Vanderbeek Victorious In Usmts Debut At Tri-city Speedway

[CPG Marketing]

PONTOON BEACH, Ill. (May 29) – Zack VanderBeek passed Jason Hughes on lap 21 Friday night, then held off Dereck Ramirez over the final 14 laps in winning the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour main event in the Inaugural Event presented by Budweiser at Kevin and Tammy Gundaker's historic Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Ill.

From the outside of the front row, Hughes followed polesitter Kelly Shryock for the first circuit before capturing the lead the second time around. Two laps later, Dereck Ramirez grabbed the top spot and held it until lap 12 when Hughes again powered to the point.

Looking to garner his sixth Hughes USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour victory of the season, Hughes paced the next eight laps before seventh-starting VanderBeek slipped past to lead lap 21.

From there, VanderBeek held a four-car-length advantage over Ramirez to the finish of the 35-lapper while Hughes failed to finish the Sunoco "A" Main due to mechanical troubles.

For VanderBeek, the win was worth $2,000 and was his second triumph in eight days.

Shryock hung on to the third spot, followed by Michael Long, who got as high as third before settling for a fourth-place finish ahead of Rodney Sanders.

Long, however, pocketed the PBM Performance Products Hard Charger after passing 13 competitors from his 17th starting position.

Jon Tesch, 22nd-starting Terry Phillips, Marty Smith Jr., Steve Lach and Dustin Boney rounded out the top-10.

Hughes now holds a slim 11-point lead in the Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region points over Shryock (717 to 706), while Sanders is third with 700. Fourth is VanderBeek (687), with Johnny Bone Jr. (684), Boney (659), Ramirez (635), Bryan Rowland (604), Scott Green (590) and Tesch (563) sitting sixth through tenth, respectively.


SUNOCO “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (7)
2. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (5)
3. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (1)
4. 18 - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (17)
5. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (6)
6. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (8)
7. 75 - Terry Phillips -- Springfield, MO (22)
8. 55 - Marty Smith Jr. -- Troy, IL (16)
9. 42 - Steve Lach -- Brownstown, IL (24)
10. 22 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (9)
11. 16 - Rusty Griffaw -- Festus, MO (12)
12. 3e - Robbie Eilers -- Lebanon, IL (10)
13. 11 - Dane Gundaker -- Bridgeton, MO (20)
14. 0x - Steve Picou -- High Ridge, MO (13)
15. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (15)
16. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (2) DNF
17. 4j - Scott Weber -- Festus, MO (11) DNF
18. 4uw - Bobby Regot -- St. Peters, MO (19) DNF
19. 1w - Ray Walsh -- St. Louis, MO (14) DNF
20. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (21) DNF
21. 5 - Joe Dresch -- Brighton, IL (23) DNF
22. 1 - Tommy Seets Jr. -- Alton, IL (18) DNF
23. 24h - Mike Harrison -- Highland, IL (3) DNF
24. 41 - Brent Mullins -- Litchfield, IL (4) DNF

Lap Leaders: Shryock 1, Hughes 2-3, Ramirez 4-12, Hughes 13-20, VanderBeek 21-35.
Total Laps Led: VanderBeek 15, Hughes 10, Ramirez 9, Shryock 1.
AFCO Pole Winner: Ramirez.
Provisional Starters: Rowland, Phillips, Dresch (track), Lach (track).
Ruter Farms Long Tow: Sanders (804.48 miles).
PBM Performance Products Hard Charger: Long (started 17th, finished 4th).
Next Race: Saturday, May 30, Lake Ozark Speedway, Eldon, Mo. (Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region).
Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region Points: Hughes 717, Shryock 706, Sanders 700, VanderBeek 687, Bone 684, Boney 659, Ramirez 635, Rowland 604, Green 590, Tesch 563.
DandyLand Farms Rookie of the Year Points: Junghans 160, Tate Cole 124, Hansen 124, Tim Shields 109, Rich Lewerke 90.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 139, Mullins 124, a.s.i. 110, Pro Power 46, AEM 43.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Hughes 138, Skyrocket 136, Ramirez 126, GRT 63, TRE 61.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Ramirez.
American Racer – Ramirez.
KSE Racing Products – Tesch
Marsh Racing Wheels – Mullins.
Nitroquest – Shryock.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Griffaw.
Quarter Master – VanderBeek, Smith.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Phillips.
Real Racing Wheels – Conoyer, Dresch.
Ruter Farms – Sanders.