Stormy Scott pads points lead, caps off USMTS Spring Nationals with second win of season

BAYTOWN, Texas (Feb. 15) -- Saturday night at the Royal Purple Raceway, Stormy Scott made a loud-and-clear statement that he is the man to beat in this region as he dominated the finale of the 5th Annual USMTS Texas Spring Nationals presented by Double H Bands, leading every lap of the main event for the USMTS Casey's Cup powered by Swan Energy.

Scott, who came into the race as the points leader in the MVT Gulf Coast Border Region presented by Day Motor Sports, won the third heat race and then drew the pole position for the 50-lap "A" Main. That was as close as anybody ever got to him.

A couple of caution flags during the race only gave Scott's pursuers false hope as the Las Cruces, N.M., native sailed away from the pack on each restart and eventually crossed the finish line six car-lengths ahead of John O Whittington.

Winner of the finale at the South Texas Speedway in Corpus Christi last Saturday, It was Scott's second $4,000 triumph in a eight days and first ever at the Royal Purple Raceway. His 19th career USMTS victory also broke a tie with reigning USMTS national champion Rodney Sanders and Jeremy Payne on the all-time USMTS wins list.

Whittington finished second behind the 2012 USMTS Rookie of the Year while 2007 USMTS national champ Jason Krohn was third. Dirt late model standouts Terry Phillips and Jimmy Mars finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Sixth went to Sanders, Cody Smith was seventh and Payne came home in eighth. Chris Brown, who won back-to-back features on Thursday and Friday, wound up ninth and Cade Dillard turned a win in the second Real Racing Wheels "B" Main into a tenth-place finish in the nightcap.

Zack VanderBeek finished in the 11 spot, but passed ten cars to earn the Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger Award for the second straight night. The 'Z-Man' passed 33 of his competitors in all during the three main events this week at the Royal Purple Raceway.

With five events in the books, five events remain in the MVT Gulf Coast Border Region presented by Day Motor Sports. The traveling band of mud-slinging USMTS Modifieds trek to the other side of the Lone Star State next weekend for a two-day stint at the El Paso Speedway Park.

This will be the first-ever journey for the USMTS to El Paso, but the track hosts the similar USRA Modifieds during their weekly Friday night programs throughout the year, as well as some well-attended special events that routinely draw the best open-wheel dirt modified aces on the planet.

The two-day clash in El Paso will pay $2,000 to win Friday and $3,000 to win Saturday. An open practice is scheduled for Thursday night with gates opening at 3 p.m. and practice beginning at 6 p.m. Pit passes are $20.

USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods and Legends Cars will also be in action both days. Gates open at 3 p.m. with racing at 6:30 both days. Adult admission is $12 Friday and $15 Saturday. Kids ages 10 and under get in for free and pit passes are $40 both days.

The El Paso Speedway Park is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located 6.0 miles east of FM 375 on US 62, then 0.5 mile north on Krag St., then east on Tangerine Ave. For more information call 915-791-8749 or visit www.epspeedwaypark.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 3 of 3
Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, Texas.
Saturday, Feb. 15, 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. (3) 28 Jimmy Mars (R), Menomonie, Wis.
2. (1) 5* Adam Penn (R), Shreveport, La.
3. (7) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
4. (4) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
5. (5) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (6) 525 George Egbert IV, Salado, Texas.
7. (8) 78 Trevor Egbert, Salado, Texas.
8. (9) 73D John Hortch, Huffman, Texas.
9. (2) 36 Jeff Conner, Panora, Iowa.
10. (10) 99jr Rick Henry Jr., Pearland, Texas.

JRi SHOCKS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (9) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.
2. (5) 29d Brad Dierks, Clarence, Iowa.
3. (1) 87 Darron Fuqua (R), Mayetta, Kan.
4. (4) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
5. (8) 24 Sean Jones, Mansfield, Texas.
6. (7) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (3) 51 Tim Thomas, West Fargo, N.D.
8. (6) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
9. (2) 44 Michael Walker (R), Rosharon, Texas.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (4) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (1) 97 Cade Dillard (R), Robeline, La.
3. (3) 21 Chris Brown, Spring, Texas.
4. (8) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
5. (6) 89c Steve Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.
6. (9) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
7. (5) 77 Garrett Gregory (R), Tomball, Texas.
8. (7) 23 Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas.
9. (2) 44 Joe Spillman (R), Marble Falls, Texas.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (10) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas.
2. (8) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla.
3. (9) 4s T.J. Steele (R), Winnsboro, Texas.
4. (2) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
5. (7) J17 Jacob Gallardo (R), Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (4) 4 Kyle Cummings (R), Sibley, La.
7. (5) 5 Shane Sprinkle (R), Andrews, Texas.
8. (1) 211 Richie Ginn, Baton Rouge, La.
9. (6) 76 Jesse Manning, Brazoria, Texas.
10. (3) L1 Larry Clevenger, Greenwood, La.

PENN TRANSPORT HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (6) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
2. (4) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas.
3. (1) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (5) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas.
5. (9) R5 Hunter Rasdon (R), Jonesboro, Ark.
6. (7) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Waukee, Iowa.
7. (3) 8 Billy Melton, Longview, Texas.
8. (2) 59 Bob Sammann (R), Winona, Minn.
9. (8) 64 Jay Sale, Edmond, Okla.

S&S FISHING & RENTAL HEAT RACE #6 (8 laps):
1. (1) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas.
2. (6) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
3. (2) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas.
4. (4) 7d Austin Theiss (R), Hockley, Texas.
5. (3) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La.
6. (8) 51 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
7. (9) 34 Ben Stephens, Hattiesburg, Miss.
8. (5) 97j Jeff Hoegh, New Caney, Texas.
9. (7) 7x Rory Jordan, Victoria, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (2) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
2. (3) 21 Chris Brown, Spring, Texas.
3. (1) 5* Adam Penn (R), Shreveport, La.
4. (5) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas.
5. (6) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
6. (8) J17 Jacob Gallardo (R), Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (10) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La., LG2/Mullins, $100.
8. (11) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (4) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas, Hughes/RoushYates, $100.
10. (7) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Kraft/Gaerte, $100.
11. (17) 23 Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas, Hughes/Fox, $80.
12. (9) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/Mullins, $100.
13. (13) 34 Ben Stephens, Hattiesburg, Miss., Hughes/Mullins, $100.
14. (14) 51 Tim Thomas, West Fargo, N.D., Venom/G-Force, $100.
15. (20) 44 Joe Spillman (R), Marble Falls, Texas, CAM/Centex, $100.
16. (15) 5 Shane Sprinkle (R), Andrews, Texas, Hughes/RoushYates, $100.
17. (19) 36 Jeff Conner, Panora, Iowa, Skyrocket/Durham, $100.
18. (21) 64 Jay Sale, Edmond, Okla., Harris/Mullins, $100.
19. (16) 73d John Hortch, Huffman, Texas, Kraft/Knowles, $80.
20. (22) 99jr Rick Henry Jr., Pearland, Texas, Shaw/Henry, $80.
21. (18) 59 Bob Sammann (R), Winona, Minn., Hughes/KSE, $100.
22. (12) 525 George Egbert IV, Salado, Texas, CAM/Centex, $80.

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (1) 97 Cade Dillard (R), Robeline, La.
2. (9) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (8) 89c Steve Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.
4. (14) 77 Garrett Gregory (R), Tomball, Texas.
5. (11) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Waukee, Iowa.
6. (20) 76 Jesse Manning, Brazoria, Texas.
7. (18) 97j Jeff Hoegh, New Caney, Texas, GRT/AARE, $80.
8. (19) 44 Michael Walker (R), Rosharon, Texas, Kraft/AARE, $100.
9. (21) 7x Rory Jordan, Victoria, Texas, Shaw/Mullins, $100.
10. (3) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M., AOS/AOS, $100.
11. (13) 525 Trevor Egbert, Salado, Texas, Hughes/Sput's, $100.
12. (17) 211 Richie Ginn, Baton Rouge, La., Pierce/CrankShop, $80.
13. (16) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
14. (2) 87 Darron Fuqua (R), Mayetta, Kan., Venom/Driskell, $100.
15. (6) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., LG2/ProPower, $100.
16. (5) 24 Sean Jones, Mansfield, Texas, LG2/Brooks, $100.
17. (4) R5 Hunter Rasdon (R), Jonesboro, Ark., Bandit/Sput's, $100.
18. (22) L1 Larry Clevenger, Greenwood, La., Skyrocket/PTS, $100.
19. (15) 8 Billy Melton, Longview, Texas, Skyrocket/Shoulders, $100.
20. (10) 51 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/PTS, $100.
21. (7) 7d Austin Theiss (R), Hockley, Texas, LG2/Mullins, $100.
22. (12) 4 Kyle Cummings (R), Sibley, La., IRP/EPM, $100.

CASEY'S GENERAL STORES "A" MAIN (50 laps):
1. (1) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/ProPower, 50, $4000.
2. (3) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas, Pierce/CB, 50, $2700.
3. (5) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn., MBCustom/Sput's, 50, $1800.
4. (2) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 50, $1200.
5. (8) 28 Jimmy Mars (R), Menomonie, Wis., MBCustom/Geddes, 50, $900.
6. (12) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, 50, $800.
7. (10) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas, CAM/Chase, 50, $700.
8. (13) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Durham, 50, $600.
9. (15) 21 Chris Brown, Spring, Texas, LG2/Durham, 50, $550.
10. (14) 97 Cade Dillard (R), Robeline, La., Sidebiter/PTS, 50, $500.
11. (21) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, LG2/Sput's, 50, $450.
12. (18) 89c Steve Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, 50, $425.
13. (25) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Ramirez/ProPower, 50, $400.
14. (22) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Waukee, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 50, $375.
15. (4) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla., MBCustom/Mullins, 50, $350.
16. (20) 77 Garrett Gregory (R), Tomball, Texas, Hughes/105, 50, $350.
17. (24) 76 Jesse Manning, Brazoria, Texas, GRT/105, 50, $350.
18. (6) 4s T.J. Steele (R), Winnsboro, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, 50, $350.
19. (7) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Ramirez/ProPower, 46, $400, mechanical.
20. (9) 29d Brad Dierks, Clarence, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sperry, 41, $350, mechanical.
21. (11) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas, Skyrocket/CB, 38, $350, mechanical.
22. (16) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/AOS, 38, $350, mechanical.
23. (17) 5* Adam Penn (R), Shreveport, La., Hughes/Geddes, 34, $350, mechanical.
24. (26) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan., MBCustom/Mullins, 34, $400, mechanical.
25. (23) J17 Jacob Gallardo (R), Las Cruces, N.M., GRC/BMS, 28, $400, mechanical.
26. (19) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas, LG2/Mullins, 21, $350, mechanical.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leaders: S. Scott 1-50.
Total Laps Led: S. Scott 50.
Margin of Victory: 1.248 seconds.
Provisional Starters: J. Scott, Beebe.
Sybesma Graphics Pole Award: Whittington.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: VanderBeek (started 21st, finished 11th).
Next Race: Friday-Saturday, Feb. 21-22, El Paso (Texas) Speedway Park.
MVT Gulf Coast Border Region Points Standings: not available.
Rookie of the Year Points: Dillard 346, Gallardo 325, Fuqua 273, Steele 272, Theiss 258.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: ProPower 44, Geddes 38, Sput's 38, Durham 26, CB 26.
Manufacturers Championship Points: LG2 48, MBCustom 44, Ramirez 31, GRT 25, Skyrocket 24, Hughes 24.

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

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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.