Gustin doubles down in Mason City

August 13, 2017

Two-time USMTS national champion Ryan Gustin had been absent from the USMTS Hunt for the Casey’s Cup since last Friday due to a rather nasty case of cellulitis in his foot and ankle, but his performance Sunday night at the Mason City Motor Speedway suggests he’s feeling much better.

In addition to the pain and skin irritation, antibiotics he was taking made him very sick and he was forced to sit out three events this week, likely dashing any hope of capturing a third USMTS title.

“I guess you heard he was puking and everything,” his wife, Kendra, said. “But hopefully he’s on the right track now. Not feeling the best still, but did good considering.”

If Gustin wasn’t at full speed Sunday night, it certainly didn’t show.

The 26-year-old from Marshalltown, Iowa, was unstoppable the entire night as he rolled to two feature wins and a healthy $7,500 payday for a hard day’s work.

The Diamond Jo Casino Double Down 30s featured a full program of qualifying heats and main events for the USMTS Hunt for the Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental, followed by the final feature race in the RHRSwag.com Northern Region which was postponed by rain on June 11.

Starting on the front row next to his teammate and car owner, Jason Hughes, Gustin took command of the first feature race and held on through five cautions to score a $3,000 victory plus the Rancho Milagro Bonus Bucks worth $1,500.

Points leader Stormy Scott came from ninth to finish second in front of Hughes with Travis Saurer and R.C. Whitwell grabbing the fourth and fifth positions, respectively.

Cade Dillard, 16th-starting and KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award winner Curt Myers, Dereck Ramirez, J.D. Auringer and Cory Crapser rounded out the top 10.

In the make-up feature which had three of the 30 laps completed two months ago, Hughes resumed racing as the leader and paced the first five laps Sunday before Gustin blew by and drove away in the caution-free affair to secure his second $3,000 prize of the night.

Hughes was second, Dillard finished third, Jacob Bleess took the fourth spot and Myers claimed the fifth position.

Auringer, Josh Angst, Zack VanderBeek, Crapser and Jake Timm completed the first 10 to the finish line.

Scott remains on top in the Hunt for the Casey’s Cup points standings with a 39-point cushion (605 to 566) over Hughes. Ramirez is third with 534 markers, followed by VanderBeek (509), Dillard (509), Whitwell (502), Timm (475), Saurer (462), Ricky Thornton Jr. (446) and Tyler Wolff (408).

The series returns to action this Wednesday, Aug. 16, for the Boone River Bayou race at the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa, to kick off five straight nights of racing in four states.

Remaining events in the USMTS Hunt for the Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental:

Aug. 16, Hamilton County Speedway, Webster City, Iowa
Aug. 17, Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, Mo.
Aug. 18, Lakeside Speedway, Kansas City, Kan. (non-points)
Aug. 19, Salina Highbanks Speedway, Pryor Creek, Okla.
Aug. 20, 81 Speedway, Park City, Kan.
Aug. 24, Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, Minn.
Aug. 25, Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, Iowa
Aug. 26, Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, S.D.
Aug. 27, Casino Speedway, Watertown, S.D.
Aug. 30, Kossuth County Speedway, Algona, Iowa
Aug. 31, Fairmont Raceway, Fairmont, Minn.
Sept. 1, Fayette County Speedway, West Union, Iowa
Sept. 2, Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.
Sept. 3, Cresco Speedway, Cresco, Iowa
Sept. 21, Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.

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. Keep up to speed with everything USMTS by joining our email list at www.usmts.com/subscribe.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
USMTS Hunt for the Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental
Diamond Jo Casino Double Down 30s
Mason City Motor Speedway, Mason City, Iowa
Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017

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

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (1) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
2. (4) 20rt Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
3. (6) 99 Josh Angst, Winona, Minn.
4. (8) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
5. (3) 81 Mike Densberger, Lincoln, Neb.
6. (7) 29d Brad Dierks, Clarence, Iowa.
7. (5) 2t Jake O'Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz.
8. (2) 48 Brent Dutenhoffer, Watertown, S.D.
9. (9) 3f Cole Ferguson (R), Dexter, Iowa.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (3) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
2. (4) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (2) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
4. (1) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
5. (5) 21 Jacob Bleess (R), Chatfield, Minn.
6. (8) 00 J.D. Auringer, Evansdale, Iowa.
7. (6) 4w Tyler Wolff (R), Fayetteville, Ark.
8. (7) 5d Devon Havlik (R), Iowa Falls, Iowa.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 555 Ryan Ruter, Clear Lake, Iowa.
2. (5) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
3. (8) 1s Travis Saurer (R), Elizabeth, Minn.
4. (3) 29h Joe Horgdal, Kasson, Minn.
5. (6) 23 Adam Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan.
6. (1) 65d Dustin Brown, Thornton, Iowa.
7. (7) 23b Brett Bumgardner (R), Hawkeye, Iowa.
8. (4) 8c Chris Clark (R), Jackson, Wyo.

THE JOIE OF SEATING HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (2) 96 R.C. Whitwell (R), Tucson, Ariz.
2. (7) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
3. (4) 07 Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
4. (5) 1m Curt Myers, Cameron, Wis.
5. (1) 18z Zane DeVilbiss (R), Farmington, N.M.
6. (8) 65 Logan Brown, Clear Lake, Iowa.
7. (3) 1g Pat Graham, Ankeny, Iowa.
8. (6) 11x Alex Yohn, Clear Lake, Iowa.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (10 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (1) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
2. (2) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
3. (5) 00 J.D. Auringer, Evansdale, Iowa.
4. (4) 21 Jacob Bleess (R), Chatfield, Minn.
5. (7) 2t Jake O'Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz.
6. (3) 23 Adam Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan.
7. (6) 29d Brad Dierks, Clarence, Iowa, MasterSbilt/Sperry, $75.
8. (11) 3f Cole Ferguson (R), Dexter, Iowa, DirtHustler/Mullins, $90.
9. (9) 48 Brent Dutenhoffer, Watertown, S.D., Lethal/Sput’s, $90.
10. (8) 23b Brett Bumgardner (R), Hawkeye, Iowa, SSR/Midnight, $90.
11. (10) 8c Chris Clark (R), Jackson, Wyo.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (10 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (7) 4w Tyler Wolff (R), Fayetteville, Ark.
2. (1) 1m Curt Myers, Cameron, Wis.
3. (2) 29h Joe Horgdal, Kasson, Minn.
4. (8) 1g Pat Graham, Ankeny, Iowa.
5. (6) 65d Dustin Brown, Thornton, Iowa.
6. (4) 18z Zane DeVilbiss (R), Farmington, N.M., DeVilbiss/DeVilbiss, $90.
7. (5) 65 Logan Brown, Clear Lake, Iowa.
8. (3) 81 Mike Densberger, Lincoln, Neb., Jet/Speedway, $90.
9. (10) 11x Alex Yohn, Clear Lake, Iowa.
10. (9) 5d Devon Havlik (R), Iowa Falls, Iowa, Sidebiter/Jono’s, $90.

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES “A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. (2) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 30, $3000.
2. (9) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., VanderBuilt/Mullins, 30, $1700.
3. (1) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 30, $1200.
4. (5) 1s Travis Saurer (R), Elizabeth, Minn., MBCustoms/Dakota, 30, $1000.
5. (7) 96 R.C. Whitwell (R), Tucson, Ariz., MBCustoms/Hatfield, 30, $900.
6. (13) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., MBCustoms/ASI, 30, $800.
7. (16) 1m Curt Myers, Cameron, Wis., LG2/Sput’s, 30, $700.
8. (11) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., LG2/Cornett, 30, $650.
9. (17) 00 J.D. Auringer, Evansdale, Iowa, Rage/KSE, 30, $600.
10. (12) 07 Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls, Wis., MBCustoms/Troy’s, 30, $550.
11. (8) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn., MBCustoms/Sput’s, 30, $500.
12. (3) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, VanderBuilt/Sput’s, 30, $450.
13. (25) 65 Logan Brown, Clear Lake, Iowa, Skyrocket/KSE, 30, $350.
14. (23) 8c Chris Clark (R), Jackson, Wyo., GRT/Hunter, 30, $400.
15. (6) 20rt Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz., Shaw/Mullins, 29, $375.
16. (15) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustoms/Hatfield, 28, $350.
17. (20) 1g Pat Graham, Ankeny, Iowa, Victory/Karl, 26, $325.
18. (21) 2t Jake O'Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz., Hughes/Mullins, 22, $300.
19. (10) 99 Josh Angst, Winona, Minn., MBCustoms/Sput’s, 22, $300.
20. (14) 4w Tyler Wolff (R), Fayetteville, Ark., MBCustoms/Hatfield, 21, $300.
21. (22) 65d Dustin Brown, Thornton, Iowa, Skyrocket/ASI, 20, $250.
22. (24) 23 Adam Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan., LG2/Speedway, 19, $300.
23. (26) 11x Alex Yohn, Clear Lake, Iowa, Sidebiter/, 19, $250.
24. (19) 21 Jacob Bleess (R), Chatfield, Minn., MBCustoms/Sput’s, 13, $300.
25. (18) 29h Joe Horgdal, Kasson, Minn., Killer/Action, 6, $250.
26. (4) 555 Ryan Ruter, Clear Lake, Iowa, Sidebiter/Sput’s, 4, $250.

Lap Leader: Gustin 1-30.
Total Laps Led: Gustin 30.
Margin of Victory: 1.072 seconds.
Time of Race: 25 minutes, 53.751 seconds (5 cautions).
Provisional Starters: Clark, Kates, L. Brown (track), Yohn (track).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Myers (started 16th, finished 7th).
Entries: 33.
Next Race: Wednesday, Aug. 16, Hamilton County Speedway, Webster City, Iowa.
Hunt for the Casey’s Cup Points: Scott 605, Hughes 566, Ramirez 534, VanderBeek 509, Dillard 509, Whitwell 502, Timm 475, Saurer 462, Thornton 446, Wolff 408.
Grant Junghans Rookie of the Year Points: Whitwell 1958, Saurer 1849, Wolff 1786, Kates 1447, DeVilbiss 1207.
Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 412, Sput’s 345, ASI 324, Hatfield 240, Cornett 233.
Manufacturers Championship Points: MBCustoms 408, Hughes 405, VanderBuilt 359, GRT 317, LG2 284.

MAKE-UP CASEY’S GENERAL STORES “A” MAIN (30 laps):
Final 27 of 30 laps postponed from June 11, 2017
1. (6) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 30, $3000.
2. (2) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 30, $1700.
3. (8) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., MBCustoms/ASI, 30, $1200.
4. (3) 21 Jacob Bleess (R), Chatfield, Minn., MBCustoms/Sput’s, 30, $900.
5. (1) 1m Curt Myers, Cameron, Wis., LG2/Sput’s, 30, $800.
6. (4) 00 J.D. Auringer, Evansdale, Iowa, Rage/KSE, 30, $700.
7. (5) 99 Josh Angst, Winona, Minn., MBCustoms/Sput’s, 30, $600.
8. (14) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, VanderBuilt/Sput’s, 30, $650.
9. (13) 07 Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls, Wis., MBCustoms/Troy’s, 30, $600.
10. (12) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn., MBCustoms/Sput’s, 30, $550.
11. (24) 23 Adam Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan., LG2/Speedway, 29, $500.
12. (19) 65d Dustin Brown, Thornton, Iowa, Skyrocket/ASI, 29, $375.
13. (23) 29h Joe Horgdal, Kasson, Minn., Killer/Action, 29, $350.
14. (18) 65 Logan Brown, Clear Lake, Iowa, Skyrocket/KSE, 29, $325.
15. (11) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., LG2/Cornett, 20, $375.
16. (20) 5d Devon Havlik (R), Iowa Falls, Iowa, Sidebiter/Johnson, 21, $350.
17. (22) 20rt Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz., Shaw/Mullins, 13, $325.
18. (9) 555 Ryan Ruter, Clear Lake, Iowa, Sidebiter/Sput’s, 7, $250.
19. (10) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., VanderBuilt/Mullins, 5, $400.
23. (7) 91 Scott Drake, Joplin, Mo., MBCustoms/BMS, 3, $250.
20. (15) 19sb Lance Mari (R), Imperial, Calif., MRT/Yeoman, 3, $300.
21. (16) 18z Zane DeVilbiss (R), Farmington, N.M., DeVilbiss/DeVilbiss, 3, $300.
22. (17) 11x Alex Yohn, Clear Lake, Iowa, Sidebiter/, 3, $250.
24. (21) 45 Levi Nielsen, Evansdale, Iowa, MBCustoms/KSE, 3, $250.

Lap Leaders: Hughes 1-8. Gustin 9-30.
Total Laps Led: Gustin 22, Hughes 8.
Margin of Victory: 0.674 second.
Time of Race: 11 minutes, 8.925 seconds (no cautions).
Provisional Starters: none.
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Kates (started 24th, finished 11th).
RHRSwag.com Northern Region Points (final): VanderBeek 1054, Dillard 907, Gustin 897, Timm 829, Hughes 828, Ramirez 763, Bleess 753, Scott 740, Myers 679, Crapser 663.

(R) = Grant Junghans Rookie of the Year contender

Contingency Awards:
Allstar Performance – Ramirez, VanderBeek.
American Racer – Densberger.
Beyea Custom Headers – Scott, Hughes.
BigDeal Car Care – Gustin.
BSB Manufacturing – D. Brown.
Casey’s General Stores – Whitwell.
Chix Gear Racewear – Auringer, Crapser.
Day Motor Sports – Horgdal, Ruter, DeVilbiss, Yohn.
Deatherage Opticians – VanderBeek, D. Brown.
Dickson Racing Shocks – Thornton, Ramirez.
E3 Spark Plugs – Hughes, Dillard.
Edelbrock – Ruter.
Fast Shafts – Gustin.
Forty9Designs.com – Clark, Angst, L. Brown, Scott.
Fuel Safe Racing Cells – Dillard, Auringer.
GRT Race Cars – Clark.
Hooker Custom Harness – L. Brown, Horgdal.
Integra Shocks & Springs – O'Neil, Ruter.
Jerovetz Motorsports Racing Parts – Graham, Thornton.
Keyser Manufacturing – Crapser, Timm.
KSE Racing Products – Myers, Kates.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Sanders, Havlik.
QA1 – VanderBeek.
Real Racing Wheels – Dierks, Ferguson, Dutenhoffer, Bumgardner, Densberger.
Simpson Performance Products – Hughes.
Sweet Manufacturing – Kates.
Swift Springs – Gustin, Gustin.
Sybesma Graphics – Hughes.
Tire Demon – Timm, Kates.
VP Racing Fuels – Gustin.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Whitwell, Auringer.
Wilwood Engineering – Myers, Angst.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Argo Manufacturing, Casey’s General Stores, Chix Gear Racewear, CP-Carrillo, Deatherage Opticians, Fast Shafts, Intercomp, KSE Racing Products, Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment, Malvern Bank, MSD, Pace Performance, RacerWebsite.com, RacinDirt.com, RacingJunk.com, S&S Fishing & Rental, SToK Cold-Brew Coffee, Summit Racing Equipment, The Joie of Seating, VP Racing Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arizona Sport Shirts, ASi Racewear, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Duvall Electric, ElbowsUp.com, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Oreo, Production Jars, Rancho Milagro Racing, RHRSwag.com, YouDirt.com.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: 905 Ink, AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Beyea Custom Headers, BigDeal Car Care, BSB Manufacturing, Day Motor Sports, Dickson Racing Shocks, E3 Spark Plugs, Edelbrock, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Fuel Safe, Genesis Racing Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Holley Performance Products, Hooker Custom Harness, Integra Shocks & Springs, Jerovetz Motorsports Racing Parts, Keyser Manufacturing, Out-Pace Racing Products, QA1 Precision Products, Real Racing Wheels, Simpson Performance Products, Sweet Manufacturing, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Tire Demon, Wehrs Machine & Race Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes.