Brown goes back-to-back at Baytown

BAYTOWN, Texas (Feb. 14)-So far, so good for Chris Brown.

Friday night at the Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas, the 34-year-old from nearby Spring, Texas, duplicated his feat on Thursday at the 3/8-mile clay oval as he captured the main event for the USMTS Casey's Cup powered by Swan Energy.

Much like the previous evening in the opening race at the 5th Annual USMTS Texas Spring Nationals presented by Double H Bands, Brown had to scratch and claw his way to the front of the field before taking control late in the race.

John O Whittington jumped out to the early lead but could only fend off fellow front row starter Dereck Ramirez for three laps.

Ramirez, whose lone USMTS victories were back-to-back wins here in November 2011, set the pace for the next 19 laps before a caution flag for a multi-car tangle that sent three drivers to the pits for the remainder of the race.

On the restart, Brown applied pressure to the leader and then made the winning pass two laps later. He paced the remaining 16 circuits to garner his ninth career USMTS triumph and third at the former Houston Raceway Park.

Brown passed nine cars from his fifth-row starting spot to pocket the $3,000 winner's share of the prize money while reigning USMTS national champion Rodney Sanders claimed the runner-up paycheck.

Ramirez wound up third with 15th-starting Jeremy Payne fourth and 19th-starting Zack VanderBeek rounding out the top five and earning the Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger Award for the ninth time in the last three seasons.

MVT Gulf Coast Border Region points leader Stormy Scott took the sixth spot, Whittington was seventh, Bryan Rowland passed a dozen drivers en route to an eighth-place results, Jason Krohn came from 21st on the 26-car grid to nab ninth and Terry Phillips completed the top 10.

Prior to the USMTS Modified main event, Whittington stashed $1,000 in his wallet with a feature win in the USRA Limited Mod division.

The 5th Annual USMTS Texas Spring Nationals presented by Double H Bands continues Saturday at the Royal Purple Raceway with a $4,000 top prize awaiting the feature winner. USRA Limited Mods will also be on the racing card battling for $1,500 to win.

The pit gate opens at 2 p.m., grandstands open at 4, the drivers meeting is at 5:30 and racing begins at 6 p.m. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-12 and children 5 and under get in for free. Pit passes are $40.

For those unable to attend in person, RacinDirt.TV will carry all of the action live online from the Royal Purple Raceway with flag-to-flag action from start to finish. Visit www.RacinDirt.tv for more ordering information.

The Royal Purple Raceway is a modern facility with a main grandstand seating capacity of 7,500 which includes fourteen VIP luxury suites and boasts a modern Musco Lighting system suitable for television productions.

The track is located east of Houston on I-10 to Exit 799, then 2.5 miles south on SH 99 (Grand Parkway), then 0.3 mile west on FM 565. Speedway entrance located at Gate 3. For more information, call the track office at 281-383-RACE or visit www.royalpurpleraceway.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 or check out our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
USMTS Casey's Cup powered by Swan Energy - MVT Gulf Coast Border Region presented by Day Motor Sports
5th Annual Texas Spring Nationals presented by Double H Bands - Night 2 of 3
Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, Texas
Friday, Feb. 14, 2014

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed, money won and reason out (if any). The top 12 drivers in passing points accumulated in the heat races are locked into the "A" Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

C&R RACING HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (1) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
2. (2) 87 Darron Fuqua (R), Mayetta, Kan.
3. (3) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas.
4. (4) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.
5. (6) 24 Sean Jones, Mansfield, Texas.
6. (7) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas.
7. (8) L1 Larry Clevenger, Greenwood, La.
8. (9) 44 Michael Walker (R), Rosharon, Texas.
9. (5) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.

JRi SHOCKS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (5) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
2. (4) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (1) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (7) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
5. (6) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
6. (2) 7d Austin Theiss (R), Hockley, Texas.
7. (8) 51 Tim Thomas, West Fargo, N.D.
8. (9) 99jr Rick Henry Jr., Pearland, Texas.
9. (3) 64 Jay Sale, Edmond, Okla.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) 77 Garrett Gregory (R), Tomball, Texas.
2. (3) 21 Chris Brown, Spring, Texas.
3. (2) 51 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
4. (6) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
5. (4) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
6. (5) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas.
7. (7) 76 Jesse Manning, Brazoria, Texas.
8. (8) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Waukee, Iowa.
9. (9) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (3) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (1) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas.
3. (5) 29d Brad Dierks, Clarence, Iowa.
4. (6) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
5. (9) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
6. (2) 36 Jeff Conner, Panora, Iowa.
7. (7) 73d John Hortch, Huffman, Texas.
8. (8) 34 Ben Stephens, Hattiesburg, Miss.
9. (4) 5 Shane Sprinkle (R), Andrews, Texas.

PENN TRANSPORT HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (2) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
2. (4) 89c Steve Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.
3. (5) 28 Jimmy Mars (R), Menomonie, Wis.
4. (6) 78 Trevor Egbert, Salado, Texas.
5. (3) 4 Kyle Cummings (R), Sibley, La.
6. (7) R5 Hunter Rasdon (R), Jonesboro, Ark.
7. (1) 7x Rory Jordan, Victoria, Texas.
8. (8) 23 Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas.
9. (9) J17 Jacob Gallardo (R), Las Cruces, N.M.

S&S FISHING & RENTAL HEAT RACE #6 (8 laps):
1. (3) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas.
2. (4) 97 Cade Dillard (R), Robeline, La.
3. (2) 5* Adam Penn (R), Shreveport, La.
4. (8) 8 Billy Melton, Longview, Texas.
5. (1) 4s T.J. Steele (R), Winnsboro, Texas.
6. (7) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla.
7. (5) 44 Joe Spillman (R), Marble Falls, Texas.
8. (6) 59 Bob Sammann (R), Winona, Minn.

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (1) 29d Brad Dierks, Clarence, Iowa.
2. (5) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
3. (3) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas.
4. (8) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
5. (7) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.
6. (10) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas.
7. (2) 8 Billy Melton, Longview, Texas, Skyrocket/Shoulders, $90.
8. (12) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas, CAM/Chase, $90.
9. (4) 51 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/PTS, $400.
10. (6) 78 Trevor Egbert, Salado, Texas, Hughes/Sput's, $90.
11. (13) L1 Larry Clevenger, Greenwood, La., Skyrocket/PTS, $90.
12. (14) 76 Jesse Manning, Brazoria, Texas, GRT/105, $90.
13. (17) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Waukee, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, $90.
14. (19) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
15. (11) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla., MBCustom/Mullins, $90.
16. (16) 44 Michael Walker (R), Rosharon, Texas, Kraft/AARE, $90.
17. (9) 4 Kyle Cummings (R), Sibley, La., IRP/EPM, $90.
18. (15) 7x Rory Jordan, Victoria, Texas, Shaw/Mullins, $90.
19. (18) 23 Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas, Hughes/Fox, $70.
20. (20) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La., LG2/Mullins, $90.
21. (21) J17 Jacob Gallardo (R), Las Cruces, N.M.

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (6) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
2. (1) 28 Jimmy Mars (R), Menomonie, Wis.
3. (2) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
4. (8) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
5. (10) R5 Hunter Rasdon (R), Jonesboro, Ark.
6. (3) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (5) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Kraft/Gaerte, $90.
8. (17) 34 Ben Stephens, Hattiesburg, Miss., Hughes/Mullins, $90.
9. (13) 51 Tim Thomas, West Fargo, N.D., Venom/G-Force, $90.
10. (20) 5 Shane Sprinkle (R), Andrews, Texas, Hughes/RoushYates, $90.
11. (11) 7d Austin Theiss (R), Hockley, Texas, LG2/Mullins, $90.
12. (14) 73d John Hortch, Huffman, Texas, Kraft/Knowles, $70.
13. (15) 44 Joe Spillman (R), Marble Falls, Texas, CAM/Centex, $90.
14. (19) 64 Jay Sale, Edmond, Okla., Harris/Mullins, $90.
15. (18) 59 Bob Sammann (R), Winona, Minn., Hughes/KSE, $90.
16. (16) 99jr Rick Henry Jr., Pearland, Texas, Shaw/Henry, $70.
17. (4) 5* Adam Penn (R), Shreveport, La., Hughes/Geddes, $90.
18. (7) 24 Sean Jones, Mansfield, Texas, LG2/Brooks, $90.
19. (9) 4s T.J. Steele (R), Winnsboro, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, $90.
20. (12) 36 Jeff Conner, Panora, Iowa, Skyrocket/Durham, $90.

CASEY'S GENERAL STORES "A" MAIN (40 laps):
1. (10) 21 Chris Brown, Spring, Texas, LG2/Durham, 40, $3000.
2. (8) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, 40, $1700.
3. (2) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Ramirez/ProPower, 40, $1200.
4. (15) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Durham, 40, $1000.
5. (19) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, LG2/Sput's, 40, $900.
6. (3) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/ProPower, 40, $700.
7. (1) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas, Pierce/CB, 40, $600.
8. (20) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., LG2/ProPower, 40, $500.
9. (21) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn., MBCustom/Sput's, 40, $450.
10. (14) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 40, $400.
11. (13) 29d Brad Dierks, Clarence, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sperry, 40, $375.
12. (11) 87 Darron Fuqua (R), Mayetta, Kan., Venom/Driskell, 40, $350.
13. (9) 97 Cade Dillard (R), Robeline, La., Sidebiter/PTS, 40, $400.
14. (23) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas, LG2/Mullins, 40, $300.
15. (12) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas, Hughes/RoushYates, 40, $300.
16. (18) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan., MBCustom/Mullins, 39, $400.
17. (7) 77 Garrett Gregory (R), Tomball, Texas, Hughes/105, 39, $300.
18. (5) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/Mullins, 39, $300.
19. (24) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M., AOS/AOS, 39, $300.
20. (6) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/AOS, 22, $300, crash.
21. (22) R5 Hunter Rasdon (R), Jonesboro, Ark., Bandit/Sput's, 22, $300, crash.
22. (17) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas, Skyrocket/CB, 22, $400, crash.
2224. (4) 89c Steve Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, 20, $300, tie rod.
25. (26) J17 Jacob Gallardo (R), Las Cruces, N.M., GRC/BMS, 18, $400, mechanical.
26. (25) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Ramirez/ProPower, 14, $400, suspension.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leaders: Whittington 1-3, Ramirez 4-24, Brown 25-40.
Total Laps Led: Ramirez 21, Brown 16, Whittington 3.
Margin of Victory: 1.801 seconds.
Provisional Starters: J. Scott, J. Gallardo.
Sybesma Graphics Pole Award: Ramirez.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: VanderBeek (started 19th, finished 5th).
Next Race: Saturday, Feb. 15, Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, Texas.
MVT Gulf Coast Border Region Points Standings: S. Scott 369, Sanders 349, Krohn 310, J. Scott 295, VanderBeek 291, Beebe 289, J. Gallardo 275, Dillard 274, Payne 272, Ramirez 268.
Rookie of the Year Points: J. Gallardo 275, Dillard 274, Fuqua 228, Steele 216, Theiss 213.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: ProPower 34, Geddes 32, Sput's 30, Durham 22, Mullins 20.
Manufacturers Championship Points: LG2 38, MBCustom 36, Ramirez 28, Skyrocket 22, Hughes 20.

Contingency Awards:
American Racer - Beebe.
Beyea Custom Headers - J. Scott.
Brass Monkey Racing Products - Duvall.
C&R Racing - Duvall.
Edelbrock - Gregory.
FK Rod Ends - Houston.
Forty9Designs.com - Dunn, Ray.
Fuel Safe - S. Scott.
GRT Race Cars - Manning.
Hooker Harness - Dillard.
JRi Shocks - Ramirez.
KEVKO Oil Pans & Components - Krohn.
Keyser Manufacturing - Phillips.
Marsh Racing Wheels - J. Gallardo.
Mesilla Valley Transportation - VanderBeek.
MSD Ignition - Brown, Sanders.
PBM Performance Products - F. Gallardo, Brown.
Power Lift Racing Products - Gregory.
Real Racing Wheels - all non-qualifiers.
Sybesma Graphics - Ramirez.
VP Racing Fuels - Brown.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, AMP Energy, Casey's General Stores, COMP Cams, Day Motor Sports, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, MSD Ignition, Nitroquest Media Group, RACEceiver, RacinDirt.com, Snickers, SpiderWeb Modular Storage Solutions, Swan Energy, VP Racing Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arizona Sport Shirts, ASi Racewear, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Double H Bands, ElbowsUp.com, Erson Cams, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, Major League Bowhunter, Mesilla Valley Transportation, New Vision Graphics, Olympic Fire Protection, Penn Transport, Road Runner Crane, Road Runner Trucking, S&S Fishing & Rental, United Cellular Services.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Bell Racing Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, Brass Monkey Racing Products, C&R Racing, CPD Racing Tools, Edelbrock, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Fuel Safe, Genesis Racing Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Hooker Harness, JRi Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, PBM Performance Products, Power Lift Racing Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Sybesma Graphics, Tiger Rear Ends.