OGILVIE, Minn. (Aug. 17) – Jason Hughes took the lead from Jon Tesch in the late stages of the main event Wednesday night at the Ogilvie Raceway, and then held off Ryan Gustin over the final 10 laps to score his first win during the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship powered by Swan Energy.

It was the first victory for the defending USMTS National Champion since claiming his 100th career checkered flag at the West Siloam Speedway on April 30, and it ended Gustin’s win streak during ‘The Hunt’ at three.

After racing from last to first in his heat race, Tesch was the first to redraw and snagged the pole position for the 40-lap WIX Filters “A” Main. At the drop of the green flag, Tesch immediately began to pull away from the pack and extended his advantage to nearly a full straight-away by lap 10.

On lap 13, Hughes slipped by Corey Dripps to take over second place while Kelly Shryock, Trent Follmer, Gustin, Al Hejna, Rodney Sanders, Keith Foss and Lucas Schott filled out the top 10 runners. One lap later, Dripps exited the contest with his second blown engine in the last three shows.

Tesch caught the rear of the field on lap 15 and, slowly but surely, Hughes began to reel him in. Meanwhile, Gustin snuck underneath Shryock on lap 18 and began to close the distance between himself and Hughes.

By the 23rd lap, Hughes was on Tesch’s rear bumper as they diced in and out of heavy lapped traffic around the wide and smooth 3/8-mile oval. Three laps later, Gustin joined the party and the trio ran nose to tail.

Just after completing lap 27, Hughes made the pass beneath Tesch in turn 1 and Gustin followed into second two laps later and began to pressure Hughes for the top spot. Gustin was able to show Hughes the nose of his racecar on lap 30, but Hughes slammed the door shut and retained the position.

Gustin tried high and low over the final 10 laps, but Hughes was flawless as he raced to a $2,000 payday and his eighth USMTS triumph of the 2011 season.

Tesch held off Shryock for the third spot, while Joey Jensen came home in fifth after starting 12. Follmer, Hejna, Sanders, Foss and Zack VanderBeek rounded out the top 10 finishers.

On Thursday, the Rice Lake Speedway in Rice Lake, Wis., plays host to the stars and cars of the USMTS for the first time in the track’s 54-year history. Pure Stocks and WISSOTA Super Stocks are also scheduled to compete with race time slated for 7 p.m.

Rice Lake Speedway is a high-banked 1/3-mile clay oval located 1 mile north of Rice Lake, between Hwy. 48 and Barron County SS. The track phone number is 715-236-2002 and more information can be obtained by calling 715-205-2861 or by checking the speedway website at www.ricelakespeedway.net.

The top drivers battling in this year’s Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship powered by Swan Energy are expected to face a stiff challenge from local and area drivers. Kevin Adams and Mike Anderson, the top local drivers in 2011, will be primed to take on the national driving stars and other area drivers such as Dave Cain, Darrell Nelson, Joey Jensen, Kelly Estey, Jason Thoennes and Craig Thatcher are also expected to compete.

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
Inaugural Event presented by Northern Beer
Ogilvie Raceway, Ogilvie, Minn.
Wednesday, Aug. 17, 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. (1) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa.
2. (2) 95 Keith Foss (R), Winona, Minn.
3. (3) 2c Dave Cain, Corcoran, Minn.
4. (4) 90 Steve Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn.
5. (7) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
6. (8) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
7. (5) 431 Mike Gibson, Star Prairie, Wis.
8. (6) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (8) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
2. (1) 31t Trent Follmer, Princeton, Minn.
3. (2) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
4. (7) V2 Joey Jensen (R), Forest Lake, Minn.
5. (4) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
6. (3) 12m Jason Miller, Osceola, Wis.
7. (6) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
8. (5) 37 Kelly Estey, Hibbing, Minn.

EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (4) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
2. (3) 69 Lucas Schott (R), Chatfield, Minn.
3. (2) 44 Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, Minn.
4. (6) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.
5. (7) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.
6. (1) 56 Chris Spieker, Massena, Iowa.
7. (5) 6m Ted Marrs, Bethel, Minn.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (3) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
2. (1) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
3. (5) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
4. (4) 01 Brandon Aggen, Rushmore, Minn.
5. (7) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
6. (6) 52 Jason Thoennes (R), Garfield, Minn.
7. (2) 14w Clayton Wagamon (R), Blaine, Minn.

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (3) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa.
2. (2) 31v Jason Voigt (R), St. Cloud, Minn.
3. (1) 2m Dave Mass, Brainerd, Minn.
4. (4) 22 Dustin Boney, Platte City, Mo.
5. (5) 42s Don Shaw, Ham Lake, Minn.
6. (7) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (6) 9e Don Eischens, Richmond, Minn.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (1) 2c Dave Cain, Corcoran, Minn.
2. (5) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
3. (3) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.
4. (6) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
5. (8) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (4) 01 Brandon Aggen, Rushmore, Minn.
7. (13) 37 Kelly Estey, Hibbing, Minn., TRC/Tim’s, 40, $75.
8. (10) 431 Mike Gibson, Star Prairie, Wis., Matrix/Tim’s, 40, $75.
9. (7) 42s Don Shaw, Ham Lake, Minn., Shaw/WAR, 40, $75.
10. (12) 9e Don Eischens, Richmond, Minn., Fegers/Adams, 40, $90.
11. (9) 56 Chris Spieker, Massena, Iowa, IROC/PerfMach, 40, $90.
12. (11) 6m Ted Marrs, Bethel, Minn., Bullet/HomeRun, 40, $75.
13. (2) 44 Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, Minn., GRT/Wagamon, 40, $75.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (1) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
2. (4) 22 Dustin Boney, Platte City, Mo.
3. (2) 2m Dave Mass, Brainerd, Minn.
4. (3) 90 Steve Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn.
5. (5) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.
6. (6) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
7. (7) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
8. (8) 12m Jason Miller, Osceola, Wis., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $90.
9. (10) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 40, $90.
10. (9) 52 Jason Thoennes (R), Garfield, Minn., MasterSbilt/Sower, 40, $90.
11. (12) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., GRT/Sput’s, 40, $90.
12. (11) 14w Clayton Wagamon (R), Blaine, Minn.

WIX FILTERS “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (4) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $2100.
2. (11) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $1710.
3. (1) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D., GRT/Sput’s, 40, $1100.
4. (6) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ProPower, 40, $1110.
5. (12) V2 Joey Jensen (R), Forest Lake, Minn., GRT/Tim’s, 40, $800.
6. (2) 31t Trent Follmer, Princeton, Minn., Shaw/Tim’s, 40, $600.
7. (5) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa, BC/JR, 40, $650.
8. (9) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Geddes, 40, $810.
9. (7) 95 Keith Foss (R), Winona, Minn., Skyrocket/Brink, 40, $650.
10. (15) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $600.
11. (22) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn., Hughes/Sput’s, 40, $550.
12. (8) 69 Lucas Schott (R), Chatfield, Minn., Hughes/GMPP, 40, $425.
13. (16) 22 Dustin Boney, Platte City, Mo., Hughes/Sput’s, 40, $500.
14. (25) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn., GRT/GMPP, 40, $400.
15. (24) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 39, $350.
16. (18) 2m Dave Mass, Brainerd, Minn., Shaw/Wheeler, 39, $250.
17. (21) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/ASI, 39, $400.
18. (14) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 39, $300.
19. (17) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa, Sidebiter/Sput’s, 39, $300.
20. (26) 14w Clayton Wagamon (R), Blaine, Minn., Wheeler/Wagamon, 39, $300.
21. (10) 31v Jason Voigt (R), St. Cloud, Minn., RCT/Breeschoten, 39, $300.
22. (19) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Hillson/CRE, 39, $300.
23. (23) 01 Brandon Aggen, Rushmore, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 20, handling, $300.
24. (13) 2c Dave Cain, Corcoran, Minn., Shaw/Tim’s, 17, flat tire, $300.
25. (3) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa, BC/Mullins, 14, engine, $400.
26. (20) 90 Steve Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 13, handling, $300.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Integra Lap Leaders: Tesch 1-27, Hughes 28-40.
Total Laps Led: Tesch 27, Hughes 13.
Margin of Victory: 0.771 second.
AFCO Pole Winner: Tesch.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Krohn (started 22nd, finished 11th).
Provisional Starters: Myer, Wagamon (track).
Next Race: Thursday, Aug. 18, Rice Lake Speedway, Rice Lake, Wis.
National Championship Points: Gustin 480, Shryock 411, Hughes 393, Tesch 351, VanderBeek 344, Foss 338, Scott 331, Krohn 327, Sanders 309, Myer 301.
Rookie of the Year Points: Jason Grimes 1672, Foss 1407, Schott 1377, Clyde Dunn Jr. 976, Jimmy Ray 971.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 471, ProPower 377, Sput’s 341, Geddes 213, ASI 192.
Tiger Rear Ends Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 494, Skyrocket 434, GRT 334, BC 195, Sidebiter 118.

Contingency Awards:
American Racer – Spieker.
CPD Racing Tools – not awarded.
Eibach Springs – Hughes.
Forty9Designs.com – Shryock, Foss.
Hooker Harness – Schott.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Tesch.
ISKY Racing Cams – Hejna.
The Joie of Seating – Hejna, Krohn.
KSE Racing Products – Schott.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Wetzstein.
New Vision Graphics – Tesch.
Nitroquest – Spieker, Wagamon.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Krohn.
PBM Performance Products – Shryock.
Real Racing Wheels – Eischens, Miller.
Ruter Farms – not awarded.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Jensen.
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.