6/6/2019
Gustin grinds out USMTS victory at Creek County Speedway
KELLYVILLE, Okla. --Ryan Gustin roped himself a rugged victory Sunday night when the USMTS invaded the Creek County Speedway for the 2nd Annual Bullring Badass presented by Bravado Wireless, AmeriFlex Hose & Accessories, Pizza Express and Duvall Electric.
Following up last year's inaugural event where fans were treated to a caution-free 40-lap barnburner, another epic battle in the tight confines of the 35-year-old quarter-mile dirt oval produced another 40 circuits of rush hour traffic.
"It was elbows up, no doubt," said Gustin, who rode into the USMTS winners circle for the first time since the final night of the Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Sept. 23, 2017. "I broke something in the left front there and, man, that thing was tight on entry.
"I didn't want no more laps, that's for sure. I was wore out and the car didn't want no more either."
Unfortunately for USMTS national points leader Rodney Sanders, his tire only had 30 laps in it. In the heat of a three-way tussle between himself, Dereck Ramirez and Gustin, Sanders slowed on the exit of turn 2 which allowed Ramirez and Gustin to scoot past while Sanders came to a stop in the next corner.
Following the caution flag with ten laps remaining, Ramirez was able to nose in front of Gustin to lead lap 31, but 'The Reaper' came storming back on the high side to take the lead for good with eight to go.
From there, Gustin rode the dangerous but faster high line to the checkered flag with Jake O'Neil advancing to claim the runner-up spot while Ramirez held strong in third.
With last year's winless season and a rash of mechanical woes since March of 2019, the win was just what the doctor ordered for the two-time USMTS National Champion.
"We've just had some tough luck you know; That's how it goes," said Gustin, who unveiled his new livery last weekend with new sponsor Spike Hardcore Energy. "We can't be having any more failures or anything going on, so we have to stay on top of our maintenance program."
It was Gustin's 95th career triumph-third on the USMTS all-time wins list.
"Hopefully maybe Cedar Lake on Saturday is 100," Gustin added, referencing the 20th Annual Masters, June 13-15. With seven features races on tap between now and then, anything is possible with cooperation from racing gremlins and Mother Nature.
Terry Phillips and Mike Striegel each passed a dozen drivers en route to finishing fourth and fifth, respectively, in Sunday's main event. With the higher finishing position, however, Phillips earned the FK Rod Ends Hard Charger Award.
Driving a car owned by event promoter Joe Duvall, former USMTS regular Randy Timms garnered a sixth-place paycheck while local favorite Chad Davis drive past 11 cars from his starting spot to get seventh. Saturday's winner, Hunter Marriott, took eighth, Sanders rebounded for ninth and Kyle Ledford scored his second top-10 finish in as many nights.
Lap sponsors kicked in an additional $4,100 to the top three runners each laps. Lap sponsors for the event included 23 Motorsports, All American Forklift, Angela Hibbs Rodan + Fields, ARMI Contractors, ASAP Battery Service, Brandon Givens Racing, Bulletproof Tees, CCA Investments, TMSDirt.com, Chris Ross Racing, Dishman Equipment, Diva Dogs, Dizzy Dean Electric, Dozer Finance, driveWFX.com, Hibbs Funeral Home, Maria Farmer, McSperitt Construction, Mike's Flagpole Service, Ottesen Design, Pizza Express, RacinDirt.com, Shannon Scott's Henryetta Ford, Steven Bowers Racing, Tiernan Farms, Tonto Construction, United Cellular Services and Wild Bill White (Keith White), plus memorials for Junior Duvall and Mike Clark.
Bergman Tax & Accounting put up $300 and Fast Shafts awarded a new carbon fiber driveshaft to the driver passing the most cars all night. T&S Beverage of Salina provided $100 cash to the first two non-qualifiers and ARMI Contractors stepped up with additional cash for non-qualifiers.
The Front Row Challenge presented by Grady Smith and Smith All-Fab offered $2,500 to any driver starting in the front row who could tag the tail of the field and win. Nobody accepted the challenge.
After Sunday's show, teams get a 24-hour rest prior to a five-race excursion through the Lone Star State and the Summit USMTS Southern Series powered by MSD. On Tuesday, the series slithers into the Superbowl Speedway in Greenville before making a "hump day" trek to the 82 Speedway in Petty.
The Monarch Motor Speedway in Wichita Falls hosts the USMTS road warriors on Thursday, Lubbock's West Texas Raceway is the venue for Friday night's action and the Route 66 Motor Speedway in Amarillo will welcome the tour on Saturday.
For those unable to be there in person to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells, enjoy the next best thing with every lap of every race in every division every night live at RacinDirt.com.
To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit USMTS.com or call (515) 832-7944. You can also like the USMTS on Facebook, visit us on Instagram, follow us on Twitter, connect with us on LinkedIn and watch us on YouTube. Keep up to speed with everything USMTS and subscribe to the USMTS e-Newsletter.
Article Credit: Jeff Nunn
