Defending United States Modified Touring Series national champion Jason Hughes put himself in the driver’s seat for a third straight and fourth overall on Sunday night with a wire-to-wire victory at the 81 Speedway that put him atop the standings in the USMTS Hunt for the Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental.

Starting on the outside of the front row next to his teammate, Ryan Gustin, Hughes took command at the drop of the green flag and never relinquished the spot as he sailed to a $4,500 payday and the 153rd USMTS victory of his career.

Cade Dillard, who led more than 30 laps the previous two events but came away without a win, got by Gustin with 13 laps in the books and inched close to Hughes on a couple of occasions but could never mount a serious challenge to Hughes.

Gustin eventually found his rhythm on the low side of the racing surface and was able to regain the second spot from Dillard with six laps to go, giving the Hughes Racing Chassis stable a one-two finish.

 
Jason Hughes poses with a pack of SToK Cold Brew Coffee enthusiasts and USMTS Technical Director Trevor Rash following Hughes' victory Sunday night at the 81 Speedway.

With the win, Hughes toppled Stormy Scott from the top of the USMTS Hunt for the Casey’s Cup rankings.

Ninth-starting Zack VanderBeek looked to be back in form as he ripped off a fourth-place finish with Friday’s Grant Junghans Memorial winner, Rodney Sanders, following him across the finish line.

Jake Timm advanced from the 15th starting spot to claim sixth, Dereck Ramirez secured a solid seventh-place finish, R.C. Whitwell earned the eighth spot and Johnny Scott led his twin brother, Stormy Scott, to the checkered flag in ninth.

Travis Saurer finished 11th after taking the green flag in 21st and garnered the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award.

Dan Powers was named the Wehrs Machine & Racing Products Trick Move of the Race recipient after he and his team provided a driveshaft for Zane DeVilbiss to use in the main event after his was damaged in Real Racing Wheels “B” Main $2.

Another busy week of racing lies ahead for the stars and cars of the USMTS with five straight nights of action at five different race tracks in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. It all begins this Wednesday, Aug. 23, at the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa.

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
81 Speedway, Park City, Kan.
Sunday, Aug. 20, 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) 52 Ryan McAninch, Hutchinson, Kan.
2. (3) 4a Josh Lanterman (R), Derby, Kan.
3. (5) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
4. (6) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (4) 87 Kenny Sweet, Wichita, Kan.
6. (7) 1s Travis Saurer (R), Elizabeth, Minn.
7. (2) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla.
8. (8) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (9) 1M Curt Myers, Cameron, Wis.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (3) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
2. (1) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
3. (2) 5* Jason McGehee, Wichita, Kan.
4. (8) 4 Dan Powers (R), Wichita, Kan.
5. (7) 91 Ross Shipman, Belle Plaine, Kan.
6. (6) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas.
7. (4) 34 Mickey Lassiter (R), Piedmont, Okla.
8. (5) 10B Brandon Givens, Cheney, Kan.
9. (9) 8c Chris Clark (R), Jackson, Wyo.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (3) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
2. (6) 96 R.C. Whitwell (R), Tucson, Ariz.
3. (5) 23 Logan Robertson (R), Shamrock, Texas.
4. (7) 3J Jake Nightingale, Hutchinson, Kan.
5. (2) 21 Austin Bonner, Elk City, Okla.
6. (1) 25c Johnny Cammon, Wichita, Kan.
7. (4) 60 Kip Hughes, Enid, Okla.
8. (8) 2t Jake O'Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz.

THE JOIE OF SEATING HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (4) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
2. (1) 23 Adam Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan.
3. (7) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
4. (5) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
5. (6) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
6. (8) 86 Brian Franz, Halstead, Kan.
7. (3) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
8. (2) 22N Greg Stephens, Wichita, Kan.

VP RACING FUELS HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (4) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
2. (5) 07 Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
3. (8) 75 Tad Davis, Mount Hope, Kan.
4. (3) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan.
5. (7) 20rt Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
6. (1) 10 Marc Hurd, Wichita, Kan.
7. (6) 134 Alan Blevins, Hutchinson, Kan.
8. (2) 18z Zane DeVilbiss (R), Farmington, N.M.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (1) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
2. (4) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
3. (2) 4 Dan Powers (R), Wichita, Kan.
4. (3) 5* Jason McGehee, Wichita, Kan.
5. (8) 1s Travis Saurer (R), Elizabeth, Minn.
6. (6) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
7. (5) 91 Ross Shipman, Belle Plaine, Kan.
8. (10) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla., MBCustoms/Wegner, $90.
9. (15) 1M Curt Myers, Cameron, Wis.
10. (7) 21 Austin Bonner, Elk City, Okla., GRT/Knowles, $90.
11. (9) 25c Johnny Cammon, Wichita, Kan., GRT/Mullins, $75.
12. (13) 10B Brandon Givens, Cheney, Kan., GRT/Hatfield, $75.
13. (14) 22N Greg Stephens, Wichita, Kan., Custom/Custom, $75.
14. (12) 134 Alan Blevins, Hutchinson, Kan., BillsBuilt/Herring, $75.
15. (11) 60 Kip Hughes, Enid, Okla., IROC/Cornett, $75.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (12) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (3) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (5) 20rt Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
4. (13) 2t Jake O'Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz.
5. (6) 87 Kenny Sweet, Wichita, Kan.
6. (10) 34 Mickey Lassiter (R), Piedmont, Okla.
7. (8) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas., MBCustoms/KPE, $90.
8. (1) 23 Logan Robertson (R), Shamrock, Texas., MBCustoms/Knowles, $90.
9. (15) 8c Chris Clark (R), Jackson, Wyo., GRT/Hunter, $90.
10. (11) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, $75.
11. (4) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan.
12. (2) 3J Jake Nightingale, Hutchinson, Kan., Mullens/Mullins, $75.
13. (7) 86 Brian Franz, Halstead, Kan., GRT/Shadow, $75.
14. (9) 10 Marc Hurd, Wichita, Kan., GRT/Briley, $75.
15. (14) 18z Zane DeVilbiss (R), Farmington, N.M.

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (2) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $3000.
2. (1) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 40, $1700.
3. (4) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., MBCustoms/ASI, 40, $1200.
4. (9) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, VanderBuilt/Sput’s, 40, $1000.
5. (7) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustoms/Hatfield, 40, $900.
6. (15) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn., MBCustoms/Sput’s, 40, $800.
7. (13) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., LG2/Cornett, 40, $700.
8. (6) 96 R.C. Whitwell (R), Tucson, Ariz., MBCustoms/Hatfield, 40, $650.
9. (16) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., GRT/Durham, 40, $600.
10. (14) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., VanderBuilt/Mullins, 40, $550.
11. (21) 1s Travis Saurer (R), Elizabeth, Minn., MBCustoms/Dakota, 40, $500.
12. (3) 07 Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls, Wis., MBCustoms/Troy’s, 40, $450.
13. (17) 4 Dan Powers (R), Wichita, Kan., BillsBuilt/KBS, 40, $425.
14. (20) 2t Jake O'Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz., Hughes/Mullins, 39, $400.
15. (19) 5* Jason McGehee, Wichita, Kan., ERC/TwoM, 39, $300.
16. (8) 75 Tad Davis, Mount Hope, Kan., GRT/Mullins, 39, $275.
17. (18) 20rt Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz., Shaw/Mullins, 39, $400.
18. (11) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan., Hughes/Hatfield, 39, $250.
19. (27) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 39, $250.
20. (28) 91 Ross Shipman, Belle Plaine, Kan., S&S/Custom, 39, $250.
21. (10) 4a Josh Lanterman (R), Derby, Kan., BillsBuilt/Hillsboro, 32, $250.
22. (22) 87 Kenny Sweet, Wichita, Kan., BillsBuilt/KBS, 25, $250.
23. (24) 34 Mickey Lassiter (R), Piedmont, Okla., Hughes/Sput’s, 23, $300.
24. (23) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo., MBCustoms/Durham, 22, $300.
25. (12) 23 Adam Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan., LG2/Speedway, 21, $300.
26. (5) 52 Ryan McAninch, Hutchinson, Kan., GRT/McAninch, 20, $250.
27. (25) 1M Curt Myers, Cameron, Wis., LG2/Sput’s, 20, $300.
28. (26) 18z Zane DeVilbiss (R), Farmington, N.M., DeVilbiss/DeVilbiss, 12, $300.

(R) = Grant Junghans Rookie of the Year contender

Lap Leader: Hughes 1-40.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 40.
Margin of Victory: 1.904 seconds.
Time of Race: 18 minutes, 1.134 seconds (1 caution).
Provisional Starters: Myers, DeVilbiss, Green (track), Shipman (track).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Saurer (started 21st, finished 11th).
Entries: 42.
Next Race: Wednesday, Aug. 23, Hamilton County Speedway, Webster City, Iowa.
Hunt for the Casey’s Cup Points: Hughes 1256, S. Scott 1235, Dillard 1139, VanderBeek 1116, Ramirez 1103, Whitwell 1086, Saurer 1083, Timm 1058, Thornton 1007, Crapser 971.
Grant Junghans Rookie of the Year Points: Whitwell 1964, Saurer 1906, Tyler Wolff 1790, Kates 1447, DeVilbiss 1416.
Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 450, Sput’s 375, ASI 352, Hatfield 265, Cornett 248.
Manufacturers Championship Points: MBCustoms 444, Hughes 443, VanderBuilt 390, GRT 341, LG2 310.

Contingency Awards:
Allstar Performance – Whitwell.
American Racer – Blevins.
Beyea Custom Headers – Gustin.
BigDeal Car Care – Hughes.
BSB Manufacturing – Lanterman.
Casey’s General Stores – Kates.
Chix Gear Racewear – J. Scott.
Day Motor Sports – Myers, DeVilbiss.
Deatherage Opticians – Crapser.
Dickson Racing Shocks – McGehee.
E3 Spark Plugs – Dillard.
Edelbrock – Sanders.
Fast Shafts – Hughes.
Forty9Designs.com – O’Neil, Green.
Fuel Safe Racing Cells – Timm.
GRT Race Cars – Cammon.
Hooker Custom Harness – Powers.
Integra Shocks & Springs – Tyler Davis.
Jerovetz Motorsports Racing Parts – Thornton.
Keyser Manufacturing – S. Scott.
KSE Racing Products – Saurer.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Tad Davis.
QA1 – Siebert.
Real Racing Wheels – all non-qualifiers.
Simpson Performance Products – McAninch.
Sweet Manufacturing – Lassiter.
Swift Springs – Hughes.
Sybesma Graphics – Gustin.
Tire Demon – Saurer.
VP Racing Fuels – Hughes.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Powers.
Wilwood Engineering – Ramirez.

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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.