Hughes Takes Two In USMTS Action
Thursday
CRESCO, Iowa — Eight-time champion Kelly Shryock notched his fourth O’Reilly USMTS National Tour victory of the season Thursday with a thrilling triumph in the fourth annual Cresco Bowl at Cresco Speedway.
A good redraw, lapped traffic and a good restart — along with an unmatched wealth of experience — were the keys to success for the veteran from Fertile, Iowa.
Shryock drew the pole for the 35-lap $2,000-to-win event.
However, Shryock did not lead all the way, as there were four lead changes among three drivers, with Shryock taking the point for the final time on lap 19.
Tommy Myer finished second, with Tim Donlinger, Jason Hughes and Jason Krohn filling the top five.
The finish:
Kelly Shryock, Tommy Myer, Tim Donlinger, Jason Hughes, Jason Krohn, Zack VanderBeek, Al Hejna, Jason Schlangen , Bob Timm, Corey Dripps, Kevin Pittman, Steve Wetzstein, Alan Mondus, Ryan York, Brandon Kenny, Ryan Gustin, Mark Noble, Dereck Ramirez, Jake Neal, Darrin Walch, Jay Noteboom, Mike Sorensen, Josh Reisch, Jay Poidinger.
Friday
LANSING, Minn. — Defending O’Reilly USMTS National champion Jason Krohn started 16th in Friday night’s main event at Chateau Raceway, but easily found his way to victory lane.
Krohn was second after just 15 laps on the third-mile dirt track and got the break he needed when the yellow flag waved on lap 20 of the 11th annual Gutterson Memorial.
Krohn stalked leader Josh Reisch on the restart and took the lead on lap 24. He paced the remainder of the 40-lap distance for the victory, while Reisch’s hopes ended with a flat tire on lap 27.
Tim Donlinger finished second, while Kelly Shryock, Steve Wetzstein and Zack VanderBeek filled the top five.
The finish:
Jason Krohn, Tim Donlinger, Kelly Shryock, Steve Wetzstein, Zack VanderBeek, Al Hejna, Jay Noteboom, Dereck Ramirez, Brandon Kenny, Kevin Pittman, Alan Mondus, Shawn Peterson, Tommy Myer, Steve Stewart, Brad Bakken, Jay Poidinger, Mark Noble, Nate Wasmund, Doug Hillson, Josh Reisch, Corey Dripps, Dan Bohr, Jason Hughes, Jake Neal.
Saturday
SPRING VALLEY, Minn. — After a first-lap crash that knocked him out of the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour event at the Chateau Raceway on Friday night, Jason Hughes rebounded to win Saturday’s sixth annual Spring Challenge at Deer Creek Speedway.
Brad Waits took the lead from Al Hejna on lap two and ran the highside of the track, while Hughes worked his way forward from eighth starting spot.
Hughes passed Hejna with 10 laps to go, then set his sights on Waits, who was battling lapped traffic. Finally, Hughes moved ahead as the pair crossed the start-finish line on lap 32. Hughes led the rest of the way for the $2,000 victory.
Hejna finished third, ahead of Dean Mahlstedt and Zack VanderBeek.
The finish:
Jason Hughes, Brad Waits, Al Hejna, Dean Mahlstedt, Zack VanderBeek, Tim Donlinger, Kelly Shryock, Mike Sorensen, Tommy Myer, Dereck Ramirez, Jason Krohn, Bob Timm, Brandon Kenny, Mark Noble, Jay Ihrke, Todd Scharkey, Nate Caruth, Alan Mondus, Ryan Gustin, Nate Wasmund, Steve Wetzstein, Kevin Pittman, Jay Noteboom, Tom Paulson.
Sunday
KASSON, Minn. — Jason Hughes picked up where he left off on Saturday with a win in Sunday night’s seventh annual Stars & Stripes Shootout at Kasson Speedway.
Starting on the outside of the second row, Hughes powered his Casey's General Stores No. 12 Hughes Chassis into the lead on lap two and never looked back en route to his fourth O’Reilly USMTS National Tour victory of 2008.
Zack VanderBeek started on the pole and led the first circuit, but Hughes took control on lap two.
VanderBeek and Dan Bohr raced side by side for more than 10 laps before Brad Waits passed them both and hung on for second place. Corey Dripps sneaked in for third, ahead of Bohr and VanderBeek.
The finish:
Jason Hughes, Brad Waits, Corey Dripps, Dan Bohr, Zack VanderBeek, Dean Mahlstedt, Kelly Shryock, Mike Sorenson, Mark Noble, Tim Donlinger, Al Hejna, Tommy Myer, Todd Scharkey, Steve Wetzstein, Bob Timm, Brandon Kenny, Bryan Rowland, Doug Hillson, Tom Paulson, Dereck Ramirez, Ryan Gustin, Joe Wernecke, Kevin Pittman, Alan Mondus.