HUMBOLDT — Ready. Set. Go.
Four nights of some of the most intense modified racing on dirt begins tonight at Humboldt Speedway. The King of America II Modified Nationals, a United States Modified Touring Series event, has three nights of qualifying races then is Saturday’s $15,000-to-win King of America main feature race.
Each driver starting in the main feature is rewarded with $1,500.
USRA B-Mods will be part of the event each night too, racing for a stout purse and national points in the American USRA Weekly Racing Series. Each day will be a complete and separate show with $300, $400, $500 and $1,000 to win, respectively.
Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D., is back to see if he can capture the crown in 2012.
“We were happy with fourth place last year. We led some laps. You always are after the win,” Tesch said in a telephone interview with the Register this week.
Tesch’s No. 14 GRT race car is ready to mix it up through the qualifiers and get to Saturday’s main feature. He said he has always enjoyed racing at Humboldt Speedway.
“I’ve been coming to Humboldt for a number of years, racing in the USMTS, and have seen the changes they’ve made at the track,” Tesch said.
“It’s always been a nice track to run on but they (Ron and Rhenda Whitworth) have made it a really nice racing facility for the fans and drivers.”
Tesch is currently sitting ninth in the USMTS National Championship Series standings.
“We’re going into this weekend for the win. You always want a little luck to go your way,” Tesch said. “We’ve been running prettty well so far this season. The level of competition in the USMTS is tremendous. There’s a lot of door-to-door racing.”
Tesch said Humboldt is a short track and “I like short tracks. I’ve had a lot of memorable races at Humboldt particularly with Jason Hughes.”
Drivers qualify tonight, Thursday or Friday, but may also purchase a “mulligan” that allows them to attempt to qualify a second day if they aren’t satisfied with their first attempt.
General admission grandstand tickets are $20 tonight, Thursday and Friday and $25 on Saturday. Kids tickets are $10 each night. Pit passes are $35 tonight, Thursday and Friday and $40 on Saturday.
Tonight, Thursday and Friday, pit gates open at 3 p.m., grandstands open at 5 p.m., hot laps start at 6:30 p.m. and time trials begin at 7 p.m.
