, N.D.
5. (6) 00 Mike Gartner, Mapleton, Minn.
6. (1) 27 Don Gerritsen Jr., Rock Rapids, Iowa.
7. (8) 74t Tim Pessek, Hutchinson, Minn., B&B/Pessek, $75.
8. (3) 22 Jeff Ignaszewski, Wells, Minn., Skyrocket/JP, $75.
9. (9) 11 Ryan Peckham (R), Corning, Iowa, IROC/PerfAuto, $75.
DNS – 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa, BC/Mullins, $90.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (10 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (1) 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, Minn.
2. (2) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
3. (7) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
4. (3) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
5. (4) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
6. (8) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
7. (6) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
8. (5) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, $90.
9. (9) 90 Steve Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, $75.
10. (10) 17 Garry Oskerson, Fairmont, Minn., Shaw/Weseman, $75

WIX FILTERS “A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. (2) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 30, $2000.
2. (4) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 30, $1610.
3. (6) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa, Sidebiter/Sput’s, 30, $1000.
4. (3) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn., Hughes/Sput’s, 30, $900.
5. (9) 7 Eric Dailey (R), Armstrong, Iowa, Skyrocket/Grawmondbeck’s, 30, $700.
6. (11) 22 Dustin Boney, Platte City, Mo., Hughes/Sput’s, 30, $700.
7. (16) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ProPower, 30, $860.
8. (25) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 30, $390.
9. (5) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn., GRT/GMPP, 30, $550.
10. (18) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 30, $610.
11. (1) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., GRT/Sput’s, 30, $450.
12. (17) 69 Lucas Schott (R), Chatfield, Minn., Hughes/Action, 30, $425.
13. (21) 00 Mike Gartner, Mapleton, Minn., 30, $275.
14. (13) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Geddes, 28, overheating, $510.
15. (10) 63 Josh Meyer, Fairmont, Minn., Skyrocket/JR, 28, mechanical, $250.
16. (15) 56 Chris Spieker, Massena, Iowa, IROC/PerfMach, 26, mechanical, $300.
17. (7) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 24, mechanical, $300.
18. (22) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Hillson/CRE, 20, mechanical, $300.
19. (19) 99 Jason Grimes (R), Jamestown, N.D., Hughes/Dakota, 19, mechanical, $300.
20. (12) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/ASI, 17, fuel regulator, $400.
21. (20) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Skyrocket/Joe’s, 14, mechanical, $250.
22. (24) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D., GRT/Sput’s, 12, mechanical, $400.
23. (14) 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, Minn., Hughes/Sput’s, 4, overheating, $250.
24. (23) 27 Don Gerritsen Jr., Rock Rapids, Iowa, Skyrocket/HarryHeads, 1, mechanical, $250.
25. (8) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa, BC/JR, 1, lower a-frame, $300.

(R)
= Rookie of the Year contender.

Integra Lap Leaders: Junghans 1-4, Hughes 5-18, Gustin 19, Hughes 20-30.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 25, Junghans 4, Gustin 1.
Margin of Victory: 0.802 second.
AFCO Pole Winner: Gustin.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Shryock (started 16th, finished 7th).
Provisional Starter: Ramirez.
Next Race: Thursday, Sept. 1, Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, Iowa.
National Championship Points: Gustin 1197, Shryock 1082, Hughes 1053, Tesch 1021, Scott 984, VanderBeek 971, Boney 903, Krohn 889, Myer 852, Sanders 825.
Rookie of the Year Points: Grimes 1682, Schott 1591, Keith Foss 1571, Clyde Dunn Jr. 976, Jimmy Ray 971.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 540, ProPower 439, Sput’s 412, ASI 248, Geddes 242.
Tiger Rear Ends Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 572, Skyrocket 501, GRT 401, BC 235, Sidebiter 156.

Contingency Awards:
American Racer – Gustin.
CPD Racing Tools – not awarded.
Eibach Springs – Gustin.
Forty9Designs.com – Krohn, Myer.
Hooker Harness – Schott.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Hughes.
ISKY Racing Cams – Myer.
The Joie of Seating – Shryock, Junghans.
KSE Racing Products – Hejna.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Hejna.
New Vision Graphics – Ruter.
Nitroquest – Peckham, Wetzstein.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Shryock.
PBM Performance Products – Junghans.
Real Racing Wheels – Dripps, Beebe.
Ruter Farms – not awarded.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Boney.
WIX Filters – Hughes.

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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.