SPRING VALLEY, Minn. -- A strong field of 46 Modifieds showed up for the opening night of the WMDTC.

Drivers were split into 10 groups for time trials — each driver took two laps around the track, and they were slotted into their heat races based on their fastest lap time in the time trials.

The first group was apparently the place to be. Of the five drivers who took the track for the first time trial session, four of them turned lap times in the top seven, including Shane Hebert of Lafayette, La., who had the night's fast time with a lap of 16.562 seconds.

Cole Queensland of Grand Meadow had the third-fastest time (16.706), with Dean Mahlstedt fourth (16.715) and 2007 USMTS national champion Jason Krohn seventh (16.796). The other driver in that group, Al Hejna, clocked in with the 14th-fastest time.

The fast times didn't necessarily translate to success the rest of the night, though. Mahlstedt finished eighth in the A Main, while Krohn finished 17th and Hebert 24th. Queensland and Hejna did not make the A Main.

Change in mulligan policy

Last year, at the inaugural WMDTC, drivers who competed on Wednesday night and were not happy with their finish, were allowed to cash in their "mulligans." They could then race a second time, either Thursday or Friday night, in an attempt to improve their starting position in Saturday's series of Main races.

This year, drivers may use their mulligans on Friday only. That should make for a good field of cars and some intense racing, as drivers battle for a starting spot in Saturday's 30-car A Main, which pays $25,000 to the winner.

Cummins joins Casey's Crew

New Richland's Jason Cummins likely won't challenge for a second consecutive track championship at Deer Creek.

Instead, Cummins will hit the road with the United States Modified Series on the Hunt for the USMTS Casey's Cup, which pays $15,000 to the champion. The Hunt is a 17-race tour that stops at tracks in five states and winds up at Deer Creek with the Featherlite Fall Jamboree, Sept. 20-22. The Hunt begins Aug. 9 at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo.

Cummins will have a good sponsor on his side for The Hunt, too. He's one of three drivers named to the Casey's Crew. Cummins, Al Hejna and Jeremy Payne will be sponsored by Casey's General Stores throughout The Hunt and each driver will carry a sponsorship from a brand of food or beverage.

Cummins' No. 71 Modified will carry a Cheetos paint scheme.

"It's exciting," Cummins told the Deer Creek crowd after finishing fourth in Wednesday's A Main. "I'm looking forward to it, being able to travel around and hit some different tracks."

Big names up tonight

The second night of the WMDTC should be as entertaining as the first, if not more, as 55 drivers pre-registered to race tonight.

Among the drivers scheduled to race tonight are defending USMTS national champion Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa; Deer Creek and Chateau Raceway points leader Brandon Davis of Medford; USMTS national title contender Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas; USMTS Rookie of the Year and Casey's Cup points leader Stormy Scott from Las Cruces, N.M.; and defending WMDTC champion Brad Waits of Rochester.

Source: The Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN