If there was any question whether or not the 18-year-old second-generation racer is the real deal, his performance Saturday night removed all doubt.

Kelly Shryock earned the AFCO Pole Award with his performance during the qualifying heats, but Gustin drew the pole position for the main event while Shryock filled the outside of the front row.

Gustin was able to get the jump on the eight-time USMTS National Champion at the drop of the green flag, then shot to the high side of the track while Shryock slipped back to fourth behind Rodney Sanders and Ron Ver Beek in the first corner. Shryock, however, powered back around the outside of Ver Beek down the back-stretch, then regained the runner-up spot from Sanders as the field completed lap 1.

From that point on, Gustin and Shryock checked out on the field as they mirrored each other's rim-riding style. By lap 18, the two were into heavy lapped traffic with Gustin's Modified sending sparks into the air as it bounced off the concrete wall below the flagstand while Shryock continued to give chase around the top side of the quarter-mile bullring.

The first and only yellow flag of the race waved on lap 21 when Darrin Walch's smoking machine slowed on the front-stretch. On the restart, Shryock dipped down below Gustin in turn 3 and the pair crossed beneath the flagstand side by side to complete lap 22. Unshakable, Gustin reclaimed his advantage in the next turn as Shryock slid back up behind Gustin in the high groove.

For the final 18 circuits, Shryock could only follow and hope for a mistake from the Marshalltown, Iowa, pilot, but Gustin was flawless in leading the current points leader to the checkered flag.

The win $3,000 victory was Gustin's second during the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship and seventh overall in his 72 career starts.

Dereck Ramirez held off Ver Beek in a spirited battle for the third spot while 2007 USMTS National Champion Jason Krohn rounded out the top-5 finishers. Jason Hughes came from the 12th starting spot to take sixth, Sanders held on for seventh, Al Hejna was eighth, Dustin Boney grabbed the ninth-place finisher's paycheck and Jon Tesch completed the first ten across the finish line.

Despite remaining winless during the 'Hunt,' Shryock's fifth top-5 finish in seven starts helped him increase his lead to 72 points (698 to 626) over Sanders in the title chase. Gustin jumped up to third with 601 markers, followed by Zack VanderBeek (590), Ramirez (588), Hughes (574), Tim Donlinger (531), Tesch (524), Morgan Bagley (514) and Tommy Myer (505). Less than 80 points separate Myer from the next eight drivers in the standings.

9 DAYS OFF, 6 DAYS ON

The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship will continue Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, for the eighth of eighteen events in the title chase. This will be the first of six straight nights of racing at six tracks with a top prize of $3,000 each night — $18,000 for the winner’s share of the purse over the six days!

Also on tap at the Mahaska County Half-Mile Monster will be the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series featuring USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars, USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks. Pit gates will open at 5:00, with grandstand gates opening at 5:30. Hot laps begin at 7:00 and the first heat race takes to the track at 7:30.

Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons on raceday at all three Casey's General Stores locations in Oskaloosa. Zack VanderBeek and his Doritos-sponsored #33z Modified will be at the 1310 A Ave. West location (just three blocks south of the track) from 12:00 to 2:00. Check out www.caseys.com for more information or to find the location nearest you.

The Southern Iowa Speedway is a half-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.5 mile west of US 63 on SR 92, then 0.3 mile north on N. I St. (at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds). For more information, contact the RL Promotions offices at (515) 832-6000 or visit www.rlpromotions.com online. Race day info is available by calling the track hotline at (641) 673-7004.

REMAINING SCHEDULE:

Tue Sep 1 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($3,000 to win)
Wed Sep 2 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($3,000 to win)
Thu Sep 3 … Buena Vista Raceway, Alta, IA ($3,000 to win)
Fri Sep 4 … Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($3,000 to win)
Sat Sep 5 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($3,000 to win)
Sun Sep 6 … Dodge County Speedway, Kasson, MN ($3,000 to win)
Fri Sep 18 … North Central Speedway, Brainerd, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sat Sep 19 … North Central Speedway, Brainerd, MN ($3,000 to win)
Thu Sep 24 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Fri Sep 25 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($4,000 to win)
Sat Sep 26 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($6,000 to win)

The ’Hunt’ will wrap up back at the Deer Creek Speedway with the 11th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24-26, where the 2009 USMTS National Champion will be crowned.

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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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour
Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship - Event #7 of 18
Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, Iowa
Saturday, August 22, 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. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (2)
2. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (4)
3. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (3)
4. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (1)
5. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (6)
6. 10 - Mike Steensma -- Luverne, MN (5)
7. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (8)
8. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (7)
9. 75 - Alan Sharpensteen -- Amarillo, TX (9) DNS

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 22 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (1)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (7)
3. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (4)
4. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (8)
5. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (2)
6. 66 - Dan Bohr -- Decorah, IA (5)
7. 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (6)
8. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (3) DNF

BUTLERBUILT HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (1)
2. 5w - Darrin Walch -- Postville, IA (2)
3. 3A - Jason Schueller -- Dubuque, IA (3)
4. 42 - Tom Paulson -- Kasson, MN (4)
5. 3D - Tim Donlinger -- Rochester, MN (6)
6. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (8)
7. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (7)
8. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (5)

AWESOME RACEWEAR HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 12h - Mike Hansen -- Alton, IA (1)
2. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (2)
3. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (5)
4. 7 - Ryan Dolan -- Lisbon, IA (4)
5. 21 - Layne Meyer -- West Union, IA (3)
6. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (6)
7. 15 - Sean Rupp -- Peosta, IA (7) DNS
8. 51 - Eddie Martin -- Stilwell, OK (8) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (7)
2. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (3)
3. 3a - Jason Schueller -- Dubuque, IA (1)
4. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (8)
5. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (5)
6. 66 - Dan Bohr -- Decorah, IA (6)
7. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (9)
8. 35 - Jeff Schluetter -- New Hampton, IA (10)
9. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (4) DNF
10. 42 - Tom Paulson -- Kasson, MN (2) DNF
11. 75 - Alan Sharpensteen -- Amarillo, TX (11) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (1)
2. 3d - Tim Donlinger -- Rochester, MN (3)
3. 10 - Mike Steensma -- Luverne, MN (5)
4. 7 - Ryan Dolan -- Lisbon, IA (2)
5. 21 - Layne Meyer -- West Union, IA (4)
6. 31 - Corey Dripps -- Waterloo, IA (6)
7. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (8)
8. 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (7)
9. 15 - Sean Rupp -- Peosta, IA (9) DNS
10. 51 - Eddie Martin -- Stilwell, OK (10) DNS

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (1)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (2)
3. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (5)
4. 4r - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (4)
5. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (9)
6. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (12)
7. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (3)
8. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (10)
9. 22 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (8)
10. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (13)
11. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (15)
12. 3d - Tim Donlinger -- Rochester, MN (16)
13. 10 - Mike Steensma -- Luverne, MN (18)
14. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (11)
15. 5r - Morgan Bagley -- Longview, TX (21)
16. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (19)
17. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (24)
18. 12h - Mike Hansen -- Alton, IA (7)
19. 7 - Ryan Dolan -- Lisbon, IA (20)
20. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (23)
21. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (14)
22. 21 - Layne Meyer -- West Union, IA (22)
23. 5w - Darrin Walch -- Postville, IA (6) DNF
24. 3a - Jason Schueller -- Dubuque, IA (17) DNF

Lap Leader: Gustin 1-40.
Total Laps Led: Gustin 40.
AFCO Pole Winner: Shryock.
Provisional Starters: Myer, Rowland.
PBM Performance Products Hard Charger: Hughes (started 12th, finished 6th).
Next Race: Tuesday, Sept. 1, Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship Points: Shryock 698, Sanders 626, Gustin 601, VanderBeek 590, Ramirez 588, Hughes 574, Donlinger 531, Tesch 524, Bagley 514, Myer 505.
DandyLand Farms Rookie of the Year Points: G. Junghans 711, Hansen 544, Chase Junghans 339, Mather 304, Dolan 255.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 401, Mullins 266, JR 199, Pro Power 169, ASI 164.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 391, Ramirez 334, Hughes 297, GRT 232, Harris 196.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Shryock.
American Racer – Hansen.
ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems – Schueller.
Isky Racing Cams – Ver Beek.
KSE Racing Products – Boney.
PBM Performance Products – Hughes.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Schueller.
Nitroquest – Ramirez.
Out-Pace Racing Products – VanderBeek.
Quarter Master – Gustin, Hejna.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Sanders.
Real Racing Wheels – Bohr, Dripps.

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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.