(Aug 18th) - Ok, time for a little catching up. Back on Wednesday, the stars and cars of the United States Modified Touring Series made its much anticipated return to the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City. It has been approximately six years or so since the popular touring series made it's last visit to the famed half-mile, but fans were treated to a great show that night. Along with the USMTS, stock cars and limited modifieds were also on hand for heated action.
Fifteen limited modifieds were in attendance to run Wednesday night. Pole-sitter Matt Lettow wasted little time in jumping out front. Carter Vandenberg used the inside groove to slip by Geoff Olson to take over the runner up spot on the second circuit. Olson continued to slip further back in the pack as Rodney Slagle, Kyle Brown, and Matt Northrop advanced forward. A caution flag bunched the pack back together, and Northrop took advantage by slipping into the third spot. Another caution set up a late two-lap shootout. Lettow was able to hold off the challengers as he picked up the win. Matt Northrop came home second, Carter Vandenberg third, Brandon Toftee fourth, and Brandon Leeman rounded out the top five.
The Dart Iron Man Challenge series for USRA stock cars were next to hit the track with fifteen cars set to do battle for twenty laps. Jake Masters would get credit for leading the first lap, but Mike VanGenderen stayed with him. Jason Wagoner, Damon Murty, and VanGenderen went three-wide for the runner up slot on lap two with Wagoner taking the spot a lap later. Murty used the low groove to get by VanGenderen for third while Mark Elliott later used the same line to get by VanGenderen for fourth. Wagoner closed in on Masters' lead and overtook the lead on the inside. Masters regrouped and found a line that worked for him as he and Wagoner swapped the lead a couple times throughout the waning laps. With two laps to go Masters would take the lead for good as he pocketed another Dart Iron Man Challenge series victory. Mark Elliott crossed the line in second, but was later disqualified for an illegal transmission. That bumped up Jason Wagoner to second, Damon Murty to third, Mike VanGenderen to fourth, and Adam Silvey topped off the top five.
The track was then ready for the USMTS feature. Mike Sorenson and Kelly Shryock sat on the front row for the thirty-five lap event with Sorenson racing to the early lead. Tim Donlinger grabbed the second position as Shryock failed to get a good grip through turn one. Jason Krohn and Mark Elliott were fighting for the fourth position before Ryan Gustin joined the duo. Gustin, who started ninth on the grid, used the low groove to sling by both competitors and work his way to fourth. Shryock got a handle on his machine as he passed Donlinger on the inside before using the same line to get by Sorenson for the lead. Gustin was still on the charge, however, as he shot by Donlinger and Sorenson on the inside for the runner up spot. With no caution flags, Gustin had some work to make up ground on the nine-time series champion. After running the first eighteen laps caution-free, the first yellow appeared.
At this point, the top three in the race were also the top three in the point standings as Shryock led Gustin and VanderBeek back to the green flag. The green flag would be replaced with the yellow flag again on lap twenty-four. Jason Hughes, who was running ninth at the time, got a great restart and moved up to fourth after passing Jason Krohn. Ryan Gustin was able to wrestle the lead away from Shryock as Gustin found some bit in the middle of turns three and four that rocketed him to the lead. Another restart saw Shryock perhaps go in a little too low and pushed up, making contact with Gustin's left rear. The contact sent Shryock spinning to a stop in turn two and ended his chances of winning at a track he has flourished at in the past. With three laps to go Gustin now had to hold off Jason Hughes to the finish. Hughes tried the low line in turns one and two while Gustin was diamonding that set of corners. Gustin's momentum allowed him to stay out front and take home the "hometown" win. Hughes finished second, Tommy Myer was third, Zack VanderBeek fourth, and Tim Donlinger was fifth.
The win was Gustin's 14th overall win on the USMTS circuit this year. It was his first at his "home" track as the Hamilton County Speedway is where the youngster got his start in dirt track racing. Gustin drove a limited modified for several years around the half-mile, racking up numerous victories.
Promoter Al Urhammer served up a great racing surface Wednesday night. The biggest crowd of the season saw two and three-wide racing throughout the night. The fans were on their feet as Gustin crossed the line for the win.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
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