Moving on up: VanderBeek closes out El Paso weekend with third-place finish

Zack VanderBeek and the 33z Racing team ventured west with the USMTS Casey’s Cup Series this past weekend, Feb. 26-28, for the 2nd Annual “Ice Breaker” and three days of racing at the El Paso Speedway Park.

It was a frigid first two nights on Thursday and Friday as the team continued to find the right combination with their new Casey's General Stores LG2 by Owens Modified. VanderBeek advanced four spots to finish 19th Thursday and then bettered his starting spot by five positions Friday to take 13th.

The weather warmed up on Saturday, and so did 'The Z-Man.' After coming through a "B" Main to qualify for the "A" Main, VanderBeek started 18th in the 50-lapper and battled his way to the front to finish third.

Up next will be the 21st Annual Winter Meltdown at the Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M. Originally slated to kick off this Thursday, extremely cold weather forecasted for that day has prompted officials to move the show back one day, so racing action will now take place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 6-8. Friday’s feature winner will get $2,000 while the first to the finish line Saturday earns $3,000. Sunday’s main event victor will pocket $4,000.

Gates open at 5 p.m. on Friday with racing at 7. Gates open at 3 p.m. on Saturday with the first heat race going green at 6. On Sunday, gates will open at 1 p.m. with hot laps at 3 and racing to follow. Grandstand admission is $10 on Friday, $12 on Saturday and $15 on Sunday while kids ages 10 and under get in for free every day. Pit passes are $40 each night.

Despite the chilly forecast, an open practice is slated for Thursday night, March 5, from 6-9 p.m. Admission to the grandstands is free while pit passes are just $20.

For those unable to attend this weekend’s clash in person, all three nights will be carried live via pay-per-view. Visit www.SpeedShift.tv for ordering information and don’t miss a single lap of the unforgettable action at the 21st Annual Winter Meltdown presented by Barnett Harley-Davidson.

The Southern New Mexico Speedway is located 11 miles west of Las Cruces at the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds. Take exit 132, go left and take the frontage road south of I-10 heading west. For more information call 575-524-7913 or 505-524-7913 or visit www.snmspeedway.com online. You can also check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SouthernNewMexicoSpeedway and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SNMSpeedway.

Arneson dominates USMTS “Ice Breaker” opener at El Paso

EL PASO, Texas (Feb. 26)—Austin Arneson was in control from start to finish in Thursday night’s USMTS main event at the El Paso Speedway Park as he dominated the opening night of the 2nd Annual “Ice Breaker” presented by El Luchador.

Arneson, from Fargo, N.D., actually “broke the ice” one week ago when he captured his career-first United States Modified Touring Series feature win at the Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas.

“I knew I was good in (turns) one and two, but three and four were like ice skating over there,” Arneson said. “Hats off to the guys. I don’t think anybody thought they were going to get the track ran in tonight but was good, it was a good race, got our second win with these guys. Things are going good.”

A yellow flag on the fourth lap and a red flag on lap 16 slowed the action during the first half of the 30-lapper, but Arneson was up to the challenge on each restart with Cade Dillard of Robeline, La., following USMTS rookie from beginning to end.

The race’s first caution waved when defending USMTS National Champion Rodney Sanders came to a stop in turn 2. The red flag occurred when Terry Phillips collided with a spinning lapped car while chasing Dillard for the second spot.

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

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
2nd Annual “Ice Breaker” presented by El Luchador
El Paso Speedway Park, El Paso, Texas
Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed and money won. The top 16 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. (2) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas.
2. (5) 99 Jesse Sobbing (R), Glenwood, Iowa.
3. (6) 10 Austin Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D.
4. (7) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (3) 07 Donavon Flores (R), Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (8) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
7. (10) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
8. (4) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
9. (9) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
10. (1) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.

HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (4) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (2) 23k Ben Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan.
3. (6) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
4. (3) 2 Casey Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D.
5. (7) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
6. (9) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas.
7. (5) 1* Adam Penn, Shreveport, La.
8. (8) 38 Ronnie Gould III (R), Seminole, Okla.
9. (1) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
10. (10) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) 44 Christy Georges-Barnett, El Paso, Texas.
2. (5) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
3. (8) 2x Gene Weaver (R), Amarillo, Texas.
4. (7) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (2) 49 Duane Murphy, El Paso, Texas.
6. (4) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
7. (10) 7d Austin Theiss (R), Hockley, Texas.
8. (3) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
9. (9) 85 Austin Adams (R), El Paso, Texas.
10. (6) 19 Donavon Ooley, El Paso, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (2) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
2. (4) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
3. (6) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
4. (1) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
5. (3) 7d Austin Theiss (R), Hockley, Texas.
6. (8) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
7. (5) 1* Adam Penn, Shreveport, La.
8. (9) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (10) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
10. (11) 85 Austin Adams (R), El Paso, Texas, Shaw/ARE, $80.
11. (7) 38 Ronnie Gould III (R), Seminole, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, $80.
12. (14) 19 Donavon Ooley, El Paso, Texas, AOS/, $60.
13. (12) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M., GRT/Klein, $80.
14. (13) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn., MBCustom/Sput’s, $80.

MESILLA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION “A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. (1) 10 Austin Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D., GRT/Durham, 30, $2000.
2. (2) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., LG2/Geddes, 30, $1500.
3. (13) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., LG2/Cornett, 30, $1000.
4. (11) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/AOS, 30, $800.
5. (9) 23k Ben Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan., Harris/Mullins, 30, $700.
6. (7) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M., GRC/AOS, 30, $600.
7. (4) 2x Gene Weaver (R), Amarillo, Texas, GRT/PPE, 30, $550.
8. (12) 2 Casey Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D., GRT/Durham, 30, $500.
9. (6) 99 Jesse Sobbing (R), Glenwood, Iowa, MBCustom/Sput’s, 30, $450.
10. (14) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas, MBCustom/PPE, 30, $400.
11. (21) 7d Austin Theiss (R), Hockley, Texas, MBCustom/Mullins, 30, $350.
12. (17) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 30, $400.
13. (19) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., MBCustom/Sput’s, 30, $400.
14. (22) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa, Hilsabeck/Mullins, 30, $275.
15. (20) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/Mullins, 30, $275.
16. (15) 07 Donavon Flores (R), Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/Dynamic, 30, $275.
17. (24) 1* Adam Penn, Shreveport, La., Hughes/Mullins, 30, $400.
18. (8) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas, AOS/TNT, 29, $275.
19. (23) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, LG2/Sput’s, 29, $400.
20. (10) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M., AOS/AOS, 29, $275.
21. (18) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, 26, $275.
22. (3) 44 Christy Georges-Barnett, El Paso, Texas, GRT/Barnett, 18, $275.
23. (5) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Durham, 17, $275.
24. (16) 49 Duane Murphy, El Paso, Texas, GRT/AOS, 16, $275.
25. (25) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/Mullins, 14, $400.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leaders: A. Arneson 1-30.
Total Laps Led: A. Arneson 30.
Margin of Victory: 2.723 seconds.
Provisional Starters: VanderBeek, Penn, Scott (track).
Sybesma Graphics Pole Award: F. Gallardo.
Hard Charger: Ramirez (started 13th, finished 3rd).
Entries: 30.
Next Race: Friday-Saturday, Feb. 27-28, El Paso (Texas) Speedway Park.
MVT Gulf Coast Border Region Points: Hughes 527, Ramirez 506, A. Arneson 495, Houston 465, Sobbing 462, Dillard 447, VanderBeek 419, Junghans 395, J. Gallardo 394, Penn 392.
Rookie of the Year Points: A. Arneson 495, Sobbing 462, Kates 394, C. Arneson 387, Theiss 352.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 52, Cornett 43, Sput’s 41, Durham 41, PPE 36.
Manufacturers Championship Points: LG2 51, GRT 51, Hughes 50, MBCustom 45, Hilsabeck 27.

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

Arneson rides high in thrilling USMTS “Icebreaker” in El Paso

EL PASO, Texas (Feb. 27)—Coming from deep in the field, Austin Arneson notched his second straight United States Modified Touring Series victory in thrilling fashion Friday at the El Paso Speedway Park during the second night of the 2nd Annual “Ice Breaker” presented by El Luchador.

It was an instant classic… one that online viewers and the brave souls who withstood sub-freezing temperatures will talk about for years to come.

The 23-year-old from Fargo, N.D., charged from 17th on the starting grid, took the lead from Dereck Ramirez with two laps to go and sailed to his third win of the young 2015 season and a $3,000 paycheck.

“I never wanted one so bad,” an elated Arneson said after the race. “It was just one of those nights where everything fell into place. I got a caution (on lap 19) and it put me in about seventh or eighth, and then I was just banging the chip down the straight-away and the back-stretch. I was giving it her all and I couldn’t give her any more.”

Arneson’s march through the field may have been overlooked by most.

For the first 28 laps the fans and viewers on the live broadcast were witness to a spectacular battle up front between defending USMTS National Champion Rodney Sanders, Dereck Ramirez and last year’s USRA Modified National Champion, Fito Gallardo.

In fact, from lap 9 through lap 32 the top three cars were never separated by more than a second on the electronic timing and scoring sheets.

Gallardo sat on the pole but Sanders gained control when the green flag waved, stretching out to a six-car-length lead in the first five laps. But Gallardo reeled in Sanders and pulled alongside as they completed lap 12.

Ramirez joined the fracas the next time around and a three-car battle ensued for the next seven laps. With two lapped cars in their path, the trio split the back-markers and nearly went five-wide before Sanders settled back into the top spot with Ramirez and Gallardo hot on his heels.

Racing down the back-stretch on lap 15, Sanders slipped too high over the embankment which allowed Ramirez to rocket past on the inside. He remained in control and kept Sanders at bay until the race’s only caution came out with 19 of 40 laps complete.

On the restart, the lead group resumed their battle but it was now obvious that Arneson’s white and blue No. 10 machine was on the move. He got by Philip Houston, Jake Gallardo and Cade Dillard on successive laps, and then slipped by Jesse Sobbing for fourth with 12 laps to go.

Flying around the high side of the high-banked clay oval, Arneson got around Sanders with six laps to go, passed Fito Gallardo with three to go and then screamed by Ramirez underneath the flagstand with just two orbits remaining.

“I didn’t think it was really happening. It was kind of unbelievable,” Arneson exclaimed. “I didn’t lift in (turns) one and two, and there wasn’t much lifting in three and four either. It was going pretty good.”

Ramirez settled for the runner-up finish, coming four car-lengths shy of registering his third win of the 2015 campaign, while Sanders, Fito Gallardo and Sobbing completed the top five.

Sixth through tenth were Jake Gallardo, Dillard, Grant Junghans, Houston and Jason Hughes.

Hughes came into the night as the points leader in the MVT Gulf Coast Border Region presented by Day Motor Sports, but dropped to second behind Ramirez after Friday. Arneson remains third with the top three separated by a mere eight points going into Saturday’s show. Sobbing sits fourth in the standings, followed by Houston, Dillard, Zack VanderBeek, Jake Gallardo, Junghans and Casey Arneson.

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

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
2nd Annual “Ice Breaker” presented by El Luchador – Night 1 of 2
El Paso Speedway Park, El Paso, Texas
Friday, Feb. 27, 2015

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed and money won. The top 16 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) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
2. (4) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
3. (10) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (5) 23k Ben Kates(R), Tonganoxie, Kan.
5. (3) 38 Ronnie Gould III(R), Seminole, Okla.
6. (8) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
7. (2) 7d Austin Theiss(R), Hockley, Texas.
8. (9) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
9. (6) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
10. (7) 65 Carlos Ahumada Jr., Canutillo, Texas.

HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
2. (2) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (5) 99 Jesse Sobbing(R), Glenwood, Iowa.
4. (4) 2 Casey Arneson(R), Fargo, N.D.
5. (7) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
6. (3) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
7. (6) 44 Christy Georges-Barnett, El Paso, Texas.
8. (9) 85 Austin Adams(R), El Paso, Texas.
9. (8) 19 Donavon Ooley, El Paso, Texas.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (2) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
3. (4) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas.
4. (6) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (8) 2x Gene Weaver, Amarillo, Texas.
6. (3) 07 Donavon Flores(R), Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (7) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
8. (9) 10 Austin Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D.
9. (5) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN (12 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (8) 10 Austin Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D.
2. (1) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
3. (5) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
4. (6) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
5. (3) 7d Austin Theiss (R), Hockley, Texas.
6. (9) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (11) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas.
8. (4) 44 Christy Georges-Barnett, El Paso, Texas.
9. (10) 19 Donavon Ooley, El Paso, Texas, AOS/AOS, $70.
10. (7) 85 Austin Adams (R)), El Paso, Texas, Shaw/ARE, $90.
11. (2) 07 Donavon Flores (R), Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/Dynamic, $90.
12. (12) 65 Carlos Ahumada Jr., Canutillo, Texas, LG2/BMS, $70.

MESILLA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (17) 10 Austin Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D., GRT/Durham, 40, $3000.
2. (4) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., LG2/Cornett, 40, $1700.
3. (2) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, 40, $1200.
4. (1) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M., GRC/Dynamic, 40, $1000.
5. (5) 99 Jesse Sobbing (R), Glenwood, Iowa, MBCustom/Sput’s, 40, $800.
6. (8) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/AOS, 40, $700.
7. (7) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., LG2/Geddes, 40, $600.
8. (6) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., MBCustom/Sput’s, 40, $550.
9. (9) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas, MBCustom/PPE, 40, $500.
10. (14) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $450.
11. (13) 2 Casey Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D., GRT/Durham, 40, $400.
12. (11) 23k Ben Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan., Harris/Mullins, 40, $375.
13. (18) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, LG2/Sput’s, 40, $400.
14. (21) 7d Austin Theiss (R), Hockley, Texas, MBCustom/Mullins, 40, $325.
15. (16) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/Mullins, 39, $325.
16. (19) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa, Hilsabeck/Mullins, 39, $325.
17. (23) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas, AOS/TNT, 39, $325.
18. (15) 38 Ronnie Gould III (R), Seminole, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 39, $325.
19. (3) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/Mullins, 37, $325.
20. (10) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M., GRT/Klein, 20, $325.
21. (20) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Durham, 17, $325.
22. (22) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M., AOS/AOS, 16, $325.
23. (12) 2x Gene Weaver (R), Amarillo, Texas, GRT/PPE, 16, $325.
24. (24) 44 Christy Georges-Barnett, El Paso, Texas, GRT/Barnett, 14, $325.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leaders: Sanders 1-15, Ramirez 16-38, A. Arneson 39-40.
Total Laps Led: Ramirez 23, Sanders 15, A. Arneson 2.
Margin of Victory: 1.477 seconds.
Provisional Starters: Georges, Georges-Barnett.
Sybesma Graphics Pole Award: Scott.
Hard Charger: A. Arneson (started 17th, finished 1st).
Entries: 28.
Next Race: Saturday, Feb. 28, El Paso (Texas) Speedway Park.
MVT Gulf Coast Border Region Points: Ramirez 604, Hughes 599, A. Arneson 596, Sobbing 546, Houston 539, Dillard 525, VanderBeek 485, J. Gallardo 475, Junghans 471, C. Arneson 457.
Rookie of the Year Points: A. Arneson 596, Sobbing 546, Kates 462, C. Arneson 457, Theiss 416.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 55, Cornett 52, Durham 51, Sput’s 47, PPE 40, Geddes 40.
Manufacturers Championship Points: GRT 61, LG2 60, Hughes 57, MBCustom 53, Hilsabeck 32.

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

Sanders gets 46th USMTS win, thwarts Arneson’s El Paso sweep

EL PASO, Texas (Feb. 28)—With the weekend’s biggest prize on the line Saturday night at the El Paso Speedway Park, Rodney Sanders found a way to stop the Austin Arneson freight train and found himself in victory lane with a $4,000 paycheck at the 2nd Annual “Ice Breaker” presented by El Luchador.

“We were pretty good in the heat race and felt we were pretty close, but we changed a lot of things for the feature,” Sanders said in victory lane. “He (Arneson) has been the class of the field all weekend, so hats off to those guys.”

Sanders started on the front row Friday but was unable to keep Arneson behind him and finished third behind the USMTS rookie contender and Dereck Ramirez.

On Saturday, Sanders drew the eighth starting spot while Arneson began the 50-lap main event from the outside of the front row.

Arneson took off at the drop of the green flag with polesitter Terry Phillips and Ramirez in tow while Sanders quickly advanced four positions to the fourth spot.

Midway through the race, the trio of pursuers began to reel in Arneson. With a bold move on lap 24, Sanders snuck by Phillips for third and then got around Ramirez four laps later to move into second.

The two-time defending USMTS National Champion caught Arneson on lap 30 and then scooted past on the inside as they crossed the line to complete the 32nd lap.

Sanders never got far from Arneson, but never relinquished the lead again as he roared to his first win of the season and 46th overall in his United States Modified Touring Series career.

“The track was real good tonight,” Sanders added. “It was slick and smooth and it was a real good night for us. It feels good to get a win here.”

For Arneson, his bid for a sweep of the weekend’s events came up one spot short with his second-place finish while Zack VanderBeek ended a frustrating week on a high note as he was able to maneuver past 15 cars en route to a third-place finish.

Jake Gallardo went to the tail of the field after bringing out the race’s first yellow flag on lap 4 when he tagged the tire barrier on the inside of turn 4, but bounced back to claim the fourth spot ahead of Ramirez.

Rookie of the Year contenders Jesse Sobbing and Ben Kates were sixth and seventh at the end of the 50-lapper, with Royal Jones, Joe Duvall and Philip Houston rounding out the top 10.

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
2nd Annual “Ice Breaker” presented by El Luchador – Night 3 of 3
El Paso Speedway Park, El Paso, Texas
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed and money won. The top 16 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. (5) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
2. (4) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (6) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
4. (1) 2x Gene Weaver (R), Amarillo, Texas.
5. (2) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
6. (9) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas.
7. (8) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
8. (3) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas.
9. (7) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.
10. (10) 65 Carlos Ahumada Jr., Canutillo, Texas.

HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (3) 99 Jesse Sobbing (R), Glenwood, Iowa.
2. (2) 1* Adam Penn, Shreveport, La.
3. (5) 44 Christy Georges-Barnett, El Paso, Texas.
4. (4) 07 Donavon Flores (R), Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (7) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (1) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
7. (6) 38 Ronnie Gould III (R), Seminole, Okla.
8. (8) 19 Donovan Ooley, El Paso, Texas.
9. (9) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 10 Austin Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D.
2. (3) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
3. (1) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
4. (4) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
5. (6) 23k Ben Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan.
6. (5) 2 Casey Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D.
7. (8) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
8. (9) 7d Austin Theiss (R), Hockley, Texas.
9. (7) 85 Austin Adams (R), El Paso, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (2) 2 Casey Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D.
2. (3) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
3. (1) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
4. (4) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (6) 7d Austin Theiss (R), Hockley, Texas.
6. (10) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
7. (7) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas.
8. (5) 38 Ronnie Gould III (R), Seminole, Okla.
9. (9) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.
10. (11) 85 Austin Adams (R), El Paso, Texas.
11. (8) 19 Donovan Ooley, El Paso, Texas, AOS/AOS, $80.
12. (12) 65 Carlos Ahumada Jr., Canutillo, Texas, LG2/BMS, $80.

MESILLA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION “A” MAIN (50 laps):
1. (8) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, 50, $4000.
2. (2) 10 Austin Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D., GRT/Durham, 50, $2700.
3. (18) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, LG2/Sput’s, 50, $1800.
4. (13) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/AOS, 50, $1200.
5. (9) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., LG2/Cornett, 50, $900.
6. (6) 99 Jesse Sobbing (R), Glenwood, Iowa, MBCustom/Sput’s, 50, $800.
7. (14) 23k Ben Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan., Harris/Mullins, 50, $700.
8. (25) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M., GRT/Klein, 50, $600.
9. (19) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/Mullins, 50, $550.
10. (15) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas, MBCustom/PPE, 50, $500.
11. (10) 2x Gene Weaver (R), Amarillo, Texas, GRT/PPE, 50, $450.
12. (4) 1* Adam Penn, Shreveport, La., Hughes/Mullins, 50, $425.
13. (17) 2 Casey Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D., GRT/Durham, 50, $400.
14. (22) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 50, $400.
15. (20) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M., AOS/AOS, 50, $350.
16. (16) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa, Hilsabeck/Mullins, 50, $350.
17. (11) 07 Donavon Flores (R), Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/Dynamic, 50, $350.
18. (21) 7d Austin Theiss (R), Hockley, Texas, MBCustom/Mullins, 50, $350.
19. (24) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas, AOS/TNT, 50, $350.
20. (26) 85 Austin Adams (R), El Paso, Texas, Shaw/ARE, 50, $350.
21. (3) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/Dynamic, 39, $350.
22. (1) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Durham, 39, $350.
23. (7) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., MBCustom/Sput’s, 38, $400.
24. (12) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., LG2/Geddes, 28, $400.
25. (5) 44 Christy Georges-Barnett, El Paso, Texas, GRT/Barnett, 21, $350.
26. (23) 38 Ronnie Gould III (R), Seminole, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 1, $350.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leaders: A. Arneson 1-31, Sanders 32-50.
Total Laps Led: A. Arneson 31, Sanders 19.
Margin of Victory: 2.180 seconds.
Provisional Starters: Gould, Georges, Jones (track), Adams (track).
Sybesma Graphics Pole Award: Junghans.
Hard Charger: VanderBeek (started 18th, finished 3rd).
Entries: 28.
Next Race: Thursday-Saturday, March 5-7, Southern New Mexico Speedway, Las Cruces, N.M.
MVT Gulf Coast Border Region Points: A. Arneson 694, Ramirez 688, Hughes 663, Sobbing 627, Houston 611, VanderBeek 576, Dillard 575, J. Gallardo 562, C. Arneson 523, Junghans 522.
Rookie of the Year Points: A. Arneson 694, Sobbing 627, Kates 540, C. Arneson 523, Theiss 472.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Durham 60, Mullins 60, Cornett 58, Sput’s 55, Geddes 50.
Manufacturers Championship Points: GRT 70, LG2 68, Hughes 63, MBCustom 63, Harris 38.

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