AMARILLO, Texas — Dereck Ramirez disposed of Jake Gallardo on lap 11 of 40 at the Route 66 Motor Speedway on Saturday night, and then blasted his way through the field to score a $3,000 payday and the seventh win of his USMTS career.
It was the fifth win in the Lonestar State for the 32-year-old from Woodward, Texas, and his second of the Casey’s General Stores USMTS National Championship powered by Summit in 2019.
Earning the Sybesma Graphics Pole Award for a second straight night, Gallardo took control at the drop of the green flag while Ramirez, who started fourth, quickly moved to his rear bumper.
Ramirez snuck by to lead lap seven, but Gallardo fought back to regain the lead. It was short-lived, however, as Ramirez was back in control for good three laps later.
With just one caution early in the contest, Ramirez was able to decimate the field and lapped all but the top seven cars.
Meanwhile, Jake O’Neil nabbed his third runner-up finish in the last five events while Rodney Sanders overcame a tough starting position for a second straight night and finished third.
Kale Westover came from the 13th starting spot and held off Gallardo for fourth following a spirited battle between those two, but Carlos Ahumada Jr. was the FK Rod ends Hard Charger Award winner for racing to sixth after starting 21st on the grid.
The finish:
Dereck Ramirez, Jake O’Neil, Rodney Sanders, Kale Westover, Jake Gallardo, Carlos Ahumada Jr., Terry Phillips, Philip Houston, Adam Kates, Dee Gossett, Jimmy Ray, A.J. Vasquez, Jim Gress, Travis Tipton, Braden Gress, Logan Robertson, Matt Newkirk, Gene Weaver, Neal DeBord, T.C. Hogan, Hunter Marriott, Joe Duvall, Lance Mari, Ryan Gustin.