8/27/2019
Phillips finds $4,000 and fourth 'Hunt' win in Casino Speedway's Sandy Benson Memorial
WATERTOWN, S.D. --Terry Phillips capped off a big week of USMTS racing on Sunday with a hard-earned $4,000 victory in the Sandy Benson Memorial at the Casino Speedway in Watertown, S.D.
Phillips may very well be the hottest driver on dirt right now. If not for a last-lap pass by Jake O'Neil one night earlier, Phillips would be riding a three-race wins streak into Labor Day Weekend.
O'Neil gave it his all in his attempt to ruin Phillips' party again Sunday, but this time Phillips was too strong and led O'Neil and Rodney Sanders to the checkered flag after 40 rowdy laps around the quarter-mile bullring on the shores of Lake Kampeska.
During this four-night stretch, leading a USMTS main event has been treacherous, and it proved to be the case again Sunday when Ryan Gustin smacked a lapped car while leading on lap 20.
Phillips nearly collided with the two tangled racecars but was able to avoid damage. He set the pace when the field went back to green while Gustin limped back to his pit area and out of the contest.
Despite tight racing between lapped traffic and O'Neil threatening around the top side of the track, the 53-year-old racer from Springfield, Mo., maintained his composure and went on to claim his fifth win of the 2019 season-four of which have come in the month of August.
"Just trying to be careful-lapped cars and stuff, leading again-don't know if I'm a sitting duck or what," a smiling Phillips said in victory lane. "This is why we do this thing. These victories with a lot of good race fans out there... that's why we do it.
"I'll tell you what, I might be twice as old as all these guys but I feel like 25 when I'm in this thing.
O'Neil, Sanders, Hunter Marriott and Dereck Ramirez took home the rest of the first five spots while sixth through tenth went to Adam Kates, Jon Tesch, Jayson Good, David McDonald and Brent Dutenhoffer.
"He (Gustin) had a good car," Phillips added. "but that's the deal with this series. This is the best Modified drivers in the country, bar none. And if anybody wants to argue that, come get some. That's what I'm saying... every one of them. I race a lot of other stuff too but I'm talking Late Model drivers, all of them. Come get some. When you win one of these with these guys, it makes you proud."
Three colossal blockbusters await the tireless USMTS touring titans next weekend in the corner where Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin meet.
On Friday, the series competes in the 7th Annual Dahl Chevrolet Buick GMC End of Summer Bash presented by Edelbrock at the Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wis. Saturday takes the USMTS to the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., for the 14th Annual J&S JCB Labor Day Duel presented by FK Rod Ends and the tripleheader wraps up Sunday, Sept. 1, with the 7th Annual USMTS War in West Union presented by KSE at the Fayette County Speedway in West Union, Iowa.
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Article Credit: Jeff Nunn