And none too soon as Saturday's event was the final race in the Central States Region — the last race before the start of the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship on Tuesday where the going is sure to get tougher.

On Saturday, however, Long was the one too tough to tame as he grabbed the lead from Chase Junghans on lap 16, then paced the final 25 laps without challenge to pocket the $2,000 top prize.

Grant Junghans earned the AFCO Pole Award by scoring the most passing points during the five heat races, but it was his younger brother, Chase, who drew the pole position for the 35-lap Sunoco “A” Main while Grant unveiled the number 6 for his starting spot.

Trying to capitalize on his third pole draw in the last seven events, Chase grabbed the early lead on the big 4/10-mile high-banked clay oval and appeared to have the muscle to put his machine in victory lane.

While Ryan Dolan and Zack VanderBeek chased the younger Junghans, Long raced into fourth from his fifth starting spot. Long had the leader in his crosshairs by the time the field completed the 12th circuit, and made the pass for the lead on the 16th lap.

Caution slowed the pace on lap 25, but the ensuing restart offered no hope for his pursuers as Long pulled away to take the win in his 19th career USMTS start.

VanderBeek, who came into the night as the Central States Region points leader, left with an even bigger margin as he held on for the runner-up finish to secure his career-first regional crown.

Jon Tesch, who captured the Great Plains Region title a little less than two weeks ago, finished third while Chase Junghans finished fourth to record his career-first top-5 finish. Tommy Myer rounded out the top-5 finishers and garnered the PBM Performance Products Hard Charger Award after racing from 14th on the 26-car starting grid.

Scotty Roberts, Kevin Blackburn, Kelly Shryock, Grant Junghans and Dolan finished sixth through tenth, respectively.

While VanderBeek secured the top spot in the Central States Region final rankings with 761 points, Shryock passed eight cars in the main event to earn eight bonus points — just enough to nip Tesch by a single point (715 to 714) in the final standings. Ryan Gustin wound up fourth with 657 markers, followed by Myer (630), Dolan (603), Dean Mahlstedt (586), Al Hejna (579), Long (559) and Dereck Ramirez (555).

All ten drivers are officially qualified for the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship, along with four other drivers who had perfect attendance in the Central States Region: Colt Mather, Corey Dripps, Grant Junghans and Ron Ver Beek.

With all four regions now complete, there are a record 60 drivers qualified for the ’Hunt,’ with each and every one of them possessing a legitimate shot at becoming the 2009 USMTS National Champion.

The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship is comprised of the final 18 races of the season, with more than $300,000 in prize money up for grabs during the campaign. ’The Hunt’ starts his Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the LA Raceway in La Monte, Mo., and wraps up at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., with the 11th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24-26.

Tuesday's event at the LA Raceway is the first of five straight $3,000-to-win shows. On Wednesday, the series travels to the Monett Speedway in Monett, Mo., then heads back west to the Springfield Raceway in Springfield, Mo., on Thursday. Friday finds the ferocious mud-slinging Modifieds at the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan., then wraps up the swing on Saturday with the inaugural USMTS event at the Caney Valley Speedway in Caney, Kan.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series and the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship, call the (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information from the USMTS.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour (Central States Region)
2nd Annual Moberly Challenge
24 Raceway, Moberly, Mo.
Saturday, August 8, 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. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (2)
2. 7 - Ryan Dolan -- Lisbon, IA (3)
3. 11p - Curt Potter -- Boonville, MO (4)
4. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (6)
5. 41r - Jeff Rash -- Shelbina, MO (5)
6. 26 - Gary Blackburn Jr. -- Fulton, MO (1) DNF
7. 79 - Keith Davis -- Columbia, MO (7) DNF
8. 7L - Steve Long -- Warrenton, MO (8) DNF

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 18 - Chase Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (1)
2. 24v - Mark Van Winkle -- Hannibal, MO (2)
3. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (4)
4. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (8)
5. 07 - Kenny Mudd -- Winfield, MO (3)
6. 1p - Steve Potter -- Boonville, MO (6)
7. 03 - Bill Baker -- Hannibal, MO (5)
8. 43m - David Munoz -- Centralia, MO (7)

BRODIX HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 71 - Kevin Blackburn -- Fulton, MO (1)
2. 25 - Scotty Roberts -- Columbia, MO (2)
3. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (5)
4. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (7)
5. 22c - Vance Wilson -- Frankford, MO (3)
6. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (8)
7. 82 - Craig Spegal -- New London, MO (4)
8. 8 - Wesley Summers -- Wellington, MO (6) DNF

AWESOME RACEWEAR HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (4)
2. 46 - David Holder -- Clarence, MO (2)
3. 18 - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (7)
4. 15 - Richard Payne -- Jefferson City, MO (6)
5. 377 - Casey Pearson -- Foley, MO (3)
6. 67 - Tim Dotson -- Sturgeon, MO (8)
7. B4 - Justin Reed -- Quincy, IL (1)DNF
8. 88d - Matt Dotson -- Sturgeon, MO (5) DNF

INTERCOMP HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (5)
2. 40 - Scott Dickey -- Packwood, IA (3)
3. 85d - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (6)
4. 66 - Darryl Turner -- Columbia, MO (4)
5. 18g - Jim Gillenwater -- Keokuk, IA (8)
6. 83t - Brian Troxel -- Sturgeon, MO (7) DNF
7. L75 - Eddie Whitney -- Sturgeon, MO (2) DNF
8. 2 - Steve Roberts -- Ashland, MO (1) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (1)
2. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (3)
3. 11p - Curt Potter -- Boonville, MO (2)
4. 26 - Gary Blackburn Jr. -- Fulton, MO (9)
5. 07 - Kenny Mudd -- Winfield, MO (6)
6. 88d - Matt Dotson -- Sturgeon, MO (14)
7. 15 - Richard Payne -- Jefferson City, MO (4)
8. 66 - Darryl Turner -- Columbia, MO (5)
9. 43m - David Munoz -- Centralia, MO (13)
10. 377 - Casey Pearson -- Foley, MO (7)
11. 67 - Tim Dotson -- Sturgeon, MO (8)
12. 79 - Keith Davis -- Columbia, MO (10)
13. L75 - Eddie Whitney -- Sturgeon, MO (12)
14. 82 - Craig Spegal -- New London, MO (11) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (1)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (7)
3. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (3)
4. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (2)
5. 1p - Steve Potter -- Boonville, MO (9)
6. 41r - Jeff Rash -- Shelbina, MO (5)
7. 8 - Wesley Summers -- Wellington, MO (13)
8. 83t - Brian Troxel -- Sturgeon, MO (8)
9. 7L - Steve Long -- Warrenton, MO (12)
10. 18g - Jim Gillenwater -- Keokuk, IA (4)
11. 03 - Bill Baker -- Hannibal, MO (10)
12. 22c - Vance Wilson -- Frankford, MO (6) DNF
13. 2 - Steve Roberts -- Ashland, MO (14) DNF
14. B4 - Justin Reed -- Quincy, IL (11) DNS

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 18 - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (5)
2. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (4)
3. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (7)
4. 18 - Chase Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (1)
5. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (14)
6. 25 - Scotty Roberts -- Columbia, MO (11)
7. 71 - Kevin Blackburn -- Fulton, MO (3)
8. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (16)
9. 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (6)
10. 7 - Ryan Dolan -- Lisbon, IA (2)
11. 85d - Mark Dotson -- Cameron, MO (9)
12. 21m - Dean Mahlstedt -- Clear Lake, IA (18)
13. 26 - Gary Blackburn Jr. -- Fulton, MO (19)
14. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (15)
15. 46 - David Holder -- Clarence, MO (12)
16. 11p - Curt Potter -- Boonville, MO (17)
17. 1p - Steve Potter -- Boonville, MO (22)
18. 07 - Kenny Mudd -- Winfield, MO (21)
19. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (20)
20. 15 - Richard Payne -- Jefferson City, MO (23)
21. 88d - Matt Dotson -- Sturgeon, MO (25) DNF
22. 40 - Scott Dickey -- Packwood, IA (8) DNF
23. 24v - Mark VanWinkle -- Hannibal, MO (10) DNF
24. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (13) DNF
25. 43m - David Munoz -- Centralia, MO (26) DNF
26. 8 - Wesley Summers -- Wellington, MO (24) DNF

Lap Leaders: C. Junghans 1-15, M. Long 16-35.
Total Laps Led: M. Long 20, C. Junghans 15.
AFCO Pole Winner: G. Junghans.
Provisional Starters: Payne, Summers, Matt Dotson (track), Munoz (track).
PBM Performance Products Hard Charger: Myer (started 14th, finished 5th).
Next Race: Tuesday, Aug. 11, LA Raceway, La Monte, Mo. (The Hunt for the USMTS Casey's General Stores National Championship).
Central States Region Points (final): VanderBeek 761, Shryock 715, Tesch 714, Gustin 657, Myer 630, Dolan 603, Mahlstedt 586, Al Hejna 579, Long 559, Ramirez 555.
DandyLand Farms Rookie of the Year Points: G. Junghans 580, Mike Hansen 441, C. Junghans 278, Dolan 232, Mike Albertsen 212.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 339, Mullins 213, JR 174, ASI 164, Pro Power 129.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 326, Ramirez 287, Hughes 241, GRT 187, Harris 170.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – G. Junghans.
American Racer – Turner.
Isky Racing Cams – VanderBeek.
KSE Racing Products – Dickey.
PBM Performance Products – Myer.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Summers.
Nitroquest – Tesch.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Mark Dotson.
Quarter Master – M. Long, Shryock.
QuickTime Performance Parts – K. Blackburn.
Real Racing Wheels – Matt Dotson, Rash.

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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, Fast Shafts, 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.