Zack VanderBeek

Ramirez rises in USMTS Juggernaut at Tri-State Speedway

Night after night and year after year, the best of the best racers in dirt modified racing are drawn to the Summit USMTS National Championship fueled by Casey’s, and that produces what is arguably the most intense racing in all of motorsports.

They did it again Saturday night at the Tri-State Speedway, giving fans in attendance at the 3/8-mile high-banked red clay oval in Pocola, Oklahoma—along with those watching at home on RacinDirt.TV—one of those races that will be talked about for a generation.

With 57 cars and drivers squeezing into the pit area for the 7th Annual USMTS Drive4JRT.com Juggernaut presented by Hacienda Mechanical, the 40-lap main event odyssey began with Austin Siebert pacing the 26-car field to the start from the Sybesma Graphics Pole Position.

With four-time USMTS national champion Jason Hughes starting next to him, the 34-year-old from Grandview, Missouri, took control at the waving of the green flag with Hughes giving chase followed by Kenny Gaddis and former track champ Lonnie Robins.

Behind them a great three-car battle starring Dereck Ramirez, Terry Phillips and Rodney Sanders bubbled up to the surface from the get-go.

Despite heavy pressure from Hughes throughout the first 10 laps, Siebert remained solidly smooth through the center of the racing surface and began to inch further away as the leaders found lapped traffic near the halfway point of the 40-lapper.

Hughes—a three-time USMTS feature winner here—stayed busy in fending off challenges from Phillips, Sanders and Ramirez while they danced in and out of a swarm of back-markers until the race’s first yellow flag waved on lap 22.

The pause didn’t appear to bother Siebert as he went right back to the middle lane and kept his pursuers at bay while Hughes and Ramirez stayed side by side with Phillips and Sanders fighting for real estate right behind them.

With 25 laps in the books, Hughes got a good run off turn two and looked to pull alongside Siebert down the back-stretch. In a race where inches matter, minor contact to Siebert’s right rear quarter panel from the left front of Hughes’ racecar sent the leader into a spin as they entered the third turn.

The race’s second caution resulted in Siebert retaining the top spot while Hughes was forced to tag the rear of the field which wiped out his hopes of snapping a nearly-four-year dry spell dating back to September 3, 2017, when he won his 155th USMTS feature two weeks before clinching his fourth series title.

It will never be known what might have been, but what was over the final 15 laps was something to behold.

Sanders, who won the last time the USMTS was here last June, got by Ramirez after the restart and then drove up to challenge Siebert for the lead. He used a strong run into the third turn to drive under and slide up in front of the leader, but Siebert was back in charge by the time they reached the flagstand to complete lap 27.

Ramirez, who stayed faithful to the shortest way around the racetrack for the first 28 laps, remained there and regained second place from Sanders one lap later. Then on lap 30, he pulled even with Siebert but trailed by a nose at the stripe.

Siebert and Ramirez raced door to door every lap after that, never touching and neither ever enjoying more than a half-car-length advantage at the end of each lap. Ramirez led for the first time on lap 35, but Siebert fought back to lead the next time around.

Laps 37 and 38 were scored in favor of Siebert while Ramirez, who is three months his senior, was noted as the leader at the white flag. Ramirez was able to pull slightly ahead on the final circuit and crossed beneath the checkered flag with a half-second cushion over Siebert—the widest margin for the leader over the last dozen laps.

“That was fun,” Ramirez said after climbing from his No. 4R Cornett-powered Boomtest Well Service Hughes Racing Chassis machine. “I pride myself on being a clean racer and I didn’t want to dirty him up. I felt like on the last lap there I got far enough ahead of him that I was going to clear him going in the corner so I had to do what I had to do. You’ve got to win a race and that’s what we do this for.

“He did a heck of a job, you know, he’s up there running his line and I’m down there searching and I’m trying different things on the bottom and finally there at the end I kind of widened my entry and made it work. Man that was awesome. I hope you fans liked that one. That was a pretty good race there.”

His second win in eight starts this season—and now the new Wrisco Points Leader—Ramirez took a moment to reflect on his support system.

“I’ve got to dedicate this win to a family back home. Brandon Miller and his family, they lost their dad (Eugene Shahan) and he actually started going with us this year. We got him a victory down there in Texas and this one’s for him. We’re going to miss him and I know he’d be right here with us, and I’m sure he’s up there watching me today so this is for him. And this is for my dad (Leon Ramirez). He’s been battling cancer and seems like every time we get good news we get bad news and I owe all this racing to him. I love him and I love my family and I just hope he gets better and so it’s for you too dad.”

While Dereck Ramirez was the name written on the $10,000 winner’s paycheck, Siebert was pleased with his effort and $5,000 consolation prize.

“Such a heartbreaker,” he said. “We’re getting close to the end, I thought I had it and that would’ve been our first win and that would have been huge. We were racing, he was good, he was better than us today. There’s things I could’ve probably done different but it was a lot of fun.”

Sanders was the third driver to cross the finish line but was disqualified during post-race technical inspections for an unapproved suspension component. That relegated him to the rear of the main event finishing order and cost the not-so-happy hotshoe from Happy, Texas, a total of 41 series points.

That moved tenth-starting Tanner Mullens to third on the final score sheets with Lucas Schott and Tyler Wolff coming home fourth and fifth. Jake O'Neil, Dan Ebert, Phillips, Johnny Scott and Robins rounded out the top ten.

Memorial Day Weekend to remember: The Summit USMTS National Championship fueled by Casey’s returns to action Memorial Day Weekend with a three-night blitzkrieg along the Iowa-Minnesota border that features a trio of $10,000-to-win blockbusters.

The sparks fly Friday, May 28, at the Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa, for the 13th Annual USMTS Rapid Rumble, followed by the 18th Annual USMTS Southern MN Spring Challenge on Saturday, May 29, at the award-winning Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minnesota.

Then on Sunday, May 30, the USMTS road warriors invade the Winneshiek County fairgrounds for the 13th Annual USMTS Nordic Nationals at the Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa.

Taking dirt to a new level: The 2021 campaign for the Summit USMTS National Championship fueled by Casey’s features 36 nights of racing with the winners of those main events set to take home over $300,000 in earnings from more than $1 million in prize money earmarked for those shows. Twenty-six of the 36 race nights will pay at least $10,000 to win while the other 10 carry a $5,000 top prize.

As if that weren’t enough, more than $230,000 is committed to the top ten finishers in the 2021 points standings with a record $70,000 reserved for the 2021 USMTS National Champion.

Visit usmts.com for schedules, points, photos, souvenirs, videos and more. Follow our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Click here to get USMTS news delivered to your inbox.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
Summit USMTS National Championship fueled by Casey’s
7th Annual USMTS Drive4JRT.com Juggernaut presented by Hacienda Mechanical
Tri-State Speedway, Pocola, Okla.
Saturday, May 15, 2021

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown. The top 12 in heat race passing points advance to the Casey’s “A” Main.

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (4) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
2. (1) 1ST Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (3) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
4. (6) 19 Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.
5. (7) 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark.
6. (2) 18A Landon Atkinson, Little Falls, Minn.
7. (9) 31M Travis Mosley, Batesville, Ark.
8. (8) 4R Jared Russell, Wagoner, Okla.
9. (5) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
10. (10) 8C Chris Clark, Jackson, Wyo.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (3) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
2. (5) 2G Kenny Gaddis, Diana, Texas
3. (9) 33 Lonnie Robins, Alma, Ark.
4. (7) 7D Jake Davis, Hackett, Ark.
5. (8) 0 Jake O’Neil, Tucson, Ariz.
6. (2) 1M Curt Myers, Cameron, Wis.
7. (6) 12H Mike Hansen, Dickinson, N.D.
8. (10) 29B Jamie White, Mena, Ark.
9. (1) 10 Kyle Schmidt, Lowell, Ark.
10. (4) 444 Brooks Strength, Raymond, Miss.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (3) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
2. (2) 87 Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, Kan.
3. (1) 86 Kyle Beard, Trumann, Ark.
4. (4) 60 Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn.
5. (5) 00 Jesse Stovall, Billings, Mo.
6. (7) 85 Jayson Good, Watertown, S.D.
7. (6) 317 R.C. Whitwell, Tucson, Ariz.
8. (9) 292 Kyle Thompson, Joplin, Mo.
9. (8) 75 Kyle Ledford, Greenwood, Ark.
10. (10) 99 Nathan Hagar, Adair, Okla.

MSD PERFORMANCE HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (2) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
2. (4) 4R Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
3. (3) 12L Lucas Lee, Paris, Tenn.
4. (1) 127 Andy Morris, Fort Gibson, Okla.
5. (5) 7G Sean Gaddis, Diana, Texas
6. (6) 17JR Drake Long, Stilwell, Okla.
7. (7) 57 Robby Hines, Mena, Ark.
8. (8) 64 Casey Fowler, Grand Saline, Texas
9. (9) 36 Jay Quillen, Fort Smith, Ark.

VP RACING FUELS HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (4) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
2. (2) 89X Jesse Glenz, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
3. (5) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (8) 56 Broc Bowen, Fannin, Texas
5. (3) 0 Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif.
6. (1) 65X Carlos Jr.. Ahumada, El Paso, Texas
7. (9) 2G Brandon Givens, Wichita, Kan.
8. (6) 7 Daniel Franklin, Berryville, Ark.
9. (7) 97 Noah Newell, Van Buren, Ark.

WRISCO HEAT RACE #6 (8 laps):
1. (1) K19 Will Krup, Mt. Carmel, Ill.
2. (3) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
3. (7) 4W Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark.
4. (5) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
5. (4) 33Z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa
6. (2) 21 Jacob Bleess, Chatfield, Minn.
7. (6) 17H Brent Holman, Rogers, Ark.
8. (8) 6 Jason Payton, Greenwood, Ark.
9. (9) 8 Jeremy Vaughn, Pocola, Okla.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (1) 89X Jesse Glenz, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
2. (4) 60 Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn.
3. (3) 7D Jake Davis, Hackett, Ark.
4. (10) 317 R.C. Whitwell, Tucson, Ariz.
5. (5) 127 Andy Morris, Fort Gibson, Okla.
6. (8) 21 Jacob Bleess, Chatfield, Minn.
7. (6) 0 Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif.
8. (15) 444 Brooks Strength, Raymond, Miss.
9. (7) 85 Jayson Good, Watertown, S.D.
10. (9) 31M Travis Mosley, Batesville, Ark.
11. (13) 10 Kyle Schmidt, Lowell, Ark.
12. (12) 64 Casey Fowler, Grand Saline, Texas
13. (14) 36 Jay Quillen, Fort Smith, Ark.
14. (11) 29B Jamie White, Mena, Ark.
15. (2) 56 Broc Bowen, Fannin, Texas

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (2) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
2. (1) 1ST Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (7) 18A Landon Atkinson, Little Falls, Minn.
4. (5) 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark.
5. (6) 00 Jesse Stovall, Billings, Mo.
6. (8) 65X Carlos Jr.. Ahumada, El Paso, Texas
7. (4) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
8. (3) 86 Kyle Beard, Trumann, Ark.
9. (9) 2G Brandon Givens, Wichita, Kan.
10. (10) 57 Robby Hines, Mena, Ark.
11. (15) 8C Chris Clark, Jackson, Wyo.
12. (12) 7 Daniel Franklin, Berryville, Ark.
13. (14) 97 Noah Newell, Van Buren, Ark.
14. (11) 292 Kyle Thompson, Joplin, Mo.
15. (13) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (5) 33Z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa
2. (4) 0 Jake O’Neil, Tucson, Ariz.
3. (2) 12L Lucas Lee, Paris, Tenn.
4. (11) 4R Jared Russell, Wagoner, Okla.
5. (1) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (3) 19 Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.
7. (7) 1M Curt Myers, Cameron, Wis.
8. (13) 75 Kyle Ledford, Greenwood, Ark.
9. (9) 12H Mike Hansen, Dickinson, N.D.
10. (6) 7G Sean Gaddis, Diana, Texas
11. (14) 8 Jeremy Vaughn, Pocola, Okla.
12. (10) 17H Brent Holman, Rogers, Ark.
13. (8) 17JR Drake Long, Stilwell, Okla.
14. (12) 6 Jason Payton, Greenwood, Ark.
15. (15) 99 Nathan Hagar, Adair, Okla.

CASEY’S “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (6) 4R Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
2. (1) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
3. (10) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
4. (14) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
5. (11) 4W Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark.
6. (18) 0 Jake O’Neil, Tucson, Ariz.
7. (16) 60 Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn.
8. (5) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
9. (17) 1ST Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
10. (4) 33 Lonnie Robins, Alma, Ark.
11. (7) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
12. (23) 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark.
13. (15) 33Z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa
14. (20) 18A Landon Atkinson, Little Falls, Minn.
15. (19) 7D Jake Davis, Hackett, Ark.
16. (9) K19 Will Krup, Mt. Carmel, Ill.
17. (2) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
18. (26) 444 Brooks Strength, Raymond, Miss.
19. (25) 19 Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.
20. (24) 4R Jared Russell, Wagoner, Okla.
21. (28) 17H Brent Holman, Rogers, Ark.
22. (22) 317 R.C. Whitwell, Tucson, Ariz.
23. (13) 89X Jesse Glenz, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
24. (12) 87 Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, Kan.
25. (27) 12H Mike Hansen, Dickinson, N.D.
26. (3) 2G Kenny Gaddis, Diana, Texas
27. (21) 12L Lucas Lee, Paris, Tenn.
DQ – (8) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas

Lap Leaders: Siebert 1-34, Ramirez 35, Siebert 36-38, Ramirez 39-40.
Total Laps Led: Siebert 37, Ramirez 3.
Margin of Victory: 0.476 second.
Time of Race: 19 minutes, 53.794 seconds (2 cautions).
Provisional Starters: Sorensen, Strength, Hansen (track), Holman (track).
FK Rod Ends Hard Charger: O’Neil (started 18th, finished 6th).
Entries: 57.
Next Race: Friday, May 28, Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, Iowa.
Summit USMTS National Championship fueled by Casey’s Points: Ramirez 701, Phillips 659, Sanders 651, O'Neil 624, Mullens 609, Schott 599, Ebert 595, Wolff 575, Hughes 568, Sorensen 555.
Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Points: Strength 440, Glenz 410, Lee 356, Good 350, Krup 346.
Miller Welders USMTS Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 69, MBCustoms 67, Lethal 56, GRT 54, LG2 48.
Compstar USMTS Engine Builder of the Year Points: Cornett 67, Durham 54, Hatfield 48, Stoen 48, Mullins 42.

Contingency Awards:
American Racer – O’Neil.
Beyea Custom Headers – Schott.
BigDeal Car Care – Ramirez, Russell.
Bryke Racing – J. Davis.
BSB Manufacturing – Holman.
Champ Pans – Wolff.
Deatherage Opticians – Atkinson.
Edelbrock – Phillips.
Eibach – O’Neil.
Fast Shafts – T. Davis.
FK Rod Ends – O’Neil.
Hooker Harness – Holzkamper.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Sorensen.
Jerovetz Motorsports Racing Parts – Strength.
K1 RaceGear by Ryan Bowers Motorsports – Stovall.
Keyser Manufacturing – Robins.
KS Engineering – T. Davis.
KSE Racing Products – Scott.
Maxima Racing Oils – Ramirez.
Penske Racing Shocks – VanderBeek.
PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain – Whitwell.
QA1 – Sanders.
RacerWebsite.com – Hagar.
Simpson Performance Products – Sanders.
Summit Racing Equipment – Glenz, Fuqua, K. Gaddis, Lee.
Super Clean – Ramirez.
Swift Springs – Ramirez, Robins.
Sybesma Graphics – Siebert.
Tire Demon – Bowen.
VP Racing Fuels – Ramirez.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Payton.
Wilwood Disc Brakes – Ebert.