VanderBeek in victory lane at Humboldt

The 50th United States Modified Touring Series feature held at the Humboldt Speedway saw Zack VanderBeek lead from start to finish for his 47th career USMTS victory Friday night.

Driving the Oreo/Casey’s General Stores VanderBuilt Race Cars No. 33z, the 33-year-old from New Sharon, Iowa, redrew the pole to start the 40-lap main event and fended off early-race challenges from Dereck Ramirez before pulling away to an eight-car-length win at the finish line to earn the $3,000 top prize.

Stormy Scott, who started seventh, came alive late in the race but was unable to reel in the winner and had to settle for the runner-up honors at ‘The Hummer’ rather than notching his 49th career victory.

Rodney Sanders got around Dereck Ramirez to take the third spot while R.C. Whitwell claimed the fifth position. Ethan Dotson, Jake O'Neil, Terry Phillips, Lucas Schott and Jason Hughes rounded out the top 10.

On Saturday, the party heads east to the state-of-the-art Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., for the 9th Annual Lucas Slick Mist Show-Me Shootout presented by Foley Equipment.

Zack VanderBeek won the last appearance by the USMTS at the track in 2016 as last year's Lucas Slick Mist Show-Me Shootout was rained out. Johnny Scott and Gustin will also be looking to score their second win at the ‘Diamond of Dirt Tracks’ but the only two-time winner of this event is Terry Phillips.

Phillips has 24 career USMTS victories but none since Aug. 5, 2016, at Humboldt. Saturday’s show on familiar ground may help keep the 52-year-old from nearby Springfield from extending his winless drought past the two-year mark.

Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing begins at 7:05 following a prayer and the national anthem at 7. Adult admission is $20, seniors 62 and older are $17, youth ages 6-15 are $10 and kids ages 5 and under get in for free. Pit passes are $40.

Joe Duvall will have his No. 91 Spike Hardcore Energy USMTS Modified at the Casey’s General Store located just a few blocks from the track at 310 E. Hwy 54 in Wheatland from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Race fans can pick up coupons good for $2 off adult admission at Casey’s General Stores locations in Bolivar, Hermitage, Osceola, Stockton, Warsaw, Weaubleau and Wheatland. To find the location nearest you, visit www.caseys.com.

Out-Pace USRA B-Mods will also be in action competing for track, regional and national points in the Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series. Big O Tires Street Stocks are also on the card.

The Lucas Oil Speedway is located at the junction of Hwy. 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Mo. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is also available. With its entrance located just outside the pit gate this sprawling scenic camping facility will continue to enhance the racing experience at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks. Click www.lucasoilspeedway.com for more information or call the track hotline at (417) 282-5984.

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 and Instagram at www.instagram.com/usmts or subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv. Keep up to speed with everything USMTS by joining our email list at www.usmts.com/subscribe.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
USMTS Hunt for the Casey’s Cup powered by Summit
13th Annual USMTS Summer Fling @ The Bullring
Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, Kan.
Friday, Aug. 3, 2018

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed and money won. The top 12 in heat race passing points advance to the Casey’s General Stores “A” Main with the top 8 redrawing for the first 8 starting spots.

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (8) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
2. (2) 5k Kyle Prauner (R), Norfolk, Neb.
3. (4) 4w Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark.
4. (7) 8s Jon Sheets, Nevada, Mo.
5. (1) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
6. (3) 0 Jake O'Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz.
7. (6) 8c Chris Clark, Jackson, Wyo.
8. (5) 8 Jeremy Vaughn, Pocola, Okla.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (5) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
3. (6) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
4. (7) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
5. (3) 87 Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, Kan.
6. (8) 5d Devon Havlik, Iowa Falls, Iowa.
7. (4) 9d8 Paden Phillips, Chanute, Kan.
DQ – (2) 1st Johnny Scott, Cameron, Mo.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 292 Kyle Thompson (R), Joplin, Mo.
2. (5) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
3. (4) 88 Chad Wheeler, Muskogee, Okla.
4. (7) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
5. (3) 21t Lance Town, Wellsville, Kan.
6. (6) 23 Adam Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan.
7. (8) 21m Dalton McKinney, Clarksville, Mo.
DQ – (1) 21 Austin Bonner, Elk City, Okla.

MSD PERFORMANCE HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (4) 96 R.C. Whitwell, Tucson, Ariz.
2. (1) 44t Ethan Dotson (R), Bakersfield, Calif.
3. (2) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
3. (6) 07 Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
3. (7) 1m Curt Myers, Cameron, Wis.
6. (5) 19sb Lance Mari (R), Imperial, Calif.
DQ – (3) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (1) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
2. (2) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
3. (3) 1m Curt Myers, Cameron, Wis.
4. (4) 87 Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, Kan.
5. (10) 21 Austin Bonner, Elk City, Okla.
6. (6) 23 Adam Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan.
7. (8) 9d8 Paden Phillips, Chanute, Kan.
8. (9) 8 Jeremy Vaughn, Pocola, Okla., Hughes/BMS, $75.
9. (7) 21m Dalton McKinney, Clarksville, Mo., Rage/ChevPerf, $75.
10. (5) 5d Devon Havlik, Iowa Falls, Iowa, Sidebiter/Jono’s, $75.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (5) 0 Jake O'Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz.
2. (1) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
3. (9) 1st Johnny Scott, Cameron, Mo.
4. (4) 21t Lance Town, Wellsville, Kan.
5. (8) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
6. (6) 19sb Lance Mari (R), Imperial, Calif.
7. (2) 07 Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls, Wis., MBCustoms/Troy’s.
8. (7) 8c Chris Clark, Jackson, Wyo., GRT/ChevPerf, $90.
9. (3) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo., MBCustoms/Durham, $90.

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (1) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, VanderBuilt/Stoen, 40, $3000.
2. (7) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., VanderBuilt/Mullins, 40, $1600.
3. (8) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustoms/Hatfield, 40, $1100.
4. (2) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/Cornett, 40, $900.
5. (4) 71 R.C. Whitwell, Tucson, Ariz., Victory/ChevPerf, 40, $700.
6. (9) 44t Ethan Dotson (R), Bakersfield, Calif., MBCustoms/ChevPerf, 40, $600.
7. (14) 0 Jake O'Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz., LG2/ChevPerf, 40, $500.
8. (13) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Durham, 40, $450.
9. (6) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn., MBCustoms/Hill, 40, $425.
10. (16) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $400.
11. (22) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/TriStar, 40, $375.
12. (18) 1st Johnny Scott, Cameron, Mo., VanderBuilt/Hill, 40, $350.
13. (12) 8s Jon Sheets, Nevada, Mo., MBCustoms/Hatfield, 40, $250.
14. (10) 4w Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark., MBCustoms/Hatfield, 40, $300.
15. (11) 88 Chad Wheeler, Muskogee, Okla., MBCustoms/Durham, 40, $275.
16. (15) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustoms/ChevPerf, 40, $275.
17. (19) 87 Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, Kan., MBCustoms/Driskell, 40, $275.
18. (21) 21 Austin Bonner, Elk City, Okla., MBCustoms/ChevPerf, 39, $225.
19. (3) 5k Kyle Prauner (R), Norfolk, Neb., Razor/ChevPerf, 39, $275.
20. (17) 1m Curt Myers, Cameron, Wis., Hughes/Sput’s, 39, $275.
21. (20) 21t Lance Town, Wellsville, Kan., MBCustoms/Driskell, 39, $275.
22. (23) 23 Adam Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan., LG2/Speedway, 39, $275.
23. (25) 07 Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls, Wis., MBCustoms/Troy’s, 39, $275.
24. (24) 19sb Lance Mari (R), Imperial, Calif., MRT/Yeoman, 26, $275.
25. (5) 292 Kyle Thompson (R), Joplin, Mo., Shaw/ChevPerf, 22, $275.

(R) = Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year contender

Lap Leader: Vanderbeek 1-40.
Total Laps Led: VanderBeek 40.
Margin of Victory: 1.959 seconds.
Time of Race: 17 minutes, 53.547 seconds (2 cautions).
Provisional Starters: Kates, Mari, Crapser.
Eibach Spring Forward Award: Gustin (advanced 11 positions).
FK Rod Ends Hard Charger: Gustin (started 22nd, finished 11th).
Entries: 31.
Next Race: Saturday, Aug. 4, Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, Mo.
USMTS Hunt for the Casey’s Cup Points: J. Scott 2205, Sanders 2061, S. Scott 2050, O'Neil 2037, VanderBeek 2017, Ramirez 1948, Schott 1940, T. Phillips 1917, Kates 1375, Duvall 1364.
Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Points: O'Neil 1985, Mari 874, Carlos Ahumada Jr. 760, Zane Ferrell 692, Billy Vogel 610.
USMTS Engine Builder of the Year Points: Durham 226, Sput’s 181, Mullins 178, Cornett 176, Hatfield 166.
USMTS Manufacturers Championship Points: VanderBuilt 257, MBCustoms 245, Hughes 183, GRT 180, LG2 171.

Contingency Awards:
American Racer – Duvall.
Beyea Custom Headers – Fuqua.
BSB Manufacturing – Town.
Casey’s General Stores – Ramirez.
Champ Pans – Whitwell.
Deatherage Opticians – J. Scott.
E3 Spark Plugs – Sanders.
Edelbrock – Thompson.
Eibach – Gustin.
Fast Shafts – S. Scott.
FK Rod Ends – Gustin.
Forty9 Designs – Wolff, Prauner.
Hooker Harness – Sheets.
Integra Shocks & Springs – Bonner.
Jerovetz Motorsports Racing Parts – Wheeler.
Keyser Manufacturing – Hughes.
KSE Racing Products – Schott.
Maxima Racing Oils – S. Scott.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Clark.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Duvall.
QA1 – Schott.
RacerWebsite.com – McKinney.
Real Racing Wheels – P. Phillips, Vaughn, McKinney, Havlik, Crapser, Clark, Siebert.
Simpson Performance Products – Schott.
Swift Springs – Vanderbeek, P. Phillips.
Sybesma Graphics – VanderBeek.
Tire Demon – Gustin.
VP Racing Fuels – S. Scott.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – O’Neil.
Wilwood Disc Brakes – O’Neil.