Sunday night at the 81 Speedway, Ryan Gustin took the lead on the second lap of the main event and then held on through a green-white-checkered finish to capture his sixth United States Modified Touring Series victory of 2016.

It was the first win during the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental for the two-time USMTS national champion, and the 79th of his career.

Cade Dillard earned his series-best seventh Sybesma Graphics Pole Award during the fourth of five heat races for the 42 entries, and then redrew the number one spot to set the pace for the 42-lap feature.

The first lap ended with Dillard edging Gustin at the line by a nose with Brock Bauman tucked in tight behind the lead duo in third.

The next time around Gustin blasted into the lead around the outside of Dillard and he never trailed again, racing to a $3,000 payday.

Dillard stayed close behind Gustin until the race’s second yellow flag came out with 27 laps complete. While under caution, Dillard’s ignition system failed and he was forced to watch the remainder of the race from the pits.

Jason Hughes, who won the first USMTS race at C. Ray Hall’s speedplant in 2008, assumed the second spot but was never able to challenge Gustin for the lead.

Even a final caution period with two laps remaining was no help to the current points leader as he used every trick in his bag to hold off Johnny Scott for the thrilling final two times around.

Jesse Sobbing and Zack VanderBeek were also in the mix with Hughes and Scott, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively, while Rodney Sanders rebounded from a second-lap flat tire to claw his way back to sixth.

VanderBeek, who finished fifth after starting 24th, garnered the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award.

Tanner Mullens, Joe Duvall, Scott Drake and Dan Powers completed the top ten.

With his runner-up finish and Dillard’s misfortune, Hughes was able to extend his points lead to 55 points (1319 to 1264) over Dillard. Sobbing leap-frogged back ahead of Sanders by three points (1236 to 1233) and VanderBeek is close behind with 1211 markers.

Johnny Scott, Duvall, Dereck Ramirez, Stormy Scott and Bauman round out the top 10.

The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental marches on this Thursday, Aug. 25, at the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa, for the first of four straight nights of hardcore modified racing.

Friday, Aug. 26, the series heads to the Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa, and The Park Jefferson Speedway near Jefferson, S.D., is the location on Saturday, Aug. 27.

The swing wraps up Sunday, Aug. 28, with the return of the USMTS to the thrilling Casino Speedway in Watertown, S.D.

All four events will pay $3,000 to win.

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.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental – Event #8 of 17
81 Speedway, Park City, Kan.
Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016

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

MSD HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (1) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
2. (5) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
3. (2) 91 Ross Shipman, Belle Plaine, Kan.
4. (3) 4a Josh Lanterman (R), Derby, Kan.
5. (9) 99 Jett Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask., Canada.
6. (8) 42 Darren Moses, Valley Center, Kan.
7. (6) 5 Johnny Whitmore, Wichita, Kan.
8. (7) 23 Adam Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan.
9. (4) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 86 Brian Franz, Halstead, Kan.
2. (2) 27L Trevor Latham (R), Rogers, Ark.
3. (3) 21c Cody Schniepp, Wichita, Kan.
4. (6) 37 Mike Jergens (R), Plover, Iowa.
5. (5) 91 Scott Drake, Joplin, Mo.
6. (9) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
7. (7) 75 Tad Davis (R), Mount Hope, Kan.
8. (8) 00 Masen Big Eagle, Manor, Sask., Canada.
9. (4) 11d Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
2. (1) 2s Stormy Scott, Arroyo Hondo, N.M.
3. (3) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
4. (4) 4 Dan Powers, Wichita, Kan.
5. (6) 52 Ryan McAninch, Hutchinson, Kan.
6. (5) 34 Mickey Lassiter (R), Piedmont, Okla.
7. (7) 21t Lance Town, Wellsville, Kan.
8. (8) 747c Cuyler Calkin, Wichita, Kan.

ALPINESTARS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (2) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
2. (6) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
3. (5) 87 Kenny Sweet, Wichita, Kan.
4. (1) 10 Marc Hurd, Wichita, Kan.
5. (8) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa.
6. (4) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
7. (7) 4w Tyler Wolff (R), Fayetteville, Ark.
8. (3) 92 J.D. Gresham, Winterset, Iowa.

REALTRUCK.COM HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (1) 23J Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (3) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan.
3. (6) 81 Mike Densberger (R), Lincoln, Neb.
4. (5) 34n C.A. Nix, Lawton, Okla.
5. (4) 96 Jim Johnson, Derby, Kan.
6. (8) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
7. (7) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
8. (2) 123 Logan Robertson (R), Shamrock, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (2) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
2. (4) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa.
3. (1) 91 Ross Shipman, Belle Plaine, Kan.
4. (5) 4 Dan Powers, Wichita, Kan.
5. (7) 91 Scott Drake, Joplin, Mo.
6. (12) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
7. (3) 99 Jett Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask., Canada., MBCustom/ProPower, $90.
8. (9) 34 Mickey Lassiter (R), Piedmont, Okla., Hughes/Sput’s, $90.
9. (6) 52 Ryan McAninch, Hutchinson, Kan.
10. (10) 5 Johnny Whitmore, Wichita, Kan.
11. (11) 21t Lance Town, Wellsville, Kan.
12. (8) 42 Darren Moses, Valley Center, Kan., BillsBuilt/, $75.
13. (15) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., GRT/Mullins, $400.
14. (14) 92 J.D. Gresham, Winterset, Iowa., IROC/Ostrich, $75.
15. (13) 00 Masen Big Eagle, Manor, Sask., Canada., GRT/Tim’s, $90.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (2) 37 Mike Jergens (R), Plover, Iowa.
2. (4) 4a Josh Lanterman (R), Derby, Kan.
3. (6) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
4. (9) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
5. (5) 10 Marc Hurd, Wichita, Kan.
6. (3) 34n C.A. Nix, Lawton, Okla.
7. (10) 75 Tad Davis (R), Mount Hope, Kan., GRT/Mullins, $90.
8. (11) 4w Tyler Wolff (R), Fayetteville, Ark., MBCustom/Hatfield, $90.
9. (8) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
10. (7) 96 Jim Johnson, Derby, Kan., BillsBuilt/, $75.
11. (1) 21c Cody Schniepp, Wichita, Kan., BillsBuilt/Mullins, $75.
12. (14) 123 Logan Robertson (R), Shamrock, Texas., Hughes/PPE, $90.
13. (12) 23 Adam Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan., LG2/Speedway, $90.
14. (13) 747c Cuyler Calkin, Wichita, Kan., 2M/, $75.
15. (15) 11d Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan., GRT/Hatfield, $75.

CASEY'S GENERAL STORES "A" MAIN (42 laps):
1. (2) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 42, $3000.
2. (5) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 42, $1700.
3. (7) 23J Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/Speedway, 42, $1200.
4. (23) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, LG2/Sput’s, 42, $1000.
5. (15) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa, Harris/GMPP, 42, $900.
6. (13) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Hatfield, 42, $800.
7. (18) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan., Mullens/Mullens, 42, $700.
8. (6) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/BMS, 42, $650.
9. (21) 91 Scott Drake, Joplin, Mo., MBCustom/GMPP, 42, $600.
10. (19) 4 Dan Powers, Wichita, Kan., BillsBuilt/KBS, 42, $550.
11. (3) 86 Brian Franz, Halstead, Kan., GRT/Shadow, 42, $400.
12. (4) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., GRT/Mullins, 42, $450.
13. (26) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa, Hilsabeck/Mullins, 42, $425.
14. (10) 27L Trevor Latham (R), Rogers, Ark., Hughes/BCD, 42, $400.
15. (9) 81 Mike Densberger (R), Lincoln, Neb., Jet/Speedway, 42, $375.
16. (22) 10 Marc Hurd, Wichita, Kan., MBCustom/Briley, 42, $350.
17. (25) 21t Lance Town, Wellsville, Kan., Phoenix/Driskell, 41, $325.
18. (28) 5 Johnny Whitmore, Wichita, Kan., RDM/Acme, 41, $250.
19. (14) 37 Mike Jergens (R), Plover, Iowa, Harris/KSE, 40, $300.
20. (12) 87 Kenny Sweet, Wichita, Kan., BillsBuilt/KBS, 37, $250.
21. (8) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 36, $250.
22. (1) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., MBCustom/ASI, 27, $400.
23. (20) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., LG2/Cornett, 25, $400.
24. (27) 52 Ryan McAninch, Hutchinson, Kan., GRT/McAninch, 20, $250.
25. (24) 34n C.A. Nix, Lawton, Okla., Hughes/Sput’s, 9, $250.
26. (11) 2s Stormy Scott, Arroyo Hondo, N.M., Lethal/Mullins, 3, $400.
27. (17) 91 Ross Shipman, Belle Plaine, Kan., S&S/Custom, 2, $250.
28. (16) 4a Josh Lanterman (R), Derby, Kan., BillsBuilt/KBS, 0, $300.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leader: Dillard 1, Gustin 2-42.
Total Laps Led: Gustin 41, Dillard 1.
Margin of Victory: 1.156 seconds.
Time of Race: 29 minutes, 53.886 seconds (4 cautions).
Provisional Starters: Town, Hilsabeck, McAninch (track), Whitmore (track).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: VanderBeek (started 23rd, finished 4th).
Entries: 42.
Next Race: Thursday, Aug. 25, Hamilton County Speedway, Webster City, Iowa.
USMTS Casey’s Cup Points: Hughes 1319, Dillard 1264, Sobbing 1236, Sanders 1233, VanderBeek 1211, J. Scott 1139, Duvall 1081, Ramirez 1061, S. Scott 1021, B. Bauman 1013.
Grant Junghans Rookie of the Year Points: B. Bauman 1474, C. Bauman 1464, Jergens 1379, J. Big Eagle 1340, Wolff 1232.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 384, Durham 268, Sput’s 266, ASI 258, GMPP 244.
Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 389, MBCustoms 374, LG2 302, Harris 270, GRT 253.

Contingency Awards:
Allstar Performance – Duvall.
American Racer – Hughes.
Bell Helmets – Town.
Beyea Custom Headers – Sobbing.
BSB Manufacturing – Green.
Day Motor Sports – Ramirez, McAninch.
Deatherage Opticians – J. Scott.
Edelbrock – Duvall.
Eibach Springs – B. Bauman.
Fast Shafts – Franz.
FK Rod Ends – Densberger.
Forty9Designs.com – Latham, Jergens.
Fuel Safe – Sanders.
GRT Race Cars – Franz.
Hooker Harness – Hilsabeck.
Integra Shocks & Springs – Whitmore.
Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service – Hurd.
Kevko Oil Pans & Components – Drake.
Keyser Manufacturing – Powers.
KSE Racing Products – VanderBeek.
Midwest Sheet Metal – Dillard.
MSD – B. Bauman, Gustin.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Hurd.
PBM Performance Products – J. Scott.
QA1 – B. Bauman.
Real Racing Wheels – all non-qualifiers.
Sybesma Graphics – Dillard.
VP Racing Fuels – Gustin.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Franz.
Wilwood Engineering – Mullens.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: Alpinestars, American Racer Racing Tires, Argo Manufacturing, Casey’s General Stores, Chix Gear Racewear, COMP Cams, CP-Carrillo, Day Motor Sports, Deatherage Opticians, Fast Shafts, Intercomp, Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service, Kevko Oil Pans & Components, KSE Racing Products, Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment, Malvern Trust & Savings Bank, MSD, RacerWebsite.com, RacinDirt.com, RealTruck.com, S&S Fishing & Rental, The Joie of Seating, VP Racing Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: AMP Energy Drink, Arizona Sport Shirts, ASi Racewear, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Duvall Electric, ElbowsUp.com, Erson Cams, I-29 Trailer Sales, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Oreo, Production Jars, Rivers Edge Scrap Management, Snickers, Sour Patch Kids, YouDirt.com.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bell Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, BSB Manufacturing, Driven Racing Oil, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Fuel Safe Racing Cells, Genesis Racing Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Holley Performance Products, Hooker Custom Harness, Integra Shocks & Springs, Keyser Manufacturing, Midwest Sheet Metal, Out-Pace Racing Products, PBM Performance Products, QA1 Precision Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Sybesma Graphics, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Engineering.