Tight Points Battles Decided This Weekend

A couple of note-worthy championships will be up for grabs this weekend at a couple different tracks.  As has been customary the past six years, the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) will culminate it's season-ending points fight at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minnesota.  Now known as the Casey's Cup, Stormy Scott sits in the catbird seat with three races remaining.  However, National Championship Series champion Ryan Gustin sits just five markers back while Rodney Sanders is only twenty-six points behind.  Action gets underway Thursday evening with the first of three complete shows.

The Casey's Cup was a new product this season.  Races on the USMTS schedule this year were either Casey's Cup qualifiers or National Championship Series events.  The NCS events are over with Ryan Gustin laying claim to that title, thus becoming a two-time National Champion.  The Casey's Cup qualifier events were a way to get drivers qualified for the Hunt (Casey's Cup) that didn't require perfect attendance. It was kind of like the old regions setup in that drivers could "max" out bonus points to begin the Casey's Cup.  I haven't been able to follow the series as closely as I have in the past, but I believe Sanders held the early advantage before Gustin rolled off a number of wins to sit atop the standings.  Scott now leads by the slim margin mentioned above, and in my best guess this is the closest the points battle has been going into the final three nights of the schedule. 

While the USMTS holds a tight points battle, another series will also conclude its schedule later on this weekend.  The JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour for IMCA modifieds will cap off it's season at the Havoc on the Highbanks event held at the Marshalltown Speedway.  Jeremy Mills currently holds a six point cushion over Jay Noteboom, with Mark Elliott twelve points back and Ryan Dolan seventeen back.  Richie Gustin held the points lead off and on throughout the season, but a blown engine last Friday night in Farley saw his chances of capturing the series title vanish.  He was unable to return for the Saturday night show.  With a big group of cars expected, the point title is still up for grabs as we race fans know ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!  Action will kick off Friday night with another show held Saturday.