8/20/2019
Phillips fends off Ramirez for USMTS triumph at Lake Ozark Speedway
ELDON, Mo.--Terry Phillips earned a hard-fought USMTS victory Friday night at the end of the road to redemption, which was about 60 miles long and stretched from Urbana to Eldon in his home state of Missouri.
After leading the first half of Thursday's main event at the Dallas County Speedway, Phillips collided with a tractor tire after he and eventual winner Ryan Gustin banged wheels in the corner.
Friday's show, presented by PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain, offered up a whole new set of challenges with a much larger racetrack and a hammer-down surface made possible by rain that fell on the Lake Ozark Speedway throughout the previous night and into the morning.
Like the night before, Phillips started on the front row for the feature and took the lead at the drop of the green flag, but this time he led the first and second halves of the feature.
Dereck Ramirez, who finished second the previous night by less than a bumper, challenged Phillips throughout the entire 25-lap distance Friday night, but was forced to settle for his sixth runner-up paycheck in the last eight races.
Defending Lake Ozark Speedway USRA Modified track champion Ryan Middaugh came from eighth to finish third right behind the lead duo, while Tyler Wolff bested Joe Duvall after a spirited battle for the fourth spot.
USMTS national points leader Rodney Sanders was running third when a flat left rear tire brought out the race's only caution flag and sent 'The Sandman' to the tail of the field for the restart.
Sanders clawed his way back to a sixth-place finish during the final 16 laps while Hunter Marriott, 11th-starting Terry Schultz, 13th-starting Colson Kirk and 18th-starting Mike Striegel rounded out the top 10.
The Casey's Hunt for the USMTS National Championship resumes Saturday night at the Salina Highbanks Speedway in Pryor Creek, Okla., for the 7th Annual ARMI Salute To Our Veterans presented by Bryke Racing.
Local favorite and four-time USMTS national champ Jason Hughes possesses a series-best six wins here while Ryan Gustin has recorded three of his 100 victories at the Salina Highbanks Speedway. Terry Phillips, Stormy Scott, Bryan Rowland, Jeremy Payne and Johnny Scott have each won once.
ARMI (Arkansas Myriad, Inc.) of Fayetteville, Ark., is sponsoring FREE admission to veterans and active military. The event will kick off with an exciting pre-race military flyover by Paul Mackey and the Warbirds.
The pit gate opens at 3 p.m., grandstands open at 5, hot laps start at 6:30. Opening ceremonies get underway at 7 p.m. with racing to follow. AmeriFlex B-Mods, Dawson Roofing Super Stocks and S&J Plumbing Pure Stocks will also be on the card.
Coupons good for $2 off adult general admission tickets are available on race day at Casey's General Store locations in Adair, Chelsea, Claremore, Tahlequah and Wagoner, plus Siloam Springs in Arkansas. To find the location nearest you, visit caseys.com.
Originally built and opened in the 1990s, operations ceased at Salina Highbanks Speedway after the 2006 season. However, Keith Sanders and Dave Bohannan brought new life to the track and racing in Northeast Oklahoma upon re-opening the facility and transforming it into a first-class motorsports venue.
The racetrack is located 7 miles east of Pryor on SR 20 (3164 E Hwy 20, Salina, OK 74361). For more information, visit the website at salinahighbanksspeedway.com.
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Article Credit: Jeff Nunn