WICHITA, Kan.—With 37 regional events behind them and 1,615 laps of main event battles under their belt, the rugged road warriors of the United States Modified Touring Series embark on their annual crusade in pursuit of the most lucrative title in all of dirt modified racing.
The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental begins Thursday, Aug. 6, at the 81 Speedway near Wichita, Kan., for the first of four straight nights of racing to begin the championship chase.
On Friday, the series heads back to the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan., and then travels east to the state-of-the-art Lucas Oil Speedway on Saturday. The four-night swing wraps up Sunday at the Monett Speedway in Monett, Mo.
Thirty-nine drivers have earned a chance at becoming the 2015 USMTS National Champion by virtue of finishing in the top 15 in points or having perfect attendance in one or more of four regions. Each of the 39 drivers qualified for ‘The Hunt’ have a legitimate shot to pocket the $20,000 prize that goes with being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the dirt modified world.
When the checkered flag drops on opening night of the Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., the tireless USMTS touring titans will have 15 more races under their belts and the USMTS will crown it’s 17th national champion.
Of course any dirt modified driver desiring to lock horns with the Best of the Best can enter, compete and possibly win a USMTS event during ‘The Hunt,’ but just one of the 39 names below will be embellished on the 2015 USMTS National Champion trophy.
2015 HUNT FOR THE USMTS CASEY’S CUP POINTS:
1. 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa … 110
2. 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas … 90
3. 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla. … 83
4. 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La. … 81
5. 2 Casey Arneson, Fargo, N.D. … 76
5. 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan. … 76
5. 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa … 76
8. 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas … 52
9. 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla. … 46
10. 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa … 31
11. 10 Austin Arneson, Fargo, N.D. … 30
11. 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M. … 30
13. 60 Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn. … 29
13. 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M. … 29
15. 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla. … 28
15. IOU1 Brent Larson, Lake Elmo, Minn. … 28
17. 38 Ronnie Gould III, Seminole, Okla. … 26
18. 7x Jesse Glenz, Cadott, Wis. … 25
19. 07 Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls, Wis. … 23
19. J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M. … 23
21. 40 Brian Green, Pierce City, Mo. … 22
22. 51 Chris Oertel, Marshfield, Wis. … 21
23. 11 Dustin Allen, Enid, Okla. … 20
23. 26g Bob Gierke, Westport, Minn. … 20
25. 1g Pat Graham, Ames, Iowa … 19
25. 23k Ben Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan. … 19
27. 4 Cody Bauman, Eureka, Ill. … 18
28. 29 Brock Bauman, Eureka, Ill. … 17
28. 7d Austin Theiss, Hockley, Texas … 17
30. 89c Steve Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas … 13
31. V2 Joey Jensen, Harris, Minn. … 12
32. 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo. … 11
33. 30 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas … 10
33. 86d Dagan Heim, Rosemount, Minn. … 10
33. 123 Logan Robertson, Shamrock, Texas … 10
36. 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa … 9
37. 14t Triston Dycus, Waxahachie, Texas … 7
37. 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa … 7
39. 89 Eric Pember, Pittsville, Wis. … 6
Jesse Sobbing enters the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup atop the points standings. Consistency—along with perfect attendance in all four regions—has earned the 33-year-old driver of the Home Pride No. 99 MB Customs top billing. Although the Rookie of the Year points leader has just one win, he has recorded a top-five finish in nearly 40% of the 37 events to date.