HUMBOLDT — Kelly Shryock didn’t let a few hiccups through the qualifying stages of the inaugural King of America Modified Nationals deter him. The veteran United States Modified Tour Series driver drove well enough Friday to claim the outside pole spot in the $15,000-to-win main feature race Saturday at Humboldt Speedway.
Shryock owns nine USMTS titles and 176 career victories. Now people can officially call him “The King” of the dirt modified racing world. In front of a packed house at Humboldt, Shryock made his move late in the 75-lap feature and captured the victory.
“My car doesn’t run well with a full fuel tank so it took awhile to burn some fuel. I stayed back of the leaders early in the race. My car was getting better and better as the race progressed,” said Shryock in a telephone interview Sunday evening.
USMTS officials announced Saturday that the 2nd annual King of America will be at the Humboldt Speedway during the third or fourth weekend in March in 2012.
The inaugural King of America Modified Nationals was made possible by several sponsors, including Allen’s Automotive, Casey’s General Stores, Hanson Tire Service, River’s Edge Scrap Management, Roadrunner Trucking, Schwab’s Tinker Shop and Swan Energy.
Shryock said the other pole sitter, Mark Dotson, went to the lead as the green flag started the race. Dotson held off Shryock through restarts from three caution flags. Jon Tesch went to the high side of the Speedway’s 3/8-mile clay track and gained the lead.
“Tesch got into the wall a little but stayed in front of me. I just felt the car getting better and we got into lap traffic and I made my move,” Shryock said.
It was on lap 50 that the 46-year-old from Fertile, Iowa, went to the bottom of the track and made his pass of Tesch. Shryock fended off all other challengers to take the checkered flag.
“It was an exciting race. The track was great early but late in the race, it became a bit slippery and really one lane because of all the races run on it Saturday night. Even when Dotson and I had contact and my car went up a bit, I just kept the gas down and was being patient and ran a good race,” Shryock said.
The Dotson-Shyrock bumping came a few laps before Shryock took the lead. He said the lap traffic helped him and that he really likes to race in lap traffic.
Johnny Scott finished second, followed by Terry Phillips and Tesch was fourth. Steven Whiteaker Jr. rounded out the top five. Ryan Gustin and Dotson got into each other and ended their chances with about 10 laps left in the race.
Shryock ran his qualifying races on Wednesday and got to the A-main on the night. He had a blown engine and finished last so he cashed in his mulligan to re-qualify on Friday night.
“I spun out in my heat race but came back and took second in the heat race, which put me in the A qualifier Friday night. I was able to pass Brian Bolin on the final lap to win,” Shryock.
Bolin of Fort Scott was the top finisher of local drivers. He drove to a 10th-place finish.
“We had a good time all four days. It was a long four days but being able to qualify for the main race Thursday and not have to worry about racing Friday or in the earlier races Saturday was great,” Bolin told the Register.
Saturday’s race was Bolin’s first 75-lap event.
“I was worried about it going in but it wasn’t as bad as I thought. It goes by fast. Early on I was running pretty good but a caution came out and I got shuffled to the outside. I struggled out there but taking 10th out of 80-some cars is not too bad,” Bolin said.
John Allen of Chanute ended 23rd in the A feature. Allen got in 65 laps before a flat tire put him in the pit area.
Justin Folk of Iola qualified for the B feature and ran 14th Saturday but only the top 12 advanced into the A feature.
Jess Folk Jr. was in the D feature Saturday and had to work his way up for a chance at the A feature. He finished second in the D advancing to the C feature, where the top 10 drivers advance to the B. Jess Folk ended up 11th while Dan Daniels of Humboldt was 14th and Scott Daniels of Humboldt was 19th. Jerald Folk of Gas ran 14th in the feature and Mike Folk of Iola was 11th in the E feature.
In the accompanying 20-lap B-Mod feature race, Scott Drake collected the $1,000 winner’s share of the prize money.
Shryock wins first King of Modifieds
