HUMBOLDT — Jason Hughes was in the middle of the pack at the start of Saturday’s USMTS sixth annual Havoc at The Hummer. There were 27 modified stock cars remaining for the A man race out of a record 69 cars.
Hughes opened the United States Modified Tour Series with a victory at Humboldt Speedway. He survived several cautions including one with about 12 laps remaining.
Kelly Shryock led the field throughout the race but Hughes continued to move up. On the final restart, Hughes passed second-lace Johnny Bone Jr. and went for the leader.
Hughes and Shryock had a couple of door-to-door laps. At the white flag, Hughes pulled out to the lead. He kept the lead to the checkered flag. Shryock ran second followed by Bone and Ryan Gustin and Jon Tessh.
Hughes is from Watts, Okla., while Shryock is from Fertile, Iowa. Bone is from Pea Ridge, Ark., Gustin is from Marshalltown, Iowa, and Tesch is from Watertown, S.D.
Fan favorite and “hometown” driver John Allen of Chanute finished 16th. Justin Folk of Iola took 25th because of mechanical problems on the 31st lap.
Matt Thompson of Bentonville, Ark., made his Humboldt Speedway debut, winning B-Mod feature. But it was short-lived as Thompson’s car failed a post-race inspection. He used an out-of-specification carburetor.
So the B-Mod victory went to Ronnie Bolin of Fort Scott. Shawn Strong finished second followed by Tim VanGotten, Dalton Kirk and Jessie Sobbing.
In the pure stock feature race, David Matlock outlasted Jeremy Willard in a battle from the beginning. Blake Kisner finished third and Dennis Aiello was fourth. Toby Elbe rounded out the top five finishers.
Derrek Wilson dominated the opening factory stock feature race of the 2011 season at Humboldt. Jeremy Wilson ran second followed by Ed Muller, Tim Phillips and Brandon Tindle.
Humboldt Speedway owners Ron and Rhenda Whitworth announced new sponsors for three divisions in 2011.
Dr. Steven Leonard of Allen County Chiropractic in Iola is the primary sponsor for the Speedway’s modified racing division. Justin Hoepker and E-Z Lock and Key of Humboldt sponsors the B-Mod division.
Whitworth Construction of Chanute is sponsoring the pure stock division.
Hughes claims win at Humboldt
