ARDMORE, Okla.-When the United States Modified Touring Series made its most recent appearance in September at the Featherlite Fall Jamboree, Jason Hughes left the Land of 10,000 Lakes with a sweep of all three nights and pocket full of cash.
A month and a half later, the veteran from Watts, Okla., showed no signs of slowing down Tuesday night as he dominated the main event at the Southern Oklahoma Speedway in Ardmore, Okla.
Hughes started on the front row but it was polesitter Dereck Ramirez taking charge when the green flag waved to start the 30-lap affair.
Four laps into the race, Hughes found his rhythm and found a way around Ramirez to claim the top spot. From there, the 2015 USMTS national champ held off his season-long nemesis, Rodney Sanders, to take home the $3,000 winner’s share of the prize money.
Sanders, who started fifth, settled for the runner-up spot after giving Hughes all he could handle. Behind them, a trio of 2015 newcomers-Mickey Lassiter, Tyler Wolff and Chadd Howell-rounded out the top five finishers.
Kyle Beard was the hard charger of the contest, coming from 14th to finish sixth. Ramirez held on for seventh, Randy Timms was eighth, Joe Duvall finished ninth and Lance Town completed the first ten to the finish line.
The fire-breathing USMTS Modifieds return to the Ark-La-Tex Speedway in Vivian, La., to tackle the 9th Annual USMTS Winter Nationals presented by YouDirt.com this Wednesday through Saturday, Nov. 4-7.
Weather permitting, the track will host practice night Wednesday from 6:30-9:30 p.m., and an entire team can get into the pits for one low price. Any vehicle pulling a race car will gain entrance for $50 and includes everybody in the tow vehicle. Those entering the pits without a race team are $20 for an arm band. Admission to the grandstands is free.
The on-track battles commence on Thursday and wrap up Saturday night. Thursday’s main event winner will earn $2,000 while Friday’s victor will pocket $3,000 and Saturday’s finale will award $4,000 to the winner.
Gates open at 4 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. all three nights. Grandstand tickets are $15 on Thursday and Friday, and a seat for Saturday’s finale is $20. Kids ages 12 and under get in free all three days. Pit passes are $35 each night.
Factory Stocks and Limited Mods will also be competing all three days. Factory Stocks will pay $300 to winThursday, $400 to win Friday and $500 to win Saturday. Limited Mods will pay $400, $500 and $600 to win, respectively. Pro Mods will round out the four-division card on Saturday with a $300 top prize up for grabs.
This will be the second time that the crown jewel event will be held at Gene Boyter’s 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval after staging the previous seven Winter Nationals at the Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas.
Racing on his home track, Chris Henigan has captured both of his USMTS wins here. In last year’s Winter Nationals trifecta, Cade Dillard posted his career-first USMTS victory on Thursday night, Rodney Sanders claimed Friday’sfeature and nine-time USMTS national champ Kelly Shryock ended the season on a high note with a trip to the winner’s circle on Saturday.
The Ark-La-Tex Speedway is located 0.6 mile south of SR 2 on SR 1, then 0.7 mile west on Airport Rd., then 2.2 miles south on Boyter Lane Rd. For race day information, call the track hotline at 318-375-3470 or clickwww.arklatexspeedway.net to visit them online.
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, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts or subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.
