The USMTS series made their first appearance of the year at the Deer Creek Speedway just north of Spring Valley, Minnesota on Saturday. Normally I'd say night, but this event had a scheduled start time at 5pm. So I guess afternoon is more appropriate this time around. Forty-two USMTS modifieds were joined on the card with twenty-one Wissota midwest modifieds along with ten Wissota super stocks. The heat races and bmains for the USMTS were run in quick fashion as very few yellows were used. In fact, the final intermission started at 6:34 which allowed track officials plenty of time to work on the track to get it in shape for the final three races of the evening.
First up would be the twenty-lap Wissota super stock feature. Kevin Hager jumped out front to lead the first lap, but Ryan Siegle powered his car around Hager's machine on the second circuit to take command of the race. Cole Queensland was making a charge to the front as he would take the lead away from Siegle around the midway point of the race and never look back as he extended his lead every lap. Behind him the battle for second heated up as Siegle, Jeff Brauer, and Shawn Huse were running three wide at times. Siegle would prevail at the line followed by Brauer and Huse. Hager slipped back to fifth at the finish.
Bob Bunne set the pace early on in the Wissota midwest modified feature. Bunne set the tone for the first half the race until he would slip high in turn two, handing the reigns over to Brandon Davis. Jerry Young was also able to scoot past to set up a good battle up front. A caution with two laps to go bunched the field up, but Young wasn't able to take advantage as Davis took home the top honors. Young settled for second, Dustin Scott came home third, Jared Boumeester was fourth, and Albert Wytaske rounded out the top five.
The USMTS feature was ready to hit the track for their thirty-five lap showdown. The race was started just a few minutes before 8:00, highlighting a quickly run program. As was the case the night before in Lansing, the final driver to redraw for the top eight starting spots garnered the pole as Tim Donlinger was the lucky man tonight. He would be joined on the front row by Kelly Shryock, who took the lead at the drop of the green. Donlinger would fall in behind with Jason Cummins riding in third. A quick caution slowed the field down. Jason Hughes was the first car to move his car to the bottom side of the speedway as he started picking off a few cars to move his way up to fourth. The yellow flag waved once again on lap fifteen, which would end up working in Cummins' favor. Shryock elected the top side of the double-file restart, but Cummins powered his car on the inside to get by both Shryock and Donlinger coming out of turn two. Cummins quickly started to pull away from the rest of the field until smoke was seen coming from his machine. A few laps later, Cummins would retire to the pits as the motor let go. Shryock used this to his advantage as he tried to reel in Donlinger in the late stages of the race, but it would be Donlinger hanging on to the win. Shryock finished just ahead of youngster Ryan Gustin. Jason Hughes was fourth and Dan Bohr rounded out the top five. Zach VanderBeek used a provisional and started twenty-third, but maneuvered through traffic to finish in eighth. Jon Tesch started just ahead of VanderBeek and would finish just behind him in ninth.
A very well-run program Saturday night. The final checkered flag waved at around 8:30, allowing fans to visit their favorite drivers in the pits or party in the campground, or to make their way home. The 50/50 drawing was an amazing $1600! The USMTS travels to Kasson tonight and will finish up their 7-day swing at the newly-designed Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wisconsin on Memorial Day.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!
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