The following is a press release from the United States Modified Touring Series
Dereck Ramirez scored the tenth victory of his career Thursday when the Summit USMTS National Championship fueled by Casey’s invaded the Mason City Motor Speedway for the tenth time since 2009.
But it was the first time for the series on the newly-configured high-banked 1/3-mile clay oval and that has seen just a handful of races since the end of the 2018 season.
Dubbed Mayhem! in Mason City, the race delivered with a fantastic battle between three or four racers contending for the lead throughout the 40-lap main event.
Jason Cummins, who won last Sunday’s USRA Modified feature here, took off from the pole and beat Jacob Bleess to the first corner. Bleess fought back but began to lose grip in turn four as he nearly spun.
The chain reaction of those slowing behind him resulted in the first and only caution of the race with one lap officially scored. At least six were involved with three of them—Bleess, Joe Duvall and Casey Skyberg—unable to return for the next green flag.
The remainder of the race was not without drama though as Cummins set a fast pace with Ramirez, Tanner Mullens and Rodney Sanders all within striking distance.
Ramirez used lapped traffic to his advantage and slipped past Cummins to lead the seventh lap. Although he never relinquished the lead after that, Ramirez saw the other three in the breakaway quartet on multiple occasions.
While Ramirez got the $2,500 top prize, Sanders was able to take advantage of Mullens’ brief delay in getting by a back-marker to steal the runner-up spot away while Cummins trailed in fourth.
Kyle Brown came from tenth on the grid to finish fifth with Adam Kates, Tyler Davis, Jason Hughes, Hunter Marriott and Alex Williamson rounding out the top ten.
The win—his second in three nights—was the first for Ramirez at the North Iowa Fairgrounds facility. Sanders won here on the big half-mile track in 2016 and Hughes was the winner when the series arrived in 2013 when it was called I-35 Speedway.
The race was nearly completed without caution and may not have survived another as a downpour soaked the area just minutes after the checkered flag waved. The rained-out features for the USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods will happen Sunday when the Mason City Motor Speedway hosts another round of the Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series.
Rolling into Rock Rapids Friday: A five-day celebration of freedom, fun and fast cars criss-crossing the Hawkeye State, Iowa Speedweek continues Friday at the Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids for the 12th Annual USMTS Rapid Rumble presented by American Racer.
The $3,000-to-win penultimate show for the Summit USMTS National Championship fueled by Casey’s will also see action in the USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Sportsmans.
“Rocky” was the site of one of the most thrilling shows in 2019 when both Rodney Sanders and Ryan Gustin spun while racing for the lead. That opened for door for Terry Phillips to sneak in, take the money and run. Fans witnessed a barn-burner two years ago when Johnny Scott limped home the final lap with a blown tire.
In the nine previous USMTS events held here, only Rodney Sanders has visited victory lane twice. Other former winners here include Dereck Ramirez (USMTS Race of the Year Award in 2017), Cade Dillard, Cory Crapser, Zack VanderBeek, Jason Krohn, Jon Tesch and Kelly Shryock who won the first USMTS show at the Lyons County Fairgrounds on June 23, 2006.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $5 for kids ages 7-14 and free for kids 6 and under. Pit passes will be $35 for all ages. You must be at least 10 years old to enter the pits. The pit gate will open at 4:30 and grandstands open at 5:30. Driver registration will be cut off at 6:30. Hot laps start at 7 with racing to follow around 7:30 p.m.
The Rapid Speedway is a semi-banked 3/8-mile dirt oval located 0.5 mile east of US 75 on SR 9, then 0.5 mile south on South Tama St. (400 S. Tama St., Rock Rapids, IA 51246). For more information, visit rockrapidsspeedway.com.
The fifth round of action during 2020 Iowa Speedweek happens at the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City with the USMTS touring titans again sparring over a $3,000 top prize plus USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks. Race time is 7:30. Get more information at hamiltoncospeedway.com.
Currently, the 2020 schedule for the Summit USMTS National Championship fueled by Casey’s is highlighted by 42 nights of racing at 27 unique dirt ovals for the 22nd season of competition for the world’s Best of the Best in dirt modified racing.
To connect with the USMTS check out USMTS.com, like us on Facebook, follow on Twitter, check us out on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Keep up to speed by joining our email list
