VIVIAN, La. – Last year the USMTS Southern Series made it's debut at the Ark-La-Tex Speedway in Vivian, La., with much fanfare coming into the event. High winds and a blazing hot sun contributed to a darkened dry racetrack early in the program that ended with a follow-the-leader freight train around the top of the track during the feature race.

Thursday night' affair at Gene Boyter's quarter-mile bullring couldn't have been more different.

Rain the night before and throughout the early morning deluged the facility, but Boyter's crew worked and shaped the clay continually up until race time. What resulted was a smooth surface with ever-changing multiple grooves that produced one of the most thrilling main events of the season.

Sixteen-year-old Texan Tyler Townsend earned the AFCO Pole Award by racing from sixth to first in the sixth and final heat race for the 51 entries, then redrew the pole position for the 40-lap Sunoco “A” Main on the third of six nights comprising the 3rd Annual Southern Speedweek.

Unfortunately for Townsend, joining him on the front row was defending USMTS Southern Series Champion Jason Hughes, who was seeking his eighth win of the season and second in three nights of Speedweek.

Undeterred, Townsend jumped out to lead the first lap with Hughes in pursuit. While Townsend hugged the inside lane, Hughes continued his charge around the high side of the racetrack as the two battled side by side for the first ten laps.

Fresh off a victory in the USRA Southern Limited Modified feature that preceded the USMTS Southern Series nightcap, Timothy Culp of nearby West Monroe moved in to challenge Townsend on lap 12 while Hughes faded back into a fight for third with Lee Patton.

On lap 15, Culp completed the pass around Townsend to take the lead and began to open up a four-car-length advantage over the next five laps. Townsend, however, began reeling Culp back in as the teenage duo came into lapped traffic while Patton disposed of Hughes, who now had his hands full with Rodney Sanders.

Culp made contact with a lapped car on lap 31, which sent the backmarker spinning to a stop in turn 2 to bring out the first of four late-race caution flags that kept the field tightly bunched for the remaining nine orbits.

On the restart, Culp again shot out to a big lead with Patton moving around Townsend for second while Hughes began gaining ground using the top groove. One lap later, Culp's machine belched a cloud of smoke as engine failure dashed his hopes of winning his first USMTS Southern Series race.

With Patton now on the point, cautions for separate spins on laps 34 and 35 slowed the pace with Townsend challenging the leader on the low side while Hughes worked the outside groove. Hughes inched ahead of Patton to lead the 37th lap before the final yellow flag waved to set up a green-white-checkered finish.

Hughes, who looked to be out of the picture at the mid-point of the race, rode the rim over the final two laps to take the checkered flag and pocket the $2,000 top prize. Sanders followed Hughes around the high side and beat Patton by a nose to claim the runner-up paycheck. Kelly Shryock, who started 12th, took the fourth spot with about a foot of bumper to spare over Townsend.

Finishing sixth through tenth, respectively, were Scott Green, Randy Timms, Jason Armstrong, Chris Henigan and Dereck Ramirez.

The KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award went to Bryan Rowland, who started 22nd and finished 12th.

With the win, Hughes took over the top spot in the East Region points standings for the USMTS Southern Series, and leads Shryock by just nine points (648 to 639). Johnny Bone Jr. dropped two spots to third with 625 points, while Sanders moved up two spots to fourth with 615 markers. Wednesday night's winner Steven Whiteaker Jr. is fifth with 604, followed by Steve Holzkamper (598), Jack Sullivan (589), Morgan Bagley (565), Henigan (561) and Ramirez (547).

The family feud continues in the battle for the Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Award. After failing to qualify for Thursday's main event, Wes Armstrong now leads his younger brother, Jason, by just five points (227 to 222). Chad Davis is third with 193 points, followed by Kyle Schmidt (191) and Kevin Sustaire (180).

FRIDAY, JUNE 12 … FAST TRAX SPEEDWAY, CHATHAM, LA.

The Fast Trax Speedway in Chatham, La., is the site of event #4 on the USMTS Southern Speedweek schedule. Bone captured the Speedweek win last year with Hughes, Tommy Weder Jr., Shryock and Elias Anderson finishing second through fifth.

Among the favorites from the local racers to challenge for the checkers are points leader Dougie Murphrey, Randy Thompson, Kyle Pleasant, Patton, Bud Mullins, Kent Hollingsworth, Jody Davidson, Sammy Knighten, Chase Del Rio, Richard Roberts and others.

The wide straight-aways and corners are popular for producing two- and three-wide racing, which makes this a very competitive short track.

Pit gates open at 4:00, grandstand gates swing open at 5:00, hot laps take to the track at 6:30 and the racing action kicks off at 7:00.

USRA Southern Limited Modifieds will also be on the racing card going for $500 to win.

The Fast Trax Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked dirt oval located 4.0 miles southeast of SR 34 on SR 4 (NSR). For more information, call 318-249-2443 or visit www.fasttraxspeedway.net online.

The Drew County Speedway in Monticello, Ark., plays host to round 5 of USMTS Southern Speedweek on Saturday, with the six-race swing wrapping up on Sunday at the Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, La.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information from the USMTS.

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USMTS Southern Series (East Region)
3rd Annual USMTS Southern Speedweek - Event #3 of 6
Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Vivian, La.
Thursday, June 11, 2009

Showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown and starting position in parentheses. The top 12 drivers in passing points accumulated in the heat races are locked into the Sunoco “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. JP5 - Lee Patton -- Quitman, LA (3)
2. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (7)
3. 57 - Jason Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (1)
4. 18 - Jack Sullivan -- Greenbrier, AR (2)
5. 9 - Kyle Cummings -- Sibley, LA (5)
6. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (6)
7. 60 - William Gould -- Calera, OK (4)
8. 05 - Michael Robertson -- Minden, LA (9)
9. 7x - Chris Dawson -- Post, TX (8) DNF

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. C8 - Timothy Culp -- West Monroe, LA (5)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)
3. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (8)
4. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (7)
5. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (4)
6. 27 - Mike Washburn -- Shreveport, LA (6)
7. 42 - James Longpine -- Drummond, OK (2)
8. 7 - Brent Stewart -- Haughton, LA (3)
9. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (9) DNS

BRODIX HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (4)
2. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (2)
3. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (7)
4. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (5)
5. 52 - Chad Davis -- Tulsa, OK (1)
6. 26 - Patrick Linn -- Little Rock, AR (9)
7. 02x - B.J. Robinson -- Shreveport, LA (6)
8. 33x - Brad Pannell -- Broken Bow, OK (8)
9. 21 - David Winslett -- Bossier City, LA (3) DNF

AWESOME RACEWEAR HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (1)
2. 12j - Jason Ingalls -- Hallsville, TX (2)
3. 05x - Garrett Durrett -- Simsboro, LA (5)
4. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (7)
5. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (8)
6. 2 - Jerry Standifer -- Howe, OK (4)
7. 88 - James Harper -- Monroe, LA (3)
8. 12c - Corey Babbitt -- Channelview, TX (6)

INTERCOMP HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 1st - Johnny Scott -- Las Cruces, NM (5)
2. 16 - Chris Henigan -- Marshall, TX (3)
3. 1 - Brett Frazier -- Haughton, LA (4)
4. D6 - Chris Huckabay -- Monroe, LA (7)
5. 12h - Jeff Huckaby -- Texarkana, TX (1)
6. 66 - Mike Paillou -- Pass Christian, MS (6)
7. L1 - Larry Clevenger -- Greenwood, LA (2)
8. 1 - Chris Patton -- Ruston, LA (8) DNS

AMERICAN RACER HEAT RACE #6 (8 laps):
1. 12t - Tyler Townsend -- Longview, TX (6)
2. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (3)
3. 58 - Nathan Bichsel -- Amarillo, TX (5)
4. 4m - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (1)
5. C81 - Cade Dillard -- Robeline, LA (7)
6. 5a - Wes Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (2)
7. 6 - Tippy Bickham -- Shreveport, LA (4)
8. 10k - Kyle Schmidt -- Farmington, AR (8)

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (1)
2. 05x - Garrett Durrett -- Simsboro, LA (2)
3. 57 - Jason Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (5)
4. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (6)
5. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (4)
6. 05 - Michael Robertson -- Minden, LA (16)
7. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (9)
8. 26 - Patrick Linn -- Little Rock, AR (8)
9. 12h - Jeff Huckaby -- Texarkana, TX (10)
10. 66 - Mike Paillou -- Pass Christian, MS (12)
11. 27 - Mike Washburn -- Shreveport, LA (11)
12. 7x - Chris Dawson -- Post, TX (19)
13. 60 - William Gould -- Calera, OK (13)
14. 21 - David Winslett -- Bossier City, LA (20)
15. 02x - B.J. Robinson -- Shreveport, LA (14)
16. 4m - Bobby Malchus -- Red Oak, TX (7) DNF
17. 33x - Brad Pannell -- Broken Bow, OK (17) DNF
18. L1 - Larry Clevenger -- Greenwood, LA (15) DNF
19. 1 - Chris Patton -- Ruston, LA (18) DNS
20. 1 - Brett Frazier -- Haughton, LA (3) NS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 12j - Jason Ingalls -- Hallsville, TX (1)
2. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (3)
3. C81 - Cade Dillard -- Robeline, LA (7)
4. 52 - Chad Davis -- Tulsa, OK (9)
5. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (10)
6. 12c - Corey Babbitt -- Channelview, TX (17)
7. 42 - James Longpine -- Drummond, OK (13)
8. 88 - James Harper -- Monroe, LA (14)
9. 7 - Brent Stewart -- Haughton, LA (16)
10. 58 - Nathan Bichsel -- Amarillo, TX (2) DNF
11. 10k - Kyle Schmidt -- Farmington, AR (18) DNF
12. 6 - Tippy Bickham -- Shreveport, LA (15) DNF
13. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr. -- Corpus Christi, TX (19) DNF
14. 2 - Jerry Standifer -- Howe, OK (11) DNF
15. 18 - Jack Sullivan -- Greenbrier, AR (6) DNF
16. 9 - Kyle Cummings -- Sibley, LA (8) DNF
17. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (5) DNF
18. D6 - Chris Huckabay -- Monroe, LA (4) DNF
19. 5a - Wes Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (12) DNF

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (2)
2. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (4)
3. JP5 - Lee Patton -- Quitman, LA (6)
4. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (12)
5. 12t - Tyler Townsend -- Longview, TX (1)
6. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (9)
7. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (11)
8. 57 - Jason Armstrong -- Marshall, TX (17)
9. 16 - Chris Henigan -- Marshall, TX (10)
10. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (16)
11. 52 - Chad Davis -- Tulsa, OK (20)
12. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (22)
13. 8j - Dustin Hyde -- Texarkana, TX (21)
14. 5 - Steve Holzkamper -- Gentry, AR (8)
15. 02x - B.J. Robinson -- Shreveport, LA (26)
16. 12b - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (13) DNF
17. 12j - Jason Ingalls -- Hallsville, TX (14) DNF
18. 27 - Mike Washburn -- Shreveport, LA (25) DNF
19. C8 - Timothy Culp -- West Monroe, LA (7) DNF
20. 05x - Garrett Durrett -- Simsboro, LA (15) DNF
21. C81 - Cade Dillard -- Robeline, LA (18) DNF
22. 19 - Jamie Burford -- Keatchie, LA (19) DNF
23. 1st - Johnny Scott -- Las Cruces, NM (3) DNF
24. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (23) DNF
25. 9 - Shane Hebert -- Lafayette, LA (5) DNF
26. 60 - William Gould -- Calera, OK (24) DNS

Lap Leaders: Townsend 1-5, Hughes 6, Townsend 7-14, Culp 15-33, L. Patton 34-36, Hughes 37-40.
Total Laps Led: Culp 19, Townsend 13, Hughes 5, L. Patton 3.
AFCO Pole Winner: Townsend.
Provisional Starters: Gould, Bagley, Washburn (track), Robinson (track).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Rowland (started 22nd, finished 12th).
Next Race: Friday, June 12, Fast Trax Speedway, Chatham, La. (East Region).
East Region Points: Hughes 648, Shryock 639, Bone 625, Sanders 615, Whiteaker 604, Holzkamper 598, Sullivan 589, Bagley 565, Henigan 561, Ramirez 547.
Dustin Duncan Memorial “Just Say Yes” Rookie of the Year Points: W. Armstrong 227, J. Armstrong 222, Davis 193, Schmidt 191, Kevin Sustaire 180.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 114, a.s.i. 105, Sput’s 80, Young’s 68, Rowland 57.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 133, Skyrocket 121, Ramirez 100, TRE 95, GRT 93.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Townsend.
American Racer – Bichsel.
Fast Shafts – not awarded.
Isky Racing Cams – L. Patton.
KSE Racing Products – Rowland.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Gould.
Nitroquest – L. Patton.
Quarter Master – Hughes, J. Armstrong.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Timms.
Real Racing Wheels – Robertson, Babbitt.

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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: Casey’s General Stores.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Awesome Racewear, AwesomeRaceSuits.com, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, COMP Cams, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Intercomp, Karl Chevrolet, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, PBM Performance Products, Sunoco Race Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: ASi Racewear, Bear Tire, Big Dog Chassis & Fabrication, DandyLand Farms, Day Motor Sports, Diamond Oil Company, Dirthead.com, Gressel Oil Field Service, Just Say Yes, Ramirez Race Cars, Lone Star Super Gas, Olympic Fire Protection, Ruter Farms, WatchModsLive.com, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, Hyperco, ISKY Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Out-Pace Racing Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Real Racing Wheels, US Brake.