With weather either postponing or canceling the first three USMTS National Tour events to open the 2010 season, the Humboldt Speedway was host to the opening night of the new season. With forty-four modifieds on hand, the road warriors took to the tacky track in hopes of scoring the first series win of the season. Procedures have changed this year with the USMTS, as no provisionals will be handed out. Drivers will need to earn their way into the show this year. With the forty-four cars on hand, the feature lineup was determined by the top fourteen in passing points followed by the top six from each of two b-main events to make up the starting twenty-six car field.
With the new procedures, three of last year's Hunt contenders failed to qualify for the feature on Saturday night. Scott Green, Rodney Sanders, and Zack VanderBeek all missed the cut while last year's Dandyland Farms Rookie of the Year Grant Junghans also failed to qualify. Junghans suffered problems all night long, only making a total of three laps on the track.
Outside front row starter Colt Mather led the field after the first circuit, but it didn't take long for Jason Hughes to make his move to snare the lead away. Hughes would take control on lap two and began to slowly inch away from Mather. A caution slowed the field down on lap seven, and on the ensuing restart local ace John Allen passed two cars to advanced into the third spot. A multi-car incident in turn four tore up a lot of cars a couple laps later. On that restart Allen slid by Mather to take the runner-up spot away. Mather would regain the second spot after yet another caution while Hughes continued to distance himself from the field.
Two more cautions kept the field bunched up, but it set up a good race for second as Kelly Shryock set his sights on Allen's runner-up spot. This occurred after Mather lost the handle on his machine in turn two and collected Jon Tesch, Johnny Bone Jr., and Steve Holzkamper. All four cars would be retired. Allen and Shryock swapped the second spot several times over the final part of the race, but Allen would get the final word as he finished second. He was no match for Jason Hughes, however, as the Oklahoma driver took the win in convincing fashion. Hughes also picked up the win last August during the USMTS Hunt for the Championship at Humboldt. Allen was second while Shryock settled for third. Mark Dotson, who started 25th on the grid, narrowly edged out Mike Hansen for fourth with Hansen taking fifth. Unfortunately there were only thirteen cars running at the end of the race.
Factory stocks and b-mods were also on the card on Saturday night in Humboldt, Kansas. Jesse Sobbing made the tow down from Glenwood, Iowa to take part in the b-mod class. Jesse is piloting the Racedayprints.com #99 Razor Chassis this year after winning the IMCA National Championship last year. Sobbing started fourth and finished fifth. Shawn Strong took home the factory stock feature win.
It was good getting back to a race track. I got to see a lot of good friends that I hadn't seen in a couple months. Those included the USMTS crew, Bob Litton, Wisconsin's Ed Reichert, and Racedayprints.com owner Chad Ebel. Driver Jake Neal made the trip with Chad, but was only a spectator on this night.
Action resumes tomorrow afternoon for another exciting race at the Humboldt Speedway. I believe hot laps get underway around 3pm. When the show concludes, I'll be making the lengthy trip home and getting a few hours of sleep before going to work Monday morning. So Sunday's blog won't be posted til Monday afternoon. Be sure to check out www.usmts.com for complete results and updates.
-Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!
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