2014 USRA Modified national champion Matt Dotson (88) in action at the Lakeside Speedway with 2011 USRA national champion Johnny Bone Jr. (12), 2012 USRA national champion Brandon Davis (50) and Terry Schultz (90), who finished fourth in this year's points.

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa—Four first-time national champions in four divisions have been crowned for 2013 in the USRA Weekly Racing Series.

Matt Dotson of Clark, Mo. (USRA Modifieds); Donavon Flores of Las Cruces, N.M. (USRA Stock Cars); Troy Hovey of Castalia, Iowa (USRA B-Mods); and Adam Cline of Decorah, Iowa (USRA Hobby Stocks) will each take home the winner’s share of the national points fund money for their efforts during the 2013 campaign.

In the USRA Modified division, three different drivers held the top spot during the last six weeks of competition. With a surge of strong runs in the month of October, Dotson leap-frogged both John Allen of Chanute, Kan., and defending USRA Modified national champion Brandon Davis of Medford, Minn.

Dotson raced from 19th on the starting grid to finish second against a full field of cars at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., and then picked up a feature win at Lakeside one week later during the inaugural Sunflower Shootout.

In the next-to-last weekend of points racing, Dotson made his first and only trip of the season to Jerry Hoffman’s Springfield (Mo.) Raceway where he sealed the deal with a main event win in the “66 Showdown” after transferring out of “B” Main.

His best 20 efforts included 18 feature wins and two runner-up finishes. Eleven of his victories occurred at the Randolph County Raceway in Moberly, Mo., where he also seized the 2013 track championship.

Davis backed up his 2012 title run with a second-place finish in this year’s final standings. He finished 44 points behind Dotson while Allen wound up just six markers behind Davis in third. Early-season national points leader Terry Schultz of Sedalia, Mo., finished fourth and Jacob Gallardo of Las Cruces, N.M., rounded out the top five in the final rankings.

In addition to numerous contingency awards, Dotson earned $10,000 in becoming the 2013 USRA Modified national champion. Each of the top 20 in the final standings will earn points fund checks.

2014 USRA Modified national champion Matt Dotson of Clark, Mo.

Final 2013 USRA Modified National Points:
1. 88d Matt Dotson, Clark, Mo. ... 4,497
2. 50iii Brandon Davis, Medford, Minn. ... 4,453
3. 98 John Allen, Chanute, Kan. ... 4,447
4. 90 Terry Schultz, Sedalia, Mo. ... 4,396
5. J17 Jacob Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M. ... 4,290
6. 3b Nic Bidinger, Perry, Kan. ... 4,255
7. 52 Mitch Keeter, Joplin, Mo. ... 4,249
8. 8s Jon Sheets, Nevada, Mo. ... 4,180
9. 33 Steve Muilenburg, Sparta, Mo. ... 4,174
10. 21 Jackie Dalton, Carthage, Mo. ... 4,119
11. 52 Ryan McAninch, Wichita, Kan. ... 4,115
12. 14x Josh Landers, Princeton, Texas ... 4,094
13. 15m George Martin, Fort Smith, Ark. ... 4,031
14. 01 Colby Smith, Greenville, Texas ... 4,029
15. 99 Josh Angst, Winona, Minn. ... 4,011
16. F17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M. ... 4,006
17. 28 Matt Deaver, Quinlan, Texas ... 4,006
18. 1k Tim Karrick, Basehor, Kan. ... 3,989
19. 34a Aaron Marrant, Orrick, Mo. ... 3,979
20. 11x Wesley Veal, Princeton, Texas ... 3,973

Former USRA Modified national champions include Brandon Davis (2012), Johnny Bone Jr. (2011), Jason Cummins (2010), Greg Skaggs (2009), Brad Waits (2007-08), Larry Herring (2006) and Ron Luitjens (2005).

In the USRA Stock Car division, Flores enjoyed a remarkable 2013 season, recording 30 feature wins in 45 starts between the El Paso (Texas) Speedway Park and his hometown Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M.

Not only did Flores gather in his first USRA title, but he’s also the first driver from the Land of Enchantment to do so. Passing points played a big factor too as Flores started tenth or worse in 18 of those victories.

Fellow Las Cruces racer Brandon Cruse competed primarily at the Southern New Mexico Speedway, but climbed into the national points runner-up spot in the last two weeks of the season. Halfway across the country, two-time defending USRA Stock Car national champ Mitch Hovden of Decorah, Iowa, finished third in the final standings despite amassing an impressive 13 wins this year.

Iowan Lynn Panos finished fourth and another Las Cruces speedster, Jason Ziehl, rounded out the top five. The top 10 saw four drivers each from Iowa and New Mexico, and two from Texas in the final rankings.

In addition to numerous contingency awards, Flores earned $1,500 in becoming the 2013 USRA Stock Car national champion, plus another $1,200 for his track championships. Each of the top 10 in the final standings will earn points fund checks.

2014 USRA Stock Car national champion Donavon Flores of Las Cruces, N.M.

Final 2013 USRA Stock Car National Points:
1. 07 Donavon Flores, Las Cruces, N.M. ... 4,560
2. 25 Brandon Cruse, Las Cruces, N.M. ... 4,279
3. 15 Mitch Hovden, Decorah, Iowa ... 4,241
4. 97 Lynn Panos, Calmar, Iowa ... 4,153
5. 21z Jason Ziehl, Las Cruces, N.M. ... 4,001
6. 67 Kyle Falck, Decorah, Iowa ... 3,938
7. 35 Miles Widmer, Las Cruces, N.M. ... 3,842
8. 7 Jerrad Warhurst, El Paso, Texas ... 3,746
9. 44 Dillon Anderson, Rudd, Iowa ... 3,720
10. 322 Robert Vega, El Paso, Texas ... 3,632

Former USRA Stock Car national champions include Mitch Hovden (2011-12), Rich Gregoire (2010), Tory Reicks (2009), Tom Schmitt (2007-08) and Scotty Pratt (2006).

In the closest points battle ever for a USRA national championship, the battle for the USRA B-Mod title literally came down to the last lap of the last race on the last night for points.

Troy Hovey of Castalia, Iowa, led the charge for most of the last half of the season, but Brad Smith of Belton, Kan., rode two wins and a runner-up finish in the first week of October to jump into the top spot.

Smith won the main event on a Thursday night at the Lakeside Speedway for his 14th win of the season while Hovey charged from the 17th starting spot to finish second behind him. Both drivers were in the line-up Saturday night at the Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo., where Smith rolled to another win.

Hovey returned to Northern Iowa for a pair of shows the next weekend. He topped a strong field on Friday, Oct. 11, at the Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wis., and then settled for a runner-up finish on Saturday night during the Iron Man Challenge finale at the Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah.

It was enough to propel Hovey back into the points lead with a deficit that Smith could not overcome the following weekend. In the end, Hovey claimed the crown by a single point over Smith. Hovey finished out the 2013 season with 17 main event wins, including two Iron Man Challenge trophies.

J.C. Morton of Springfield, Mo., came on strong in the late stages of the season as well, winding up just five points behind Smith in third. Cory Crapser of Chippewa Falls, Wis., captured the Iron Man Challenge title and wound up fourth in the USRA B-Mod national standings while Jacob Bleess of Chatfield, Minn., completed the top five.

In addition to numerous contingency awards, Hovey earned $2,000 in becoming the 2013 USRA B-Mod national champion. Each of the top 10 in the final standings will earn points fund checks.

2014 USRA B-Mod national champion Troy Hovey of Castalia, Iowa.

Final 2013 USRA B-Mod National Points:
1. 476x Troy Hovey, Decorah, Iowa ... 4,473
2. 99 Brad Smith, Belton, Kan. ... 4,472
3. 18 J.C. Morton, Springfield, Mo. ... 4,467
4. 07 Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls, Wis. ... 4,415
5. 21 Jacob Bleess, Chatfield, Minn. ... 4,405
6. 24t Toby Thompson, Mountain Grove, Mo. ... 4,320
7. 21c Chad Clancy, Smithville, Mo. ... 4,295
8. 5x Pat Carney, El Paso, Texas ... 4,250
9. 16d Dan Hovden, Decorah, Iowa ... 4,209
10. 7m Miah Christensen, Sioux Falls, S.D. ... 4,190

Former USRA B-Mod national champions include Scott Drake (2012), Brandon Hare (2010-11), Matt Jones (2007-09) and Tony Dunker (2006).

The only class to never have a repeat champion is the USRA Hobby Stock division, and that will remain the same going into the 2014 season as Decorah, Iowa’s Adam Cline snagged his first USRA Hobby Stock national championship in 2013.

In his 25 starts at the Upper Iowa Speedway and Fayette County Speedway in West Union, Iowa, the youngster won 12 feature races. He finished outside the top eight in just two main events.

Despite winning the track championship at both facilities, fellow Decorah driver Steve Larson had to settle for second in the final USRA Hobby Stock national points. Steve Holthaus of Cresco, Iowa was third, Decorah’s Josh Ludeking finished fourth and Steven Dwyer of La Crosse, Wis., took the fifth spot.

In addition to numerous contingency awards, Cline earned $1,000 in becoming the 2013 USRA Hobby Stock national champion. Each of the top 10 in the final standings will earn points fund checks.

2014 USRA Hobby Stock national champion Adam Cline of Decorah, Iowa.

Final 2013 USRA Hobby Stock National Points:
1. 71 Adam Cline, Decorah, Iowa ... 4229
2. 22 Steve Larson, Decorah, Iowa ... 4144
3. 70 Steve Holthaus, Cresco, Iowa ... 4076
4. 81 Josh Ludeking, Decorah, Iowa ... 4002
5. 7 Steven Dwyer, La Crosse, Wis. ... 3759
6. 18 Scott Spilde, Cresco, Iowa ... 3724
7. 23 Justin Hanson, West Union, Iowa ... 3639
8. 29 Brady Link, Waukon, Iowa ... 3542
9. 7k Andy Stinson, Cresco, Iowa ... 3511
10. 4z Zac Mahlstedt, New Hampton, Iowa ... 3189

Former USRA Hobby Stock national champions include Dillon Anderson (2012), Dan Strandberg (2011), Shane Klaassen (2010), Chris Hovden (2009), Jason McDaniel (2008), Mitch Hovden (2007) and Nathan Wood (2006).

USRA national points were awarded to each driver based on his/her best twenty (20) points nights from Feb. 21 through Oct. 20, 2013. In order to be eligible for USRA track and/or national points funds, each driver must have competed in a minimum of 50% of the events held at any one USRA-sanctioned racetrack.

2013 USRA Track Champions:
Chateau Raceway, Lansing, Minn. – Brandon Davis, Medford, Minn. (USRA Modified); Kadden Kath, Owatonna, Minn. (USRA B-Mod).
Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn. – Jason Cummins, New Richland, Minn. (USRA Modified); Jacob Bleess, Chatfield, Minn. (USRA B-Mod).
El Paso Speedway Park, El Paso, Texas – Austin Adams, El Paso, Texas (USRA Modified); Donovan Flores, Las Cruces, N.M. (USRA Stock Car); Pat Carney, El Paso, Texas (USRA B-Mod).
Fayette County Speedway, West Union, Iowa – Lynn Panos, Calmar, Iowa (USRA Stock Car); Dan Hovden, Decorah, Iowa (USRA B-Mod); Steve Larson, Decorah, Iowa (USRA Hobby Stock).
Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, Kan. – Ryan McAninch, Wichita, Kan. (USRA Modified).
Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, S.D. – Miah Christensen, Sioux Falls, S.D. (USRA B-Mod).
I-90 Speedway, Hartford, S.D. – Tim Dann, Hartford, S.D. (USRA B-Mod).
Lakeside Speedway, Kansas City, Kan. – Nic Bidinger, Perry, Kan. (USRA Modified); Aaron Marrant, Orrick, Mo. (USRA B-Mod).
LA Raceway, La Monte, Mo. – Terry Schultz, Sedalia, Mo. (USRA Modified); Jacob Ebert, Oak Grove, Mo. (USRA B-Mod).
Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, Mo. – Terry Schultz, Sedalia, Mo. (USRA Modified).
Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Fountain City, Wis. – Josh Angst, Winona, Minn. (USRA Modified); Jacob Bleess, Chatfield, Minn. (USRA B-Mod).
Monett Speedway, Monett, Mo. – Mitch Keeter, Webb City, Mo. (USRA Modified); Toby Thompson, Mountain Grove, Mo. (USRA B-Mod).
NAPA Speedway, Albuquerque, N.M. – Josh Cain, Albuquerque, N.M. (USRA Modified)*.
Nevada Speedway – Kevin Morrow, Bronaugh, Mo. (USRA Modified).
North Central Arkansas Speedway, Yellville, Ark. – Steve Muilenburg, Sparta, Mo. (USRA Modified); Steve Muilenburg, Sparta, Mo. (USRA B-Mod).
Randolph County Raceway, Moberly, Mo. – Matt Dotson, Clark, Mo. (USRA Modified); Derrick Agee, Moberly, Mo. (USRA Stock Car); Scott Van Buskirk, Hedrick, Iowa (USRA B-Mod); Jim Brown, Hannibal, Mo. (USRA Hobby Stock).
Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, Iowa – Jon DeBoer, Little Rock, Iowa (USRA Stock Car); Cullen Deruyder, Ruthton, Minn. (USRA B-Mod); Matt Lange (USRA Hobby Stock).
Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, Texas – Neil Manchester, Spring, Texas (USRA Modified); Ed Fowler, Dayton, Texas (USRA Limited Mod).
RPM Speedway, Crandall, Texas – Charlie Smith, Forney, Texas (USRA Modified).
Southern New Mexico Speedway, Las Cruces, N.M. – Christy Georges, El Paso, Texas (USRA Modified); Donovan Flores, Las Cruces, N.M. (USRA Stock Car); Pat Carney, El Paso, Texas (USRA B-Mod).
Southern Oklahoma Speedway, Ardmore, Okla. – Kevin Clement, Bonham, Texas (USRA Modified).
Springfield Raceway, Springfield, Mo. – Jackie Dalton, Carthage, Mo. (USRA Modified); J.C. Morton, Springfield, Mo. (USRA B-Mod).
Superbowl Speedway, Greenville, Texas – Wesley Veal, Princeton, Texas (USRA Modified).
Tri-State Speedway, Pocola, Okla. – George Martin, Fort Smith, Ark. (USRA Modified); Brandon Wilson, Fort Smith, Ark, (USRA B-Mod).
Tucson International Raceway, Tucson, Ariz. – Ron Schreiner, Tucson, Ariz. (USRA Modified)*; Brandon Farrington, Tucson, Ariz. (USRA B-Mod)*.
Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, Iowa – Dillon Anderson, Decorah, Iowa (USRA Stock Car); Troy Hovey, Castalia, Iowa (USRA B-Mod); Steve Larson, Decorah, Iowa (USRA Hobby Stock).
Valley Speedway, Grain Valley, Mo. – Jim Moody, Odessa, Mo. (USRA Modified); Scotty Martin, Independence, Mo. (USRA B-Mod).
West Plains Motor Speedway, West Plains, Mo. – Scott Crigler, Alton, Mo. (USRA Modified); Toby Thompson, Mountain Grove, Mo. (USRA B-Mod).
West Siloam Speedway, Colcord, Okla. – Randy Payne, Watts, Okla. (USRA Modified)*.

To learn more about the USRA, visit www.usraracing.com or call 515-832-6000. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usraracing, follow us at www.twitter.com/usraracing on Twitter and check out our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usratv.

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