Humboldt Speedway’s owners Ron and Rhenda Whitworth have worked hard the past 20-plus years to provide a great facility to race. All that work is paying off.
The “Hummer,” as the local dirt track is affectionally known, will have its biggest event next week. For days, the track just east of Humboldt will be the center of the United States Modified Series Tour (USMST) world.
The inaugural King of America Modified Nationals brings the top drivers from the USMST to the area. It is a four-day modified racing event, Wednesday through Saturday, for a $15,000 prize in the A-Main feature race Saturday night.
Humboldt just added B-Mod races to the event card. There is a build-up of prize money each night for B-Mods. On Wednesday the prize is $300, Thursday it is $400, Friday it is $500 then Saturday’s feature is worth $1,000.
“We wanted to have a big event in the southern part of our tour. In July we had a similar event at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn.,” said Todd Staley, USMST promoter.
“We’ve always had a good draw when the tour goes to Humboldt. Ron and Rhenda have done a lot of work to make their track a very good facility.”
Staley said as of Wednesday there were 70 drivers pre-registered and they were expecting 120 cars in the field.
“The phones will be ringing a lot over the next few days.”
Staley confirmed the top three drivers from the 2011 USMST will be competing at Humboldt. They are 2011 national champion Ryan Gustin, a 20-year-old from Marshalltown, Iowa.
Kelly Shryock captured his unprecedented ninth USMTS National Championship in 2009. Shryock of Fertile, Iowa, told the Register in a telephone interview Wednesday that he began racing in 1985.
“My dad raced so I’ve been in it all my life,” said the 46-year-old Shryock. “I’ve won races at Humboldt over the years and enjoy running there.
“They’ve done huge improvements at the facility. It’s a track you can run two or three (cars) wide. If you have a good car, you get out front if not you go to the back.”
Shryock finished second in the 2011 USMTS standings behind Gustin. Gustin had finished second two years in a row. Last year, it was Jason Hughes, a 37-year-old driver from Westville, Okla., winning the top spot in the series.
That was Hughes’ first USMTS title and this year he ended up third.
“Running after $15,000 in the feature is a big incentative. You get a chance to make some pretty good money at the end of the year,” Shryock said.
