Hughes pus a bow on Production Jars Southern Region title with Route 66 Motor Speedway victory

AMARILLO, Texas (May 7) -- Jason Hughes only needed to take the green flag to clinch the Production Jars Southern Region title Saturday night at the Route 66 Motor Speedway, but the defending USMTS National Champion found the checkered flag more to his liking.

From the pole position, the 41-year-old from Watts, Okla., was the first to see the green in the 42-lap main event, but relinquished the top spot to Scott Drake just past the race's halfway point.

Drake held serve for eight times around the high-banked 3/8-mile dirt oval before Hughes snuck underneath on lap 30 to take the lead back for good.

The only caution of the contest came with ten laps to go and gave hometown favorite Rodney Sanders a shot at repeating as winner of the Amarillo Ambush.

But Hughes was too smooth and did not offer up a mistake for Sanders to capitalize on over the final stretch as he rolled to a $3,000 payday for his 137th career USMTS triumph.

In a reversal of Friday night's result in Lubbock, Sanders settled for the runner-up honors behind Hughes while Drake secured the third spot ahead of Jeremy Gossett and 14th-starting Cade Dillard.

Meanwhile, Philip Houston followed his S&S Fishing & Rental teammate across the finish line in sixth. Amarillo's Dustin Austin was seventh, Dereck Ramirez finished eighth and earned the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award after starting 18th, while Joe Duvall and Masen Big Eagle rounded out the top ten at the flagstand.

Hughes also earned a $6,000 prize as champion of the Production Jars Southern Region presented by Day Motor sports. In the final rankings, Hughes bested Dillard by 92 points (1359 to 1267) while Jesse Sobbing held off Sanders for third (1060 to 1051). Despite missing the final three events, Ryan Gustin finished fifth with 1039 markers, followed by Drake (998), Zack VanderBeek (974), Duvall (933), Houston (892) and Tyler Wolff (871).

These ten drivers, along with the others in the top 15-Ramirez, Brock Bauman, Austin Arneson, Bobby Malchus and Cody Bauman-locked themselves into the 2016 running of the Hunt for the USMTS Casey's Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental where this year's USMTS National Champion will earn $25,000.

USMTS GETS "REAL" NEXT WEEK

After three months of tearing up dirt tracks in the southern half of America, the series will be trucking into the Gopher State next week to kick off action in the RealTruck.com Northern Region presented by Day Motor Sports.

On Thursday, May 12, the invades the Ogilvie Raceway, and then Friday, May 13, finds the tireless USMTS touring titans at the I-94 Speedway in Fergus Falls. Then on Saturday, May 14, the high-flying half-mile touted as the fastest dirt track in Minnesota--Viking Speedway-hosts the USMTS road warriors for a second straight season.

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 USMTS Amarillo Ambush
Route 66 Motor Speedway, Amarillo, Texas
Saturday, May 7, 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) 75 Alan Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas.
2. (8) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
3. (6) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas.
4. (7) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
5. (1) D25 David Tanner (R), Wichita Falls, Texas.
6. (5) 26 Austin Huskey, Lubbock, Texas.
7. (3) 14 Ronnie Yanacsek, Amarillo, Texas.
8. (4) 87 Ben Scott Jr., Dimmitt, Texas.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (2) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
2. (4) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
3. (3) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
4. (7) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
5. (8) 7x Chris Dawson, Lubbock, Texas.
6. (1) 99n Matt Newkirk, Amarillo, Texas.
7. (5) B29 Blonde Bomber Mitchell, Pea Ridge, Ark.
8. (6) 80 David Yanacsek, Amarillo, Texas.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) 99 Jett Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask., Canada.
2. (2) 10 Dee Gossett, Amarillo, Texas.
3. (6) 17 Dustin Austin, Amarillo, Texas.
4. (7) 2x Gene Weaver, Amarillo, Texas.
5. (4) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
6. (8) 4w Tyler Wolff (R), Fayetteville, Ark.
7. (3) 12s Willie Smith, Erick, Okla.
8. (5) 9 Kevin Rutherford (R), Flower Mound, Texas.

HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (2) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa.
2. (5) 89 Jeremy Gossett, Amarillo, Texas.
3. (7) 55 Braden Woods, Amarillo, Texas.
4. (1) 11m Mark Myers, Clovis, N.M.
5. (3) 9 Danton Odell, Canyon, Texas.
6. (4) 47x Knick Stewart (R), Amarillo, Texas.
7. (6) 2s Cache Smith, Erick, Okla.

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (3) 12d Scott Drake, Joplin, Mo.
2. (2) 00 Masen Big Eagle, Manor, Sask., Canada.
3. (6) 01 Joey Galloway, Manor, Sask., Canada.
4. (1) 31 Neal DeBord, Amarillo, Texas.
5. (7) 7 A.J. Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas.
6. (4) 23g Jim Gress, Amarillo, Texas.
7. (5) 101 Butch Reid, Carlsbad, N.M.

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (2) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
2. (1) 10 Dee Gossett, Amarillo, Texas.
3. (3) 2x Gene Weaver, Amarillo, Texas.
4. (4) 7x Chris Dawson, Lubbock, Texas.
5. (12) 101 Butch Reid, Carlsbad, N.M.
6. (11) 12s Willie Smith, Erick, Okla.
7. (6) D25 David Tanner (R), Wichita Falls, Texas.
8. (9) 47x Knick Stewart (R), Amarillo, Texas, Hughes/Herring, $90.
9. (8) 26 Austin Huskey, Lubbock, Texas, Shaw/Dubose, $75.
10. (10) 14 Ronnie Yanacsek, Amarillo, Texas, DirtWorks/PPE, $75.
11. (5) 31 Neal DeBord, Amarillo, Texas, BillsBuilt/Blevins, $75.
12. (13) 80 David Yanacsek, Amarillo, Texas, Hughes/Sanders, $75.
13. (7) 9 Danton Odell, Canyon, Texas, D&M/Blevins, $75.

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (2) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
2. (1) 00 Masen Big Eagle, Manor, Sask., Canada.
3. (3) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
4. (6) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
5. (7) 4w Tyler Wolff (R), Fayetteville, Ark.
6. (8) 99n Matt Newkirk, Amarillo, Texas.
7. (5) 7 A.J. Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas, SRP/PPE, $75.
8. (12) 87 Ben Scott Jr., Dimmitt, Texas, SRP/Gary's, $75.
9. (4) 11m Mark Myers, Clovis, N.M., Hughes/PPE, $75.
10. (11) 2s Cache Smith, Erick, Okla., GRT/Knowles, $75.
11. (13) 9 Kevin Rutherford (R), Flower Mound, Texas.
12. (10) B29 Blonde Bomber Mitchell, Pea Ridge, Ark., Hughes/BMS, $90.
13. (9) 23g Jim Gress, Amarillo, Texas, GRT/McCabe, $75.

CASEY'S GENERAL STORES "A" MAIN (42 laps):
1. (1) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 42, $3000.
2. (3) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, 42, $1700.
3. (4) 12d Scott Drake, Joplin, Mo., MBCustom/GMPP, 42, $1200.
4. (7) 89 Jeremy Gossett, Amarillo, Texas, MBCustom/Carroll's, 42, $900.
5. (14) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., MBCustom/ASI, 42, $900.
6. (10) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, 42, $800.
7. (11) 17 Dustin Austin, Amarillo, Texas, Hughes/Geddes, 42, $600.
8. (18) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., LG2/Cornett, 42, $650.
9. (8) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/Wornhor, 42, $600.
10. (16) 00 Masen Big Eagle, Manor, Sask., Canada, GRT/Tim's, 42, $550.
11. (17) 2x Gene Weaver, Amarillo, Texas, GRT/PPE, 42, $500.
12. (22) 4w Tyler Wolff (R), Fayetteville, Ark., MBCustom/Hatfield, 42, $450.
13. (20) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., GRT/Mullins, 42, $425.
14. (5) 99 Jett Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask., Canada, GRT/ProPower, 42, $400.
15. (9) 55 Braden Woods, Amarillo, Texas, Hughes/Carroll's, 42, $300.
16. (26) 99n Matt Newkirk, Amarillo, Texas, GRT/Willie, 42, $275.
17. (12) 01 Joey Galloway, Manor, Sask., Canada, GRT/ProPower, 42, $325.
18. (21) 101 Butch Reid, Carlsbad, N.M., LG2/Lunsford, 42, $250.
19. (25) 12s Willie Smith, Erick, Okla., GRT/Knowles, 42, $250.
20. (23) 9 Kevin Rutherford (R), Flower Mound, Texas, Shaw/Wes', 42, $300.
21. (24) D25 David Tanner (R), Wichita Falls, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, 42, $300.
22. (13) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., GRT/Mullins, 32, $300.
23. (19) 7x Chris Dawson, Lubbock, Texas, Sidebiter/ASI, 22, $300.
24. (15) 10 Dee Gossett, Amarillo, Texas, GRT/Carroll's, 16, $250.
25. (2) 75 Alan Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas, SRP/PPE, 13, $250.
26. (6) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa, Harris/GMPP, 0, $400.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leaders: Hughes 1-21, Drake 22-29, Hughes 30-42.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 34, Drake 8.
Margin of Victory: 0.938 second.
Time of Race: 18 minutes, 7.21 seconds (1 caution).
Provisional Starters: Rutherford, Tanner, W. Smith (track), Newkirk (track).
Sybesma Graphics Pole Award: Hughes.
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Ramirez (started 18th, finished 8th).
Entries: 38.
Next Race: Thursday, May 12, Ogilvie Raceway, Ogilvie, Minn.
Production Jars Southern Region Points (final): Hughes 1359, Dillard 1267, Sobbing 1060, Sanders 1051, Ryan Gustin 1039, Drake 998, Zack VanderBeek 974, Duvall 933, Houston 892, Wolff 871.
Grant Junghans Rookie of the Year Points: B. Bauman 1030, Wolff 970, C. Bauman 961, Billy Vogel 661, Todd Shute 621.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 169, Geddes 146, Sput's 108, Durham 101, GMPP 96.
Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 166, MBCustoms 162, LG2 140, Harris 114, GRT 105.

Contingency Awards:
Allstar Performance - Ramirez.
American Racer - B. Scott.
Bell Helmets - Galloway.
Beyea Custom Headers - Dillard.
BSB Manufacturing - Tanner.
Day Motor Sports - Dawson, D. Gossett.
Deatherage Opticians - Rutherford.
Edelbrock - J. Big Eagle.
Eibach Springs - Wolff.
Fast Shafts - Sanders.
FK Rod Ends - Woods.
Forty9Designs.com - J. Big Eagle, W. Smith.
Fuel Safe - Houston.
GRT Race Cars - Gress.
Hooker Harness - B. Bauman.
Integra Shocks & Springs - Reid.
Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service - Newkirk.
Kevko Oil Pans & Components - Duvall.
Keyser Manufacturing - M. Big Eagle.
KSE Racing Products - Ramirez.
Midwest Sheet Metal - Sobbing.
MSD - Sharpensteen, Hughes.
Out-Pace Racing Products - Newkirk.
PBM Performance Products - Drake.
QA1 - Sanders.
Real Racing Wheels - non-qualifiers.
Sybesma Graphics - Hughes.
VP Racing Fuels - Hughes.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products - Weaver.
Wilwood Engineering - Austin.

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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, 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

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