ARDMORE, Okla. (March 3) — Marshalltown, Iowa’s Ryan Gustin chalked up his fourth win of USMTS Winter Speedweeks Thursday night at the Southern Oklahoma Speedway in Ardmore, Okla.
Gustin has now won at each of the four race tracks visited by the United States Modified Touring Series to kick off the 2016 campaign, and ‘The Reaper’ looks to be back in the same form that carried him to the 2011 and 2012 USMTS national crowns.
“It was another good night for us, and I can’t say enough about this crew and our sponsors that keep us going,” Gustin said.
“The track was really good up top so it made you get up on the wheel. That kind of fits my style really well.”
Lucas Schott made his first start of the season from the outside of the front row and wrestled control from polesitter Rodney Sanders when the green flag waved to start the 35-lap feature race.
Schott paced the first seven laps before Jason Hughes got by on lap 8 following a caution. Hughes suffered the same fate later on when Gustin blasted into the top spot on lap 19.
From there, Gustin set sail and took the checkered flags ahead of Hughes to pocket the $2,000 winner’s check.
Sanders, who faded as far back as sixth at one point, regrouped and held off 13th-starting Cade Dillard for the third spot while Stormy Scott roared from 19th on the starting grid to grab fifth.
Dereck Ramirez, Zack VanderBeek, Johnny Scott, Austin Arneson and Triston Dycus rounded out the top 10 in the “A” Main on the first of three days at John and Nikki Webb’s 3/8-mile clay oval.
On Friday, the first heat race rolls onto the track at 7 p.m. with USMTS Modifieds racing for $3,000 to win, Limited Mods $500 to win and Hobby Stocks $300 to win. Grandstands are $20 for adults and kids ages 6-12 are $5 with children 5 and under free. Pit passes are $35.
Saturday’s USMTS Winter Speedweeks finale starts at 6 p.m. USMTS Modifieds race for $4,000 while Limited Mods pay $600 to win and Hobby Stocks $400 to win. Grandstands are $20 for adults and kids ages 6-12 are $5 with children 5 and under free. Pit passes are $40.
For fans unable to witness this event in person, every lap of every race at every event during USMTS Winter Speedweeks will be broadcast live via pay-per-view on www.RacinDirt.com.
The Southern Oklahoma Speedway is a semi-banked 3/8-mile clay oval located 0.7 mile east of I-35 (exit 29) on US 70, then 1.8 miles south on US 77. For more information, call 405-627-1766 or clickwww.southernoklahomaspeedway.
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.
