Hughes tackles traffic for USMTS glory at Red Cloud
RED CLOUD, Neb. -- Despite high school sports and a northernly breeze, a good crowd was on hand for the first night of the two separate nights of racing at The Speed Bowl in Red Cloud September 26. Jason Hughes of Colcord, Okla., Jim Buss of Hastings, Barry Schoen of Downs, Kan., and the team of Justin and Andy Gregg of Hastings blew into victory lane, winning the night’s A Features.
Twenty-four cars started the USMTS A Feature, but only 23 were able to complete a lap. On the opening lap, the car of Robby Marsh of Hebron was seriously damaged after several cars tried to get through corner two side-by-side, resulting in a pileup on the backstretch. Marsh was not injured. On the complete restart, heat winner Dean Mahlstedt of Garner, Iowa took the lead. On the second lap, heat winner Jason Hughes drove to the low side of corner four to take control of the thirty lap event.
The first nine laps were slowed by four caution periods, then the field went 21 unabated laps. Kelly Shryock of Forest City, Iowa started back on the fourth row, but with the aid of the cautions and a fast car, moved into second place. He caught Hughes with a handful of laps to go, about the time they caught the back of the pack. Hughes used the slower cars to his advantage, while Shryock got caught behind two cars racing for position, and that allowed Hughes to drive away with the win and the $2,000 winner’s check. Tommy Myer of Blooming Prairie, Minn. finished in third place, ahead of Johnny Saathoff of Beatrice. Greg Metz of Washington, Kan. started in row seven after winning his B Feature and finished in fifth place. The Kansas driver's finish made it five different racers from five different states in the top five. Jason Friesen of Sutton was the other heat race winner Kevin Larkins of Greenwood won the other B Feature.
Jim Buss took advantage of the front row cars all trying to move into the top line to take the lead on the opening lap of the Stock Car A Feature. He then moved to the high side and waited for someone to try and catch him. Shane Stutzman of Milford was the first and only driver to do so, and the two pulled well out front of the field. Buss used his experience at the 3/8 mile, high-bank track to take his first win of the year at the track (in limited action.) Points champion Stutzman settled for second place, followed by Terry Jordening of Blue Hill, and Dustin Small of North Platte. Jake Bradley of Naponee and Jordening were the heat race winners.
Barry and Brady Schoen of Downs were showing the other Hobby Stock drivers how it is done in the heat races, as the brothers won the two heat races. Zach Reicks of Columbus paced the early laps of the A Feature until Barry Schoen found his way through the pack and around Reicks for the lead. Brian Fisher of Bladen moved into second place and began to work on Schoen for the lead. On the last lap, Fisher got loose in corner one, allowing Schoen to take the win. Brady Schoen finished in third place, ahead of Josten Wassom of Deshler and Brian Martens of Hastings.
Justin and Andy Gregg doubled up in the Cruiser class. The duo won their heat race, well out front of a good five car battle for second place. The end of the A Feature had them well in front of the field again. David Theer and Troy Himelburg of Lawrence finished in second place.
All four classes will be back on Saturday night September 27 at The Speed Bowl. The gates open at 5 P. M., and the races start at 7 p.m.
<font size="4"><b>RESULTS</b></font>
<B>USMTS MODIFIEDS</B>
Heat 1
12H-Jason Hughes
Heat 2
1F-Jason Friesen
Heat 3
21M-Dean Mahlstedt
B Feature 1
4X-Kevin Larkins
61-Bruce Hanford
7A-Bruce Hascall
B Feature 2
29M-Greg Metz
26-Brad McEwan
53T-Larry Sutton
A Feature
12H-Jason Hughes
3-Kelly Shryock
65-Tommy Myer
96-Johnny Saathoff
29M-Greg Metz
21M-Dean Mahlstedt
31-Corey Dripps
1F-Jason Friesen
11W-Tim Watts
2K-Darrick Klima
61-Bruce Hanford
40-Luke Cochran
4X-Kevin Larkins
4-Lonnie Schriner
4R-Mike Roach
9-Robert Wilson
26-Brad McEwan
33T-Sarah Sillman
44H-Kelly Harmelink
53T-Larry Sutton
1M-Jeremy Eatherton
7A-Bruce Hascall
75-Jon Thompson
11-Robby Marsh
<B>STOCK CARS</B>
Heat 1
08-Terry Jordening
Heat 2
20-Jake Bradley
A Feature
12-Jim Buss
22S-Shane Stutzman
08-Terry Jordening
24S-Dustin Small
9J-Geoff Jermark
2W-Luke Wassom
25-Brent Drohman
20-Jake Bradley
15-Herb Slough
(DNS) 73-Jay Blakemore
<B>HOBBY STOCKS</B>
Heat 1
21S-Barry Schoen
Heat 2
12-Brady Schoen
A Feature
21S-Barry Schoen
8-Brian Fisher
12-Brady Schoen
2W-Justen Wassom
26-Brian Martens
51-Jamie Reiman
7R-Zach Reiks
9-Andrew Bargen
41-Steven Pancoke
20-Blake McMillan
38E-Matt Streit
(DNS) 71-Rocky Zimmerman
<B>CRUISERS</B>
Heat
B33R-Justin & Andy Gregg
A Feature
B33R-Justin & Andy Gregg
01RK-David Theer/Troy Himelberg
11M-Shannon Carraher/Jake Bradley
AK47-Adam Sidlo/E.J. Kothe
2-Ryan Van Wey/Dan Conway
66-Brent & Ken Van Wey
01-Ron Duffy/
16 1/2-Pat & Joe Hersch
11-Andy Lovegrove