ALLISON, Iowa (May 26) — On the same track where Ryan Gustin won his first-ever USMTS Modified feature race nearly four years ago, Colt Mather withstood Gustin’s challenges Thursday night at the Highway 3 Raceway to capture his career-first victory with the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy.
The 24-year-old from Webster, Iowa, was fast right off the trailer, winning his heat race to earn the AFCO Pole Award and then bolting to the front of the main event in just five laps from the seventh starting spot.
After a dominating performance in his heat race, Eric Dailey jumped out to a big lead from the outside of the front row and looked to be the driver to beat in the 25-lap WIX Filter “A” Main, but after just two laps smoke began to billow from underneath his mount and one lap later Dailey was parked in the infield and out of the race with terminal engine trouble.
Dailey’s exit handed the lead over to Gustin, but his reign at the front was ever shorter as Mather scooted by on the inside of Gustin to lead the fifth lap.
From that moment on, Mather and Gustin rewarded the huge crowd that packed the grandstands on a chilly Thursday night with a thrilling battle that saw the pair race neck and neck with every passing lap.
While Mather settled in on the low side of the track, Gustin churned the cushion of clay on the high side but the two met up again twice every lap as they raced down the front- and back-stretches virtually side by side.
With 10 laps to go, Gustin moved down right next to Mather on the low side in turn 3 and was able to wrestle away the top spot as he completed lap 15.
Recent history has shown that Gustin grabbing the lead puts a fork in the rest of the field, but Mather fought back the next lap and challenged Gustin in the same corner.
Two laps later, Mather powered by Gustin as they exited the fourth turn and reclaimed the lead. From there, Mather was flawless and beat Gustin to the finish line by two car-lengths.
Since his first win in August 2008 at the half-mile dirt oval at the age of 17, Gustin has garnered an additional series-best 31 wins. His impact on the sport was reflected by Mather’s comments in victory lane.
“I can’t believe I just beat Ryan Gustin,” Mather exclaimed as he removed his helmet in the winner’s circle. “You’re not supposed to be able to do that.”
Zack VanderBeek had the best seat in the house for watching the Mather-Gustin heavyweight bout, and took home a third-place finish while Rodney Sanders claimed the fourth spot.
Al Hejna strapped into his new BC Chassis for the first time this season and completed the first step in his quest to reverse the disappointing 2010 season. Despite starting 17th on the 25-car grid, the ‘A-Train’ raced past 12 competitors to finish fifth.
Despite Hejna’s prolific passing exhibition, the Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger Award went to Jon Tesch who climbed his way to a sixth-place finish after starting 22nd. Ryan Dolan, Tommy Myer, Steve Stewart and Dan Bohr rounded out the top-10 finishers.
Three more Memorial Day Weekend events are left to go for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy.
On Saturday, the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy will tackle the popular Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., for the 9th Annual A&A Electric Southern MN Spring Challenge. Grandstands open at 3 p.m. with $1 beer, pop and hot dogs available from 3-4. Races start at 5 p.m. The Iron Man Challenge for USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars will also be part of the action, along with Midwest Mods and Street Stocks.
The Deer Creek Speedway is located 11.3 miles south of I-90 (exit 209) on US 63 (0.7 mile north of SR 16). For more info, call toll-free 877-DCS-RACE or 507-346-2342 on raceday or visit www.deercreekspeedway.com online.
Set your TIVO or DVR to record the Indy 500 and World 600 because the best racing on Sunday will be at the Dodge County Speedway in Kasson, Minn., for the 10th Annual Stars & Stripes Shootout. The Dodge County Fairgrounds grandstands will open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 5:30 and the first heat race getting the green flag at 6. USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods, Midwest Mods, Super Stocks and Street Stocks are also on tap for Sunday’s show.
The Dodge County Speedway is located 1.1 mile north of US 14 on SR 57 (at the Dodge County Fairgrounds). For more info, call 651 226-3706 or 507 634-6400 on raceday or visit www.dodgecountyspeedway.com online.
Memorial Day Monday will find the series at the Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minn., for the 4th Annual Guttormson Memorial. This race was originally scheduled for Friday but was rained out and postponed to Monday. Gates open at 3 p.m. with hot laps at 5 and racing to follow. Also racing will be Midwest Mods, Pure Stocks and Hornets.
The Chateau Raceway is a 1/3-mile semi-banked clay oval located 5.0 miles north of Austin on US 218 to the Lansing exit, then 1.3 miles eat on CR 2, then 0.4 mile south on CR 25, then 0.3 mile east . For more info, call 507-391-2486 or 507-433-4578 on raceday or visit www.chateauraceway.net.
Race fans can pick up $2-off grandstand admission coupons for all three shows at Casey’s General Store locations in Austin, Owatonna, Rochester and Stewartville throughout the weekend. To find the location nearest you, check out www.caseys.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 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
10th Annual Butler County Spring Clash
Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, Iowa
Thursday, May 26, 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. (3) 8 Colt Mather, Webster, Iowa.
2. (1) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
3. (5) 33Z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
4. (8) 56 Chris Spieker, Massena, Iowa.
5. (4) 20L Zach Less (R), Hopkinton, Iowa.
6. (7) 83 Kellen Chadwick, Oakley, Calif.
7. (6) 66 Dan Bohr, Decorah, Iowa.
8. (9) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
9. (10) R21 Ryan Schaffer (R), Corning, Iowa.
10. (2) Z3 Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa.
NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 95 Keith Foss (R), Winona, Minn.
2. (4) 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
3. (3) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
4. (10) 17 Steve Stewart, Burlington, Iowa.
5. (2) 26p Kevin Pittman, Waterloo, Iowa.
6. (6) 27M Mark Schulte, Delhi, Iowa.
7. (5) 7 Ryan Dolan, Lisbon, Iowa.
8. (7) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.
9. (8) B1 Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill.
10. (9) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa.
EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (3) 7 Eric Dailey, Armstrong, Iowa.
2. (1) 12E Mark Elliott, Webster City, Iowa.
3. (2) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa.
4. (7) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
5. (4) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (8) 9 Ken Schrader, Concord, N.C.
7. (6) 00 J.D. Auringer (R), Waterloo, Iowa.
8. (5) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
9. (9) 15M Shane Demey (R), Denison, Iowa.
REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (10 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (2) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (4) 66 Dan Bohr, Decorah, Iowa.
3. (8) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa.
4. (5) 00 J.D. Auringer (R), Waterloo, Iowa.
5. (1) 20L Zach Less (R), Hopkinton, Iowa.
6. (6) R21 Ryan Schaffer (R), Corning, Iowa.
7. (7) 15M Shane Demey (R), Denison, Iowa.
8. (3) 83 Kellen Chadwick, Oakley, Calif., Hughes/Pro, $75.
DNS – 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa, Sidebiter/KSE, $90.
REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (10 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (1) 26p Kevin Pittman, Waterloo, Iowa.
2. (2) 9 Ken Schrader, Concord, NC.
3. (4) 7 Ryan Dolan, Lisbon, Iowa.
4. (3) 27M Mark Schulte, Delhi, Iowa.
5. (5) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
6. (6) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
7. (7) B1 Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., Shaw/Mullins, $75.
DNS – Z3 Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa, Harris/JR, $90.
WIX FILTERS “A” MAIN (25 laps):
1. (7) 8 Colt Mather, Webster, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, $2000.
2. (4) 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, $1500.
3. (3) 33Z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, $1000.
4. (6) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Geddes, $900.
5. (17) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa, BC/JR, $800.
6. (22) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D., GRT/Sput’s, $700.
7. (18) 7 Ryan Dolan, Lisbon, Iowa, Stealth/Sperry, $650.
8. (10) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn., GRT/Sput’s, $600.
9. (8) 17 Steve Stewart, Burlington, Iowa, Stewart/Stewart, $550.
10. (15) 66 Dan Bohr, Decorah, Iowa, GRT/Sput’s, $500.
11. (13) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/ASI, $450.
12. (20) 27M Mark Schulte, Delhi, Iowa, GRT/Grove, $425.
13. (19) 00 J.D. Auringer (R), Waterloo, Iowa, Hughes/KSE, $400.
14. (1) 12E Mark Elliott, Webster City, Iowa, Harris/Sput’s, $375.
15. (24) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Hillson/CRE, $325.
16. (9) 56 Chris Spieker, Massena, Iowa, IROC/PerfMach, $300.
17. (11) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ProPower, $300.
18. (23) R21 Ryan Schaffer (R), Corning, Iowa, Bullet/Midstate, $300.
19. (12) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa, BC/Mullins, $300.
20. (14) 26p Kevin Pittman, Waterloo, Iowa, Victory/AEM, $300.
21. (16) 9 Ken Schrader, Concord, N.C., Impressive/RoushYates, $300.
22. (25) 15M Shane Demey (R), Denison, Iowa, BMS/Demey, $300.
23. (2) 7 Eric Dailey, Armstrong, Iowa, Skyrocket/Growmondbecks, $300.
24. (5) 95 Keith Foss (R), Winona, Minn., DirtDueler/Brink, $300.
25. (21) 20L Zach Less (R), Hopkinton, Iowa, Stewart/Stewart, $300.
(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.
Integra Lap Leaders: Dailey 1-3, Gustin 4, Mather 5-14, Gustin 15-17, Mather 18-25.
Total Laps Led: Mather 18, Gustin 4, Dailey 3.
Margin of Victory: 0.676 seconds.
AFCO Pole Winner: Mather.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Tesch (started 22nd, finished 6th).
Provisional Starter: Demey.
Next Race: Saturday, May 28, Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.
Arnold Motor Supply Central States Region Points: Gustin 197, Mather 165, Myer 163, Scott 161, VanderBeek 159, Sanders 153, Shryock 139, Tesch 126, Ruter 121, Stewart 119.
Rookie of the Year Points: Clyde Dunn Jr. 976, Jimmy Ray 971, Jeff Rowland 843, Philip Houston 807, John Webb 800.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 206, ProPower 154, ASI 148, Geddes 106, Sput’s 87.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 214, Skyrocket 172, GRT 115, Ramirez 80, TRE 67.
Contingency Awards:American Racer – Dolan.
CPD Racing Tools – not awarded.
Eibach Springs – Dailey.
Forty9Designs.com – Sanders, Stewart.
Hooker Harness – Schulte.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Mather.
ISKY Racing Cams – Mather.
KSE Racing Products – Stewart.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Less.
New Vision Graphics – Foss.
Nitroquest – Ruter, Albertsen.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Tesch.
PBM Performance Products – not awarded.
Real Racing Wheels – Ruter, Albertsen.
Ruter Farms – Shryock.
WIX Filters – Mather.
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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, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, WIX Filters.