Sweet redemption for Mitchell in USMTS triumph at 81 Speedway

PARK CITY, Kan. (June 7) -- Just a little more than three weeks ago, Jon Mitchell's United States Modified Touring Series victory celebration was short-lived when his machine came up a few pounds light when crossed the scales at the end of the main event at the Lonestar Speedway.

But on Wednesday night, about 500 miles northwest of there at the 81 Speedway outside of Wichita, Kan., Mitchell left no doubt as he led all 40 laps of the USMTS main event and led the top four finishers across the scales with room to spare.

"Twenty-four eighty. That sounds about right," a smiling Mitchell said after climbing out of his winning mount which weighed in at 2,480 pounds. "We had a lot of fuel burn off tonight so we made sure we had plenty of weight. We even bolted on some extra just to be sure."

Similar to the race last month in Kilgore, Texas, Mitchell had to contend with Cade Dillard for most of the race, but prevailed in the end. This time, however, the victory celebration will last long into the night.

"It feels really good to get this win," he added. "This is such a talented bunch of drivers that it makes it even that much sweeter when you can run up front with them. This trophy feels like gold to me."

Along the road to his career-first USMTS win, Mitchell survived three caution periods and several breath-taking tussles with lapped traffic, all the while keeping Dillard behind him around the long 3/8-mile dirt oval.

Zack VanderBeek hounded Mitchell for the first 15 laps before Dillard slipped past to assume the second position. The race's final yellow flew with just three laps remaining and VanderBeek took the opportunity to slip past Dillard.

After chewing away around the top of the track with the leaders for most of the race, VanderBeek found his groove late on the low side and nearly snuck by Mitchell at the end, but instead settled for the runner-up paycheck behind "Catman" while Dillard finished third.

Behind the top trio, Wehrs Machine "Trick Move" of the Race Award recipient Joe Duvall rode to a fourth-place finish with local ace Tyler Davis claiming the fifth spot. Dereck Ramirez, Ricky Thornton Jr., Stormy Scott, Tyler Wolff and Cody Gearhart rounded out the top 10.

Thornton and Scott blazed a trail through field, finishing seventh and eighth after starting 23rd and 24th on the grid, respectively, using provisional starting spots. Provisional starters are not eligible for the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award though, so that honor went to Gearhart who passed ten cars from his 20th starting position.

Thursday, June 8, takes the tireless USMTS touring titans to the Salina Speedway for the first time in the 19-year history of the series. The track took a direct hit from a tornado less than three weeks ago, but track crews and volunteers have worked tirelessly to fix buildings and lights, and repair fences that were destroyed by the 70+ mph winds.

All systems are a go for the MSD USMTS Central Region clash, with Mod Lites and Hobby Stocks also on the menu for Thursday night with pit gates opening at 5 p.m. and spectator seating available at 5. Hot laps start at 7:15 and the green flag waves at 8 p.m.

Adult tickets are $20 with free admission for kids under 16 years old. Pit passes are $35. Race fans can get $2-off discount coupons on race day at Casey's General Stores locations in Abilene, Lindsborg, Minneapolis and all six locations in Salina. Visit www.caseys.com to find the location nearest you.

The Salina Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located off of I-135 at exit 92, then 2.5 miles west on Crawford St., then 2.7 miles south on Burma Rd. in Salina, Kan. For more information, call (785) 292-9220 or visit www.racesalinaspeedway.com 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 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
Casey's USMTS National Tour powered by S&S Fishing & Rental - MSD USMTS Central Region presented by Summit Racing Equipment
6th Annual Summit "Showdown in the Playground"
81 Speedway, Park City, Kan.
Wednesday, June 7, 2017


Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed and money won.

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (2) 10B Brandon Givens, Cheney, Kan.
2. (1) 25c Johnny Cammon, Wichita, Kan.
3. (6) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
4. (7) 9 Cole Traugott, Woodward, Okla.
5. (5) 4a Josh Lanterman (R), Derby, Kan.
6. (3) 25p Mike Petersilie, Hoisington, Kan.
7. (4) 81 Mike Densberger, Lincoln, Neb.
8. (8) 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (2) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
2. (3) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
3. (1) 1M Cody Gearhart, Turpin, Okla.
4. (4) 5K Kyle Prauner (R), Norfolk, Neb.
5. (5) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan.
6. (7) 0 Kyle Rohleder, WaKeeney, Kan.
7. (8) 3J Jake Nightingale, Hutchinson, Kan.
8. (6) 8c Chris Clark (R), Jackson, Wyo.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) 21T Lance Town, Wellsville, Kan.
2. (6) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
3. (4) 23 Logan Robertson (R), Shamrock, Texas.
4. (7) 52c Alex Cammon, Wichita, Kan.
5. (3) 53T Tyler Sutton, Beloit, Kan.
6. (5) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (2) 96 R.C. Whitwell (R), Tucson, Ariz.

THE JOIE OF SEATING HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (2) 4w Tyler Wolff (R), Fayetteville, Ark.
2. (5) 4 Dan Powers, Wichita, Kan.
3. (6) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
4. (3) 191 Travis Govern, Wichita, Kan.
5. (7) 23 Adam Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan.
6. (4) 22K Kevin Newell, Wichita, Kan.
7. (1) 20RT Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.

VP RACING FUELS HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (2) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
2. (5) 5 Jon Mitchell, Texarkana, Texas.
3. (1) 52 Ryan McAninch, Hutchinson, Kan.
4. (4) 20T Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
5. (3) 1 Kirby Robe, Wichita, Kan.
6. (6) R21 Ryan Schaffer, Corning, Iowa.
7. (7) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla.

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (3) 52 Ryan McAninch, Hutchinson, Kan.
2. (6) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan.
3. (1) 23 Logan Robertson (R), Shamrock, Texas.
4. (9) 22K Kevin Newell, Wichita, Kan.
5. (7) 1 Kirby Robe, Wichita, Kan.
6. (5) 23 Adam Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan., LG2/Speedway, $90.
7. (10) 3J Jake Nightingale, Hutchinson, Kan.
8. (13) 8c Chris Clark (R), Jackson, Wyo., GRT/CNC, $90.
9. (8) 25p Mike Petersilie, Hoisington, Kan., 1stClass/AEM, $90.
10. (11) 96 R.C. Whitwell (R), Tucson, Ariz., MBCustom/Mullins, $400.
11. (2) 52c Alex Cammon, Wichita, Kan., Custom/Cammon, $75.
12. (4) 191 Travis Govern, Wichita, Kan., BillsBuilt/KBS, $75.
13. (12) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla., MBCustom/Wegner, $90.

REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (1) 9 Cole Traugott, Woodward, Okla.
2. (12) 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
3. (3) 5K Kyle Prauner (R), Norfolk, Neb.
4. (2) 1M Cody Gearhart, Turpin, Okla.
5. (4) 20T Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
6. (10) 81 Mike Densberger, Lincoln, Neb., Jet/Speedway, $400.
7. (5) 4a Josh Lanterman (R), Derby, Kan.
8. (9) R21 Ryan Schaffer, Corning, Iowa., LG2/Mullins, $90.
9. (6) 53T Tyler Sutton, Beloit, Kan., BillsBuilt/B&J, $75.
10. (8) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
11. (7) 0 Kyle Rohleder, WaKeeney, Kan., Shaw/Rohleder, $75.
12. (11) 20RT Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.

CASEY'S GENERAL STORES "A" MAIN (40 laps):
1. (1) 5 Jon Mitchell, Texarkana, Texas, MBCustom/CB, 40, $3000.
2. (4) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, VanderBuilt/Sput's, 40, $1700.
3. (6) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., MBCustom/ASI, 40, $1200.
4. (9) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/Hatfield, 40, $1000.
5. (5) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan., Hughes/Hatfield, 40, $800.
6. (11) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., LG2/Cornett, 40, $800.
7. (23) 20RT Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz., Shaw/Mullins, 40, $700.
8. (24) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., GRT/Mullins, 40, $650.
9. (8) 4w Tyler Wolff (R), Fayetteville, Ark., MBCustom/Mullins, 40, $600.
10. (20) 1M Cody Gearhart, Turpin, Okla., Shaw/Gearhart, 40, $450.
11. (3) 4 Dan Powers, Wichita, Kan., BillsBuilt/KBS, 40, $500.
12. (7) 21T Lance Town, Wellsville, Kan., MBCustom/Driskell, 40, $450.
13. (13) 52 Ryan McAninch, Hutchinson, Kan., GRT/McAninch, 40, $350.
14. (17) 23 Logan Robertson (R), Shamrock, Texas, MBCustom/PPE, 40, $325.
15. (15) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $300.
16. (2) 10B Brandon Givens, Cheney, Kan., GRT/Hatfield, 40, $275.
17. (21) 1 Kirby Robe, Wichita, Kan., MBCustom/Robe, 40, $250.
18. (12) 25c Johnny Cammon, Wichita, Kan., GRT/Mullins, 40, $250.
19. (18) 5K Kyle Prauner (R), Norfolk, Neb., Razor/GMPP, 36, $300.
20. (22) 20T Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 21, $300.
21. (25) 4a Josh Lanterman (R), Derby, Kan., BillsBuilt/Hillsboro, 17, $300.
22. (19) 22K Kevin Newell, Wichita, Kan., Custom/Newell, 15, $250.
23. (26) 3J Jake Nightingale, Hutchinson, Kan., Mullens/Mullins, 10, $250.
24. (10) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 4, $300.
25. (14) 9 Cole Traugott, Woodward, Okla., LG2/TRE, 1, $250.
26. (16) 19R Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 1, $300.

(R) = Grant Junghans Rookie of the Year contender

Lap Leader: Mitchell 1-40.
Total Laps Led: Mitchell 40.
Margin of Victory: 0.367 second.
Time of Race: 26 minutes, 17.453 seconds (3 cautions).
Provisional Starters: Thornton, Scott, Lanterman (track), Nightingale (track).
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Gearhart (started 20th, finished 10th).
Entries: 37.
Next Race: Thursday, June 8, Salina Speedway, Salina, Kan.
MSD Central Region Points: Dillard 522, VanderBeek 507, Thornton 483, Scott 466, Ramirez 460, Duvall 448, Densberger 374, Wolff 372, Whitwell 358, Prauner 323.
Grant Junghans Rookie of the Year Points: Whitwell 1865, Travis Saurer 1737, Wolff 1662, Kates 1277, Billy Vogel 982.
Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 278, ASI 227, Sput's 215, Durham 197, Hatfield 166.
Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 279, MBCustoms 272, GRT 238, VanderBuilt 220, LG2 185.

Contingency Awards:
Allstar Performance - Scott.
American Racer - Wolff.
Beyea Custom Headers - VanderBeek.
BigDeal Car Care - Mitchell.
BSB Manufacturing - Lanterman.
Casey's General Stores - Traugott.
Chix Gear Racewear - Wolff.
Day Motor Sports - Traugott, Gustin.
Deatherage Opticians - Town.
Dickson Racing Shocks - Green.
E3 Spark Plugs - Dillard.
Edelbrock - Town.
Fast Shafts - Davis.
Forty9Designs.com - Robertson, Prauner.
Fuel Safe Racing Cells - Ramirez.
GRT Race Cars - McAninch.
Hooker Custom Harness - McAninch.
Integra Shocks & Springs - Cammon.
Jerovetz Motorsports Racing Parts - Robe.
Keyser Manufacturing - Gearhart.
KSE Racing Products - Gearhart.
Out-Pace Racing Products - Givens.
QA1 - Town.
Real Racing Wheels - all non-qualifiers.
Simpson Performance Products - Givens.
Sweet Manufacturing - Newell.
Sybesma Graphics - Mitchell.
Tire Demon - Powers.
VP Racing Fuels - Mitchell.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products - Duvall.
Wilwood Engineering - Thornton