O'Neil zeroes in on first USMTS win at Canyon Speedway Park


PEORIA, Ariz. (April 14)--Racing against the best of the best, Jake O'Neil was one of the best with a third-place finish on Friday, but Saturday night there was nobody better from start to finish as he dominated the 40-lap USMTS Hunt for the Casey's Cup main event at the Canyon Speedway Park.

"We haven't run a lot of USMTS races, but we feel like we've been pretty good at times," O'Neil said in victory lane after claiming the first USMTS victory of his career. "It feels pretty good to get one and to do it here in Arizona."

Leading from the drop of the green flag to checkers, O'Neil wasn't just dominant in the feature race. He ran down Friday's night's winner, Johnny Scott, to win Fast Shafts Heat Race #2 and sat atop the heat race passing points going into the night cap.

The 25-year-old from Tucson proceeded to draw the pole position and then marched away from the field to claim the $3,000 first-place money by pounding his #0 machine on the high side of the 3/8-mile clay oval.

"I felt consistent enough to be able to run that top. I just kind of feel bad for my equipment, it got kind of abused. That was pretty tough."

Two cautions in the first eight laps allowed the field to close back in on O'Neil, and then a third and final caution just past the halfway point wiped out a sizeable lead again.

But O'Neil was up to the challenge each time and drove away from eventual runner-up Ricky Thornton Jr. on each restart. In the series' first venture into the Copper State, the pair rewarded their fans with an Arizona pilot one-two finish.

While O'Neil was checked out, the battles for position behind him were stellar. Scott followed Thornton to the stripe in third while Lucas Schott came from 13th on the grid to take fourth in front of 11th-starting Terry Phillips.

Dereck Ramirez finished sixth after starting 16th and earned the FK Rod Ends Hard Charger Award. Zack VanderBeek held on for seventh, Rodney Sanders rebounded from a pit stop on lap eight to grab eighth and Fito Gallardo fended off fellow Las Cruces, N.M., racer Stormy Scott for ninth.

In the USMTS Hunt for the Casey's Cup points, Johnny Scott maintains the top spot but O'Neil closed the gap to just 13 points (427 to 414) with his clean sweep Saturday. Ramirez sits third with 403 markers, followed by Schott (392), Sanders (365), Stormy Scott (364), Phillips (356), VanderBeek (353), Jake Timm (341) and Logan Robertson (295).

The mud-slinging masters of dirt modified racing return to the Southern New Mexico Speedway this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 20-22, for the Rancho Milagro Short Track Shootout. This will be the one and only stop of the 2018 campaign at the Las Cruces, N.M., oval-and possibly the last ever before the new Vado Speedway Park opens in the near future.

Presented by Premier Waste Services, Barnett Harley-Davidson, G3 Fitness, S&S Fishing & Rental and Torco Race Fuels, fans will see the best of the best of both worlds as the blockbuster is both a USMTS Hunt for the Casey's Cup national series race and a Summit USMTS Southern Series event.

Louisiana's Cade Dillard has yet to win a USMTS main event this year, but he sits atop the national standings and is just two points behind Las Cruces native Johnny Scott in the southern points battle.

Dereck Ramirez, Jason Krohn, Johnny Scott and last week's King of America VIII winner Lucas Schott fill the top five positions in this year's fight for the $50,000-to-win USMTS national championship.

In the Summit USMTS Southern Series, USMTS rookie Ethan Dotson of Bakersfield, Calif., picked up his career-first win in February, and trails Johnny Scott and Dillard in the points chase entering the Short Track Shootout while two-time USMTS national champ Rodney Sanders and Ramirez rounded out the south's top five.

Other hungry checkered flag chasers expected for the Rancho Milagro Short Track Shootout include "Big Daddy" Joe Duvall, Zack VanderBeek, Jake O'Neil, Terry Phillips, Logan Robertson, Bryan Rowland, Zane Ferrell and the other half of the twin Scott brothers duo, Stormy Scott.

While the USMTS is the pinnacle of the dirt modified world, the Southern New Mexico Speedway has no equal when it comes to local and regional talent capable of stealing the big money.

Former USRA national champions Fito Gallardo and his son, Jake Gallardo, of Las Cruces will join Mesilla Park's Bumper Jones and his father, Royal Jones, to take on the high-speed invaders. Other regulars expected include USMTS rookie-of-the-year contender Carlos Ahumada Jr. of El Paso, Christy Barnett, Jimmy Ray, Donavon Flores, Dustin Smith, Austin Adams, Terry Tipton, Zane DeVilbiss, Butch Reid Jr., Sherman Barnett, Max Sadler, Philip Houston and more.

Also on the racing card all three nights of the Rancho Milagro Short Track Shootout will be Anthony Sosa Roofing Late Models, Hacienda Carpet & Tile X-Mods, Casa Nissan Legends Cars and Sun Valley Hardware USRA Stock Cars.

The Modifieds will be co-sanctioned by the USRA and will earn Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series national, regional and track points all three nights along with Stock Cars and B-Mods (X-Mods).

An open practice is slated for Thursday, April 19, with gates opening at 5 p.m. and practice from 6-10 p.m. Pit passes are $25 (grandstands will be closed).

On Friday and Saturday, gates open at 5 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. General admission is $12. A family pack is $30. Pit passes are are $40 (three-day pit pass $110). Kids ages 10 and under get in for free all three days.

On Sunday, gates open at 3 p.m. with racing at 5 p.m. General admission is $15, a family pack is $35 and pit passes are $40.

The Southern New Mexico Speedway is a high-banked 3/8-mile clay oval located 11 miles west of Las Cruces at the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds. Take exit 132, go left and take the frontage road south of I-10 heading west. For more information, call (575) 524-7913 or (505) 524-7913 or visit www.snmspeedway.com online. You can also check them out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/southernnewmexicospeedway and follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/snmspeedway.

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 and Instagram at www.instagram.com/usmts or subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv. Keep up to speed with everything USMTS by joining our email list at www.usmts.com/subscribe.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
USMTS Hunt for the Casey's Cup powered by Summit
Canyon Speedway Park, Peoria, Ariz.
Saturday, April 14, 2018

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed and money won. The top 12 in heat race passing points advance to the Casey's General Stores "A" Main with the top 8 redrawing for the first 8 starting spots.

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (2) G3 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (1) 71 Jessie Hoskins (R), Longdale, Okla.
3. (4) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M.
4. (5) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
5. (8) 20 Rodney Sanders, Worthington, Minn.
6. (3) 26 R.C. Whitwell, Tucson, Ariz.
7. (6) 92p John Parmeley, Phoenix, Ariz.
8. (7) 8 Chase Alves, Chandler, Ariz.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (4) 0 Jake O'Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz.
2. (1) 1st Johnny Scott, Cameron, Mo.
3. (3) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
4. (6) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
5. (8) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
6. (5) 99 Terry Tipton, Duncan, Ariz.
7. (7) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
8. (2) 65x Carlos Ahumada Jr. (R), Canutillo, Texas.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) 5m Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
2. (5) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
3. (4) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
4. (3) 8c Chris Clark, Jackson, Wyo.
6. (7) 23 Adam Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan.
6. (6) 23 Logan Robertson, Shamrock, Texas.
7. (2) 65s Carlos Ahumada Sr., El Paso, Texas.

MSD PERFORMANCE HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (4) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (2) 19sb Lance Mari (R), Imperial, Calif.
3. (1) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas.
4. (5) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (7) 44n Jason Noll, Peoria, Ariz.
5. (3) 77x Austin Kuehl, Cave Creek, Ariz.
7. (6) 40jr Jeff Stafford, Glendale, Ariz.

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #1 (10 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (1) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
2. (2) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (5) 26 R.C. Whitwell, Tucson, Ariz.
4. (3) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
5. (6) 23 Logan Robertson, Shamrock, Texas.
6. (7) 92p John Parmeley, Phoenix, Ariz., Shaw/PerfAuto, $75.
7. (9) 8 Chase Alves, Chandler, Ariz., Shaw/ChevPerf, $75.
8. (4) 23 Adam Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan.
9. (8) 65s Carlos Ahumada Sr., El Paso, Texas, LG2/BMS, $75.

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #2 (10 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (2) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas,
2. (1) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
3. (7) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
4. (4) 44n Jason Noll, Peoria, Ariz.
5. (8) 65x Carlos Ahumada Jr. (R), Canutillo, Texas.
6. (6) 77x Austin Kuehl, Cave Creek, Ariz., Shaw/Klein, $75.
7. (3) 8c Chris Clark, Jackson, Wyo.
8. (5) 99 Terry Tipton, Duncan, Ariz., Shaw/Keith, $75.
DNS - 40jr Jeff Stafford, Glendale, Ariz., Shaw/Klein, $75.

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT "A" MAIN (40 laps):
1. (1) 0 Jake O'Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz., LG2/Cornett, 40, $3425.
2. (3) 5m Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz., Shaw/ChevPerf, 40, $1700.
3. (6) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., VanderBuilt/Durham, 40, $1600.
4. (13) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn., MBCustoms/Hill, 40, $1390.
5. (11) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Durham, 40, $1180.
6. (16) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/Cornett, 40, $1075.
7. (4) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, VanderBuilt/Sput's, 40, $970.
8. (14) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustoms/Hatfield, 40, $865.
9. (2) G3 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/ProPower, 40, $450.
10. (15) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., VanderBuilt/Mullins, 40, $760.
11. (19) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., BlackWidow/ProPower, 40, $430.
12. (10) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustoms/ChevPerf, 40, $400.
13. (12) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas, MBCustoms/KPE, 40, $325.
14. (18) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn., MBCustoms/Sput's, 39, $600.
15. (22) 65x Carlos Ahumada Jr. (R), Canutillo, Texas, GRT/BMS, 39, $300.
16. (21) 23 Logan Robertson, Shamrock, Texas, MBCustoms/Knowles, 39, $300.
17. (7) 71 Jessie Hoskins (R), Longdale, Okla., Longhorn/PerfAuto, 27, $300.
18. (8) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/ProPower, 21, $300.
19. (5) 19sb Lance Mari (R), Imperial, Calif., MRT/Yeoman, 21, $300.
20. (17) 26 R.C. Whitwell, Tucson, Ariz., Shaw/ChevPerf, 17, $300.
21. (20) 44n Jason Noll, Peoria, Ariz., MRT/Yeoman, 17, $250.
22. (23) 23 Adam Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan., VanderBuilt/Speedway, 14, $300.
23. (9) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M., GRT/Sput's, 8, $300.
24. (24) 8c Chris Clark, Jackson, Wyo., GRT/Cornett, 2, $300.

(R) = Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year contender

Lap Leader: O'Neil 1-40.
Total Laps Led: O'Neil 40.
Margin of Victory: 2.689 seconds.
Time of Race: 20 minutes, 11.719 seconds (3 cautions).
Provisional Starters: Kates, Clark.
Eibach Spring Forward Award: Schott (advanced 11 positions).
FK Rod Ends Hard Charger: Ramirez (started 16th, finished 6th).
Entries: 30.
Next Race: Friday-Sunday, April 20-22, Southern New Mexico Speedway, Las Cruces, N.M.
USMTS Hunt for the Casey's Cup Points: J. Scott 427, O'Neil 414, Ramirez 403, Schott 392, Sanders 365, S. Scott 364, Phillips 356, VanderBeek 353, Timm 341, Robertson 295.
Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Points: Ethan Dotson 462, Ahumada Jr. 455, O'Neil 414, Zane Ferrell 324, Billy Vogel 304.
USMTS Engine Builder of the Year Points: Durham 60, Sput's 51, ChevPerf 50, Cornett 45, Knowles 44.
USMTS Manufacturers Championship Points: MBCustoms 71, VanderBuilt 68, Hughes 49, GRT 44, BlackWidow 39.