HomeOpen Wheel Modified NewsHunt for the USMTS Casey's Cup heats up as Hughes sneaks into...

Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup heats up as Hughes sneaks into Mississippi Thunder Speedway winners circle

Published on

- Advertisement -
Jason Hughes

FOUNTAIN CITY, Wis. (Aug. 16) – Jason Hughes emerged with the victory Friday night after a thrilling 40-lap main event at the Mississippi Thunder Speedway for Round 7 of the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup.

For most of the race, you could have thrown a blanket over the top four of Craig Thatcher, Rodney Sanders, Hughes and Stormy Scott as they jockeyed and jousted for position in every turn.

Sanders drew the pole but it was Thatcher getting the advantage at the drop of the green flag with Dan Bohr, Hughes and Daniel Hilsabeck in tow.

After leading his first lap in United State Modified Touring Series competition, Thatcher proceeded to lead another 23 circuits before Sanders snuck underneath to lead lap 25.

Meanwhile, Hughes moved past Bohr on the fourth lap and Scott made his way into fourth on lap 8. The pair shadowed the two front-runners the rest of the time with Scott edging ahead of Hughes for third on lap 19.

With the top three claiming a monopoly on the bottom groove, Hughes moved up the track and went searching for a different line. He found it quickly and reclaimed the third spot from Scott with 26 laps complete and then disposed of Thatcher the next time around.

For the next ten laps, Hughes was able to pull alongside Sanders in the straight-aways but was never able to make the pass.

With six laps remaining, a lapped car forced Hughes to go high in turn 1 and Scott was able to pull ahead as they exited turn 2. Hughes, However, regained his momentum and reclaimed the second spot in the next corner.

With five laps to go, Sanders had to deal with lapped traffic and Hughes got the assist he needed. Accelerating out of turn 2 on lap 36, Hughes raced past Sanders on the outside and officially took the lead when they crossed beneath the flagstand side by side to complete the 37th lap.

Hughes was flawless over the final four orbits of Bob Timm’s immaculate high-banked 3/8-mile oval and took the checkered flag to earn a $5,100 paycheck while Sanders settled for the runner-up position for the second time in as many nights.

Scott and Thatcher finished third and fourth, respectively, while defending track champion Lucas Schott followed the leaders in fifth.

Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup points leader Johnny Scott had to scratch and claw his way through the field for the second night in a row, and walked away with a sixth-place finish. Two-time USMTS National Champion Ryan Gustin was seventh, Joey Jensen finished eighth, Bohr nabbed the ninth spot and Jake Timm rounded out the top 10.

With seven of 17 scheduled ‘Hunt’ races in the books, Johnny Scott continues to lead a tight formation. Twin brother Stormy Scott is just 12 points behind (700 to 688) while Sanders is a mere 10 markers behind them and Hughes is fourth with 670 points. Jeremy Payne, Zack VanderBeek, Chris Brown, Kelly Shryock, Schott and Dereck Ramirez complete the top 10 in the standings.

Day four of the five-race Northern swing goes down Saturday at the Ogilvie Raceway in Ogilvie, Minn. Midwest Modifieds, Street Stocks and Hornets will join the on-track action at the four-year-old facility with a start time of 6:30.

Adult grandstand tickets are $20 and pit passes are $35. Fans can get $2-off coupons at Casey’s General Stores locations in Cambridge, Milaca and Princeton on race day. From 11:30-1:30, Steve Whiteaker Jr. and his Cheetos-sponsored machine will be at the Casey’s located at 810 N. rum River Dr. in Princeton.

The Ogilvie Raceway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked dirt oval located about 2 miles east of Ogilvie on the south side of SR 23. The grandstands have a seating capacity of nearly 2,000 and also features reserved track-side parking for people to view the race from turns 1 and 2 from their vehicles. For more information, call 763-267-4572 or check out www.ogilvieraceway.com online.

The five-day work week for the rugged USMTS road warriors wraps up on Sunday, Aug. 18, with an encore performance at the Granite City Speedway in Sauk Rapids, Minn.

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 at www.facebook.com/usmts, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts or check out our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup – Round 7 of 17
Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Fountain City, Wis.
Friday, Aug. 16, 2013

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed 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.

BEYEA CUSTOM HEADERS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (2) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
2. (6) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
3. (5) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (8) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
5. (7) 99h Trevor Hunt (R), Kearney, Mo.
6. (3) 89 Steve Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.
7. (9) 89 Eric Pember, Pittsville, Wis.
8. (4) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
9. (1) 00 Masen Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask., Canada.

JRi SHOCKS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
2. (2) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
3. (5) V2 Joey Jensen, Forest Lake, Minn.
4. (3) 11 Lance Hofer, Cochrane, Wis.
5. (9) 95 Keith Foss, Winona, Minn.
6. (8) 21 Chris Brown, Spring, Texas.
7. (7) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
8. (6) W Cory Williams, Spring Valley, Wis.
9. (4) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn.

EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 66 Dan Bohr, Decorah, Iowa.
2. (1) 10 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
3. (4) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
4. (3) 49 Bob Timm, Winona, Minn.
5. (6) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
6. (8) 33x Adam Hensel, Baldwin, Wis.
7. (9) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
8. (7) 77 Tom Brink, Winona, Minn.
9. (5) 110 Chad Mahder (R), Eau Claire, Wis.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (4) 91 Craig Thatcher, Knapp, Wis.
2. (7) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
3. (3) 99 Josh Angst, Winona, Minn.
4. (8) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (1) 14w Clayton Wagamon, Blaine, Minn.
6. (5) 24jr Jeff Lien Jr. (R), Mora, Minn.
7. (9) 15 Chris Loberg, Menomonie, Wis.
8. (6) 01 Joey Galloway (R), Manor, Sask., Canada.
9. (2) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (1) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
2. (2) 95 Keith Foss, Winona, Minn.
3. (4) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
4. (6) 89 Steve Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.
5. (7) 89 Eric Pember, Pittsville, Wis.
6. (5) 21 Chris Brown, Spring, Texas.
7. (3) 49 Bob Timm, Winona, Minn., GRT/BuckBuilt, $100.
8. (10) 77 Tom Brink, Winona, Minn., Skyrocket/Grove, $100.
9. (9) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
10. (8) 15 Chris Loberg, Menomonie, Wis., Skyrocket/Sput’s, $80.
11. (11) 00 Masen Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask., Canada, GRT/Tim’s, $200.
12. (12) 110 Chad Mahder (R), Eau Claire, Wis., GRT/Anderson, $100.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (1) 99 Josh Angst, Winona, Minn.
2. (5) 33x Adam Hensel, Baldwin, Wis.
3. (3) 99h Trevor Hunt (R), Kearney, Mo.
4. (2) 11 Lance Hofer, Cochrane, Wis.
5. (7) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
6. (4) 14w Clayton Wagamon, Blaine, Minn., Wheeler/Wagamon, $100.
7. (6) 24jr Jeff Lien Jr. (R), Mora, Minn., Matrix/Sput’s, $80.
8. (9) W Cory Williams, Spring Valley, Wis., Tripod/RPM, $80.
9. (11) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, $100.
10. (8) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D., GRT/Sput’s, $100.
11. (10) 01 Joey Galloway (R), Manor, Sask., Canada, GRT/Tim’s, $200.
12. (12) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa, Rage/RoushYates, $100.

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (6) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $5100.
2. (1) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, 40, $2000.
3. (9) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., GRT/ProPower, 40, $1500.
4. (2) 91 Craig Thatcher, Knapp, Wis., GRT/TriStar, 40, $1000.
5. (8) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn., Hughes/Sput’s, 40, $900.
6. (12) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., GRT/ProPower, 40, $900.
7. (7) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $700.
8. (10) V2 Joey Jensen, Forest Lake, Minn., GRT/Tim’s, 40, $650.
9. (4) 66 Dan Bohr, Decorah, Iowa, GRT/Sput’s, 40, $500.
10. (5) 10 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn., GRT/BuckBuilt, 40, $550.
11. (13) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Hughes/Sput’s, 40, $600.
12. (22) 65 Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $550.
13. (11) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/RoushYates, 40, $425.
14. (3) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $400.
15. (15) 95 Keith Foss, Winona, Minn., Skyrocket/Grove, 40, $375.
16. (21) 89 Eric Pember, Pittsville, Wis., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $350.
17. (19) 89 Steve Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $325.
18. (14) 99 Josh Angst, Winona, Minn., Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $300.
19. (18) 99h Trevor Hunt (R), Kearney, Mo., GRT/Geddes, 39, $500.
20. (20) 11 Lance Hofer, Cochrane, Wis., GRT/BK’s, 39, $300.
21. (17) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 39, $400.
22. (23) 21 Chris Brown, Spring, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, 39, $400.
23. (24) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ProPower, 39, $500.
24. (16) 33x Adam Hensel, Baldwin, Wis., Rocket/Malcuit, 10, $300.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leaders: Thatcher 1-24, Sanders 25-36, Hughes 37-40.
Total Laps Led: Thatcher 24, Sanders 12, Hughes 4.
Margin of Victory: 0.691 second.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Myer (started 22nd, finished 12th).
Next Race: Saturday, Aug. 17, Ogilvie Raceway, Ogilvie, Minn..
Points Standings: J. Scott 700, S. Scott 688, Sanders 678, Hughes 670, Payne 586, VanderBeek 567, Brown 545, Shryock 534, Schott 504, Ramirez 494.
Rookie of the Year Points: Hunt 1630, Galloway 1535, Big Eagle 1235, Jeff Conner 855, Adam Penn 598.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: ProPower 347, Mullins 307, RoushYates 303, Geddes 297, Sput’s 280.
Tiger Rear Ends Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 377, GRT 354, MBCustom 323, Skyrocket 256, LG2 214.

Contingency Awards:
AERO Race Wheels – Hensel.
American Racer – Hunt.
Beyea Custom Headers – Sanders.
BSB Manufacturing – Schott, Gustin.
Buck Monson Photos – Hughes.
Crane Cams – Hughes.
Dominator Race Products – Hofer.
Edelbrock – S. Scott.
Eibach Springs – Bohr.
FK Rod Ends – Foss.
Forty9Designs.com – Hilsabeck, Hunt.
Fuel Safe – J. Scott.
GRT Race Cars – S. Scott.
Hooker Harness – Payne.
JRi Shocks – Gustin.
KEVKO Oil Pans & Components – Bohr.
Keyser Manufacturing – J. Timm.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Shryock.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Myer.
MSD Ignition – Hughes.
PBM Performance Products – Thatcher, Hughes.
Power Lift Racing Products – Whiteaker.
Real Racing Wheels – all non-qualifiers.
VP Racing Fuels – Hughes.

- Advertisement -

Recent articles

Brandon Sheppard Eager to Hunt For Fourth Illini 100 Win at Farmer City 

B-Shepp is currently tied with Billy Moyer for the most Illini...

Cannon McIntosh Returns to Form with Xtreme Outlaw Midgets at Keith Kunz Motorsports

Reunited with Keith Kunz Motorsports, Cannon McIntosh Has Returned to Form...

Chris Simpson Seeking A Fast Start To 2024 With Lucas Oil MLRA

Wheatland, Missouri (March 22, 2024) – Leaving the Lucas Oil Speedway...

Scotland County Speedway Results – 3/22/24

12 entries MODIFIEDS A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 11-Ethan Braaksma; 2. 00-Chris...

Scotland County Speedway Results – 3/23/24

11 entries MODIFIEDS A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 11-Ethan Braaksma; 2. 90M-Chase...

Highland Speedway Results – 3/23/24

16 entries DIRTCAR UMP MODIFIEDS A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 14-Rick Conoyer;...

Dale Howard wins UCSC Winter Heat Series Finale at Clayhill

ATWOOD, TN  –March 23, 2024 - Dale Howard of Byhalia, MS...

RELATED ARTICLES

King of America XIII reigns April 4-6 at Humboldt Speedway

RacinDirt USMTS King of America XIII takes place Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 4-6,...

Rodney Sanders Bests Winter Meltdown Finale at Vado

Humboldt Speedway’s King of America XIII Up NextHAPPY, Tex. (03/19/24) – Rodney Sanders made his...

Southern Raceway’s Clash on the Coast Results – 3/2/24

35 entries IMCA STOCK CAR A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 99-Dallon Murty; 2. 7R-Hunter Rasdon;...

Ebert flawless in Rocket Raceway Park route

An electrifying finale to the 14th Annual USMTS Texas Spring Nationals took place Saturday...