(Aug 21) - On Saturday my dad and I ventured southwest to the Adams County Speedway in Corning for yet another night of USMTS Hunt action. The slate also included hobby stocks, sportmods, and pro-stocks (stock cars).
A field of thirty-one hobby stocks were narrowed to a starting field of twenty-five. Chuck Hulett grabbed the lead from the start but soon received pressure from Jeremy Purdy. Purdy, the point leader, would suffer some bad luck a few laps later as he broke the driveshaft and forced him out of the race. Jeremy Auten would then take over the runner up spot, but he was unable to make a move to get by as Chuck Hulett took the win. Auten was second, Trent Davison third, Rob Allison fourth, and Jerod Weston rounded out the top five. Blaine Petersen, who started twelfth, sliced his way through the field early on to the top five before going off track. After losing several positions, he made his way back through the field and was running fourth on the last lap before he spun in turn four.
Twelve sportmods were on hand for their feature event. This class just got started at Corning a couple weeks ago, so twelve was a good turnout. Carter Vandenberg paced the field on lap one with Cayden Carter and Bill Gibson running right behind him. Gibson would later spin and tag the tail of the field. Meanwhile, Mike Shelton was on the prowl from the back. Shelton picked off one car after another on his way to the lead on lap six. Following a caution at the midpoint of the race, Cayden Carter used the outside line to pass Shelton for the lead. The two cars came together in turn four when Carter apparently changed his line and Shelton had nowhere to go as he spun to a stop to bring out the caution. Cayden Carter would go on to pick up the win as he finished ahead of Brett Sheppard, Mike Pruitt, Bill Gibson, and Rick Germar.
Seventeen pro stocks then hit the track for their feature. Cody Clark would lead lap one, but he would give way to Jeremy Swanson on lap two. Glenn Orr also got by Clark and moved into second, but would later inherit the lead when Swanson jumped the cushion in turn one and went over the banking. Swanson would come back onto the track in second and quickly run down Orr and make the pass back for the lead. Swanson's roller coaster night continued when he slowed on the front stretch after blowing his motor, ending his night with six laps remaining. Greg Miller used the restart to power his machine on the top side and make the pass on Orr for the lead. Greg Miller would go on to take the win ahead of Kevin Sharp, Craig Garner, Glenn Orr, and Brad Derry.
The time was now set for the thirty-five lap USMTS feature. Jason Hughes reluctantly sat on the pole with local favorite Chris Spieker to his outside. Hughes would take the lead while Al Hejna and Tommy Myer waged war for the fourth spot in the early going. Myer would secure the position as Hejna slid backwards on the rundown. Zack VanderBeek, who was celebrating his birthday, found the low side to his liking as he passed Tommy Myer to move into the fourth slot on lap nine. VanderBeek would later scoot by Chris Spieker and Jason Krohn to advance to the runner up position. Point leader Ryan Gustin was having a hard time moving through the field after starting eleventh. By lap fifteen he had only advanced four positions to climb into the seventh spot. The only caution of the race came with eight laps to go.
Jason Krohn used the double-file restart to power by VanderBeek for second. Meanwhile Ryan Gustin took advantage of the caution as well as he powered into the fourth position. With six laps to go Krohn worked the outside line and made the pass on Hughes coming out of turn four for the lead. Jason Krohn would go on to take the win ahead of Jason Hughes. Ryan Gustin made a last lap pass on Zack VanderBeek to take third (and fourth) with Tommy Myer rounding out the top five.
After seeing somewhat of a freight-train session of heat races, the features provided some great three-wide action. The track prep crew should be commended for providing a great surface for the drivers.
So eight races are now in the books for the USMTS Hunt for the Championship. Ryan Gustin unofficially (USMTS hasn't updated points yet) should hold the lead going into next weekend's Missouri double-header at La Monte and Moberly. The Thursday race is Nevada has been taken off the schedule. Then the USMTS comes back around our area on Tuesday, August 31 as they invade the Marshalltown Speedway on the first of six consecutive nights in Iowa and southern Minnesota.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
No comments:
Post a Comment