ALTOONA, Iowa -- For the first time in the 14-year history of the series, the United States Modified Touring Series crowned two champions from two separate and distinct series. However, just one name needed to be etched into the trophies for 2012.

For the second straight year, Ryan Gustin turned in a remarkable performance throughout the season and it paid off with the biggest season-ending awards in the history of the USMTS.

Not only did ‘The Reaper’ nail down his second USMTS National Championship in a row, but he also captured the USMTS Casey’s Cup Series crown, clinching the title on the final night of the Featherlite Fall Jamboree at the Deer Creek Speedway.

Gustin’s back-to-back titles come on the heels of back-to-back runner-up finishes in the final points standings in 2009 and 2010 after entering the final weekend of competition both years with the title in his crosshairs.

A matter of inches or a couple of ball bounces one way or the other are all that separates the second-generation speedster from possessing five championship trophies – and all before his 22nd birthday.

Fans and competitors alike took notice of the Marshalltown, Iowa, racer late in the 2008 season when he snagged his first career USMTS victory at the Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa, to become the youngest winner in USMTS history at 17 years, 10 months and 13 days old.

Gustin was born to drive a race car, and that became apparent throughout the 2009 season when his team and their small enclosed trailer pulled by an extended cab pickup chased the big names with homes on wheels around the dirt ovals of middle America.

In 2009, Gustin came into the Hunt for the USMTS National Championship ranked ninth but came into the final night of competition in second place and within striking distance of points leader Kelly Shryock who was searching for his ninth title.

With six wins during the 2009 campaign he finished second in points, sandwiched right between Shryock and Jason Hughes — the two winningest drivers in USMTS history.

The 2010 season saw Gustin team up with Ed Gressel and the Gressel Racing Team. Right out of the box, they showed that they were to be reckoned with. Gustin won 16 races that year, but the final rankings again found him sporting the role of bridesmaid while Hughes captured his first ever USMTS National Championship.

From the beginning of the 2011 season, there was little question that Gustin and his team were focused on getting the job done and taking home the biggest slice of the season-ending pie as they garnered 25 wins – a mark that ranks second-best behind Shryock’s 30 victories in 2006.

While the 2011 season began on a high note, sledding was tough for Gustin and his crew at the start of the 2012 campaign.

A pair of runner-up finishes in the season opener at the Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas, began a string of strong finishes but none of them in the winner’s circle. In fact, his first USMTS National Championship Series win didn’t occur until May 18 at the Southern Oklahoma Speedway in Ardmore, Okla.

By the end of the year, however, Gustin and the Gressel Racing brigade posted the most victories, bested nearly every statistical category and walked away with two titles.

Gustin won ten USMTS National Championship Series features and topped four USMTS Casey’s Cup Series races in 2012.

Oh, and let’s not forget one additional minor victory on July 28 at the World Modified Dirt Track Championships where he pocketed a cool $25,00 for his efforts.

His 61 career wins ranks him third behind Shryock (178) and Hughes (111) on the all-time wins list.

For the second straight year, Gustin led more main event laps than anybody. He passed beneath the flagstand as the leader 538 times during the year, while Terry Phillips was second in that department with 305 laps led.

Gustin also claimed the AFCO Pole Award by earning the most passing points during heat race competition, and also laid claim the season-ending Mesilla Valley Hard Charger Award to put another $2,000 in his bank account.

Including $30,000 for winning the USMTS National Championship and $15,000 for capturing the USMTS Casey’s Cup Series crown, Gustin’s purses and points fund rake for the year totaled just under $170,000 plus thousands more in product and contingency awards from numerous and generous sponsors.

This year’s awards banquet will be held this Friday, Feb. 8, at the Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Altoona, Iowa.

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 and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Casey’s General Stores, Cheetos, Day Motor Sports, Dominator Race Products, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, RACEceiver, RacinDirt.com, Snickers, Swan Energy.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Allgayer Inc., Arbor Masters, ASi Racewear, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Erson Cams, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Lecolift, Mesilla Valley Transportation, O’Brien Enterprises, Olympic Fire Protection, Ramirez Motorsports, Road Runner Trucking, Ruter Farms, Sybesma Graphics.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, Beyea Custom Headers, Champ Pans, COMP Cams, CPD Racing Tools, Crane Cams, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Forty9 Designs, Genesis Shocks, Hooker Harness, JRi Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, PBM Performance Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Tiger Rear Ends.