Johnny Scott was the first driver out of the race Saturday night at the Park Jefferson Speedway but he was the first one to the finish line Sunday night at the Casino Speedway, taking one giant leap toward his first USMTS national championship and a $50,000 check.

For his 12th triumph of the 2018 campaign, Scott’s take-home pay was more than $4,000 for winning the 3rd Annual Sandy Benson Memorial at the high-banked quarter-mile bullring in Watertown, S.D.

Three drivers led their first feature race laps during the USMTS Hunt for the Casey’s Cup powered by Summit before Scott took command and checked out to a margin of victory of more than five seconds.

Polesitter Travis Saurer led the first lap but Tyler Peterson snuck by to lead the second go-around. After five laps at the front, he gave way to Dereck Ramirez who looked to have the car to beat.

Meanwhile, Scott wasted little time in joining a tremendous four-car battle at the front. Despite starting eighth, he was fourth by lap 4 and then followed Ramirez into second with seven laps in the books.

By lap 20, Ramirez had pulled out to a four-car-length advantage while Scott still had his hands full with Peterson. A flat tire for Jake O’Neil on lap 21 slowed the pace and brought out the race’s fourth yellow flag.

Back under green, Ramirez continued to lead by scooting around the low side while Scott raced through the middle and high lines. But after crossing underneath the flagstand to complete the 25th lap, Ramirez moved up and Scott willingly assumed the bottom groove of the racing surface.

And despite a final caution with 14 laps to go, that was the closest Ramirez would ever get to Scott again as the 28-year-old native of Las Cruces, N.M., ran off and hid while Ramirez was left to defend the runner-up finish from Peterson.

Adam Kates raced among the top five for the entire 40 laps, eventually earning a fourth-place finish while Terry Phillips advanced from the seventh row to finish fifth.

Stormy Scott passed ten cars to get to sixth at the checkers, with Saurer, Tyler McDonald, Zack VanderBeek and Rodney Sanders rounding out the top ten.

Working Labor Day Weekend: Four big nights are on tap for Labor Day Weekend, beginning Thursday, Aug. 30, with the make-up event from Friday’s rain-out at the Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa.

The series stops at the Fayette County Speedway in West Union, Iowa, on Friday, Aug. 31, and Saturday, Sept. 1, at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., before completing the four-night swing on Sunday, Sept. 2, at the Cresco Speedway in Cresco, Iowa.

The final points race in the USMTS Hunt for the Casey’s Cup powered by Summit will take place on Thursday, Sept. 20, during opening night of the 20th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree.

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 Summit
3rd Annual Sandy Benson Memorial
Casino Speedway, Watertown, S.D.
Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed and money won. The top 12 in heat race passing points advance to the Casey’s General Stores “A” Main with the top 8 redrawing for the first 8 starting spots.

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (1) 23 Adam Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan.
2. (6) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
3. (3) 57 Duke Erickson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
4. (8) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
5. (4) 20 Trevor Anderson (R), Watertown, S.D.
6. (7) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
7. (2) 8c Chris Clark, Jackson, Wyo.
8. (9) 10c Chad Olsen, Hendricks, Minn.
9. (5) 21 Kurtis Clark, Madison, S.D.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 1st Johnny Scott, Cameron, Mo.
2. (2) 21x Travis Saurer, Elizabeth, Minn.
3. (4) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
4. (3) 24s Mike Stearns, Hecla, S.D.
5. (8) 5m Tyler McDonald, Huron, S.D.
6. (6) 85 Jayson Good, Watertown, S.D.
7. (7) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
8. (9) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (5) 51 Alex Guthmiller, Huron, S.D.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 0 Jake O'Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz.
2. (1) 24d Scott Ward, Watertown, S.D.
3. (5) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
4. (6) 9 Kent Arment, Aberdeen, S.D.
5. (9) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
6. (4) 41 Jordan Foster, Henry, S.D.
7. (8) 37jr Morgan Ward, Watertown, S.D.
8. (7) 3 Arne Anderson, Watertown, S.D.
9. (3) 1j Matt Jeratowski, Madison, S.D.

MSD PERFORMANCE HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (7) 1tpo Tyler Peterson, Hickson, N.D.
2. (3) 48 Brent Dutenhoffer (R), Watertown, S.D.
3. (2) 32 Jesse Young, Warner, S.D.
4. (5) 5k Kyle Prauner (R), Norfolk, Neb.
5. (9) 07 Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
6. (1) 9 Tyler Anglin, Aberdeen, S.D.
7. (6) 1 Ryan Engels, Watertown, S.D.
8. (4) 5 Luke Lick, Rosholt, S.D.
9. (8) 52x David McDonald, Huron, S.D.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (2) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
2. (3) 5k Kyle Prauner (R), Norfolk, Neb.
3. (1) 32 Jesse Young, Warner, S.D.
4. (4) 24s Mike Stearns, Hecla, S.D.
5. (5) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
6. (6) 41 Jordan Foster, Henry, S.D., GRT/Sput’s, $75.
7. (7) 37jr Morgan Ward, Watertown, S.D., LG2/CNC, $75.
8. (10) 3 Arne Anderson, Watertown, S.D., Arrow/Sturdy, $75.
9. (9) 10c Chad Olsen, Hendricks, Minn., MBCustoms/Tim’s, $75.
10. (12) 1j Matt Jeratowski, Madison, S.D., Arrow/Sturdy, $75.
11. (11) 21 Kurtis Clark, Madison, S.D., GRT/Bruns, $75.
12. (8) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (3) 5m Tyler McDonald, Huron, S.D.
2. (9) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (2) 07 Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
4. (1) 9 Kent Arment, Aberdeen, S.D.
5. (11) 51 Alex Guthmiller, Huron, S.D.
6. (12) 52x David McDonald, Huron, S.D., MBCustoms/Dakota, $75.
7. (4) 20 Trevor Anderson (R), Watertown, S.D.
8. (8) 1 Ryan Engels, Watertown, S.D., TRE/Victory, $75.
9. (5) 85 Jayson Good, Watertown, S.D.
10. (7) 8c Chris Clark, Jackson, Wyo.
11. (10) 5 Luke Lick, Rosholt, S.D., MasterSbilt/Worx, $75.
12. (6) 9 Tyler Anglin, Aberdeen, S.D., MasterSbilt/Sput’s, $75.

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (8) 1st Johnny Scott, Cameron, Mo., VanderBuilt/Durham, 40, $4400.
2. (4) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/Cornett, 40, $1875.
3. (3) 1tpo Tyler Peterson, Hickson, N.D., BlackWidow/ProPower, 40, $1000.
4. (5) 23 Adam Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan., LG2/Speedway, 40, $1050.
5. (13) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Durham, 40, $940.
6. (16) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., VanderBuilt/Mullins, 40, $835.
7. (1) 21x Travis Saurer, Elizabeth, Minn., MBCustoms/PerfAuto, 40, $450.
8. (14) 5m Tyler McDonald, Huron, S.D., MBCustoms/Dakota, 40, $450.
9. (9) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, VanderBuilt/Stoen, 40, $705.
10. (23) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustoms/Hatfield, 40, $675.
11. (10) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn., MBCustoms/Hill, 40, $650.
12. (20) 9 Kent Arment, Aberdeen, S.D., Hughes/Dakota, 40, $450.
13. (19) 24s Mike Stearns, Hecla, S.D., MasterSbilt/Tim’s, 40, $450.
14. (2) 48 Brent Dutenhoffer (R), Watertown, S.D., Hughes/Sput’s, 40, $450.
15. (18) 07 Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls, Wis., MBCustoms/Troy’s, 40, $450.
16. (7) 0 Jake O'Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz., LG2/Cornett, 40, $575.
17. (25) 85 Jayson Good, Watertown, S.D., MasterSbilt/Cressman, 40, $450.
18. (24) 8c Chris Clark, Jackson, Wyo., GRT/PerfAuto, 39, $450.
19. (26) 20 Trevor Anderson (R), Watertown, S.D., Arrow/Victory, 39, $450.
20. (22) 51 Alex Guthmiller, Huron, S.D., MBCustoms/Dakota, 32, $450.
21. (11) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D., GRT/Sput’s, 31, $450.
22. (12) 57 Duke Erickson, Sioux Falls, S.D., Dominator/Hansen, 26, $450.
23. (15) 5k Kyle Prauner (R), Norfolk, Neb., Razor/ChevPerf, 15, $450.
24. (17) 32 Jesse Young, Warner, S.D., MasterSbilt/Sturdy, 8, $450.
25. (21) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustoms/ChevPerf, 5, $650.
26. (6) 24d Scott Ward, Watertown, S.D., LG2/CNC, 0, $450.

(R) = Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year contender

Lap Leaders: Saurer 1, Peterson 2-6, Ramirez 7-25, J. Scott 26-40.
Total Laps Led: Ramirez 19, J. Scott 15, Peterson 5, Saurer 1.
Margin of Victory: 5.055 seconds.
Time of Race: 22 minutes, 2.033 seconds (5 cautions).
Provisional Starters: Sanders, Clark, T. Anderson (track), Good (track).
Eibach Spring Forward Award: S. Scott (advanced 18 positions).
FK Rod Ends Hard Charger: S. Scott (started 16th, finished 6th).
Entries: 36.
Next Race: Thursday, Aug. 30, Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, Iowa.
USMTS Hunt for the Casey’s Cup Points: TBD.
Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Points: O'Neil 2046, Lance Mari 1163, Carlos Ahumada Jr. 760, Zane Ferrell 692, Prauner 627.
USMTS Engine Builder of the Year Points: Durham 280, Mullins 233, Cornett 228, Hatfield 216, Hill 194.
USMTS Manufacturers Championship Points: VanderBuilt 331, MBCustoms 310, Hughes 239, GRT 238, LG2 222.

Contingency Awards:
American Racer – TBD.
Beyea Custom Headers – Good.
BSB Manufacturing – Tesch.
Casey’s General Stores – TBD.
Champ Pans – Phillips.
Deatherage Opticians – Arment.
E3 Spark Plugs – Peterson.
Edelbrock – O’Neil.
Eibach – S. Scott.
Fast Shafts – J. Scott.
FK Rod Ends – S. Scott.
Forty9 Designs – Dutenhoffer, T. Anderson.
GRT Race Cars – Lick.
Hooker Harness – Stearns.
Integra Shocks & Springs – Clark.
Jerovetz Motorsports Racing Parts – Crapser.
Keyser Manufacturing – Sanders.
KSE Racing Products – Vanderbeek.
Maxima Racing Oils – J. Scott.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – TBD.
Out-Pace Racing Products – O’Neil.
QA1 – O’Neil.
RacerWebsite.com – D. McDonald.
Real Racing Wheels – all non-qualifiers.
Simpson Performance Products – Kates.
Swift Springs – J. Scott, Peterson.
Sybesma Graphics – Saurer.
Tire Demon – Schott.
VP Racing Fuels – J. Scott.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Guthmiller.
Wilwood Disc Brakes – Saurer.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: Alpinestars, American Racer Racing Tires, Argo Manufacturing, Casey’s General Stores, Chevrolet Performance, CP-Carrillo, Deatherage Opticians, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Intercomp, Jerovetz Motorsports Racing Parts, KSE Racing Products, Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment, Malvern Bank, Mesilla Valley Transportation, MSD Performance, Nitroquest Media, Pace Performance, RacinDirt.com, S&S Fishing & Rental, Summit Racing Equipment, VP Racing Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arizona Sport Shirts, ASi Racewear, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Duvall Electric, Eagle Moon Farm, ElbowsUp.com, Evolution Powersports, Oreo Cookies, PBM Performance Products, Production Jars, Rancho Milagro Racing, River’s Edge Scrap Management, Snickers, Spike Hardcore Energy, Top of the World Ranch, YouDirt.com.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: 905 Ink, AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Beyea Custom Headers, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Edelbrock, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Genesis Racing Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Holley Performance Products, Hooker Harness, Integra Shocks & Springs, Keyser Manufacturing, Maxima Racing Oils, Mr. Gasket, Out-Pace Racing Products, QA1, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, RHRSwag.com, Simpson Performance Products, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Tire Demon, Wehrs Machine & Race Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes.