VanderBeek victorious in 7th Annual Day Motor Sports Texas Spring Nationals finale

ELM MOTT, Texas (fEB. 20) -- It was a tale of two halves in Saturday night's main event at the Heart O' Texas Speedway, but at the end of the final chapter the hero of the story was Zack VanderBeek.

The sixth race of USMTS Winter Speedweeks and final night of the 7th Annual Day Motor Sports Texas Spring Nationals saw VanderBeek and Kyle Strickler share the front row for the start of the 50-lap nightcap, and for the first 25 laps they stayed that way.

Strickler edged ahead and nipped Vanderbeek to lead the first lap, but never shook off the 2004 USMTS Rookie of the Year.

The two raced virtually side by side with Strickler holding the advantage at the flag stand for the first dozen laps before VanderBeek led for the first time on lap 13. Strickler was recorded as the leader on laps 14 and 15, VanderBeek led 16 and 17, Strickler led 18, Vanderbeek led 19 and 20, and it was Strickler again for laps 21 through 23.

Diving in and out of lapped traffic for several laps, VanderBeek regained the top spot with 24 laps in the books. From there, he slowly pulled away from Strickler and eventually won the race by more than five seconds.

For his 30th career USMTS triumph, VanderBeek netted $4,000 to add to his $2,000 victory in Thursday's opener while Strickler registered his career-best finish with a $2,700 runner-up paycheck.

Johnny Scott made a late charge to finish third ahead of Ben Kates and Stormy Scott. Sixth through tenth, respectively, were Ryan Gustin, Cade Dillard, Scott Drake, Jason Hughes and Bobby Malchus.

With his win, the 'Z-Man' assumed the top ranking in the Production Jars Southern Region presented by Day Motor Sports points with a three-point cushion (542 to 539) over Hughes. Dillard (533), Gustin (522) and Jesse Sobbing (456) round out the top five.

NEXT EVENT:

The third round of USMTS Winter Speedweeks happens at the Ark-La-Tex Speedway for the 5th Annual Cajun Clash on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 25-27, preceded by a Wednesday evening practice from 6-9 p.m. with free admission to the grandstands and $20 pit passes.

Thursday's racing program starts at 7 p.m. with $2,000 to win USMTS Modifieds, $500 to win Limited Mods and $300 to win Factory Stocks. Grandstand tickets are $15 with kids ages 12 and under getting in for free. Pit passes are $35.

On Friday, the green flag unfurls at 7 p.m. with USMTS Modifieds competing for $3,000 to win while Limited Mods will battle for $600 to win and Factory Stocks $400 to win. Grandstand tickets are $20 with kids ages 12 and under getting in for free. Pit passes are $35.

Saturday's finale at Gene Boyter's popular high-banked oval gets started at 6 p.m. USMTS Modifieds will race for $4,000 to win with Limited Mods paying $700 to win, Factory Stocks $500 to win and Pro-Mods joining the card for $400 to win.

Racing on his home track, Chris Henigan has captured both of his two career USMTS wins here. In 2014, Cade Dillard posted his career-first USMTS victory on Thursday night during the 8th Annual Winter Nationals, Rodney Sanders claimed Friday's feature and nine-time USMTS national champion Kelly Shryock ended the season on a high note with a trip to the winner's circle on Saturday. All three days of the ninth running of the event was rained out this past November.

For unfortunate fans unable to make one or more of these blockbuster events, every lap of every race at every event during USMTS Winter Speedweeks will be broadcast live on RacinDirt.com. Visit www.racindirt.com/livevideo for ordering information.

The Ark-La-Tex Speedway is located 0.6 mile south of SR 2 on SR 1, then 0.7 mile west on Airport Rd., then 2.2 miles south on Boyter Lane Rd. For race day information, call the track hotline at 318-375-3470 or click www.arklatexspeedway.net to visit them online.

USMTS winter Speedweeks wraps up at the Southern Oklahoma Speedway in Ardmore, Okla., Thursday-Saturday, March 3-5.

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
USMTS Casey's Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental - Production Jars Southern Region presented by Day Motor Sports
7th Annual Day Motor Sports Texas Spring Nationals - Night 3 of 3
Heart O' Texas Speedway, Elm Mott, Texas
Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016


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

MSD HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (2) 23k Ben Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan.
2. (1) 303 Chase Jupe (R), Waco, Texas.
3. (5) 10 Austin Arneson, Fargo, N.D.
4. (6) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
5. (8) 49 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas.
6. (7) 14z Zach McMillan (R), Gladewater, Texas.
7. (4) 4w Tyler Wolff (R), Fayetteville, Ark.
8. (3) 8x Chad Thomsen (R), Louisburg, Kan.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (2) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
2. (8) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas.
3. (1) 77 Garrett Gregory (R), Tomball, Texas.
4. (5) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
5. (6) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
6. (7) 010 Jeremy Willis, Forney, Texas.
7. (3) 123 Logan Robertson (R), Shamrock, Texas.
8. (4) 9a Kirk Acord, Mansfield, Texas.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 121 Bobby Ruffin (R), Crandall, Texas.
2. (4) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (6) 2s Stormy Scott, Arroyo Hondo, N.M.
4. (1) 9 Kevin Rutherford (R), Flower Mound, Texas.
5. (5) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
6. (7) 89c Steve Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.
7. (8) 88r A.J. Vasquez (R), Garden City, Mich.
8. (3) 13g David Goode, Copperas Cove, Texas.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (1) 12d Scott Drake, Joplin, Mo.
2. (3) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
3. (8) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
4. (5) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas.
5. (2) 4 Billy Vogel (R), West Fargo, N.D.
6. (7) 717 George Egbert IV, Salado, Texas.
7. (6) 2 Casey Arneson, Fargo, N.D.
8. (4) 49 Chadd Howell (R), Waurika, Okla.

DAY MOTOR SPORTS HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (2) 8 Kyle Strickler (R), Mooresville, N.C.
2. (1) 12 Cody Leonard (R), Sinton, Texas.
3. (4) 4m Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas.
4. (3) 8 Steve Miller, Rosanky, Texas.
5. (6) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
6. (5) 85 Thomas Tillison Jr., Wellston, Okla.
7. (8) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa.
8. (7) 7 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla.

YOUDIRT.COM HEAT RACE #6 (8 laps):
1. (4) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
2. (7) 13x J.P. Dowell, Killeen, Texas.
3. (1) A1 Phil Dixon, Crosby, Texas.
4. (5) 2w Paul White, Temple, Texas.
5. (3) 13 Jerry Frydrych, Austin, Texas.
6. (2) 103 J.C. Howell (R), Mabank, Texas.
7. (6) 14x Josh Landers (R), Princeton, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (2) 4m Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas.
2. (3) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
3. (1) 303 Chase Jupe (R), Waco, Texas.
4. (4) 2w Paul White, Temple, Texas.
5. (12) 49 Chadd Howell (R), Waurika, Okla., GRT/Geddes, $100.
6. (5) 8 Steve Miller, Rosanky, Texas, Rocket/TRD, $100.
7. (8) 717 George Egbert IV, Salado, Texas, MBCustom/Mullins, $100.
8. (7) 14z Zach McMillan (R), Gladewater, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, $100.
9. (9) 88r A.J. Vasquez (R), Garden City, Mich., LG2/Farris, $100.
10. (11) 8x Chad Thomsen (R), Louisburg, Kan., Shaw/Driskell, $100.
11. (6) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., GRT/Mullins, $100.
12. (10) 123 Logan Robertson (R), Shamrock, Texas, Hughes/PPE, $100.

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (3) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
2. (1) 12 Cody Leonard (R), Sinton, Texas.
3. (2) 77 Garrett Gregory (R), Tomball, Texas.
4. (9) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa.
5. (5) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
6. (8) 85 Thomas Tillison Jr., Wellston, Okla., Hughes/Geddes, $100.
7. (6) 4 Billy Vogel (R), West Fargo, N.D., LG2/Durham, $100.
8. (12) 7 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla., MBCustom/Wegner, $100.
9. (4) 49 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas, CAM/Mullins, $100.
10. (7) 010 Jeremy Willis, Forney, Texas, Sidebiter/Performance, $80.
11. (11) 9a Kirk Acord, Mansfield, Texas, Shaw/GBM, $80.
12. (10) 2 Casey Arneson, Fargo, N.D.

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #3 (12 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (1) 10 Austin Arneson, Fargo, N.D.
2. (3) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas.
3. (5) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
4. (7) 89c Steve Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.
5. (9) 4w Tyler Wolff (R), Fayetteville, Ark., MBCustom/Hatfield, $100.
6. (2) A1 Phil Dixon, Crosby, Texas, Fast1/CB, $100.
7. (4) 9 Kevin Rutherford (R), Flower Mound, Texas, Shaw/Wes's, $100.
8. (10) 14x Josh Landers (R), Princeton, Texas, Barry Wright/Whitey, $100.
9. (8) 103 J.C. Howell (R), Mabank, Texas, Smiley's/Wells, $100.
10. (11) 13g David Goode, Copperas Cove, Texas, GRT/GMPP, $80.
11. (6) 13 Jerry Frydrych, Austin, Texas, CAM/, $80.

PRODUCTION JARS "A" MAIN (50 laps):
1. (1) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, LG2/Sput's, 50, $4000.
2. (2) 8 Kyle Strickler (R), Mooresville, N.C., Harris/VED, 50, $2700.
3. (10) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Lethal/Durham, 50, $1800.
4. (4) 23k Ben Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan., LG2/Speedway, 50, $1200.
5. (12) 2s Stormy Scott, Arroyo Hondo, N.M., Lethal/Mullins, 50, $900.
6. (9) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 50, $800.
7. (14) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., MBCustom/ASI, 50, $700.
8. (7) 12d Scott Drake, Joplin, Mo., MBCustom/GMPP, 50, $650.
9. (21) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 50, $600.
10. (13) 4m Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas, Rocket/LRE, 50, $550.
11. (5) 13x J.P. Dowell, Killeen, Texas, GRT/Wornhor, 50, $500.
12. (15) 10 Austin Arneson, Fargo, N.D., GRT/Durham, 50, $450.
13. (8) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., LG2/Cornett, 50, $425.
14. (18) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas, MBCustom/Mullins, 50, $400.
15. (16) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn., LG2/BuckBuilt, 50, $375.
16. (23) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa, Harris/GMPP, 50, $400.
17. (26) 2 Casey Arneson, Fargo, N.D., GRT/Durham, 50, $400.
18. (20) 77 Garrett Gregory (R), Tomball, Texas, LG2/CHB, 50, $350.
19. (3) 121 Bobby Ruffin (R), Crandall, Texas, LG2/M&M, 50, $350.
20. (24) 89c Steve Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas, GRT/Durham, 50, $350.
21. (6) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, 50, $400.
22. (22) 2w Paul White, Temple, Texas, Hughes/GMPP, 50, $350.
23. (19) 303 Chase Jupe (R), Waco, Texas, GRT/Mullins, 50, $350.
24. (17) 12 Cody Leonard (R), Sinton, Texas, Harris/Wells, 50, $350.
25. (11) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., GRT/Mullins, 50, $350.
26. (25) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/Wornhor, 50, $400.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leaders: Strickler 1-12, VanderBeek 13, Strickler 14-15, VanderBeek 16-17, Strickler 18, VanderBeek 19-20, Strickler 21-23, VanderBeek 24-50.
Total Laps Led: VanderBeek 32, Strickler 18.
Margin of Victory: 5.347 seconds.
Provisional Starters: Duvall, C. Arneson.
Sybesma Graphics Pole Award: Houston.
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Hughes (started 21st, finished 9th).
Entries: 47.
Next Race: Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 25-27, Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Vivian, La.
Production Jars Southern Region Points: VanderBeek 542, Hughes 539, Dillard 533, Gustin 522, Sobbing 456, Drake 436, Kates 424, Duvall 410, A. Arneson 390, Houston 389, Malchus 389.
Rookie of the Year Points: Wolff 357, B. Bauman 339, Jupe 328, Vogel 312, C. Howell 311.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 53, Sput's 50, Geddes 42, Durham 34, GMPP 33.
Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 54, LG2 52, MBCustoms 50, Harris 41, GRT 37.

Contingency Awards:
Allstar Performance - Drake.
American Racer - Ramirez.
Bell Helmets - C. Arneson.
Beyea Custom Headers - S. Scott.
BSB Manufacturing - Houston.
Day Motor Sports - Jupe, Leonard.
Deatherage Opticians - Whiteaker.
Edelbrock - Ruffin.
Eibach Springs - A. Arneson.
Fast Shafts - VanderBeek.
FK Rod Ends - Timm.
Forty9Designs.com - Dunn, Ruffin.
Fuel Safe - Gustin.
GRT Race Cars - Dowell.
Hooker Harness - Ramirez.
Integra Shocks & Springs - Gregory.
Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service - Sobbing.
Kevko Oil Pans & Components - Hughes.
Keyser Manufacturing - Malchus.
KSE Racing Products - Hughes.
Midwest Sheet Metal - C. Howell.
MSD - Kates, VanderBeek.
PBM Performance Products - Drake, VanderBeek.
QA1 - VanderBeek.
Real Racing Wheels - non-qualifiers.
Sybesma Graphics - Houston.
VP Racing Fuels - Strickler.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products - Dowell.
Wilwood Engineering - Dillard.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: 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, 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

Email: jeff@usmts.com
Web: www.usmts.com