GOLIAD, Texas—Two weeks ago when the United States Modified Touring Series season opener was canceled at the South Texas Speedway, the commute for Corpus Christi’s Steve Whiteaker Jr. went from a few blocks to more than 80 miles when the event moved to the Shady Oaks Speedway in Goliad, Texas.

But the best part of the trip for Whiteaker was the 30 laps around the 1/3-mile clay oval in Thursday night’s lid-lifter for the USMTS Casey’s Cup Series powered by S&S Fishing & Rental.

After nipping polesitter Daniel Hilsabeck to lead the first lap, Whiteaker held on to the top spot through a pair of mid-race cautions and drove away from two former USMTS national champions en route to a $2,000 payday.

“Pretty much the last thing I wanted to do was win without my dad being here, but he’s not here tonight,” Whiteaker said in victory lane. “He’ll be here tomorrow night so hopefully we can do it again when he’s here to see it.”

Rookie of the Year contender Jesse Sobbing of Glenwood, Iowa, moved into second on lap 4 and chased Whiteaker until the race’s first caution on lap 11 when 2010 USMTS National Champion Jason Hughes of Watts, Okla., snuck by Sobbing on the restart.

Hughes was unable to run down Whiteaker, and even with the aid of a second and final yellow flag on lap 18 had to watch as Whiteaker pulled away over the final ten circuits to pick up his second career USMTS win and first since breaking through in June 2009 at the I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark.

“I’m sure glad Jason didn’t get around me because I probably would’ve had to spin him or something,” Whiteaker said with a smile. “He’s won a bunch of these things and they don’t come very often for me, so I would have done about anything it took to win it.”

Not only did the victory end a nearly six-year dry spell for the 26-year-old, but it also erased a sour taste in his mouth from last year’s season-opening event in Corpus Christi where he led the first 21 laps only to lose the lead to Jason Krohn following a caution and eventually settle for a second-place finish in front of his home crowd.

Hughes opened his 2015 campaign with a runner-up finish while 2010-11 USMTS National Champion Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, finished third after starting 11th on the 24-car grid.

Dereck Ramirez was fourth and Zack VanderBeek finished fifth. Sixth through tenth went to Sobbing, Ben Kates, Johnny Scott, Philip Houston and Adam Penn.

Heat race checkers waved for Whiteaker, Sobbing, Shane Sprinkle and Ramirez. The Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains were won by Lance Town and Scott.

Round 2 of the inaugural USMTS event at the Shady Oaks Speedway happens Friday night with the first heat race getting the green flag at 7 p.m. Central Time. Saturday’s show gets underway at 6 p.m.

A $3,000 paycheck waits Friday’s feature winner with $4,000 to win up for grabs in Saturday’s main event. Limited Mods and Street Stocks will serve as support classes both nights.

Spectator tickets are $20 and pit passes are $40 each night. Kids ages 12 and under get into the grandstands free of charge each night, and kids ages 6 and under get into the pits for free each day. Tickets will be available for purchase at the track.

For race fans unable to make the trip but hungry to see their first USMTS race of the season, point your browser to www.racindirt.com/livevideo to order the pay-per-view broadcast. Every pay-per-view customer will also get a free month of RacinDirt.com’s On Demand video coverage free of charge (new subscribers only).

The Mesilla Valley Transportation Road Warrior program will award drivers who compete in all of the MVT Gulf Coast Border Region events with a possible provisional starting spot at three huge events: King of America V presented by Chix Gear Racewear, March 26-28, at the Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway; 5th Annual World Modified Dirt Track Championship, July 23-25, at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn.; and the 16th Annual Fall Nationals, Oct. 22-24, at the Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M.

Each of these events pays a minimum of $900 to start the championship main event, and the provisional starters will be selected randomly from all drivers in attendance at those events who also had perfect attendance in the MVT Gulf Coast Border Region.

The popular South Texas dirt track owned and operated by Bobby & Rosemary Stacy and Keith Stacy is located 4.0 miles north of Goliad on US 183, then 3.0 miles east on FM 622. To learn more, check out www.shadyoakspeedway.com, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ShadyOaksSpeedway and follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ShadyOaksGoliad.

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 subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
USMTS Casey’s Cup Series powered by S&S Fishing & Rental – MVT Gulf Coast Border Region presented by Day Motor Sports
Inaugural Event – Night 1 of 3
Shady Oaks Speedway, Goliad, Texas
Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015

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 were locked into the “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

MSD HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (1) 89c Steve Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.
2. (2) 23k Ben Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan.
3. (7) 1* Adam Penn, Shreveport, La.
4. (5) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
5. (8) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (6) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
7. (3) 7x Rory Jordan, Victoria, Texas.
8. (4) 7d Austin Theiss (R), Hockley, Texas.

HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 99 Jesse Sobbing (R), Glenwood, Iowa.
2. (7) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
3. (2) 83 Eddie Martin, Stilwell, Okla.
4. (5) 21t Lance Town (R), Louisburg, Kan.
5. (4) 137 William Pittaway, Corpus Christi, Texas.
6. (3) 73 Donovan Lodge, Moline, Ill.
7. (6) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
8. (8) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 5 Shane Sprinkle, Andrews, Texas.
2. (5) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
3. (6) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas.
4. (4) 2 Casey Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D.
5. (7) 10 Austin Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D.
6. (3) 12 Cody Leonard, Sinton, Texas.
7. (1) 9L Vince Lucas (R), Elk City, Okla.
8. (8) 65 Buck McFarlin, Inez, Texas.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (3) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
2. (8) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
3. (1) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (7) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
5. (5) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
6. (6) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (2) 38 Ronnie Gould III, Seminole, Okla.
8. (4) 123 Logan Robertson (R), Shamrock, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (2) 21t Lance Town (R), Louisburg, Kan.
2. (1) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (3) 2 Casey Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D.
4. (5) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
5. (10) 65 Buck McFarlin, Inez, Texas.
6. (4) 137 William Pittaway, Corpus Christi, Texas, Shaw/KSE, $60.
7. (8) 9L Vince Lucas (R), Elk City, Okla., Shaw/KSE, $80.
8. (7) 7x Rory Jordan, Victoria, Texas.
9. (6) 12 Cody Leonard, Sinton, Texas, Harris/Wells, $60.
10. (9) 7d Austin Theiss (R), Hockley, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (2) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (4) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
3. (3) 10 Austin Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D.
4. (1) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
5. (6) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (5) 73 Donovan Lodge, Moline, Ill., Kraft/105, $80.
7. (7) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., Impressive/Gade, $80.
8. (10) 123 Logan Robertson (R), Shamrock, Texas, Hughes/PPE, $80.
9. (8) 38 Ronnie Gould III, Seminole, Okla., Hughes/Mullens, $80.
10. (9) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., Impressive/Gade, $80.

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES “A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. (3) 89c Steve Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas, GRT/Mullins, 30, $2000.
2. (6) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 30, $1500.
3. (11) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 30, $1000.
4. (8) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Ramirez/Cornett, 30, $800.
5. (7) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, LG2/Sput’s, 30, $700.
6. (4) 99 Jesse Sobbing (R), Glenwood, Iowa, MBCustom/Sput’s, 30, $600.
7. (10) 23k Ben Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan., Harris/Mullens, 30, $550.
8. (14) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/Mullins, 30, $500.
9. (9) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas, MBCustom/PPE, 30, $450.
10. (5) 1* Adam Penn, Shreveport, La., Hughes/Mullins, 30, $400.
11. (20) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/Mullins, 30, $350.
12. (1) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa, Hilsabeck/Mullins, 30, $325.
13. (17) 2 Casey Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D., GRT/Durham, 30, $300.
14. (2) 5 Shane Sprinkle, Andrews, Texas, MBCustom/RoushYates, 30, $275.
15. (12) 83 Eddie Martin, Stilwell, Okla., Kraft/Clemens, 30, $200.
16. (18) 10 Austin Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D., GRT/Durham, 30, $275.
17. (23) 7d Austin Theiss (R), Hockley, Texas, MBCustom/Mullens, 30, $275.
18. (24) 7x Rory Jordan, Victoria, Texas, Shaw/Mullins, 30, $275.
19. (19) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., MBCustom/Sput’s, 30, $275.
20. (22) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M., AOS/AOS, 30, $275.
21. (21) 65 Buck McFarlin, Inez, Texas, Evolution/Mullins, 30, $200.
22. (13) 21t Lance Town (R), Louisburg, Kan., Phoenix/Driskell, 30, $275.
23. (15) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/AOS, 15, $275.
24. (16) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., LG2/Geddes, 12, $275.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leaders: Whiteaker 1-30.
Total Laps Led: Whiteaker 30.
Margin of Victory: 2.079 seconds.
Provisional Starters: Theiss, Jordan.
Entries: 32.
Sybesma Graphics Pole Award: Hughes.
Hard Charger: Gustin (started 11th, finished 3rd).
Next Race: Friday-Saturday, Feb. 13-14, Shady Oaks Speedway, Goliad, Texas.
MVT Gulf Coast Border Region Points: Whiteaker 103, Hughes 95, Gustin 91, Ramirez 87, VanderBeek 84, Sobbing 81, Kates 78, Scott 76, Houston 74, A. Penn 72.
Rookie of the Year Points: Sobbing 81, Kates 78, C. Arneson 66, A. Arneson 60, Theiss 58.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 10, Cornett 9, Sput’s 8, Mullens 7, PPE 6.
Manufacturers Championship Points: GRT 10, Hughes 9, Ramirez 8, LG2 7, MBCustom 6.

Contingency Awards:
AERO Race Wheels – Dillard.
Allstar Performance – Scott.
American Racer – C. Bauman.
Beyea Custom Headers – VanderBeek.
BSB Manufacturing – McFarlin.
Chix Gear Racewear – Gustin.
Deatherage Opticians – Whiteaker.
Edelbrock – Sprinkle.
Eibach Springs – Hilsabeck.
FK Rod Ends – Martin.
Forty9Designs.com – Sprinkle, Junghans.
Fuel Safe – Sobbing.
Hooker Harness – C. Arneson.
KEVKO Oil Pans & Components – Houston.
Keyser Manufacturing – A. Penn.
KSE Racing Products – Ramirez.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Gallardo.
Midwest Sheet Metal – Gallardo.
MSD Ignition – Whiteaker.
PBM Performance Products – Ramirez, Whiteaker.
QA1 – Whiteaker.
R2C Performance Products – Hughes.
Real Racing Wheels – all non-qualifiers.
Sybesma Graphics – Hughes.
Tilton Engineering – Ramirez.
VP Racing Fuels – Whiteaker.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Duvall.
Wilwood Disc Brakes – Kates.

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

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Casey’s General Stores, Chix Gear Racewear, COMP Cams, Day Motor Sports, Deatherage Opticians, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Fast Shafts, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, MSD, Nitroquest Media Group, RACEceiver, RacinDirt.com, S&S Fishing & Rental, VP Racing Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arizona Sport Shirts, ASi Racewear, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Double H Bands, Duvall Electric, ElbowsUp.com, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Olympic Fire Protection, Rivers Edge Scrap Management, Schwab’s Tinker Shop, UMotors Motorsports & Marine, Velocita USA.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bell Racing Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, BSB Manufacturing, CPD Racing Tools, Crane Cams, Driven Racing Oil, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Fuel Safe, Genesis Racing Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Holley Performance, Hooker Custom Harness, JRi Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, PBM Performance Products, QA1 Precision Products, Quarter Master, R2C Performance, Real Racing Wheels, Simpson Performance Products, Sybesma Graphics, Tilton Engineering, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes.