Westville, Oklahoma (4/25/12) – Jason Hughes entered four Casey’s General USMTS events over the course of last weekend in his #12 West Siloam Pawn/Gressel Racing/Hughes/Mullins Race Engines Open Wheel Modified and came away with three, top three finishes to show for his efforts.

Thursday night found Jason entering his first event in almost three weeks as he returned to action with the Casey’s General USMTS tour at LA Raceway (La Monte, Missouri). Under threatening skies a field of 36 competitors registered for battle, and in heat race action Hughes advanced from his second starting spot to claim the heat race win. Via his heat performance he was the top point’s earner, and locked into the redraw for the feature, where he was the recipient of the third starting spot. In the 40 lap feature he would battle at the front of the pack for the duration of the feature before crossing the finish line in the fourth position behind race winner, Stormy Scott, Ryan Gustin, and Dereck Ramirez.

Jason has had a strong start to the 2012 campaign, but Friday night was not a good outing for the team. A $2,000-to-win, Casey’s USMTS event was held at Valley Speedway (Grain Valley, Missouri) as 36 cars registered for battle. In heat race and b-main action, Hughes would battle mechanical woes and would elect to not take a provisional to start the feature.

Looking to put Friday night’s bad luck behind them, the team entered another $2,000-to-win, Casey’s General USMTS event at Salina High Banks Speedway (Salina, Oklahoma) on Saturday night. Forty-one entries were on hand for the event on the wicked-fast oval, and in heat race action Jason advanced from his third starting spot to claim the heat race win, which locked him into the redraw for the 40 lap feature. In the redraw, Jason received the fourth starting position, and throughout the 30 lap feature he would battle in the top five before crossing the finish line in the fourth position behind race winner, Terry Phillips, Ryan Gustin, and Rodney Sanders.

Jason ended the busy, four-race weekend on Sunday night with another $2,000-to-win, Casey’s USMTS event at Monett Speedway (Monett, Missouri). Twenty-nine competitors entered the event at the historic oval, and Hughes began his night by advancing from fifth to second in his heat race to again lock into the redraw for the feature. His bad luck in the redraw continued as he received the sixth starting spot for the 35 lap finale. As the race went green Hughes began working his way forward and was up to the third position by the race’s midway point. Late in the event he would race his way past Rodney Sanders for the second position but was unable to catch the leader Terry Phillips as he had to settle for a second place finish at the checkered flag behind race winner, Phillips.
Jason is currently third in the Casey’s Cup USMTS standings and Hughes Race Cars leads the Tiger Rear Ends Manufacturer’s standings. Full results from the weekend and complete standings are available at www.USMTS.com.

After a few days back at the shop the team is now traveling to Wisconsin and Minnesota this weekend, April 26th-28th, for a trio of Casey’s General USMTS events. With a $4,000-to-win/$400-to-start purse on the line each night the weekend begins on Thursday night at Rice Lake Speedway (Rice Lake, Wisconsin). Friday night will find the tour at Mississippi Thunder Speedway (Fountain City, Wisconsin) before the final event is held on Saturday night at Deer Creek Speedway (Spring Valley, Minnesota). All three events will award USMTS National Championship points. For more information on the events, please visit www.USMTS.com.

Hughes Race Cars and their customers are already racking up several wins across the country early in the 2012 season. Visit www.JasonHughes12.com for more information on how to join our winning team.

Jason Hughes would like to thank his sponsors including West Siloam Pawn, Gressel Racing, Hughes Racing Chassis, Road Runner Trucking, LLC, Mullins Race Engines, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, Hanson Tire Service, Braka Operating, Sunoco Race Fuels, Mert’s Truck Center, SAEF Custom Finishing, Wheeler Metals Rainbow Graphics, Hooker Harness, Quarter Master, Beyea Custom Headers, Ultra-Shield Race Products, MB Machine & Tool, T&D Machine Products, Callies, Quick Car Racing Products, Dan Olson Racing Products, FSR Radiators & Racing Products, Tiger Rear Ends, Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, Sweet Mfg, Real Racing Wheels, Rod End Supply, and MSRMafia.com Marketing Services.

For more information on Jason Hughes, please visit www.JasonHughes12.com .

Thanks!
Ben Shelton, Owner
MSR Mafia – www.MSRMafia.com
The Midsouth Racing Scene – www.MidSouthRacing.com