Zack VanderBeek

Pivotal weekend awaits USMTS glory-seekers

With just 15 races left until one driver reaps a $100,000 paycheck, the Leon Ramirez Trophy and title of Summit USMTS National Champion, the USMTS gladiators return to action with a gears ‘n’ guts tripleheader this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 4-6.

The action starts Thursday, Aug. 4, at the 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan., before moving to the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan., on Friday, Aug. 5.

The whirlwind weekend wraps up at the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., on Saturday, Aug. 6—just two months before the 9th Annual Summit USRA Nationals in October.

THURSDAY, AUG. 4
81 SPEEDWAY, PARK CITY, KS
11TH ANNUAL KEEPER OF THE PLAINS SHOOTOUT

The parade of power begins Thursday, Aug. 4, at the 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan., before moving to the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan., on Friday, Aug. 5. The wild weekend wraps up Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo.

With $5,000 posted for the winner, the 11th Annual USMTS Keeper of the Plains Shootout at the 81 Speedway will mark the 24th visit for the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt to the popular 3/8-mile clay oval just outside of Wichita.

Four-time USMTS National Champion Jason Hughes was the first to taste victory here on Aug. 5, 2008, and has two wins at 81 Speedway to his credit.

Most recently, however, Jake O'Neil has been the man to beat here as the Tucson, Ariz., driver has won the last two USMTS contests here.

Other past winners include Rodney Sanders, who has a series-best six triumphs here. Ryan Gustin is a three-time winner, Jeremy Payne has two trophies and one trip to victory lane has been experienced by Stormy Scott, Cade Dillard, Jon Mitchell, Johnny Scott, Zack VanderBeek, Terry Phillips, Jacob Bleess and Cole Traugott.

Pit gates open 4 p.m. and grandstands open 6, with hot laps and qualifying at 7p.m.

BSB Manufacturing USRA B-Mods and AutoTech Service Super Stocks are also on the card at the 3/8-mile semi-banked dirt oval located north of Wichita on I-135 to Exit 16, then 0.7 mile west on 77th St. to 7700 N Broadway, Park City, KS 67219.

For more information, check out race81speedway.com.

FRIDAY, AUG. 5
HUMBOLDT SPEEDWAY, HUMBOLDT, KS
16TH ANNUAL USMTS SUMMER FLING

When ‘The Hummer’ hosts the 16th Annual USMTS Summer Fling on Friday, Aug. 5, it will mark the 59th main event for the USMTS at the home of King of America. Only the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., has hosted more USMTS shows.

Jake O’Neil been the winningest driver this season on the USMTS trail with seven wins, but he’s also claimed two of the lasts three in Humboldt—including Summit King of America XI this past March and last summer’s Summer Fling.

But the most prolific racer in Humboldt history is Jason Hughes who has 13 of his 155 career USMTS wins here. His last, however, happened more than six years ago so he’ll be hustling to take home the $7,000 winner’s portion of the purse..

In the series’ inaugural visit on June 28, 2000, it was Johnny Bone Jr. taking the win—his first of two here. Stormy Scott is a six-time winner, Kelly Shryock has five wins and four wins apiece are credited to Ryan Gustin and Rodney Sanders.

Jason Krohn, Johnny Scott, Terry Phillips and Zack VanderBeek while Tim Donlinger, Jon Tesch, Steve Holzkamper, William Gould, Jeremy Payne, Mitch Keeter, Kyle Strickler, Lucas Schott, Ricky Thornton Jr., Tanner Mullens, Carlos Ahumada Jr., Brooks Strength and Kale Westover each have one trophy.

Pit gates open 5 p.m. and grandstands open 6, with hot laps and qualifying at 7:15 followed by racing at 8.

Rays Metal Depot USRA B-Mods, Primal Jerky Midwest Mods and Extrusions Inc. USRA Tuners are also on the card at the 1/4-mile semi-banked clay oval located off of US 169 to the Humboldt exit, then 0.1 mile west, then 0.5 mile south, then 0.9 mile east to 1663 Georgia Rd, Humboldt, KS 66748.

For more information, check out humboldtspeedway.com.

SATURDAY, AUG. 6
LUCAS OIL SPEEDWAY, WHEATLAND, MO
13TH ANNUAL SLICK MIST SHOW-ME SHOOTOUT

The hunt for the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt rolls through Wheatland, Mo., for the 13th Annual Slick Mist Show-Me Shootout presented by Foley Equipment as the stars and cars of the United States Modified Touring Series make their only appearance of 2022 at the “Diamond of Dirt Tracks.”

The Lucas Oil Speedway is considered by industry insiders to be one of the top five—if not the best—racetracks in the nation. Twenty one VIP luxury suites, a giant HD Jumbo Tron Screen, Musco Sports lighting, a Bose Stadium sound system, Go Kart Track for all ages, The Diamond Bar, the best track food in the country, and the nicest pits in dirt track racing are just a few of the amenities that set this place apart from the others.

What’s more, this event is happening just two months before the 9th Annual Summit USRA Nationals in October, so look for a massive car count with O’Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars and Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods also on the program on Saturday, Aug. 6.

With 15 prior visits to the Lucas Oil Speedway, defending USMTS National Champion Dereck Ramirez has won the last two Slick Mist Show-Me Shootouts here.

Kelly Shryock, Jeremy Payne and Terry Phillips are also two-time winners. Jason Krohn, Ryan Gustin, Johnny Scott, Zack VanderBeek, Stormy Scott, Rodney Sanders and Tanner Mullens each have one win on their résumé.

Gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps and qualifying at 6:30 followed by racing at 7:05.

The Lucas Oil Speedway is a semi-banked 3/8 mile clay oval located 0.2 mile south of US 54 on SR 83, then east to 18842 Speedway Dr, Wheatland, MO 65779

For more information, check out lucasoilspeedway.com.

Remaining USMTS Schedule:
Aug. 4 – 81 Speedway, Park City, Kan., 11th Annual Keeper of the Plains Shootout ($5,000 to win)
Aug. 5 – Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, Kan., 16th Annual Summer Fling ($7,000 to win)
Aug. 6 – Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, Mo., 13th Annual Slick Mist Show-Me Shootout ($10,000 to win)
Aug. 11 – Dallas County Speedway, Urbana, Mo., 3rd Annual Wehrs Machine Bullring Bash ($5,000 to win)
Aug. 12 – Lakeside Speedway, Kansas City, Kan., 6th Annual Grant Junghans Memorial ($20,002 to win)
Aug. 13 – I-70 Speedway, Odessa, Mo., Inaugural Bushwhacker presented by RacinDirt ($10,000 to win)
Sept. 2 – Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Fountain City, Wis., 8th Annual End of Summer Bash ($10,000 to win)
Sept. 3 – Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn., 17th Annual J&S JCB Fastrac 40 ($10,000 to win)
Sept. 4 – Fayette County Speedway, West Union, Iowa, 10th Annual War in West Union ($10,000 to win)
Sept. 22-24 – Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn., 24th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree ($3,000 to win)
Oct. 27 – Tri-State Speedway, Pocola, Okla., Inaugural King of The Ring ($10,000 to win)
Oct. 28 – Lakeside Speedway, Kansas City, Kan., 8th Annual Kansas City Sizzler ($10,000 to win)
Oct. 29 – 81 Speedway, Park City, Kan., 3rd Annual Modified Spook-tacular ($10,000 to win)

Current Points Standings:
1. 19 Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, Minn. …1958 (5 wins)
2. 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan. …1851
3. 4R Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla. … 1789 (3 wins)
4. 33Z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa … 1735
5. 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo. … 1727
6. 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas … 1680
7. 60 Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn. … 1642
8. 0 Jake O'Neil, Tucson, Ariz. … 1618 (7 wins)
9. 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla. … 1599
10. 21 Jacob Bleess, Chatfield, Minn. … 1493
11. 10C Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa, Iowa … 1492
12. 87 Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, Kan. … 1453
13. 49 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn. … 1395 (2 wins)
14. 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr.., El Paso, Texas … 1382
15. 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa … 1351
16. 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn. … 1339 (1 win)
17. 4W Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark. … 1331
18. 19SB Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif. … 1314 (1 win)
19. 38T Dylan Thornton, Santa Maria, Calif. … 1303
20. 44S Shane DeVolder, Pacifica, Calif. … 1298
21. 2G Brandon Givens, Wichita, Kan. … 1221
22. 8C Chris Clark, Jackson, Wyo. … 1154
23. 56 Colton Horner, Houston, Texas … 1120
Other winners:
25. 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan. (1 win)
35. 15W Kale Westover, Altus, Okla. (1 win)
45. Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa (1 win)
48. 2C Dave Cain, Corcoran, Minn. (1 win)

If you can’t be there in person, witness all the action from anywhere on any device with your RacinDirt Pit Pass where you can watch live and access exclusive content on your desktop and laptop computers, as well as a suite of apps for added convenience including Roku, Amazon Fire, iOS, Apple TVGoogle Play.

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