HUMBOLDT, Kan. (Oct. 20) – Jon Tesch was having a perfect night Thursday at the Humboldt Speedway. He posted the fastest lap in his qualifying group during time trials, came from the sixth position to win his heat race and then took control in the main event where he led 26 laps.

The problem here is that the race was 30 laps long.

Johnny Scott, on the other hand, was the fourth quickest in his ten-car qualifying group, finished and started third in his heat race and then began the “A” Main Qualifier from deep in the field in 12th.

But Scott was unfazed as he blistered the field on his way to the front and passed Tesch with four laps to go to win the main event on Schwab’s Tinker Shop Qualifying Night and put himself in good position to vie for Saturday night’s $15,000 top prize at the inaugural King of America Modified Nationals.

From the pole position, Tesch took command at the drop of the green flag with Rodney Sanders and Lucas Schott giving chase. Meanwhile, Scott’s charge through the pack was already ignited as he was already up to seventh when the race’s first yellow flag waved on lap 4.

After the restart, Sanders was able to pull alongside the leader with eight laps complete but Tesch was able to hold him off while Randy Timms and Humboldt resident Scott Daniels slipped past Schott for third and fourth.

By lap 13, the top 3 had put a full straight-away between themselves and the rest of the pack. Scott passed Ryan Ruter for fifth on lap 15 and then got by Daniels two laps later and quickly narrowed the gap between himself and the lead trio.

With 21 circuits complete, Scott got around Timms for third. Sanders was his next conquest two laps later and Tesch watched helplessly as the 21-year-old from Las Cruces, N.M., roared by on the outside with 26 laps in the books.

The second and final caution came out the next time around, but the hope it offered was short-lived as Scott ran away and hid over the final three laps and won with a cushion of more than two seconds.

The caution was a welcome sight to Johnny Bone Jr., however, as he powered past Sanders with two laps to go and wrestled the runner-up spot away from Tesch as they came to the white flag.

Despite dropping another spot to Sanders on the final lap and finishing fourth, Tesch’s all-night effort garnered him the most points during the program to earn a guaranteed berth in Saturday’s finale.

Timms came home fifth behind Scott, Bone, Sanders and Tesch while local favorite John Allen had the best night of all drivers using a mulligan and finished sixth. Seventh through tenth were Ruter, Dereck Ramirez, Chase Junghans and Joe Duvall.

Adding to the impressiveness of his feat was the fact that Scott was sitting behind the wheel of Jason Hughes’ backup car for the first time. It was a familiar scene for the fans who have watched Hughes wheel his familiar #12 Modified into victory lane nine times here during the last decade.

For Scott, it was his eighth career USMTS triumph and his second at ‘The Hummer.’ In his other win here on Aug. 13 last year, Scott snagged the lead away from Ramirez with four laps to go.

The top 6 in points earned through time trials, heat races and main events are locked into Saturday’s “A” Main Championship. All other drivers will start one of several “alphabet soup” main events on Saturday unless the driver purchased a mulligan which allows the driver to forfeit tonight’s points and try to qualify again on Friday.

Tesch topped all points-earners Thursday night with Sanders, Scott, Timms, Ruter and Allen tallying the next five highest totals to earn guaranteed berths in Saturday’s historic King of America Modified Nationals main event with a $15,000 top prize and a minimum of $1,500 to start the 75-lap championship race.

The ‘Wizard of Watertown’ also leads all qualifiers over the first two nights and is currently in solid position to start on the pole Saturday unless somebody can eclipse his points total tomorrow night.

Action continues with Swan Energy Qualifying Night on Friday. Time trials begin at 7 p.m.

The Humboldt Speedway is a located 0.1 mile west of US 169 at the Humboldt Exit, then 0.5 mile south, then 0.9 mile east on Georgia Rd. For more information call 620-431-2470 (office) or 620-473-3694 (track) or visit www.humboldtspeedway.com.

The inaugural King of America Modified Nationals is made possible by several great sponsors including Allen’s Automotive, Casey’s General Stores, River’s Edge Scrap Management, Schwab’s Tinker Shop and Swan Energy.

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.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
Inaugural King of America Modified Nationals – Schwab’s Tinker Shop Qualifying Night
Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, Kan.
Thursday, October 20, 2011

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed and reason out (if any). The top 12 drivers in passing points accumulated in the heat races are locked into the Allen’s Automotive “A” Main Qualifier.

RIVER’S EDGE SCRAP MANAGEMENT HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps):
1. (4) 25 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
2. (6) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.
3. (3) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.
4. (2) 87 Kenny Sweet, Wichita, Kan.
5. (8) 92 Chad Mallett, Greenbrier, Ark.
6. (5) 73 Mickey Burrell, Fair Grove, Mo.
7. (10) 77 Brian Craighead, Farmerville, La.
8. (7) 88c Brian Clark, Tucson, Ariz.
9. (9) 3 Danny Womack, Muskogee, Okla.
10. (1) 43f Marcus Frisch, Eros, La.

SWAN ENERGY HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. (4) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
2. (1) 98 John Allen (m), Chanute, Kan.
3. (3) 12j Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (5) 5 Brandon Beckendorf (m), Danube, Minn.
5. (7) 12b Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, Ark.
6. (2) 25p Mike Petersilie (m), Hoisington, Kan.
7. (8) 1k Pat Graham, Ames, Iowa.
8. (9) 22 Brian McGowen, Pittsburg, Kan.
9. (10) 40 Brian Green (m), Pierce City, Mo.
10. (6) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo.

ALLEN’S AUTOMOTIVE HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. (6) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
2. (2) 9d Scott Daniels, Humboldt, Kan.
3. (4) 52 Mitch Keeter (m), Joplin, Mo.
4. (3) 91 Joe Duvall, Chelsea, Okla.
5. (5) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
6. (7) X2 Brian Bolin, Fort Scott, Kan.
7. (1) 85 Thomas Tillison Jr., Wellston, Okla.
8. (8) 4 Dan Powers, Wichita, Kan.
9. (9) 30 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas.
10. (10) 4m Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. (2) 77 Cody Agler (m), Emporia, Kan.
2. (5) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
3. (4) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
4. (6) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
5. (1) 118 Terry Beckham II (m), Webb City, Mo.
6. (8) 98 Jeff Cutshaw, Cross Timbers, Mo.
7. (7) 86 Brian Franz, Halstead, Kan.
8. (3) 60 William Gould (m), Calera, Okla.
9. (9) 24 Sean Jones, Mansfield, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN QUALIFIER #1 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (4) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
2. (3) 91 Joe Duvall, Chelsea, Okla.
3. (1) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
4. (5) 98 Jeff Cutshaw, Cross Timbers, Mo.
5. (7) 25p Mike Petersilie (m), Hoisington, Kan.
6. (2) 92 Chad Mallett, Greenbrier, Ark.
7. (9) 22 Brian McGowen, Pittsburg, Kan., Hughes/McGowen.
8. (8) 85 Thomas Tillison, Jr., Wellston, Okla., Shaw/Brand.
9. (11) 40 Brian Green (m), Pierce City, Mo., Hoffman/Marty’s.
10. (10) 4 Dan Powers, Wichita, Kan., Hoffman/KBS.
11. (6) 77 Brian Craighead, Farmerville, La., DirtWorks/Tanner.
12. (12) 30 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas, CAM/Allard.
13. (13) 43f Marcus Frisch, Eros, La., IRP/SMS.
14. (14) 4m Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas, Hughes/Wells.

AMERICAN RACER “B” MAIN QUALIFIER #2 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (1) 5 Brandon Beckendorf (m), Danube, Minn.
2. (3) 12b Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, Ark.
3. (2) 87 Kenny Sweet, Wichita, Kan.
4. (6) 73 Mickey Burrell, Fair Grove, Mo.
5. (4) 118 Terry Beckham II (m), Webb City, Mo.
6. (5) X2 Brian Bolin, Fort Scott, Kan.
7. (10) 60 William Gould (m), Calera, Okla., Shaw/BMS.
8. (8) 86 Brian Franz, Halstead, Kan., BillsBuilt/Shadow.
9. (7) 1k Pat Graham, Ames, Iowa, Victory/JR.
10. (11) 3 Danny Womack, Muskogee, Okla., Hughes/BMS.
11. (9) 88c Brian Clark, Tucson, Ariz., TRE/Kirchner.
12. (12) 24 Sean Jones, Mansfield, Texas, PCR/Brooks.
13. (13) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo., GRT/KSE.

SCHWAB’S TINKER SHOP “A” MAIN QUALIFIER (30 laps):
1. (12) 12j Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/Mullins, 30.
2. (16) 12b Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, Ark., TRE/Homegrown, 30.
3. (3) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Geddes, 30.
4. (1) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D., GRT/Sput’s, 30.
5. (6) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla., Hughes/Geddes, 30.
6. (7) 98 John Allen (m), Chanute, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 30.
7. (4) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa, Sidebiter/Sput’s, 30.
8. (10) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 30.
9. (13) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., GRT/Sput’s, 30.
10. (15) 91 Joe Duvall, Chelsea, Okla., Hughes/BMS, 30.
11. (11) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, 30.
12. (18) 87 Kenny Sweet, Wichita, Kan., BillsBuilt/Yancy’s, 30.
13. (14) 5 Brandon Beckendorf (m), Danube, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 30.
14. (2) 25 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn., Hughes/Mullins, 30.
15. (24) X2 Brian Bolin, Fort Scott, Kan., Intruder/Yeoman, 30.
16. (22) 118 Terry Beckham II (m), Webb City, Mo., TRE/Beckham, 30.
17. (5) 77 Cody Agler (m), Emporia, Kan., Shaw/Specialty, 30.
18. (8) 9d Scott Daniels, Humboldt, Kan., TRE/Simmons, 30.
19. (9) 52 Mitch Keeter (m), Joplin, Mo., Hoffman/Yeoman, 30.
20. (21) 25p Mike Petersilie (m), Hoisington, Kan., GRT/AEM, 30.
21. (17) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan., GRT/Mullins, 30.
22. (23) 92 Chad Mallett, Greenbrier, Ark., Shaw/, 30.
23. (20) 73 Mickey Burrell, Fair Grove, Mo., TRE/Ruble, 4, mechanical.
24. (19) 98 Jeff Cutshaw, Cross Timbers, Mo., Hoffman/DP, 4, mechanical.

(m) = driver used a mulligan

Lap Leaders: Tesch 1-26, Scott 27-30.
Total Laps Led: Tesch 26, Scott 4.
Margin of Victory: 2.024 seconds.

The top 6 in points earned through time trials, heat races and main events are locked into Saturday’s “A” Main Championship. All other drivers will start one of several “alphabet soup” main events on Saturday unless the driver purchased a mulligan which allows the driver to forfeit tonight’s points and try to qualify again on Thursday or Friday, or was using his mulligan tonight.

QUALIFYING POINTS:
1. 14 Jon Tesch … 636.5
2. 20 Rodney Sanders … 623.5
3. 12j Johnny Scott … 601
4. 5t Randy Timms … 599.5
5. 555 Ryan Ruter … 591
6. 98 John Allen … 545
7. 4r Dereck Ramirez … 542.5
8. 12b Johnny Bone Jr. … 536
9. 25 Lucas Schott … 528.5
10. 18 Chase Junghans … 513
11. 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr. … 501
12. 5 Brandon Beckendorf … 498.5
13. 91 Joe Duvall … 497
14. 77 Cody Agler … 490.5
15. 52 Mitch Keeter … 474.5
16. 22b Rick Beebe … 474
17. 87 Kenny Sweet … 472
18. 9d Scott Daniels … 471
19. 73 Mickey Burrell … 431
20. 118 Terry Beckham II … 428
21. X2 Brian Bolin … 415.5
22. 25p Mike Petersilie … 412
23. 92 Chad Mallett … 387.5
24. 60 William Gould … 387
25. 85d Mark Dotson … 381
26. 85 Thomas Tillison Jr. … 373
27. 98 Jeff Cutshaw … 371
28. 86 Brian Franz … 363
29. 1k Pat Graham … 351.5
30. 88c Brian Clark … 345
31. 22 Brian McGowen … 338.5
32. 4 Dan Powers … 338
33. 43f Marcus Frisch … 331
34. 77 Brian Craighead … 328.5
35. 3 Danny Womack … 319
36. 40 Brian Green … 313.5
37. 30 Chase Allen … 313
38. 24 Sean Jones … 313
39. 4m Bobby Malchus … 288

B-MODS

Heat Race #1 (8 laps):
1. (5) 8 Terry Burner, Olathe, Kan.
2. (3) 2 Bryan Lariviere, Wichita, Kan.
3. (1) 89 Levi McGowen, Humboldt, Kan.
4. (8) 37 Tim VanGotten, Chanute, Kan.
5. (2) 18 Scott Collins, Humboldt, Kan.
6. (4) 19 Mike Striegle, Hermitage, Mo.
7. (6) R63 Riley Whitworth, Humboldt, Kan.
8. (10) 69 Ronald Bunn, Deer Field, Mo.
9. (7) 49 Todd Kidwell, Chanute, Kan.
10. (9) 85 Mike Helman, Reeds Springs, Mo.

Heat Race #2 (8 laps):
1. (4) 12d Scott Drake, Webb City, Mo.
2. (3) 17 Jeremy Chambers, Oswego, Kan.
3. (2) 3×3 Nick Newton, Kansas City, Kan.
4. (7) 10 Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa, Iowa.
5. (5) 1b Bobby Williams, Pittsburg, Mo.
6. (1) 14 Bobby Gough, Joplin, Mo.
7. (9) C4 Curtis Dreahser, Hoyt, Kan.
8. (10) 99h Trevor Hunt, Liberty, Mo.
9. (8) 17t Ted Ballinger, Halfway, Mo.
10. (6) 9 Brady Keefe, Stewartville, Minn.

“A” Main (20 laps):
1. (2) 3×3 Nick Newton, Kansas City, Kan., $400.
2. (6) 12d Scott Drake, Webb City, Mo., $300.
3. (8) 10 Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa, Iowa, $200.
4. (1) 89 Levi McGowen, Humboldt, Kan., $150.
5. (3) 2 Bryan Lariviere, Wichita, Kan., $120.
6. (7) 37 Tim VanGotten, Chanute, Kan., $100.
7. (18) 85 Mike Helman, Reeds Springs, Mo., $90.
8. (16) 99h Trevor Hunt, Liberty, Mo., $80.
9. (17) 49 Todd Kidwell, Chanute, Kan., $70.
10. (15) 69 Ronald Bunn, Deer Field, Mo., $65.
11. (19) 17t Ted Ballinger, Halfway, Mo., $60.
12. (9) 18 Scott Collins, Humboldt, Kan., $55.
13. (20) 9 Brady Keefe, Stewartville, Minn., $50.
14. (12) 14 Bobby Gough, Joplin, Mo., $50.
15. (4) 17 Jeremy Chambers, Oswego, Kan., $50.
16. (5) 8 Terry Burner, Olathe, Kan., $50.
17. (14) C4 Curtis Dreahser, Hoyt, Kan., $50.
18. (13) R63 Riley Whitworth, Humboldt, Kan., $50.
19. (10) 1b Bobby Williams, Pittsburg, Mo., $50.
20. (11) 19 Mike Striegle, Hermitage, Mo., $0.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

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, Tiger Rear Ends, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, WIX Filters.