8/21/2018
RacinBoys
USMTS Northern Invasion this weekend
By USMTS (Rock Rapids, IA) -- The USMTS Hunt for the Casey's Cup powered by Summit rolls north this weekend for three nights of racing at three unique dirt ovals on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 24-26.
Friday night will find the touring USMTS titans rambling into Rock Rapids, Iowa, as the Rapid Speedway hosts the 10th Annual Coral Lanes Rapid Rumble. Fans witnessed a classic back-and-forth feature race last year that ended with Dereck Ramirez scoring his first victory since 2015.
PHOTO CREDIT: Todd Boyd/Photos by Boyd
In the nine previous events held at the Lyons County Fairgrounds, only Rodney Sanders has visited victory lane twice. Other former winners here include Cade Dillard, Cory Crapser, Zack VanderBeek, Jason Krohn, Jon Tesch and Kelly Shryock.
The Iron Man Challenge featuring Holley USRA Stock Cars and Out-Pace USRA B-Mods will also be in action for the Dave Mulder Memorial along with Cook Racing Supplies USRA Hobby Stocks.
The pits open at 5 p.m., spectator gates open at 5:30, hot laps begin at 7 and the first heat race hits the track at 7:30. Grandstand tickets are $27 for adults, $12 for teens and free for children 6 and under. A pit pass is $25.
Coupons good for $2 off adult admission are available at Casey's General Stores locations in George, Hull, Rock Rapids, Sheldon, Sibley and Sioux Center plus the Luverne location in Minnesota and the Brandon, Canton, Harrisburg and Sioux Falls locations in South Dakota. Visit www.caseys.com to find the location nearest you.
Zack VanderBeek and his No. 33z Oreo-sponsored modified will be at the Casey's General Store located at 709 1st Ave. in Rock Rapids from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Rapid Speedway is a semi-banked 3/8-mile dirt oval located 0.5 mile east of US 75 on SR 9, then 0.5 mile south on South Tama St. (400 S. Tama St., Rock Rapids, IA 51246). For more information, call (712) 470-1850 or (712) 472-3742 or visit http://www.rockrapidsspeedway.com online.
The Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, S.D., hosts the 8th Annual USMTS River City Rumble on Saturday with the high-flying action of the USMTS Modifieds plus the Iron Man Challenge featuring Holley USRA Stock Cars and Out-Pace USRA B-Mods PLUS the lightning-fast Nebraska 360 Sprint Car Series vs. MSTS Sprint Cars also in action.
Fifteen years ago it took a couple of seasons to get the show off the ground with back-to-back cancellations in 2003 and 2004, but when the series finally hit the track in 2005 it was a barn-burner with local favorite Jay Noteboom besting the USMTS invaders.
Since then, no driver has been able to win twice. Past winners include Kelly Shryock, Jason Krohn, Jason Hughes, Jon Tesch, Ryan Gustin and Rodney Sanders, who won here in 2016. Last year's event was rained out.
A huge Stock Car purse is posted for the Dave Mulder Memorial. Leon Mulder, AWS and the entire Mulder family have stepped up for drivers to put additional money in the purse highlighted by a $1,000 top prize. In addition, Park Jefferson Speedway will be offering an additional $104 to the top finishing driver in the Stock Cars who finished in the top 10 at the track during this season.
Pits open at 4 p.m. and spectator gates open at 5 with hot laps at 6:20 and racing to follow. Tickets are $19 in advance or $25 on race day for adults. Seniors ages 70 and up are $17 in advance or $23 at the gate. Kids ages 6-16 are $5 in advance or $10 day of show. Children ages 5 and under get in for free. Pit passes are $40.
Coupons good for $2 off adult admission available at Casey's General Stores locations in Elk Point and Vermillion plus the South Sioux City location in Nebraska and the Akron, Le Mars, Merrill, Moville, Sergeant Bluff and Sioux City locations in Iowa. To find the location nearest you, visit www.caseys.com.
Cory Crapser and his No. 07 Snickers-sponsored modified will meet 'n' greet fans from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Casey's General Store located at 100 S. Derby Lane North in Sioux City, S.D.
The Park Jefferson Speedway is a semi-banked 4/10-mile dirt oval located off of I-29 at exit 4, then 0.2 mile east to SR 105, then 1.8 miles north (48426 332nd St., Jefferson, SD 57049). For more information call (712) 202-5540 or visit http://www.parkjeff.com.
Another classic is expected when the Casino Speedway in Watertown, S.D., hosts the USMTS on Sunday to celebrate the life of the track's "Chairman of the Board" at the 3rd Annual Sandy Benson Memorial presented by Riddle's Jewelry and Jurgens Printing.
A top prize of $4,000 is up for grabs for the USMTS competitors with no less than $450 to start the main event. On top of that, Wissota Midwest Mods will grapple for a $2,000 top prize and Wissota Street Stocks are looking at $1,500 to win their main event.
Fans can expect to see USMTS legend Jon Tesch as he dusts off his No. 14 GRT Race Cars mount and makes his annual start where he'll be shooting for his third victory in the tenth year of the USMTS summertime classic at his hometown track.
Ryan Gustin captured last year's feature and Zack VanderBeek is also a two-time winner in Watertown. Tommy Myer took down the win in the first visit here in 2005 with Watertown's Scott Ward getting his first and only USMTS victory here in 2007. Al Hejna and Kelly Shryock picked up wins here in 2009 and 2011, respectively.
The pit gate opens at 4 p.m. and grandstands open at 5. Hot laps begin at 6:30 and the green flag waves at 7 p.m.
Admission is $20 for adults, kids ages 8-13 are $5 and children 7 and under get in for free with a paid adult. Pit passes are $35.
Coupons good for $2 off adult admission available at Casey's General Stores locations in Milbank, Watertown and Webster. For the location nearest you, visit www.caseys.com.
"Big Daddy" Joe Duvall, driver of the No. 91 Spike Hardcore Energy entry, will be at the Casey's General Store located at 405 10th St. SW in Watertown from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to meet 'n' greet fans.
Now in its 65th year of racing on the shores of beautiful Lake Kampeska in Watertown, S.D., the Casino Speedway is a semi-banked 1/4-mile clay oval located 4.0 miles northwest of US 212 on SR 20, then 0.7 mile south on Stokes-Thomas Lake Rd. (104 S Lake Dr, Watertown, SD 57201). For more information, call (605) 882-1221 or visit http://www.casinospeedway.com.
To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit http://www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/usmts, follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/usmts and Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/usmts or subscribe to our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/usmtstv. Keep up to speed with everything USMTS by joining our email list at http://www.usmts.com/subscribe.
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott