HUMBOLDT, Kan. – Jake O’Neil returned the USMTS winner’s circle Saturday as he added the Summit King of America XI presented by RacinDirt crown to his trophy case in Tucson, Ariz., with a decisive victory at the Humboldt Speedway.
Featuring USMTS Modifieds and Medieval USRA Stock Cars plus the 7th Annual B-Mod Battle at The Bullring, fans witnessed an action-packed program provided by the nation’s top talent in their respective divisions.
Dustin Sorensen, who won the USMTS season opener three weeks ago at the Rocket Raceway Park in Petty, Texas, led the opening lap Saturday night with Dereck Ramirez giving chase, but by lap 15 O’Neil passed Ramirez for second after advancing from his fifth row starting spot.
Ten laps later, O’Neil snuck by Sorensen on the outside and the pair proceeded to battle door-to-door for the next 15 laps as lapped traffic kept the lead duo on their toes.
A caution on the 43rd lap of 60 bunched the field. O’Neil drove away on the ensuing restart and again following two more yellow flags in the final 10 laps to net a $15,000 paycheck and a new carbon fiber driveshaft from Fast Shafts.
The Kansas contingent in attendance were cheering on Darron Fuqua the last 10 laps as he put pressure on O’Neil by keeping the outside wall cleaned off with his right-side spoiler, but despite his best efforts he settled for second place.
Sorensen held on for third to regain the points lead over Jason Hughes, who came from 15th to grab fifth behind defending USMTS National Champion Dereck Ramirez.
Zack VanderBeek—now a new daddy and around 80 pounds lighter than one year ago—held off Jake Timm for sixth. Ethan Dotson earned an eighth-place paycheck, Tanner Mullens nabbed ninth and Oregon traveler Tom Berry Jr. rounded out the top 10.
Saturday night’s win was the 21st career USMTS win for O’Neil and made him the fourth different winner in four events in 2022. He’s also the 10th different winner in 11 editions of the King of America race. Ryan Gustin remains the only two-time winner.
The 20-lap Summit Racing Equipment “A” Main saw Clear Lake, Iowa’s Chanse Hollatz take the win over a strong field of Medieval USRA Stock Cars.
Colorado’s Angel Munoz was second, Derek Brown claimed the third spot, fourth went to Derrick Agee and 12th-starting Rodney Schweizer completed the top five.
One of the most dominant efforts happened in the finale of the 7th Annual B-Mod Battle at The Bullring as polesitter Lucas Rodin of Marion, N.D., led wire to wire in the 50-lap G-Style Transport “A” Main.
Former USMTS regular Travis Saurer held off former USRA B-Mod National Champion Andy Bryant for runner-up honors with Kyle Slader and Shadren Turner finishing fourth and fifth.
Krew Walburn, 23rd-starting Kris Jackson, Jake Smith, Ryan Gillmore and defending race winner J.C. Morton crossed the finish line in sixth through tenth, respectively.
The Finish:
1. Jake O’Neil, 2. Darron Fuqua, 3. Dustin Sorensen, 4. Dereck Ramirez, 5. Jason Hughes, 6. Zack VanderBeek, 7. Jake Timm, 8. Ethan Dotson, 9. Tanner Mullens, 10. Tom Berry Jr., 11. Jayson Good, 12. Dan Ebert, 13. Chris Spalding, 14. Kollin Hibdon, 15. Lucas Schott, 16. Rodney Sanders, 17. Curt Myers, 18. Carlos Ahumada Jr., 19. Cody Thompson, 20. Brandon Givens, 21. Jacob Bleess, 22. Chris Clark, 23. Tyler Peterson, 24. Tyler Davis, 25. Terry Phillips, 26. Tyler Wolff, 27. Lance Mari, 28. Dylan Thornton, DQ – Kale Westover