4/24/2019
RacinBoys
Kansas, Oklahoma USMTS weekend
By USMTS PR (Wichita, KS) -- The USMTS returns to action for a three-night excursion through Kansas and Oklahoma this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 25-27, for a trio of events in the MSD Performance USMTS Mid-American Series.
On Thursday, it's the 8th Annual Sunflower State Showdown at the 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan., and then the USMTS makes its maiden voyage to the historic Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kan., on Friday. The tripleheader wraps up Saturday with the fourth trip in six seasons for the series to the Longdale Speedway in Longdale, Okla.
USMTS National Championship points leader Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas, possesses a series-best four victories at the 81 Speedway, including the most recent visit last June. He'll be looking to garner his third win already in 2019 and 89th of his USMTS career this week.
Meanwhile, another two-time USMTS National Champion, Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, will be searching for his first win of the 2019 campaign. He has two at the 81 Speedway and won in 2016 at the Longdale Speedway. 'The Reaper' currently sits fifth in USMTS national points.
Others expected to contend for a checkered flag this week include Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon, Iowa, and 'Big Daddy' Joe Duvall of Justice, Okla. Duvall is the only driver among the top five in both USMTS National Championship and MSD Performance USMTS Mid-American Series points.
USMTS National Championship points (top 15):
- 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas ... 484 (2 wins)
- 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo. ... 471
- 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa ... 468
- 91 Joe Duvall, Justice, Okla. ... 456
- 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa ... 428
- 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Mo. ... 385
- 62 Hunter Marriott (R), Brookfield, Mo. ... 384 (1 win)
- 17 Mike Striegel (R), Wheatland, Mo. ... 383
- 23 Adam Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan. ... 376
- 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla. ... 363
- 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla. ... 352
- 4w Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark. ... 349
- 65x Carlos Ahumada Jr., Canutillo, Texas ... 340
- 55 Nathan Hagar (R), Adair, Okla. ... 310
- 42 Paul Niznik, Medford, Wis. ... 285
Other winners:
20rt Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz. (1 win)
The 81 Speedway will host an open practice from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24. On Thursday, gates open at 5 p.m. with racing at 7. Spectator tickets are $20 or free for kids ages 11 and younger. Pit passes are $35.
The 81 Speedway is located north of Wichita on I-135 to exit 16, then 0.7 mile west on 77th St. (7700 N Broadway St, Park City, KS 67219). For more information call (316) 755-1781 or visit http://www.race81speedway.com.
On Friday, the series invades the historic Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kan., for the inaugural USMTS Salt City Assault. Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing at 7. Spectator tickets are $20 or free for kids ages 11 and younger. Pit passes are $35.
The Kansas State Fairgrounds race track is a slightly-banked 1/2-mile dirt oval located just west of SR 61 on 17th Ave., then north on N. Poplar St. (2000 N Poplar St, Hutchinson, KS 67502).
Along with the USMTS Modifieds, both Friday and Saturday night's shows will feature the Arnold Motor Supply Iron Man Challenge featuring American Racer USRA Stock Cars and Out-Pace USRA B-Mods.
One of Longdale Speedway's marquee events of the season is coming up this Saturday when the track hosts USMTS Night of the Stars. Pure Stocks and IMCA Sport Mods will also be in action.
The five-year-old facility features a gravel pit area off the back-stretch with a concrete viewing area. The pit area also surrounds the track with an electronic scoreboard, television quality lighting, aluminum grandstand seating for 2,000, a souvenir shop, snow cone hut, concessions and Herb's Smoke Shack featuring ribs and turkey legs. All these features make Longdale Speedway the premier dirt track in Northwest Oklahoma.
This Saturday the pit gates open at 4 p.m. and the grandstands open at 5:30. Racing is slated to start at 6:30. Adult general admission tickets are $18 per person and reserved are $22 per person. Seniors and military member general admission pricing is $12 per person and reserved is $15 per person. Children ages 12 years and younger get in free.
The Longdale Speedway is a semi-banked, 3/8-mile clay oval located 0.5 mile south of Longdale on SR 58 (4959 S Hwy 58, Longdale, OK 73755). The track is on west side of highway. For more information, call (580) 886-5375 or visit http://www.longdalespeedway.com.
The Official Host Hotel for the April 25-27 tripleheader of USMTS events is the Best Western Wichita North. As the preferred lodging location for USMTS competitors and fans, the Best Western Wichita North is offering a discounted rate of just $74.99 plus taxes per night and includes breakfast for two each day. When calling to make reservations, guests are asked to say "81 Speedway" to get the special discount rate.
Located just off just off I-35, guests will enjoy a nice stay in a comfortable hotel near Old Town Wichita, with ample vehicle parking for RVs, trucks and buses. Best Western Wichita North also features convenient amenities such a fitness center, indoor pool and guest laundry to make guests feel right at home, and their pet-friendly hotel allows you to bring your furry pal along.
Best Western Wichita North offers delicious meals at their on-site restaurant, Country Kitchen Restaurant, plus free Wi-Fi, whirlpool suites and mobility accessible features makes your stay even more enjoyable.
Located at 915 E. 53rd St. North in Wichita, call (316) 832-9387 to make your reservation today or visit http://wichitabestwestern.com for more information.
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.
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott