EL PASO, Texas (Feb. 22) — Stormy Scott likes to shine when the big money is on the line, and he did it again Saturday night in the 40-lap main event for the USMTS Casey’s Cup Series powered by Swan Energy to close out the inaugural Casa Ford-Lincoln ‘Icebreaker’ presented by MSD at the El Paso Speedway Park.
Scott’s third win in seven starts this season have all come in the final race of the three multi-day events when the winner’s share of the prize money was highest.

Tonight’s triumph was worth $3,000 and expanded his points lead in the MVT Gulf Coast Border Region presented by Day Motor Sports.

Following the traditional four-wide parade lap with an American flag waving above each competitor while a sparkling Mesilla Valley Transportation truck led the way, polesitter Daniel Hilsabeck led the first three laps before 20-year-old Jake Gallardo blasted into the lead on the fourth circuit.

Two laps later, Johnny Scott drove underneath Hilsabeck to grab second as he looked to run down his fellow Las Cruces, N.M., racer and make it a sweep of the weekend’s feature races.

Meanwhile, Fito Gallardo and Stormy Scott, who started 11th and 13th, respectively, were charging toward the front of the pack using every inch of the wide racing surface.

The race’s first and only caution waved on lap 7, and was followed by 33 laps of incredible racing between the front-runners and throughout the field.

By the tenth lap, Stormy Scott was up to third and Fito Gallardo was fourth. Then on lap 11, Fito Gallardo used his momentum around the extreme high side of the racing surface and screamed ahead of both Scott brothers.

For the next 12 laps, it was an all-Las Cruces family affair in the top four as father hunted son and brother battled brother.

Dancing through heavy lapped traffic, Jake Gallardo continued to set the pace while Fito Gallardo reeled in his son. But by lap 23, Stormy Scott had run them both down and a three-way tussle for the top spot ensued.

After several laps of back-and-forth wrangling, Stormy Scott finally led the race for the first time on lap 30. Picking off back-markers flawlessly without incident, he led the final 10 too and recorded his third win in six races.

His three wins on the final night of the last three weekends brought his total earnings so far to more than $14,000. Saturday night’s triumph was the 21st of his young USMTS career-one less than his twin brother’s tally.

‘The New Mexico Nightmare’ also pocketed the Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger Award for passing 12 of his competitors in Saturday’s 40-lap contest in El Paso.

Despite leading 26 laps, Jake Gallardo had to settle for the runner-up paycheck but earned his career-best USMTS finish, along with Fito Gallardo who finished third.

Reigning USMTS national champ Rodney Sanders came from 14th to fourth and Friday night’s winner, Johnny Scott, held on for fifth.

Sixth through tenth were Jake O’Neil, Terry Phillips, Bumper Jones, Hilsabeck and Bryan Rowland.

USMTS ‘Speedweeks’ continues next weekend at the Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M., for the 20th Annual Winter Meltdown, Feb. 27-March 1.

At the conclusion of next Saturday’s finale, the champion of the MVT Gulf Coast Border Region presented by Day Motor Sports will be crowned and that driver will be the last man standing for a chance at $100,000 to become the 2014 USMTS national champion.

All three nights of the 20th Annual Winter Meltdown will be carried live online. Visit www.RacinDirt.tv for ordering information.

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.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
USMTS Casey’s Cup powered by Swan Energy – MVT Gulf Coast Border Region presented by Day Motor Sports
Inaugural Casa Ford-Lincoln ‘Icebreaker’ presented by MSD – Night 2 of 2
El Paso Speedway Park, El Paso, Texas.
Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed, money won and reason out (if any). 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.

C&R RACING HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (1) J17 Jake Gallardo (R), Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (2) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
3. (7) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M.
4. (9) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (8) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
6. (3) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
7. (5) 78 Trevor Egbert, Salado, Texas.
8. (6) 51 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
9. (4) J7 Jake Boles (R), Alamo Gordo, N.M.

JRi SHOCKS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (3) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
3. (8) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (2) 32 Max Sadler (R), Springerville, Ariz.
5. (4) 5* Adam Penn (R), Shreveport, La.
6. (6) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (7) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
8. (5) 16 Eddie Martin, Stilwell, Okla.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 87 Lee Heiligenthal, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (5) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Waukee, Iowa.
3. (4) 95 Dylan Smith (R), Osceola, Neb.
4. (7) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (3) 61 Bobby Sikes Jr. (R), Eunice, N.M.
6. (8) 49 Duane Murphy, El Paso, Texas.
7. (1) 54 Carlos Ahumada Sr., El Paso, Texas.
8. (6) 44 Christy Georges, El Paso, Texas.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (2) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas.
2. (4) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
3. (3) 88n Jake O’Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz.
4. (6) 555 Chad Falco, El Paso, Texas.
5. (7) 5 Shane Sprinkle (R), Andrews, Texas.
6. (5) 22 John Calvert Jr. (R), Rio Rancho, N.M.
7. (8) 65 Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas.
8. (1) 28 Tom Georges (R), El Paso, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (6) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (1) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (4) 5* Adam Penn (R), Shreveport, La.
4. (8) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
5. (9) 51 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
6. (2) 555 Chad Falco, El Paso, Texas, /, $70.
7. (11) J7 Jake Boles (R), Alamo Gordo, N.M., GRT/Boles, $90.
8. (7) 65 Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas, LG2/BMS, $70.
9. (5) 49 Duane Murphy, El Paso, Texas, GRT/AOS, $70.
10. (10) 44 Christy Georges, El Paso, Texas.
11. (3) 32 Max Sadler (R), Springerville, Ariz., TRE/King, $90.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (2) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
2. (1) 88n Jake O’Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz.
3. (5) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
4. (3) 5 Shane Sprinkle (R), Andrews, Texas.
5. (7) 78 Trevor Egbert, Salado, Texas.
6. (9) 16 Eddie Martin, Stilwell, Okla.
7. (6) 22 John Calvert Jr. (R), Rio Rancho, N.M., Shaw/J&J, $90.
8. (8) 54 Carlos Ahumada Sr., El Paso, Texas, LG2/BMS, $70.
9. (4) 61 Bobby Sikes Jr. (R), Eunice, N.M., Skyrocket/Gray, $90.
DNS – 28 Tom Georges (R), El Paso, Texas, AOS/TNT, $90.

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (13) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/ProPower, 40, $3000.
2. (3) J17 Jake Gallardo (R), Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/AOS, 40, $1700.
3. (11) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/AOS, 40, $1200.
4. (14) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Sput’s, 40, $1000.
5. (5) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Ramirez/ProPower, 40, $800.
6. (16) 88n Jake O’Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz., LG2/Black, 40, $500.
7. (18) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 40, $600.
8. (6) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M., GRT/Sput’s, 40, $500.
9. (1) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Waukee, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $450.
10. (4) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., LG2/ProPower, 40, $400.
11. (9) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Ramirez/ProPower, 40, $400.
12. (7) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas, Hughes/RoushYates, 40, $350.
13. (21) 51 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/PTS, 40, $400.
14. (2) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M., AOS/AOS, 40, $300.
15. (10) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/Mullins, 40, $300.
16. (19) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan., MBCustom/Mullins, 40, $400.
17. (12) 95 Dylan Smith (R), Osceola, Neb., Jet/Woods, 40, $300.
18. (23) 16 Eddie Martin, Stilwell, Okla., Skyrocket/Gray, 40, $300.
19. (22) 78 Trevor Egbert, Salado, Texas, Hughes/Sput’s, 40, $300.
20. (20) 5 Shane Sprinkle (R), Andrews, Texas, Hughes/RoushYates, 40, $300.
21. (15) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M., GRT/Klein, 39, $300.
22. (17) 5* Adam Penn (R), Shreveport, La., Hughes/Geddes, 39, $300.
23. (8) 87 Lee Heiligenthal, Las Cruces, N.M., DirtWorks/Heiligenthal, 39, $275.
DNS – 44 Christy Georges, El Paso, Texas, GRT/Barnett, 0, $100, did not start.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leaders: Hilsabeck 1-3, J. Gallardo 4-29, S. Scott 30-40.
Total Laps Led: J. Gallardo 26, S. Scott 11, Hilsabeck 3.
Margin of Victory: 1.434 seconds.
Provisional Starters: Martin, C. Georges.
Sybesma Graphics Pole Award: Heiligenthal.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: S. Scott (started 13th, finished 1st).
Next Race: Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 27-March 1, Southern New Mexico Speedway, Las Cruces, N.M.
MVT Gulf Coast Border Region Points Standings: S. Scott 664, Sanders 615, J. Scott 546, J. Gallardo 474, Beebe 455, Rowland 454, Ramirez 448, Hilsabeck 445, Shryock 431, Duvall 408.
Rookie of the Year Points: J. Gallardo 471, Penn 355, Sprinkle 347, Cade Dillard 346, Darron Fuqua 273.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: ProPower 64, Sput’s 56, Geddes 41, Mullins 33, Hatfield 30.
Manufacturers Championship Points: LG2 66, MBCustom 62, Ramirez 50, GRT 41, Hughes 38.

Contingency Awards:
American Racer – Rowland.
Beyea Custom Headers – C. Georges.
Brass Monkey Racing Products – Martin.
C&R Racing – J. Gallardo.
Edelbrock – Heiligenthal.
FK Rod Ends – Duvall.
Forty9Designs.com – Ray, Egbert.
Fuel Safe – O’Neil.
GRT Race Cars – various.
Hooker Harness – Shryock.
JRi Shocks – J. Scott.
KEVKO Oil Pans & Components – Hilsabeck.
Keyser Manufacturing – Rowland.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Penn.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – S. Scott.
MSD Ignition – S. Scott, J. Gallardo.
PBM Performance Products – Houston, S. Scott.
Power Lift Racing Products – Smith.
Real Racing Wheels – all non-qualifiers.
Sybesma Graphics – Heiligenthal.
VP Racing Fuels – S. Scott.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, AMP Energy, Casey’s General Stores, COMP Cams, Day Motor Sports, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, MSD, Nitroquest Media Group, RACEceiver, RacinDirt.com, Snickers, SpiderWeb Modular Storage Solutions, Swan Energy, VP Racing Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arizona Sport Shirts, ASi Racewear, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Double H Bands, ElbowsUp.com, Erson Cams, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, Major League Bowhunter, Mesilla Valley Transportation, New Vision Graphics, Olympic Fire Protection, Penn Transport, Road Runner Crane, Road Runner Trucking, S&S Fishing & Rental, United Cellular Services.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Bell Racing Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, Brass Monkey Racing Products, C&R Racing, CPD Racing Tools, Edelbrock, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Fuel Safe, Genesis Racing Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Hooker Harness, JRi Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, PBM Performance Products, Power Lift Racing Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Sybesma Graphics, Tiger Rear Ends.