Jake Timm's pursuit of his first United States Modified Touring Series championship continues on Friday and Saturday when Lucas Oil Speedway plays host to the 15th Annual USMTS Slick Mist Show-Me Shootout presented by Foley Equipment.

Running the full Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt schedule for the first time has been a rousing success so far. With a key stretch kicking off this weekend, Timm has a pair of feature victories, an eye-popping 15 top-five finishes and a 24-point lead over Osage, Iowa's Jim Chisholm.

“We've had some good luck in terms of not having DNFs and we haven't had many big issues. It's been pretty good,” Timm said of the season. “We've finished every race and only finished outside the top ten twice. We can't complain. We've had some decent luck and hopefully it stays that way.”

Chasing a season-long series title for the first time does involve some compromise. For the 27-year-old from Winona, Minn., he's had to dial back his aggressiveness a bit. That hasn't been easy for a driver considered an up-and-comer in both the Modified and Super Late Model ranks.

By nature and desire, Timm wants to chase victories at every turn, but realizes that approach is not always conducive to his end goal. Sometimes, hitting the brakes instead of mashing the gas eats at him, though it's the right decision in the bigger picture.

“I hate to say it, but it does,” Timm said of points racing. “You can't take as many chances. You have to race more on the defense, which isn't something that I like to do, but you have to keep the points in mind and sometimes settle for a good finish instead of laying it all on the line for a win.

“I still always try (to win) obviously, but if you're gonna take a chance of diving between lapped cars or going outside of them on the front stretch or whatever it may be… sometimes I may hit the brakes instead of sticking it in there like I normally would.”

Driving the only Rage chassis on the USMTS circuit, Timm has 20 top-ten finishes in 22 USMTS events in 2024. A third-generation racer, Timm builds his own motors. That sets him apart from most of the competition and goes a long way toward making a budget stretch from February through October.

“I managed an engine rebuilding shop the last five years here. I learned through that and I had a lot of (maintenance) and machine background before that, so that helps out,” Timm said of his power plant skills. “Since racing full time, I've been taking care of my own engines. It's nice because it saves us a lot of money and allows me to fine-tune my engine to the way I want it to run.”

Timm grew up around racing as his dad, Bob Timm, raced the family number 49 that Jake now uses. Bob now runs the Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wis., and often travels to the USMTS races with Jake to offer assistance, but will stay behind this weekend to oversee duties at the popular Wisconsin track.

Jake Timm said he's had mixed results at Lucas Oil Speedway in the past, in both the Modified and Late Model divisions. He qualified for the Show-Me 100 in 2021, through a B-Main, and wound up 32nd. Driving a Late Model full time, on a national tour, is a goal that he would like to attack at some point. It's a path that several, such as Ricky Thornton Jr., Ryan Gustin and Jimmy Owens to name a few, have followed.

But Timm, with an immediate focus on the USMTS championship chase, is not going to jump into that deep water until the time is right.

“That's kind of my goal and what I'm working toward, building up the funds and the team we need to be able to compete for something like that,” Timm said. “It's about three times as much money as what we're doing now. It's definitely my goal and my future plan, but as of now we're doing what we can with what we have.

“We've only raced the Late Model maybe 10 times all year. We've just been putting all our focus on this tour, leading the points and trying to make sure we hopefully are able to maintain that.”

Rodney Sanders, of Happy, Texas, led all 50 laps to hold off Dereck Ramirez to win last season's USMTS Slick Mist Show-Me Shootout. Ramirez had won the race the three previous seasons.

Sanders, also a four-time feature winner on the tour and a five-time USMTS national champ, sits third in this year's national points, 116 behind Timm.

The USMTS features will pay $5,000 to win both nights. USMTS it putting up extra money on Saturday with $900 to start the main event after $600 to start the feature on Friday night.

Full programs both nights will include the O'Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars, Clear Creek Golf Car USRA B-Mods and Hermitage Lumber Late Models.

USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods will race for $500 to win on Friday. On Saturday, $750 goes to the feature winner in each division.

Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series track and national points will be awarded as usual, and the USMTS portion of the program, USRA Modified track regulars who enter will receive 75 track bonus points each night toward their Big Adventure RV Weekly Championship Series total.

Pit gates open at 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday with grandstands at 4:30 p.m., hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05 both nights.

Flagman Mike Striegel will lead a pit tour for kids prior to the races both days. Youngsters interested can sign up at the RCR Designs Jr Fan Club table before 5:15 for a chance to go on the tour.

Also on Thursday night, an open practice from 6-9 p.m.

KDBA Summer Shootout: The Kentucky Drag Boat Association makes the second of three appearances on Lake Lucas during the day time on Friday and Saturday for the KDBA Show-Me Shootout.

More than $33,000 in purse money will be up for grabs as KDBA drivers in nine divisions compete.

Grandstand gates open at 9 a.m. Friday with qualifying rounds at 10, 11 and 2 p.m. On Saturday, grandstands at 9 a.m. with eliminations starting at 10. Times are tentative. All tickets include access to the pits for the drag boats.

Friday Drag Boat admission:
(All drag boat tickets include drag boat pit access)
General admission (ages 6 and up) - $20
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Two-day drag boat only pit pass - $40
Combo Ticket (Drag Boats & Dirt Track) includes entry to the dirt track event on Friday night:
Adults GA combo (13 and up) - $45
Seniors (62 and up)/Military GA Combo - $42
Youth GA combo (ages 6-12) - $30
Kids GA combo (age 5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass GA Combo - $120 (includes admission for two adults and up to two kids ages 6-12

Friday Dirt Track admission:
Advance discount tickets online only (ages 13 and up) - $22
Adults (13 and up) - $25
Seniors (62 and up)/Military - $22
Youth (ages 6-12) - $10
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family pass - $60
Pit pass - $40

Saturday Drag Boat admission:
(All drag boat tickets include drag boat pit access)
Adults (ages 13 and up) - $20
Kids (5 nd under) - FREE
Drag boat only pit pass - $20
Combo Ticket (Drag Boats and Dirt Track) includes entry to dirt-track event on Saturday night:
Adults GA Combo (13 and up) - $45
Seniors (62 and up) / Military GA Combo - $42
Youth GA Combo (6-12) - $30
Kids GA Combo (age 5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass GA Combo - $120 Includes Admission for 2 Adults and Up to 2 Kids Ages (6-12)

Saturday Dirt Track admission:
Advance discount tickets online only (ages 13 and up) - $22
Adults (13 and up) - $25
Seniors (62 and up)/Military - $22
Youth (ages 6-12) - $10
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family pass - $60
Pit pass - $40

For ticket or camping information, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or via email at nmcmillan@lucasoilspeedway.com. For information about Lucas Oil Speedway, visit LucasOilSpeedway.com.

Up next, the USMTS stars and cars invade the Beatrice Speedway in Beatrice, Neb., on Wednesday, Aug. 7, for the first time since 2007 for the 3rd Annual Battle By The Big Blue presented by Valentino's. Thursday and Friday finds the road warriors at the Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., for the two-day Grant Junghans Memorial.

Check out USMTS.com for schedules, points, photos, souvenirs, videos and more. Follow our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube. Don't forget to subscribe for free to get USMTS news delivered to your inbox plus Members Only benefits.

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