WINSTON, Mo. (April 2) – The USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy made its first visit since 2003 to the I-35 Speedway in Winston, Mo., on Saturday for the Yancy’s Automotive Missouri Meltdown with 64 of the baddest, fastest open-wheel Modifieds on the planet in attendance.

The event started out in unfamiliar territory for Ryan Gustin, who was just 12 years old the last time the USMTS invaded the high-banked 1/3-mile oval. But the 20-year-old rising star from Marshalltown, Iowa, ended the night in a place that is becoming familiar to “The Reaper.”

Mark Dotson sat on the pole for the 40-lap main event and grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag, and looked poised to capture his first USMTS victory as he paced the first half of the race.

Meanwhile, Gustin and defending USMTS National Champion Jason Hughes made their way to the front from the fourth and eighth starting positions, and began pressuring Dotson for the lead as the front-runners came upon heavy lapped traffic.

A skirmish between a group of cars on lap 21 happened just in front of the leaders, but Dotson and Hughes were able to sneak through untouched while Gustin came to a stop to avoid the mess and was able to return to the runner-up spot for the restart.

With a clear track in front of him, Gustin powered around Dotson on the restart and took away the top spot on lap 22, but Dotson battled back and pulled alongside Gustin as they completed the next lap.

Gustin was able to open up a four-car-length advantage the next time around while Dotson and Hughes tussled for second for the next 10 laps.

Back in lapped traffic, Gustin’s advantage remained at about six car-lengths while Hughes finally got underneath Dotson on lap 37 as the two raced below a pair of lapped cars. Dotson tried to muscle his way back around Hughes but the rear-end of his machine slid out and Dotson came spinning to a stop to bring out the race’s second caution and wipe out a great run.

On Friday night at the LA Raceway, Gustin led every lap of the feature race only to have Hughes steal away the lead and the win on the final lap. With just three laps to go Saturday, Gustin found himself having to fend off his chassis builder once again, along with fast-moving Johnny Scott, Tommy Myer, Tommy Weder Jr. and Kelly Shryock right behind them.

But after the restart, the outcome was never in doubt as Gustin sailed to victory with an eight-car-length victory over Hughes at the checkered flag.

The win was worth $2,000 and the fifth win of the season for Gustin as he notched his 29th career USMTS victory in front of a packed house. He also now leads the points in both the Schwab’s Tinker Shop Mo-Kan Region and Arnold Motor Supply Central States Region.

Scott held on for third and Myer crossed the finish line in fourth. However, Myer was disqualified during post-race technical inspection for use of an unapproved shock which moved Weder into the fourth spot and gave Shryock the fifth-place paycheck.

Johnny Bone Jr., Austin Siebert, Ryan Ruter, Dustin Boney and Terry Schultz rounded out the top-10 finishers.

With the postponement of next week’s inaugural World Modified Dirt Track Championship, the USMTS road warriors get a week off before returning to action on Friday, April 15, at the Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo., and Saturday, April 16, at the Central Missouri Speedway in Warrensburg, Mo.

It will be the first-ever USMTS event held at either track, and both races will pay $2,000 to win.

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
USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy
Yancy’s Automotive Missouri Meltdown
I-35 Speedway, Winston, Mo.
Saturday, April 2, 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 14 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) 31v Jason Voigt, St. Cloud, Minn.
2. (3) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
3. (6) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
4. (9) 711 Nate Caruth, Ames, Iowa.
5. (5) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
6. (8) 70 Aaron Marrant, Orrick, Mo.
7. (1) 37 Alison Quick, Redding, Iowa.
8. (7) 15m Shane Demey (R), Denison, Iowa.
9. (4) 50iii Brandon Davis, Medford, Minn.

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (5) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (7) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
3. (1) 26 Gary Blackburn Jr., Fulton, Mo.
4. (3) 3d Tim Donlinger, Rochester, Minn.
5. (4) 52 Jason Thoennes, Garfield, Minn.
6. (8) 9e Don Eischens, Richmond, Minn.
7. (2) 81 Richard Spriggs, Savannah, Mo.
8. (6) 40 Scott Dickey, Packwood, Iowa.
9. (9) 70 Jesse Dennis, Prescott, Iowa.

EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
2. (2) 34a Jason Bodenhamer, Centerview, Mo.
3. (5) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
4. (4) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
5. (6) 17 Steve Stewart, Burlington, Iowa.
6. (7) 34 Mark Schafman, Edwardsville, Kan.
7. (9) 5j John Schwab, Liberal, Kan.
8. (8) 25 Ron Keith, Shawnee, Kan.
9. (3) 22y Shad Badder, Oak Grove, Mo.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (5) 90 Terry Schultz (R), Sedalia, Mo.
2. (2) 59 Jared Stiens, Maryville, Mo.
3. (9) 73 Mickey Burrell, Fair Grove, Mo.
4. (7) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
5. (8) 11 Darren Shaw, Lathrop, Mo.
6. (3) 25p Mike Petersilie, Hoisington, Kan.
7. (1) 78 Derrick Hicks, Ravenwood, Mo.
8. (6) 29d Brad Dierks (R), Clarence, Iowa.
9. (4) 5c Don Crnkovich, Olathe, Kan.

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (1) 12b Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, Ark.
2. (3) 22 Dustin Boney, Platte City, Mo.
3. (2) 90 Steve Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn.
4. (4) 88d Matt Dotson, Clark, Mo.
5. (5) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
6. (9) 69n Cory Wray, Jamesport, Mo.
7. (8) 56 Nick Nevins, Lisbon, Iowa.
8. (7) Y69 Mike Gregg, Morton, Minn.
9. (6) 12m Jon McAtee, Trenton, Mo.

HEAT RACE #6 (8 laps):
1. (2) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo.
2. (6) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
3. (8) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
4. (3) 12h Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa.
5. (4) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.
6. (7) 11 Ryan Peckham (R), Corning, Iowa.
7. (5) 69 Zach Sanders, Kearney, Mo.
8. (9) 98 John Allen, Chanute, Kan.
9. (1) 92 Yancy Shepard, Smithville, Mo.

HEAT RACE #7 (8 laps):
1. (1) 02 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla.
2. (2) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.
3. (5) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
4. (8) 16s Matt Johnson, Archie, Mo.
5. (4) 8 Colt Mather, Webster, Iowa.
6. (3) 4r Brandon Kenny, Woodward, Okla.
7. (6) 4a Joel Alberts, Mantorville, Minn.
8. (9) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
9. (7) 83t Brian Troxel, Sturgeon, Mo.
10. (10) 56 Chris Spieker, Massena, Iowa.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (4) 90 Steve Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn.
2. (5) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
3. (7) 52 Jason Thoennes, Garfield, Minn.
4. (10) 4r Brandon Kenny, Woodward, Okla.
5. (13) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D., GRT/Sput’s, $75.
6. (1) 34a Jason Bodenhamer, Centerview, Mo., DirtWorks/Ora’s, $75.
7. (8) 8 Colt Mather, Webster, Iowa.
8. (2) 711 Nate Caruth, Ames, Iowa, Shaw/Sput’s, $75.
9. (6) 17 Steve Stewart, Burlington, Iowa, Stewart/Stewart, $90.
10. (9) 34 Mark Schafman, Edwardsville, Kan., BillsBuilt/Heeter, $75.
11. (14) 25 Ron Keith, Shawnee, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, $75.
12. (11) 37 Alison Quick, Redding, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, $75.
13. (16) 5c Don Crnkovich, Olathe, Kan., Rocket/Sput’s, $75.
14. (12) 69 Zach Sanders, Kearney, Mo., Hughes/Yancy’s, $75.
15. (3) 16s Matt Johnson, Archie, Mo., Rocket/Morton, $75.
16. (15) 50iii Brandon Davis, Medford, Minn., BC/Rayburn, $75.
17. (17) 83t Brian Troxel, Sturgeon, Mo., StrayDog/BMS, $75.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (2) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
2. (7) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
3. (8) 70 Aaron Marrant, Orrick, Mo.
4. (4) 11 Darren Shaw, Lathrop, Mo.
5. (12) 4a Joel Alberts, Mantorville, Minn., Skyrocket/Action, $75.
6. (10) 5j John Schwab, Liberal, Kan., Ramirez/Cline, $75.
7. (17) 56 Chris Spieker, Massena, Iowa, IROC/PerfMach, $90.
8. (9) 11 Ryan Peckham (R), Corning, Iowa, IROC/PerfAuto, $90.
9. (13) 15m Shane Demey (R), Denison, Iowa, BMS/Demey, $90.
10. (11) 81 Richard Spriggs, Savannah, Mo., DirtWorks/Yancy’s, $75.
11. (16) 12m Jon McAtee, Trenton, Mo., Jet/Hometown, $75.
12. (5) 88d Matt Dotson, Clark, Mo., GRT/BMS, $90.
13. (3) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Hillson/CRE, $75.
14. (1) 59 Jared Stiens, Maryville, Mo., IROC/ClineMach, $75.
15. (6) 69n Cory Wray, Jamesport, Mo., DMR/FastLane, $75.
16. (14) 29d Brad Dierks (R), Clarence, Iowa, Shaw/Sperry, $90.
17. (15) 70 Jesse Dennis, Prescott, Iowa, Skyrocket/MidStates, $90.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (2) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
2. (4) 3d Tim Donlinger, Rochester, Minn.
3. (5) 12h Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa.
4. (1) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.
5. (8) 9e Don Eischens, Richmond, Minn., Fegers/Adams, $75.
6. (12) 98 John Allen, Chanute, Kan., Shaw/Mullins, $90.
7. (6) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., Hughes/Sput’s, $90.
8. (7) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn., Hughes/Sput’s, $90.
9. (15) 22y Shad Badder, Oak Grove, Mo., Harris/Yancy’s, $75.
10. (9) 25p Mike Petersilie, Hoisington, Kan., 1stClass/AEM, $75.
11. (3) 26 Gary Blackburn Jr., Fulton, Mo., BMS/Creason, $75.
12. (14) Y69 Mike Gregg, Morton, Minn., Shaw/Race-1, $75.
13. (10) 56 Nick Nevins, Lisbon, Iowa, Shaw/Grove, $75.
14. (16) 92 Yancy Shepard, Smithville, Mo., Shocker/Yancy’s, $75.
15. (11) 78 Derrick Hicks, Ravenwood, Mo., Shaw/ARI, $75.
16. (13) 40 Scott Dickey, Packwood, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, $90.

“A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (5) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $2000.
2. (3) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $1500.
3. (6) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/ASI, 40, $1000.
4. (10) 02 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $800.
5. (11) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ProPower, 40, $700.
6. (9) 12b Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, AR, TRE/Homegrown, 40, $550.
7. (8) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo., GRT/Mullins, 40, $500.
8. (26) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa, Sidebiter/KSE, 40, $550.
9. (13) 22 Dustin Boney, Platte City, Mo., Hughes/Sput’s, 40, $400.
10. (7) 90 Terry Schultz (R), Sedalia, Mo., Mach1/Schultz, 40, $350.
11. (16) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $425.
12. (18) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Geddes, 40, $500.
13. (4) 73 Mickey Burrell, Fair Grove, Mo., TRE/Ruble, 40, $250.
14. (27) 8 Colt Mather, Webster, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $350.
15. (17) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 40, $300.
16. (24) 4r Brandon Kenny, Woodward, Okla., Ramirez/ProPower, 40, $250.
17. (2) 31v Jason Voigt, St. Cloud, Minn., RCT/Vresco, 40, $250.
18. (1) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo., GRT/KSE, 40, $300.
19. (14) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $300.
20. (22) 70 Aaron Marrant, Orrick, Mo., Allen/Marrant, 40, $250.
21. (21) 52 Jason Thoennes, Garfield, Minn., MasterSbilt/Sowers, 40, $250.
22. (25) 11 Darren Shaw, Lathrop, Mo., Shaw/Yancy’s, 40, $250.
23. (19) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 37, mechanical, $300.
24. (15) 90 Steve Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 30, mechanical, $250.
25. (20) 3d Tim Donlinger, Rochester, Minn., Ramirez/Sput’s, 21, mechanical, $250.
26. (23) 12h Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa, GRT/PerfOnly, 20, mechanical, $250.
27. (12) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn., GRT/Sput’s, 40, $300.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Integra Lap Leaders: Mark Dotson 1-21, Gustin 22-40.
Total Laps Led: Mark Dotson 21, Gustin 19.
Margin of Victory: 1.445 seconds.
AFCO Pole Winner: Scott.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Ruter (started 26th, finished 8th).
Ruter Farms Long Tow: R. Sanders (703.67 miles).
Provisional Starter: Mather.
Next Race: Friday, April 15, Valley Speedway, Grain Valley, Mo.
Arnold Motor Supply Central States Region Points: Gustin 101, Hughes 95, Scott 91, Weder 87, Shryock 84, VanderBeek 70, R. Sanders 68, Mather 64, Rowland 62, Mark Dotson 59.
Rookie of the Year Points: Clyde Dunn Jr. 516, Jimmy Ray 460, Jeff Rowland 458, T.J. Herndon 453, Lucas Schott 450.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 112, ProPower 84, ASI 80, CB 47, Sput’s 47.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 117, Skyrocket 92, GRT 59, Pierce 52, Ramirez 48.

Contingency Awards:
American Racer – Davis.
Eibach Springs – Siebert.
Forty9Designs.com – Weder, Boney.
Hooker Harness – R. Sanders.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Mark Dotson.
ISKY Racing Cams – Voigt.
KSE Racing Products – Siebert.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Hansen.
New Vision Graphics – Scott.
Nitroquest – Troxel, Dennis, Dickey.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Ruter.
PBM Performance Products – Schultz.
Real Racing Wheels – Tesch, Alberts, Allen.
Ruter Farms – R. Sanders.

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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, Eibach Springs, 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, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products.