The stars and cars of the United States Modified Touring Series made their annual Memorial Day weekend stop at the Deer Creek Speedway on Saturday night. A great field of fifty-two modifieds were on hand along with Wissota Midwest modifieds, Wissota super stocks, and Wissota street stocks.
After a farming session to get the track back in better condition the Wissota street stocks were first up for feature action. Kory Adams jumped to the early lead of the fourteen car field, but Donny Ganz would make the pass on the inside to take over the top spot on lap five. Adams would soon lose the runner up spot to Fred Prodeuhl and then later AJ Zvorak also powered by on the outside to the third position. A couple of cautions kept the field close, and AJ Zvorak took advantage both times as he captured the lead and went on to take the win. He was followed across the line by Troy Voth, Donny Ganz, Fred Prodeuhl, and Mike Blowers.
Twenty-two Wissota midwest modifieds were led to the green by Ric Fynbo. Cody Gardner and Greg Pfeifer Jr snuck under Fynbo for the top two spots. "They flyin Mexican" Bryan Hernandez was on the move from his eighth starting spot as he climbed to third on lap seven. The red flag waved when a couple cars got tangled up and Shaun Walski ended up on his roof. He would be okay. On the ensuing restart, fourth-running Travis Krause dropped to the infield before the green flag waved. Hernandez used the inside line to get by leader Gardner on lap twelve and never looked back as he went on to the win. Cody Gardner was second, Dustin Scott third, Greg Pfeifer Jr fourth, and Jerry Young rounded out the top five.
Another farming session followed that race and set up the rest of the night with the Wissota super stock and USMTS features. The super stocks were up first with only nine cars on hand last night. Tony Bloom raced to the lead from the pole position, but that didn't last long as Jeff Brauer motored by on the outside. Cole Queensland split both front runners exiting turn two as he would capture the lead on lap three. Queensland would continue on to take the win ahead of Jeff Brauer, Kevin Hager, Chad Halstrom, and Tony Bloom.
The forty-lap USMTS field then made their way to the track in front of the packed grandstands. With fifty-two cars on hand, the starting field included twenty-six of the best modified drivers in the country. Pole sitter Ryan Ruter rocketed to the lead. Ruter continued to extend his lead while positions behind him changed hands. Jason Krohn and Mike Sorenson both ducked low on Nate Wasmund to move into second and third, respectively, as Ruter opened up a straight away advantage by lap seven.
After Sorenson's torid pace towards the front, he would fall off and lose a couple spots to Nate Wasmund and Kelly Shryock. The only caution of the race came out at the halfway point when Ruter suffered a right rear flat tire. In talking to him after the races, he believes the body panel cut it down. That handed the lead over to 2007 USMTS National Champion Jason Krohn.
Tim Donlinger, who restarted fifth, quickly dove to the inside and moved into third on the next lap. Ryan Gustin also charged forward following the restart as he jumped into the top five with eight laps to go. Donlinger snared the lead away from Krohn on lap twenty-six. Zack VanderBeek, who garnered one of the final starting spots, had advanced his way to seventh after starting 25th, by lap twenty-seven. VanderBeek continued his march to the front as he passed Nate Wasmund and Ryan Gustin late in the race to secure the fourth spot. The night would belong to Tim Donlinger, the 2008 USMTS National Champion, as he took the $2,400 payday. Jason Krohn was second, Kelly Shryock third, Zack VanderBeek fourth, and Ryan Gustin completed the top five.
Racing action concluded around 9:30. A band played in the courtyard behind the grandstands following the races. For more information and results, check out www.usmts.com or www.deercreekspeedway.com.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
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