ARDMORE, Okla. (March 1) — The tireless titans of the United States Modified Touring Series return to battle this week for the fourth and final round of USMTS Winter Speedweeks at the Southern Oklahoma Speedway in Ardmore, Okla.
Through nine incredible nights of racing so far during the 2016 campaign, six different drivers have claimed victory. Ryan Gustin has captured the Friday night feature race each of the last three weekends, and Zack VanderBeek netted two wins at the Heart O’ Texas Speedway near Waco, Texas.
Others wheeling their way into the winner’s circle in February were Rodney Sanders, Jason Hughes, Stormy Scott and Jake Gallardo, who won the most recent main event this past Saturday at the Ark-La-Tex Speedway in Vivian, La.-his career-first under the USMTS banner.
Practice night kicks things off Wednesday, March 2, from 6-9 p.m. with all classes welcome to the open test ‘n’ tune. Admission to the grandstands is free with pit passes $20.
Racing begins Thursday at 7 p.m. with USMTS Modified competitors looking to take home a $2,000 winner’s share of the prize money. Limited Mods will also be racing for $400 to win. Grandstands are $15 for adults and kids ages 6-12 are $5 with children 5 and under free. Pit passes are $35.
On Friday, the first heat race rolls onto the track at 7 p.m. with USMTS Modifieds racing for $3,000 to win, Limited Mods $500 to win and Hobby Stocks $300 to win. Grandstands are $20 for adults and kids ages 6-12 are $5 with children 5 and under free. Pit passes are $35.
Saturday’s USMTS Winter Speedweeks finale starts at 6 p.m. USMTS Modifieds race for $4,000 while Limited Mods pay $600 to win and Hobby Stocks $400 to win. Grandstands are $20 for adults and kids ages 6-12 are $5 with children 5 and under free. Pit passes are $40.
Jason Hughes was the winner in 2008 and 2009 at the track formerly known as Lake Country Speedway, and picked up the win during the most recent event in November to cap off his 2015 USMTS national championship season. Sanders and Stormy Scott each have three wins in Ardmore, Gustin has two and visiting victory lane once are Johnny Scott, Thomas Tillison Jr. and Triston Dycus.
Hughes comes into this week’s blockbuster as the points leader in the Production Jars USMTS Southern Region presented by Day Motor Sports just past the halfway point. He holds a 22-point cushion over Gustin (802 to 780) while VanderBeek lurks in third with 746 markers. The rest of the top 10 are Cade Dillard (744), Jesse Sobbing (630), Scott Drake (602), Austin Arneson (578), Ben Kates (567), Casey Arneson (566) and Bobby Malchus (564)
The Southern Oklahoma Speedway is a semi-banked 3/8-mile clay oval located 0.7 mile east of I-35 (exit 29) on US 70, then 1.8 miles south on US 77. For more information, call 405-627-1766 or clickwww.southernoklahomaspeedway.
For unfortunate fans unable to make one or more of these blockbuster events, every lap of every race at every event during USMTS Winter Speedweeks will be broadcast live via pay-per-view on www.RacinDirt.com.
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, Instagram at www.instagram.com/usmts or subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.
