Grabbing the lead from his pole position, Jake Gallardo of Las Cruces, NM lead all 25-laps to take the win in USRA Modified competition on night one of the 2015 Keyser Manufacturing Wild West Shootout at USA Raceway. But it was far from easy as the younger Gallardo would hold off furious charges from both Ryan Gustin and his Dad Fito to score the victory.

Jake Gallardo would lead at the drop of the green and in a strange twist, fifth running Zane DeVilbiss drew the caution on lap five just after Jason Krohn, who was fifth, fell out on lap four. That would move Blake Jegtvig up to the fifth spot on the restart as he trailed Mike Stearns, Fito Gallardo, Ryan Gustin and the leader Jake Gallardo.

After the restart Sterns, who was a feature winner in 2014 January action, and Thornton, Jr would leap past Fito Gallardo and just as the front runners entered lapped traffic, Dave Mass was making a high side charge the dropped Fito down another slot.

With fifteen in the books, Gustin began to apply heavy pressure to Jake Gallardo for the lead and would secure it in turn one on lap sixteen. However, his time up front was short lived because by the time the leader hit turn three his powerplant headed south and he made the ill-fated left hand turn to the pit area as Jake Gallardo reclaimed the lead.

Just two laps later the yellow would fly for second and third place runners as Sterns and Thornton, Jr. had a meeting of the minds down the backstretch which eliminated both from contention for the evening. Dave Mass now found himself sandwiched between the Gallardo’s for the lap seventeen restart with Jegtvig and Joey Moriarty rounding out the top five.

Back under green, Mass would jump the cushion in turn one allowing both Fito and Jegtvig to slide past before he regained control of his Shaw Trucking mount. With the threat from Mass eliminated, it was all Jake Gallardo up front as he motored away to the win, his first career at the Wild West Shootout.

A-Main Finishing Order
Jake Gallardo, Fito Gallardo, Dave Mass, Blake Jegtvig, Joey Moriarty, Robert Hellebust, Warm Imrie, Nick O’Neil, Philip Houston, Matt Gilbertson, Jimmy Ray, Chad Olson, Dan Hilsabeck, Alan Sharpenstein, Rick Spencer, Trent Grager, Dave Mass, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Mike Sterns, Ryan Gustin, Grant Junghans, Brad Diercks, Jason Krohn, Zane DeVilbiss

Heat 1
Fito Gallardo, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Ryan Gustin, Joey Moriarty, Zane DeVilbiss, Dave Mass, Robert Hellbust, Alan Sharpenstein, Clayton Wagamon, Rick Spencer

Heat 2
Mike Sterns, Jason Krohn, Jimmy Ray, Nick O’Neil, Matt Gilbertson, Trent Grager, Philip Houston, Brad Diercks, Dane Jorgenson

Heat 3
Grant Junghans, Blake Jegtvig, Jake Gallardo, Dan Hilsabeck, Ward Imrie, Chad Olson, Christy Georges, Rich Mann, Terry Haven