We don't often get the chance to see the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) in our neck of the woods, so when we found out the "Mighty Mods" were running at the historic 1/2 mile at the the Hamilton County Speedway on September 2, off we went. The United States Racing Association (USRA) Stock Cars and B Mods also ran. Both associations are headed by Todd and Janet Staley, who call Webster City home when they are not on the racing trail. The USMTS is into their "Hunt for the Casey's Cup" and the Stock Cars and B Mods are racing in their "Iron Man" Series.
The USRA B Mods ran their 20-lap feature first. Andy Bryant from Fort Scott, Kansas and Dakota Foster out of Gardner, Kansas sat on the front row for the start of the A main event. The race went yellow with just a couple of laps in when Hawkeye, Iowa's Brett Bumgardner experienced mechanical issues. We had noted that he was throwing sparks almost immediately and then the smoke appeared. This would be the only yellow of the race, and pole starter Andy Bryant never relinquished his top spot, taking the win. Foster gave chase to the leader the entire distance, but settled for second place. Third was Ben Moudry from Cottage Grove, Minnesota, fourth went to Allison, Iowa's Trevor Fecht, and hometown driver, Brandon Toftee rounded out the top five.
The USRA Stock Cars also ran a 20-lap main event. We enjoyed watching two veteran drivers race last night and they sat on the front row, side-by-side---Steve Jackson and Tom Schmitt. Schmitt got the drop on Jackson at the drop of the green and this would be how they would remain the entire flag-to-flag race. Schmitt took the comfortable win, Jackson going second. Third was another successful driver as of late, Elijah Zevenbergen from Ocheyedan. Fourth went to sixth place starter Kyle Falck from Decorah, and a driver we see often in our area, Nathan Wood, drove his hot rod from eighth starting spot, to finish fifth.
It's always a beautiful sight to see the USMTS cars go 4-wide in their salute to the fans before the start of their feature---along with the stirring rendition of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA". Twenty-two of the "Mighty Mods" took the green flag for the start of their 30-lap A main, paying $3,000 to the winner.
Jesse Sobbing, the driver that now calls Malvern, Iowa home, located in the southwestern part of the state, started pole position, with Manhattan, Kansas driver Grant Junghans beside him. Junghans snatched the coveted #1 spot, with Sobbing tucking into second. With about ten laps in the books, a jump of the cushion by Junghans sent him back some positions, and Sobbing took command with Johnny Scott (Las Cruces, NM) slipping into second place. The cement barriers which circle the track and the berm were nemeses for many last evening. Point leader Rodney Sanders from Happy, Texas had been running in third place, when he too jumped the cushion in turns one and two, and found himself in spin mode, resulting in a call for the wrecker. Sanders wasn't done yet however, as after a bit of inspection on the track, drove off and tagged the field.
More quality drivers also had to call it a night. Ryan Gustin had made a return to the USMTS, jumping back in a modified for the evening. His night ended when he had smoke roll from his machine, and about the same time, Jason Krohn (Slayton, MN) also had to exit the race with mechanical woes.
Mechanical issued continued when at lap twenty-four, Casey Arneson, Fargo ND also puffed a motor. This brought out the fifth and final yellow flag of the 30-lap feature. Sobbing was still solidly holding down the lead, with Johnny Scott running in second. Riding in third was seventh place starting and rookie to the USMTS this season, Dan Ebert from Lake Shore, MN. Jason Hughes, from Watts, Oklahoma and who appeared to be a crowd favorite, at least in our area of the grandstand, was sitting in fourth.
The final six laps, Sobbing kept a tight hold on his #1 spot, and took the win. Johnny Scott followed him across the line to score the runner up spot. Third went to Dan Ebert with an impressive showing for a rookie. Fifteenth place starter, Cory Crapser from Chippewa Falls, WI (sporting a spiffy newly wrapped car touting Sour Patch Kids candy....ironically, I was eating some last night) finished in fourth and Jason Hughes was fifth. Rodney Sanders made a nice recovery after his incident in turn two and tagging the field, and made a sixth place come back.
The USMTS has four of their five-race swing in the area remaining. Tonight they head to Fairmont, Minnesota, Friday it will be Chateau Speedway in Lansing, Minnesota, Saturday finds them at Deer Creek Speedway just across the Iowa border in Spring Valley, Minnesota and Sunday it winds up in Cresco, Iowa. For more information on the both series of racing check out www.usmts.com and www.usraracing.com.
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