Gustin notches first USRA Fall Nationals victory at Southern New Mexico Speedway

Ryan Gustin won the USRA Modified feature.
LAS CRUCES, N.M.—In his first race behind the wheel of a dirt modified in over a month, Ryan Gustin dominated and then survived a late-race caution Sunday evening to score his first victory in the 17th Annual S&S Fishing & Rental/Barnett Harley-Davidson USRA Fall Nationals presented by G3 Fitness and MSD.
Many have tried, but win worth $12,220 for the Marshalltown, Iowa, driver was the first in the 17-year history of the event for a driver from the Hawkeye State—and the first for fellow USMTS national champion Jason Hughes who did so as a car owner.
After winning Friday 's preliminary USRA Modified feature, Gustin kicked off Sunday's main event from the pole position with outside front row starter Rodney Sanders applying pressure early on. As the leaders raced through thick lapped traffic around the high-banked 3/8-mile clay oval, Dereck Ramirez slipped into the second spot to challenge 'The Reaper' for the lead.
Nobody could keep pace with Gustin, who turned 26 years old just one week ago, but a yellow flag with five laps to go reset the field and placed hard-charging Stormy Scott right behind Gustin for the final dash to the checkered flag.
Scott, who started 11th and was looking to nab his third straight USRA Fall Nationals title, drove underneath Gustin on the ensuing lap as the pair traded slide-jobs in successive corners. In fact, Scott edged in front to lead at the flagstand with two circuits remaining.
Meanwhile, Rodney Sanders was lurking in their tire tracks and searching for an opportunity to pounce, but Gustin fought back and slid up in front of Scott on the final lap as they exited turn two.
Scott tried high and Sanders tried low in the final corner, but Gustin emerged at the finish line with a two-car-length advantage and another big win for his already-shining résumé.
Despite his best efforts, Scott had to settle for the runner-up paycheck in front of his hometown fans while Sanders crossed beneath the flagstand in the third spot.
Ricky Thornton Jr. held off Dereck Ramirez for fourth, Johnny Scott finished sixth, Cade Dillard was seventh, Jake Gallardo earned the eighth spot, Alex Stanford nabbed ninth and Tyler Wolff rounded out the top 10 from the 18th starting spot.
In other action, Thornton was impressive in the Out-Pace USRA B-Mod main event as he raced from the 12th starting spot to claim the $1,000 top prize over Sherman Barnett, Joey Klemish, Paddy Rush and John Carney.
Ricky Thornton Jr. won the Out-Pace USRA B-Mod feature.
Allen Bradley bagged the Holley USRA Stock Car feature race. Bradley was followed to the checkers by Carbie McClearen, Colin Deming, Lloyd Turner and Zach McCoy..
Allen Bradley won the Holley USRA Stock Car feature.
Sunday's event put the wraps on the 2016 racing season at the Southern New Mexico Speedway. On Saturday, Nov. 19, the track will host Lantern Fest where thousands of revelers armed with lanterns will set them aloft in an offering to the Instagram gods. Racing returns Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 19-22, 2017, for the inaugural Short Track Shootout featuring Super Late Models, USRA Modifieds, Out-Pace USRA B-Mods and Legends Cars.
The Southern New Mexico Speedway is a wide, semi-banked 3/8-mile clay oval located 11 miles west of Las Cruces at the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds. Take I-10 to exit 132 (about 10 miles west of Las Cruces), then go one block south, then west on frontage road (next to Love’s Travel Stop). For more information call 575-524-7913 or 505-524-7913 or visit www.snmspeedway.com online.
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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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
USRA Weekly Racing Series
Southern New Mexico Speedway, Las Cruces, N.M.
Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016
OUT-PACE USRA B-MODS
"B" Main #1:
1. (10) X15 Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
2. (7) 3H Noah Hollingshead, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (2) AK47 Rex Higgins, Bloomfield, N.M.
4. (9) 47G Clay Gossett, Los Lunas, N.M.
5. (11) 0H Shane Helton, Artesia, N.M.
6. (8) 21 Billy Roy Harris, Deming, N.M.
7. (5) 88 Andrew Fanning, Blue Water, N.M.
8. (4) 33M Danny Martin, Republic, Mo.
9. (1) 121 Tim Tharp, Las Cruces, N.M.
10. (12) 8 Douglas Meeks, Show Low, Ariz.
11. (13) 7 Don Parra, Las Cruces, N.M.
12. (6) 747 Julio Jauregui, El Paso, Texas
13. (3) 15 Rylyn Phillips, Silver City, N.M.
"B" Main #2:
1. (2) 0 Jeramy Hughes, Farmington, N.M.
2. (7) 24 Derek Stuhler, Elephant Butte, N.M.
3. (3) 55 Brian Carey, Aztec, N.M.
4. (6) 20 Tanner Higdon, Los Lunas, N.M.
5. (11) 38 Kevin Clark, El Paso, Texas
6. (8) XXX Mychal Lucero, Albuquerque, N.M.
7. (13) 14 Benny Chavez, Las Cruces, N.M.
8. (5) 20K Gage Duke, Ruidoso, N.M.
9. (4) 4 Melissa Gorham, Las Cruces, N.M.
10. (10) 2 Jesse Haynie, Las Cruces, N.M.
11. (12) 18JR Ricardo Olague Jr., El Paso, Texas
12. (1) 94 Justin Garrett, Deming, N.M.
13. (9) 7M Wes Meeks, Show Low, Ariz.
"A" Main:
1. (12) X15 Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
2. (1) 82 Sherman Barnett, El Paso, Texas
3. (8) KB22 Joey Klemish, Farmington, N.M.
4. (7) 52TX Paddy Rush, Horizon City, Texas
5. (9) 7C John Carney, El Paso, Texas
6. (11) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (22) 21 Billy Roy Harris, Deming, N.M.
8. (16) AK47 Rex Higgins, Bloomfield, N.M.
9. (6) 33 Justin Allen, Las Cruces, N.M.
10. (15) 24 Derek Stuhler, Elephant Butte, N.M.
11. (13) 0 Jeramy Hughes, Farmington, N.M.
12. (14) 3H Noah Hollingshead, Las Cruces, N.M.
13. (19) 38 Kevin Clark, El Paso, Texas
14. (3) 3 Dickie Gorham, Las Cruces, N.M.
15. (23) 88 Andrew Fanning, Blue Water, N.M.
16. (17) 20 Tanner Higdon, Los Lunas, N.M.
17. (10) 93 Gregory Gorham, Las Cruces, N.M.
18. (5) 777 Mike Rosales, Las Cruces, N.M.
19. (4) 55 Brian Carey, Aztec, N.M.
20. (2) 47 Mingo Jauregui, El Paso, Texas
21. (18) 47G Clay Gossett, Los Lunas, N.M.
22. (23) XXX Mychal Lucero, Albuquerque, N.M.
23. (20) 0H Shane Helton, Artesia, N.M.
DNS - 44 Dustin Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.
HOLLEY USRA STOCK CARS
"B" Main #1:
1. (1) 71M Jay McClearen, Seminole, Texas
2. (5) 10B Bryan Bennett, Tularosa, N.M.
3. (8) 29M Zach McCoy, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (3) 32B Jason Privette, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (2) 51 Kenny McCoy, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (7) 20S Scott Sullivan, Hobbs, N.M.
7. (6) 39A Tommie Armstrong, Ruidoso, N.M.
8. (11) 4M Rob Mosely, Los Lunas, N.M.
9. (12) 13H Eric Honeyfield, Las Cruces, N.M.
10. (10) 20 Dennis Anderson, Alamogordo, N.M.
11. (4) 97 Wyatt Loveland, Alamogordo, N.M.
12. (9) 34 Jonathan Faulkner, Las Cruces, N.M.
"B" Main #2:
1. (3) 15R Race Fisher, Dove Creek, Colo.
2. (1) 14 Danny Hoffer, Ruidoso, N.M.
3. (2) 74 Jason Josselyn, Alamogordo, N.M.
4. (5) 21K Don Kleine, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (8) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M.
6. (4) 05 Aasa-boo Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (6) 11 Cliff Evrage, Las Cruces, N.M.
8. (7) M7 Cameron Martin, Bosque Farms, N.M.
9. (9) 28 Ronnie Leathem Jr., Albuquerque, N.M.
10. (10) 71 Jed Smith, Anthony, N.M.
11. (11) 114 Kevin Ward, Santa Fe, N.M.
"A" Main:
1. (5) 26 Allen Bradley, Farmington, N.M.
2. (1) 15M Carbie McClearen, Seminole, Texas
3. (11) 3C Colin Deming, Hobbs, N.M.
4. (12) 0 Lloyd Turner, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (17) 29M Zach McCoy, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (9) 007 Tony Hill, Cortez, Colo.
7. (19) 32B Jason Privette, Las Cruces, N.M.
8. (6) 13 Victor Colorbio, Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (18) 74 Jason Josselyn, Alamogordo, N.M.
10. (21) 51 Kenny McCoy, Las Cruces, N.M.
11. (2) 777 Peter Vargas, Las Cruces, N.M.
12. (8) 20K Cody Kays, Hobbs, N.M.
13. (10) 3J Josh Cain, Moriarty, N.M.
14. (16) 14 Danny Hoffer, Ruidoso, N.M.
15. (4) 00 Shawn McCarty, Carlsbad, N.M.
16. (24) 05 Aasa-boo Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
17. (20) 21K Don Kleine, Las Cruces, N.M.
18. (22) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M.
19. (3) 59 Travis Sutherlin, Aztec, N.M.
20. (15) 10B Bryan Bennett, Tularosa, N.M.
21. (7) 44JT Jaime Torres, Las Cruces, N.M.
22. (14) 15R Race Fisher, Dove Creek, Colo.
23. (23) 20S Scott Sullivan, Hobbs, N.M.
24. (13) 71M Jay McClearen, Seminole, Texas
USRA MODIFIEDS
Last Chance Race #1:
1. (2) J16 Joshua Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (7) 16 Aaron Spangler, Dove Creek, Colo.
3. (1) 07 Donavon Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (6) 7 Paul Banghart, Tucson, Ariz.
5. (9) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr., Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (3) J7 Jake Boles, Alamogordo, N.M.
7. (4) 85F Neal Flowers, Hobbs, N.M.
8. (8) 202 Robbie Chiles, Hooper, Colo.
9. (12) 61 Bobby Sikes, Eunice, N.M.
10. (11) 28D Cory Davis, Eunice, N.M.
11. (13) 17M Roy Don Mason, Hobbs, N.M.
12. (15) 97K Julie Keeler, Farmington, N.M.
13. (5) 4 Anton Salopek, Las Cruces, N.M.
14. (16) 23B Isreal Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
15. (14) 105 Billy Johnson, Las Cruces, N.M.
16. (10) 54 Carlos Ahumada Sr., El Paso, Texas
DNS - 19 Donavon Ooley, El Paso, Texas
Last Chance Race #2:
1. (2) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas
2. (1) 3T Todd Harper, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (5) X57 Richie Davies, Springerville, Ariz.
4. (3) 99X Triston Sikes, Hobbs, N.M.
5. (6) UNO Brian Kleine, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (12) 85 Austin Adams, El Paso, Texas
7. (9) 49 Duane Murphy, El Paso, Texas
8. (15) 8 Wesley Summers, Wellington, Mo.
9. (10) 88R A.J. Vasquez, Garden City, Mich.
10. (11) 39H Nick Herrera, Ruidoso, N.M.
11. (14) 05 Randy Knott, Carlsbad, N.M.
12. (13) 30 Jamie Newton, Carlsbad, N.M.
13. (8) 77J Tripp Gaylord, Lakewood, Colo.
14. (4) M71 Deral Meek, Rio Rancho, N.M.
15. (7) 32 Max Sadler, Springerville, Ariz.
DNS - 17D Nick DeCarlo, Martinez, Calif.
"C" Main:
1. (1) 117 Toby Herring, Hobbs, N.M.
2. (3) M16 Rick Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (9) 75S Allen Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas
4. (13) 16 Aaron Spangler, Dove Creek, Colo.
5. (5) 86 Jared Perez, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (2) 07X Mark Rodgers, Farmington, N.M.
7. (6) 23K Adam Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan.
8. (12) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas
9. (19) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr., Las Cruces, N.M.
10. (16) X57 Richie Davies, Springerville, Ariz.
11. (21) J7 Jake Boles, Alamogordo, N.M.
12. (14) 3T Todd Harper, Las Cruces, N.M.
13. (8) 73 Jason Keeler, Farmington, N.M.
14. (4) 96 Dusty Riggs, Hatch, N.M.
15. (7) 44 Christy Georges-Barnett, El Paso, Texas
16. (23) 85F Neal Flowers, Hobbs, N.M.
17. (20) UNO Brian Kleine, Las Cruces, N.M.
18. (11) J16 Joshua Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
19. (24) 49 Duane Murphy, El Paso, Texas
20. (17) 7 Paul Banghart, Tucson, Ariz.
21. (10) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
22. (22) 85 Austin Adams, El Paso, Texas
23. (18) 99X Triston Sikes, Hobbs, N.M.
24. (15) 07 Donavon Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
"B" Main:
1. (2) 2S Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (4) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas
3. (1) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (3) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M.
5. (5) 98 Alex Stanford, Chowchilla, Calif.
6. (9) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (7) 99 Terry Tipton, Duncan, Ariz.
8. (6) 4W Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark.
9. (8) 21 David Winslett, Bossier City, La.
10. (11) 117 Toby Herring, Hobbs, N.M.
11. (12) M16 Rick Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
12. (13) 75S Allen Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas
13. (18) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas
14. (20) X57 Richie Davies, Springerville, Ariz.
15. (17) 23K Adam Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan.
16. (22) 73 Jason Keeler, Farmington, N.M.
17. (23) 96 Dusty Riggs, Hatch, N.M.
18. (21) 3T Todd Harper, Las Cruces, N.M.
19. (10) 101 Butch Reid, Carlsbad, N.M.
20. (19) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr., Las Cruces, N.M.
21. (16) 07X Mark Rodgers, Farmington, N.M.
22. (14) 16 Aaron Spangler, Dove Creek, Colo.
23. (15) 86 Jared Perez, Las Cruces, N.M.
DNS - J7 Jake Boles, Alamogordo, N.M.
"A" Main:
1. (1) 12 Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
2. (11) 2S Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (2) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
4. (5) 20RT Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
5. (4) 4R Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
6. (7) 1ST Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (9) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
8. (13) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (15) 98 Alex Stanford, Chowchilla, Calif.
10. (18) 4W Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark.
11. (12) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas
12. (3) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
13. (22) 75S Allen Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas
14. (6) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
15. (14) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M.
16. (8) 18Z Zane DeVilbiss, Farmington, N.M.
17. (16) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.
18. (10) 7R Ryan Gaylord, Lakewood, Colo.
19. (26) 44 Christy Georges-Barnett, El Paso, Texas
20. (25) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
21. (23) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas
22. (24) X57 Richie Davies, Springerville, Ariz.
23. (21) M16 Rick Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
24. (17) 99 Terry Tipton, Duncan, Ariz.
25. (19) 21 David Winslett, Bossier City, La.
26. (20) 117 Toby Herring, Hobbs, N.M.