WINSTON, Mo. (March 25) – On a warm Sunday evening at the I-35 Speedway, Ron Ver Beek captured his first career USMTS victory with a dominating performance in front of a big crowd during the 4th Annual Yancy’s Automotive Missouri Meltdown at the 3/8-mile clay oval in Winston, Mo.

The USMTS Casey’s Cup Series event got off to a rough start during the second heat race when Corey Dripps and Mark Dotson collided while battling for the lead and sending them both into a series of flips in the first turn. Terry Schultz was also collected in the melee, but all three drivers walked away uninjured.

The 30-lap main event had a similar beginning when polesitter Jim Moody smacked the concrete front stretch wall as the green flag was unfurled, putting his machine on its roof and taking out Johnny Scott in the process.

That moved Stormy Scott and Jason Thoennes to the front row for the complete restart, but it was Ver Beek who hustled past both drivers to lead the first lap.

Racing around the top side of the track, Colt Mather came from the fifth starting spot to take the lead away on lap 5, but Ver Beek roared back in front two laps later using the low side of the racing surface.

After a brief caution for debris on lap 10, Ver Beek set sail and left the field in his wake. By the time the race’s fourth and final caution waved with four laps to go, his advantage was nearly half a lap on his nearest pursuer.

The late-race caution had no effect on the veteran from Oskaloosa, Iowa, as he sped away to a 1.549-second victory over USMTS Casey’s Cup Series points leader Rodney Sanders.

The win was worth $2,000 to Ver Beek, who turns 47 on April 6.

Jeremy Payne snagged the third spot while Zack VanderBeek and John Allen finished fourth and fifth after starting 13th and 14th, respectively, on the 25-car grid.

But the Mesilla Valley Hard Charger Award went to Schultz, who squeaked into the “A” Main with a sixth-place finish in the second Real Racing Wheels “B” Main and then raced from 24th to ninth in the nightcap.

The USMTS Modifieds now head for Humboldt, Kan., for the King of America Modified Nationals II as the nation’s elite drivers descend on the historic Humboldt Speedway for the $15,000-to-win, $1,500-to-start event slated for Wednesday through Saturday, March 28-31.

The inaugural running of the extravaganza took place five months ago, and fans were treated to four nights of extraordinary action that culminated with a 75-lap championship main event won by nine-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock.

While officials decided to move the show to March for this and future runnings of the event, the program will feature the same one-of-a-kind format that was utilized for the October race. Drivers will qualify on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, but may also purchase a “mulligan” that allows them to attempt to qualify a second day if they aren’t satisfied with their first attempt.

Group time trials will be staged each of the first three days, followed by heat races and main events with drivers earning points for their performances in each. The top six points earners each day will earn one of 18 guaranteed starting spots in Saturday’s championship race, with the highest overall points earner during the three days of qualifying garnering the pole for the big dance.

Saturday’s program will feature an “alphabet soup” of main events that will culminate with a 30-car starting field for the championship race that will feature a three-wide start. Even if a driver has some tough luck during qualifying, he or she still has the chance to climb the ladder of main events on Saturday to earn a spot in the finale.

Nearly $80,000 has been earmarked for Saturday’s “A” Main alone, with a total purse of more than $130,000 posted for the four-day extravaganza.

USRA B-Mods will be part of the event too, racing for a stout purse and national points in the American USRA Weekly Racing Series. Each day will be a complete and separate show with $300, $400, $500 and $1,000 to win, respectively. USRA rules will apply except that B-Mods must utilize a solid pull bar.

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.

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 and follow us on Twitter.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Casey’s Cup Series
4th Annual Yancy’s Automotive Missouri Meltdown
I-35 Speedway, Winston, Mo.
Sunday, March 25, 2012

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.

HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (1) 22 Nick Nevins (R), Lisbon, Iowa.
2. (4) 52 Jason Thoennes, Garfield, Minn.
3. (7) 8 Colt Mather, Webster, Iowa.
4. (8) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
5. (6) 11 Darren Shaw (R), Lathrop, Mo.
6. (2) 82 David Wood (R), Rayville, Mo.
7. (9) 39 Luke Driskell (R), Stilwell, Kan.
8. (3) 70 Aaron Marrant (R), Orrick, Mo.
9. (5) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.

HOOKER HARNESS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (2) 00 Jim Moody, Odessa, Mo.
2. (5) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
3. (6) 66t Tyler Schmidt (R), Easton, Kan.
4. (7) 23 Matt Gilbertson, Montevideo, Minn.
5. (8) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
6. (4) 90 Terry Schultz, Sedalia, Mo.
7. (1) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa.
8. (3) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo.

EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (1) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
3. (8) 2s Stormy Scott (R), Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (6) 98 John Allen, Chanute, Kan.
5. (3) 69n Cory Wray (R), Jamesport, Mo.
6. (4) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa.
7. (5) 88d Matt Dotson, Clark, Mo.
8. (7) 26s Steven Glenn (R), Hamilton, Mo.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (3) R Ron Ver Beek, Oskaloosa, Iowa.
2. (1) 25 Ron Keith (R), Shawnee, Kan.
3. (2) 34 Mark Schafman (R), Edwardsville, Kan.
4. (7) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
5. (8) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck (R), Waukee, Iowa.
6. (6) 20w Shay Woods (R), Humeston, Iowa.
7. (4) 23 Brandon Davis, Castle Rock, Colo.
8. (5) 98 Chris Giles (R), Independence, Mo.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (10 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (3) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
2. (1) 23 Matt Gilbertson, Montevideo, Minn.
3. (2) 34 Mark Schafman (R), Edwardsville, Kan.
4. (11) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
5. (8) 88d Matt Dotson, Clark, Mo., GRT/BMS.
6. (5) 82 David Wood (R), Rayville, Mo.
7. (10) 26s Steven Glenn (R), Hamilton, Mo., LooseGruff/CAM, $75.
8. (6) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa, BC/JRM.
9. (4) 11 Darren Shaw (R), Lathrop, Mo., Shaw/Yancy’s, $75.
10. (9) 70 Aaron Marrant (R), Orrick, Mo., Allen/Marrant, $75.
11. (7) 39 Luke Driskell (R), Stilwell, Kan., GRT/Driskell, $90.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (10 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (2) 98 John Allen, Chanute, Kan.
2. (4) 69n Cory Wray (R), Jamesport, Mo.
3. (3) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck (R), Waukee, Iowa.
4. (7) 23 Brandon Davis, Castle Rock, Colo.
5. (1) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
6. (5) 90 Terry Schultz, Sedalia, Mo.
7. (6) 20w Shay Woods (R), Humeston, Iowa, Victory/KSE, $75.
8. (8) 98 Chris Giles (R), Independence, Mo., DirtWorks/Giles, $75.
DNS – 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa, BC/Mullins, $90.
DNS – 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo., GRT/KSE, $90.

“A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. (5) R Ron Ver Beek, Oskaloosa, Iowa, Skyrocket/Midstate, 40, $2000.
2. (10) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Geddes, 40, $1500.
3. (8) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/RoushYates, 40, $1000.
4. (13) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $900.
5. (14) 98 John Allen, Chanute, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $800.
6. (2) 2s Stormy Scott (R), Las Cruces, N.M., GRT/Yeoman, 40, $700.
7. (12) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo., GRT/Mullins, 40, $650.
8. (7) 8 Colt Mather, Webster, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $600.
9. (24) 90 Terry Schultz, Sedalia, Mo., GRT/Mullins, 40, $650.
10. (17) 34 Mark Schafman (R), Edwardsville, Kan., BillsBuilt/Heeter, 40, $400.
11. (18) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck (R), Waukee, Iowa, GRT/Mullins, 40, $450.
12. (19) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 40, $425.
13. (11) 25 Ron Keith (R), Shawnee, Kan., GRT/Mullins, 40, $400.
14. (3) 52 Jason Thoennes, Garfield, Minn., MasterSbilt/Sower, 26, mechanical, $375.
15. (6) 22 Nick Nevins (R), Lisbon, Iowa, Shaw/Sperry, 23, mechanical, $350.
16. (9) 66t Tyler Schmidt (R), Easton, Kan., Hughes/Sput’s, 21, mechanical, $250.
17. (25) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa, BC/JRM, 21, mechanical, $300.
18. (23) 82 David Wood (R), Rayville, Mo., Banshee/FastLane, 18, mechanical, $250.
19. (16) 69n Cory Wray (R), Jamesport, Mo., DMR/FastLane, 7, mechanical, $250.
20. (22) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan., GRT/Mullins, 7, suspension, $300.
21. (15) 23 Matt Gilbertson, Montevideo, Minn., Victory/JRM, 6, mechanical, $300.
22. (20) 23 Brandon Davis, Castle Rock, Colo., Hughes/Geddes, 4, mechanical, $300.
23. (21) 88d Matt Dotson, Clark, Mo., GRT/BMS, 3, rear end, $250.
24. (1) 00 Jim Moody, Odessa, Mo., GRT/McVey, 0, crash, $250.
25. (4) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/ProPower, 0, crash, $300.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Integra Lap Leaders: Ver Beek 1-4, Mather 5-7, Ver Beek 8-30.
Total Laps Led: Ver Beek 27, Mather 3.
Margin of Victory: 1.549 seconds.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Schultz (started 24th, finished 9th).
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck: Dripps.
Provisional Starters: Hejna.
Next Race: Wednesday-Saturday, March 28-31, Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, Kan.
USMTS Casey’s Cup Series Points: Sanders 39, Jason Hughes 24, S. Scott 24, J. Scott 23, Terry Phillips 22, Ryan Gustin 19, VanderBeek 17, Payne 16, Schultz 15, Mark Dotson 14.
Rookie of the Year Points: S. Scott 471, Keith 307, Casey Penn 197, Nevins 171, Jacob Gallardo 164.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Geddes 48, Mullins 47, ProPower 39, Yeoman 33, Sput’s 33.
Tiger Rear Ends Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 58, GRT 52, Skyrocket 43, TRE 27, Pierce 24.

Contingency Awards:
AERO Race Wheels – J. Scott.
American Racer – Beebe.
Dominator Race Products – Dripps.
Eibach Springs – J. Scott.
Forty9Designs.com – VanderBeek, Schultz.
Hooker Harness – Moody.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Ver Beek.
KSE Racing Products – Payne.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Moody.
Nitroquest – Driskell, Giles.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Schultz.
PBM Performance Products – Ver Beek.
Real Racing Wheels – VanderBeek, Allen.

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USMTS TITLE SPONSORS: Casey’s General Stores, Swan Energy.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Awesome Race Suits, Cheetos, Dominator Race Products, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, RACEceiver, SLAP Energy, Snickers.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arbor Masters, Arnold Motor Supply, ASi Racewear, Beebe Heating & Air Conditioning, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Dirthead.com, DirtKnights.com, DrySlik Dirt Trak Racewear, Erson Cams, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Mesilla Valley Transportation, O’Brien Enterprises, Olympic Fire Protection, Ramirez Motorsports, Road Runner Trucking, Ruter Farms, Sybesma Graphics, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, COMP Cams, CPD Racing Tools, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Forty9Designs.com, Genesis Shocks, Hooker Harness, Hypercoil Springs, Integra Racing Shocks & 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, Tiger Rear Ends, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products.