Dillard wins in Webster City

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (Aug. 25) -- The Hunt for the USMTS Casey's Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental reached the halfway point at the Hamilton County Speedway Thursday, and Cade Dillard notched his third win of the championship campaign.

The 25-year-old from Robeline, La., kept the heat on early leader Jett Big Eagle for the first half of the race while keeping one eye looking over his left shoulder at points leader Jason Hughes.

Big Eagle kept his machine glued to the top side of the track and kept the duo behind him for the first half of the race until a yellow flag slowed the action on lap 16 just as Big Eagle had caught the back of the field.

A swarm of veterans engulfed the Canadian rookie on the restart, sending him back to fourth while Dillard, Hughes and Zack VanderBeek whistled past.

A great final 16 laps ensued with VanderBeek challenging Dillard on several occasions while Hughes shadowed them from behind.

After seeing VanderBeek pull out to a full car-length advantage on the back-stretch on two consecutive laps, Dillard changed his line from high to low in the first set of turns and that was all he needed to go the rest of the way unchallenged.

Meanwhile, VanderBeek and Hughes swapped the runner-up spot several times in the last five laps with VanderBeek holding a bumper-length advantage at the checkered flag.

Ricky Thornton Jr. came from the 13th starting spot to finish fourth but Rodney Sanders pocketed the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award by racing from 19th to fifth in the 32-lapper.

Not to be outdone, Jesse Sobbing parlayed an 18th starting slot into a sixth-place finish, with Joe Duvall, Mike Jergens, Daniel Hilsabeck and Johnny Scott rounding out the top 10.

The win, worth $3,000, was Dillard's sixth of the season and eighth overall in his short USMTS career.

The stars and cars of the United States Modified Touring Series head to the Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa, on Friday for the tenth event in the Hunt for the USMTS Casey's Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental.

The Lyon County Fair will be going on as well, so come to the track early and check out the fair. Tickets will be $18 for adults (get a $2-off coupon from participating Casey's General Stores), $5 for kids ages 7-14 and free for children 6 and under. Hot laps will start at 7 p.m. with racing to follow.

Cory Crapser won his first and only (so far) USMTS feature last year at this event. Zack VanderBeek won in 2014 and Rodney Sanders won here in 2013 and 2011. Other past winners at the Rapid Speedway include Jason Krohn (2008), Jon Tesch (2007) and Kelly Shryock (2006).

The Iron Man Challenge featuring Holley USRA Stock Cars ($750 to win) and Out-Pace USRA B-Mods ($600 to win) will also be in action.

The Rapid Speedway is a semi-banked 3/8-mile dirt oval located 0.5 mile east of US 75 on SR 9, then 0.5 mile south on South Tama St. (400 S. Tama St., Rock Rapids, IA 51246). For more information, call (712) 470-1850 or (712) 472-3742 or visit www.rockrapidsspeedway.com online.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usmts, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts and Instagram at www.instagram.com/usmts or subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
The Hunt for the USMTS Casey's Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental - Event #9 of 17
Hamilton County Speedway, Webster City, Iowa
Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed and money won.

MSD HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (1) 52w Nate Wasmund, Rochester, Minn.
2. (5) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
3. (3) 2s Stormy Scott, Arroyo Hondo, N.M.
4. (2) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
5. (4) 37 Mike Jergens (R), Plover, Iowa.
6. (7) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa.
7. (6) 23 Adam Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan.
8. (8) 29 Ron Ver Beek, Oskaloosa, Iowa.
DNS - 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (2) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
2. (1) 99 Jett Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask., Canada.
3. (4) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
4. (3) 00 Masen Big Eagle, Manor, Sask., Canada.
5. (7) 20rt Ricky Thornton Jr. (R), Chandler, Ariz.
6. (6) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (8) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
8. (9) 174 Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
9. (5) 99 Martin Bennett, Ankeny, Iowa.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
2. (1) 81 Mike Densberger (R), Lincoln, Neb.
3. (6) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
4. (3) 14e Chase Ellingson, Iowa Falls, Iowa.
5. (7) 91 Scott Drake, Joplin, Mo.
6. (8) 48 Brent Dutenhoffer, Watertown, S.D.
7. (4) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
8. (5) 45 Levi Nielsen, Evansdale, Iowa.

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN (10 laps, all advance):
1. (1) 37 Mike Jergens (R), Plover, Iowa.
2. (2) 48 Brent Dutenhoffer, Watertown, S.D.
3. (4) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (3) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa.
5. (5) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
6. (9) 29 Ron Ver Beek, Oskaloosa, Iowa.
7. (6) 23 Adam Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan.
8. (10) 45 Levi Nielsen, Evansdale, Iowa.
9. (7) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
10. (8) 174 Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
11. (11) 99 Martin Bennett, Ankeny, Iowa.
DNS - 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.

CASEY'S GENERAL STORES "A" MAIN (32 laps):
1. (5) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., MBCustom/ASI, 32, $3000.
2. (6) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, LG2/Sput's, 32, $1700.
3. (3) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 32, $1200.
4. (13) 20rt Ricky Thornton Jr. (R), Chandler, Ariz., Shaw/Dakota, 32, $1000.
5. (19) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Hatfield, 32, $900.
6. (18) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa, Harris/GMPP, 32, $800.
7. (8) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/Hatfield, 32, $700.
8. (15) 37 Mike Jergens (R), Plover, Iowa, Harris/KSE, 32, $650.
9. (10) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa, Hilsabeck/Mullins, 32, $600.
10. (17) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Lethal/Durham, 32, $550.
11. (16) 48 Brent Dutenhoffer, Watertown, S.D., Lethal/Sput's, 32, $400.
12. (1) 52w Nate Wasmund, Rochester, Minn., GRT/Action, 32, $375.
13. (7) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., GRT/Mullins, 32, $425.
14. (2) 99 Jett Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask., Canada, MBCustom/ProPower, 32, $400.
15. (23) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., GRT/GMPP, 32, $375.
16. (20) 29 Ron Ver Beek, Oskaloosa, Iowa, IROC/Midstate, 32, $275.
17. (21) 23 Adam Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan., LG2/Speedway, 32, $325.
18. (25) 99 Martin Bennett, Ankeny, Iowa, Sidebiter/Sput's, 32, $250.
19. (22) 45 Levi Nielsen, Evansdale, Iowa, Harris/KSE, 32, $250.
20. (11) 00 Masen Big Eagle, Manor, Sask., Canada, GRT/Tim's, 32, $300.
21. (12) 14e Chase Ellingson, Iowa Falls, Iowa, GRT/KSE, 32, $250.
22. (9) 10 Stormy Scott, Arroyo Hondo, N.M., GRT/Mullins, 32, $400.
23. (4) 81 Mike Densberger (R), Lincoln, Neb., Jet/Speedway, 32, $300.
24. (14) 91 Scott Drake, Joplin, Mo., MBCustom/BMS, 32, $300.
25. (24) 174 Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif., GRT/GMPP, 32, $250.
DNS - 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., LG2/Cornett, 32, $400.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leaders: J. Big Eagle 1-16, Dillard 17-32.
Total Laps Led: Dillard 16, J. Big Eagle 16.
Margin of Victory: 0.608 second.
Time of Race: 23 minutes, 33.677 seconds (3 cautions).
Provisional Starters: none.
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Sanders (started 19th, finished 5th).
Entries: 26.
Next Race: Friday, Aug. 26, Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, Iowa.
USMTS Casey's Cup Points: Hughes 1410, Dillard 1364, Sanders 1317, Sobbing 1317, VanderBeek 1306, J. Scott 1211, Duvall 1159, Ramirez 1111, B. Bauman 1079, S. Scott 1073.
Grant Junghans Rookie of the Year Points: B. Bauman 1487, C. Bauman 1476, Jergens 1455, J. Big Eagle 1359, Densberger 1239.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 392, Sput's 275, Durham 270, ASI 268, GMPP 249.
Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 397, MBCustoms 384, LG2 311, Harris 276, GRT 256.

Contingency Awards:
Allstar Performance - Jergens.
American Racer - Dillard.
Bell Helmets - Kates.
Beyea Custom Headers - Sanders.
BSB Manufacturing - Ellingson.
Day Motor Sports - Densberger, Drake.
Deatherage Opticians - Dutenhoffer.
Edelbrock - Duvall.
Eibach Springs - Wasmund.
Fast Shafts - Hughes.
FK Rod Ends - C. Bauman.
Forty9Designs.com - J. Big Eagle, Nielsen.
Fuel Safe - Sobbing.
GRT Race Cars - Dotson.
Hooker Harness - B. Bauman.
Integra Shocks & Springs - Bennett.
Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service - Ver Beek.
Kevko Oil Pans & Components - Hilsabeck.
Keyser Manufacturing - J. Scott.
KSE Racing Products - Sanders.
Midwest Sheet Metal - Ramirez.
MSD - Wasmund, Dillard.
Out-Pace Racing Products - Ver Beek.
PBM Performance Products - Hughes.
QA1 - Nielsen.
Real Racing Wheels - not awarded.
Sybesma Graphics - Hughes.
VP Racing Fuels - Dillard.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products - Dutenhoffer.
Wilwood Engineering - Duvall.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: Alpinestars, American Racer Racing Tires, Argo Manufacturing, Casey's General Stores, Chix Gear Racewear, COMP Cams, CP-Carrillo, Day Motor Sports, Deatherage Opticians, Fast Shafts, Intercomp, Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service, Kevko Oil Pans & Components, KSE Racing Products, Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment, Malvern Trust & Savings Bank, MSD, RacerWebsite.com, RacinDirt.com, RealTruck.com, S&S Fishing & Rental, The Joie of Seating, VP Racing Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: AMP Energy Drink, Arizona Sport Shirts, ASi Racewear, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Duvall Electric, ElbowsUp.com, Erson Cams, I-29 Trailer Sales, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Oreo, Production Jars, Rivers Edge Scrap Management, Snickers, Sour Patch Kids, YouDirt.com.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bell Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, BSB Manufacturing, Driven Racing Oil, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Fuel Safe Racing Cells, Genesis Racing Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Holley Performance Products, Hooker Custom Harness, Integra Shocks & Springs, Keyser Manufacturing, Midwest Sheet Metal, Out-Pace Racing Products, PBM Performance Products, QA1 Precision Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Sybesma Graphics, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Engineering.

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Contact Info:
Jeff Nun
Communications Director
United States Modified Touring Series, Inc. (USMTS)
1715 W. 2nd St., P.O. Box 905
Webster City, IA 50595
Tel: 515-297-3835