LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Feb. 28)-Johnny Scott passed teammate Dereck Ramirez on lap 16, and then led the final 24 laps en route to a preliminary feature win Friday night during the 20th Annual Winter Meltdown at the Southern New Mexico Speedway.
Ramirez jumped out to a big lead at the start of the race, but Scott quickly advanced to the front from his ninth starting spot.

Following a caution on lap 15, Scott powered ahead of Ramirez to take command and was never challenged again as he scored his second win of the USMTS Casey’s Cup powered by Swan Energy campaign and pocketed $3,000 for his efforts.

Since arriving in nearby El Paso, Texas, last weekend, all four USMTS feature races have gone to drivers from Las Cruces, N.M., including Johnny Scott, Stormy Scott and Fito Gallardo, who won Thursday’s main event at the Southern New Mexico Speedway but was the first to drop out of Friday’s feature.

Ramirez held strong for a runner-up paycheck to give Ramirez Motorsports a 1-2 finish while defending USMTS national champion Rodney Sanders finished third.

Dylan Smith wound up fourth and scored his second straight top-5 finish while fellow Nebraskan Jordan Grabouski roared from 16th on the starting to finish fifth-one spot ahead of teammate and four-time Winter Meltdown winner Terry Phillips.

Alex Stanford passed 13 of his fellow competitors during the 40-lapper and earned the Mesilla Valley Hard Charger Award for his seventh-place finish. Jimmy Ray, Jake Gallardo and Daniel Hilsabeck rounded out the top 10.

After struggling in his heat race and Real Racing Wheels “B” Main, Stormy Scott had to use a provisional to start the “A” Main, but advanced from 25th to 11th and continues to lead the MVT Gulf Coast Border Region presented by Day Motor Sports points standings heading into the final points night Saturday.

Sanders sits second in the standings and trails Stormy Scott by 32 markers (812 to 780). Johnny Scott sits third in points but too far out to catch the leader. Jake Gallardo is fourth in points, followed by Ramirez, Rick Beebe, Hilsabeck, Phillips, Bryan Rowland and Kelly Shryock.

Action continues at the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval on Saturday where the winner of the 20th Annual Winter Meltdown 50-lap main event will pocket $4,000.

USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods and Mini-Sprints will also be in action with racing at 6:30 p.m. Mountain Time. Adult admission is $15 while kids ages 10 and under get in for free every night. Pit passes are $40.

For those unable to attend in person, every lap will be carried live via pay-per-view. Visit www.RacinDirt.tv for ordering information and don’t miss a single lap of the unforgettable action.

The Southern New Mexico Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located 11 miles west of Las Cruces at the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds. Take exit 132, go left and take the frontage road south of I-10 heading west. For more information call 575-524-7913 or 505-524-7913 or visit www.snmspeedway.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 like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usmts, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts or check out our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
USMTS Casey’s Cup powered by Swan Energy – MVT Gulf Coast Border Region presented by Day Motor Sports
20th Annual Winter Meltdown – Night 2 of 3
Southern New Mexico Speedway, Las Cruces, N.M.
Friday, Feb. 28, 2014

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed, money won and reason out (if any). 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.

C&R RACING HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (2) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (4) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Waukee, Iowa.
3. (3) 87 Lee Heiligenthal, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (6) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
5. (5) 75 Alan Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas.
6. (1) 88n Jake O’Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz.
7. (8) A16 Aaron Spangler (R), Dove Creek, Colo.
8. (9) 98 Alex Stanford (R), Chowchilla, Calif.
9. (7) 65 Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas.

JRi SHOCKS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (2) J17 Jake Gallardo (R), Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (3) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (7) 187 Anton Salopek, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (5) 32 Max Sadler (R), Springerville, Ariz.
5. (9) 0 Chris Sims (R), Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (6) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (1) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
8. (8) 91 Brody Spangler (R), Dove Creek, Colo.
9. (4) 5 Shane Sprinkle (R), Andrews, Texas.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
2. (2) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
3. (3) 78 Trevor Egbert, Salado, Texas.
4. (4) 61 Bobby Sikes Jr. (R), Eunice, N.M.
5. (7) 51 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
6. (6) 16 Eddie Martin, Stilwell, Okla.
7. (5) 49 Duane Murphy, El Paso, Texas.
8. (9) L1 Larry Clevenger, Greenwood, La.
9. (8) 99 Terry Tipton (R), Duncan, Ariz.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (2) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
2. (6) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
3. (1) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas.
4. (5) 75g Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice, Neb.
5. (4) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M.
6. (3) 2j Blake Jegtvig (R), Hawley, Minn.
7. (8) 7 J.R. Bonesteel, Albuquerque, N.M.
8. (7) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
9. (9) 10s Rick Spencer II (R), Tucson, Ariz.

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (1) 95 Dylan Smith (R), Osceola, Neb.
2. (3) 28 Tom Georges (R), El Paso, Texas.
3. (4) 5* Adam Penn (R), Shreveport, La.
4. (6) 22 John Calvert Jr. (R), Rio Rancho, N.M.
5. (2) 44 Christy Georges, El Paso, Texas.
6. (8) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (7) 6p Travis Peery (R), Williston, N.D.
8. (5) 54 Carlos Ahumada Sr., El Paso, Texas.
9. (9) 25p Mike Petersilie, Hoisington, Kan.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (2) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas.
2. (8) 88n Jake O’Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz.
3. (16) 99 Terry Tipton (R), Duncan, Ariz.
4. (14) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
5. (17) 25p Mike Petersilie, Hoisington, Kan.
6. (1) 87 Lee Heiligenthal, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (15) 65 Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas, LG2/BMS, $70.
8. (4) 32 Max Sadler (R), Springerville, Ariz., TRE/King, $90.
9. (6) 75 Alan Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas, SRP/GMPP, $70.
10. (5) 61 Bobby Sikes Jr. (R), Eunice, N.M., Skyrocket/Gray, $90.
11. (7) 44 Christy Georges, El Paso, Texas, GRT/Barnett, $90.
12. (3) 22 John Calvert Jr. (R), Rio Rancho, N.M., Shaw/J&J, $90.
13. (10) A16 Aaron Spangler (R), Dove Creek, Colo., Spangler/Victory, $90.
14. (9) 16 Eddie Martin, Stilwell, Okla., Skyrocket/Gray, $90.
15. (12) 6p Travis Peery (R), Williston, N.D., Hughes/Rodgers, $90.
16. (11) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
17. (13) L1 Larry Clevenger, Greenwood, La., Skyrocket/PTS, $90.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (2) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
2. (4) 75g Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice, Neb.
3. (6) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M.
4. (12) 98 Alex Stanford (R), Chowchilla, Calif.
5. (8) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (1) 78 Trevor Egbert, Salado, Texas.
7. (15) 5 Shane Sprinkle (R), Andrews, Texas, Hughes/RoushYates, $90.
8. (5) 51 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/PTS, $400.
9. (9) 2j Blake Jegtvig (R), Hawley, Minn., MBCustom/Sturdy, $90.
10. (16) 10s Rick Spencer II (R), Tucson, Ariz., SRP/Klein, $90.
11. (14) 54 Carlos Ahumada Sr., El Paso, Texas, LG2/BMS, $70.
12. (3) 0 Chris Sims (R), Las Cruces, N.M., DirtWorks/RAM, $90.
13. (10) 7 J.R. Bonesteel, Albuquerque, N.M., D&M/Hyper, $70.
14. (11) 49 Duane Murphy, El Paso, Texas, GRT/AOS, $70.
15. (13) 91 Brody Spangler (R), Dove Creek, Colo., Spangler/Victory, $90.
16. (7) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (9) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Ramirez/ProPower, 40, $3000.
2. (3) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Ramirez/ProPower, 40, $1700.
3. (8) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Sput’s, 40, $1200.
4. (4) 95 Dylan Smith (R), Osceola, Neb., Jet/Woods, 40, $1000.
5. (16) 75g Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice, Neb., GRT/Hatfield, 40, $800.
6. (14) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 40, $700.
7. (20) 98 Alex Stanford (R), Chowchilla, Calif., PCD/Tim’s, 40, $600.
8. (2) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M., AOS/AOS, 40, $500.
9. (6) J17 Jake Gallardo (R), Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/AOS, 40, $450.
10. (5) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Waukee, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $400.
11. (25) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/ProPower, 40, $400.
12. (15) 88n Jake O’Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz., LG2/Black, 40, $350.
13. (11) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan., MBCustom/Mullins, 40, $400.
14. (18) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M., GRT/Sput’s, 40, $300.
15. (1) 187 Anton Salopek, Las Cruces, N.M., GRC/AOS, 40, $275.
16. (22) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M., GRT/Klein, 40, $300.
17. (12) 5* Adam Penn (R), Shreveport, La., Hughes/Geddes, 40, $300.
18. (7) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., LG2/ProPower, 40, $400.
19. (10) 28 Tom Georges (R), El Paso, Texas, AOS/TNT, 40, $300.
20. (19) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/Mullins, 40, $300.
21. (24) 78 Trevor Egbert, Salado, Texas, Hughes/Sput’s, 40, $300.
22. (21) 25p Mike Petersilie, Hoisington, Kan., 1stClass/Sput’s, 40, $275.
23. (17) 99 Terry Tipton (R), Duncan, Ariz., Shaw/Craft, 34, $300.
24. (13) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas, Hughes/RoushYates, 16, $300.
25. (26) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/AOS, 3, $300.
26. (23) 87 Lee Heiligenthal, Las Cruces, N.M., DirtWorks/Heiligenthal, 2, $275.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leaders: Ramirez 1-16, J. Scott 17-40.
Total Laps Led: J. Scott 25, Ramirez 16.
Margin of Victory: 1.434 seconds.
Provisional Starters: S. Scott, F. Gallardo.
Sybesma Graphics Pole Award: Ramirez.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Stanford (started 20th, finished 7th).
Next Race: Saturday, March 1, Southern New Mexico Speedway, Las Cruces, N.M.
MVT Gulf Coast Border Region Points Standings: S. Scott 812, Sanders 780, J. Scott 701, J. Gallardo 635, Ramirez 620, Beebe 583, Hilsabeck 581, Phillips 566, Rowland 565, Shryock 532.
Rookie of the Year Points: J. Gallardo 632, Penn 485, Sprinkle 437, Cade Dillard 346, Smith 305.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: ProPower 80, Sput’s 70, Geddes 46, Hatfield 45, AOS 42.
Manufacturers Championship Points: LG2 80, MBCustom 77, Ramirez 67, GRT 56, Hughes 46.

Contingency Awards:
American Racer – Heiligenthal.
Beyea Custom Headers – Clevenger.
Brass Monkey Racing Products – Rowland.
C&R Racing – Ray.
Edelbrock – Sanders.
FK Rod Ends – Salopek.
Forty9Designs.com – B. Jones, T. Georges.
Fuel Safe – Phillips.
GRT Race Cars – B. Jones.
Hooker Harness – Beebe.
JRi Shocks – J. Gallardo.
KEVKO Oil Pans & Components – J. Gallardo.
Keyser Manufacturing – Hilsabeck.
Marsh Racing Wheels – F. Gallardo.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Stanford.
MSD Ignition – J. Scott, Ramirez.
PBM Performance Products – Rowland, J. Scott.
Power Lift Racing Products – Penn.
Real Racing Wheels – all non-qualifiers.
Sybesma Graphics – Ramirez.
VP Racing Fuels – J. Scott.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, AMP Energy, Casey’s General Stores, COMP Cams, Day Motor Sports, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, MSD, Nitroquest Media Group, RACEceiver, RacinDirt.com, Snickers, SpiderWeb Modular Storage Solutions, Swan Energy, VP Racing Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arizona Sport Shirts, ASi Racewear, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Double H Bands, ElbowsUp.com, Erson Cams, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, Major League Bowhunter, Mesilla Valley Transportation, New Vision Graphics, Olympic Fire Protection, Penn Transport, Road Runner Crane, Road Runner Trucking, S&S Fishing & Rental, United Cellular Services.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Bell Racing Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, Brass Monkey Racing Products, C&R Racing, CPD Racing Tools, Edelbrock, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Fuel Safe, Genesis Racing Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Hooker Harness, JRi Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, PBM Performance Products, Power Lift Racing Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Sybesma Graphics, Tiger Rear Ends.