Schott guns down USMTS foes at ‘The Creek’

Saturday’s 21st Annual LR Waste Services Southern Minnesota Spring Challenge marked the 127th time the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt circled the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn.

Nine-time USMTS national champ Kelly Shryock won the first-ever contest here in 2002, and now Lucas Schott has become the latest to savor the thrill of victory at the high-banked 3/8-mile clay oval.

Much like Brand Davis did one night earlier at the Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Schott was a threat from the first green flag. He turned the quickest lap of the night during his heat race, and then led all 40 laps of the main event to secure his fourth win at ‘The Creek’ and 13th of his USMTS career.

Much like he did on Wednesday at the Karl Chevrolet Hamilton County Speedway, Jim Chisholm made a daring move on the final lap to steal the win from the race-long leader. It worked on Gary Christian three nights ago but Schott could not be overcome on Saturday.

After erasing a nearly three-second advantage during the last half of the caution-free feature, Chisholm tried several different lines but couldn’t rattle Schott’s cage. One final attempt after taking the white flag saw tire smoke and sparks fly between the two but it was Schott who found the checkered flag first.

“It feels pretty good,” Schott said in Victory Fuel Victory Lane. “We’ve been off and on this year and I just had the luck of the draw tonight.”

Schott’s good fortune, as he claims, resulted in a $5,000 paycheck at the end of the night for the 27-year-old from Chatfield, Minn., who ran the high side for most of the race before moving to the low side as Chisholm approached.

“Our car felt pretty good early and I could feel the pace slowing down and the lapped cars were starting to pull away from me on the bottom so there was something down there.

“It’s super hard to run the top for that long and then slow your pace down that hard. I was just too free on the bottom and I was too tight. I just couldn’t quite figure it out, but I knew Jim was there and I wasn’t going to lead all 39 and let him try to steal it again on the last one. So, I just did all I could to protect the bottom and we got the win. But that’s just racing. I’m glad the contact wasn’t hard enough, but there’s probably a shock bench or something.“

Chisholm settled for runner-up earnings while Davis rounded out the Featherlite Top-3 podium finishers. Notably, all three have won all four USMTS features this week.

It just so happens that all three are former two-time USRA national champions—Schott and Davis in USRA Modifieds and Chisholm in USRA B-Mods. His younger brother, Joe Chisholm, is also a two-time USRA B-Mod national champ and came home seventh in Saturday’s nightcap.

Like Davis, Terry Phillips came up short of notching his fifth USMTS win at Deer Creek as he finished fourth in front of the two most prolific USMTS racers in the track’s history. Rodney Sanders and Jason Hughes wound up fifth and six, respectively, and both are tied atop the list of winners here with 14 apiece.

Gabe Hodges finished eighth behind the younger Chisholm, Jake Timm back-pedaled from fifth on the grid to ninth at the finish line, and Kyle Brown slipped from third to tenth when all was said and done.

Mason City’s Mod Mania Sunday: The Memorial Day Weekend finale happens Sunday at the Pritchard Family Auto Stores Mason City Motor Speedway in Mason City, Iowa, for the 9th Annual USMTS Mod Mania which carries a $3,000 top prize for the main event winner.

Topping the list of former USMTS winners at the North Iowa Fairgrounds Action Track is Tanner Mullens, who nabbed his fourth career feature in last year’s $25,000-to-win USMTS 25th Anniversary Silver Jubilee.

Dereck Ramirez has three wins here while Ryan Gustin has two—both happening on Aug. 13, 2017, for a makeup feature and regular program.

Terry Phillips and Jim Chisholm each have a pair of victories while Rodney Sanders, Cade Dillard, Lucas Schott, Dustin Sorensen, Jake Timm and Gary Christian have one apiece.

Ryan Ruter, Mike Steensma, Kelly Shryock and Jason Hughes all got wins here when the former big half-mile was called I-35 Speedway. None of them have won a USMTS race in Mason City since it was reconfigured to a fast and ferocious 1/3-mile high-banked oval.

USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Outlaw Mini-Mods are also racing. The pit gate swings open at 3:30 p.m., grandstands at 4 and hot laps kick off at 6 with racing to follow.

The Pritchard Family Auto Stores Mason City Motor Speedway is located 5.1 miles east of I-35 at exit 194 on SR 122 (at the North Iowa Fairgrounds). For more information, check out masoncitymotorspeedway.com.

Check out USMTS.com for schedules, points, photos, souvenirs, videos and more. Follow our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube. Don’t forget to subscribe for free to get USMTS news delivered to your inbox plus Members Only benefits.

With live and on-demand coverage of every USMTS event plus exclusive interviews, instant replays, multiple camera angles and more, subscribe to RacinDirt for live streaming on all of your devices.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt
Collins Brothers Towing USMTS North Region presented by Featherlite
21st Annual LRS Waste Services Southern Minnesota Spring Challenge
Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.
Saturday, May 25, 2024

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown. Heat race lineups are determined via group qualifying. The top 12 in heat race passing points advance to the Summit Racing Equipment “A” Main.

SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps):
1. (5) 50III Brandon Davis, Hayfield, Minn.
2. (3) 7G Gabe Hodges, Lebo, Kan.
3. (4) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
4. (10) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
5. (6) 0 Jake O’Neil, Tucson, Ariz.
6. (2) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa
7. (8) 01 Jacob Hobscheidt, Plattsmouth, Neb.
8. (9) 99 Josh Angst, Winona, Minn.
9. (1) 29H Joe Horgdal, Mantorville, Minn.
10. (7) 33Z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. (1) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
2. (4) 49 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
3. (7) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
4. (3) 12H Mike Hansen, Dickinson, N.D.
5. (9) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
6. (2) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa
7. (5) 94JR John Doelle, Arcadia, Wis.
8. (6) 98M Mitchel Madery, Kasson, Minn.
9. (8) 96 Taton Hansen, Spicer, Minn.
10. (10) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. (4) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
2. (2) 4R Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
3. (3) 51W J.T. Wasmund, Pine Island, Minn.
4. (6) 10C Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa, Iowa
5. (8) 60 Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn.
6. (10) 24 Aaron Benson, Clear Lake, Iowa
7. (9) 99G Jason Grimes, Jamestown, N.D.
9. (1) 26S Steven Glenn, Hamilton, Mo.
10. (5) 90W Ryan Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn.

WIELAND METAL SERVICES HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. (3) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
2. (8) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
3. (1) 19SB Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif.
4. (9) 95 Keith Foss, Winona, Minn.
5. (6) 15W Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn.
6. (10) 12M Nick Murgic, Rosemount, Minn.
7. (4) 02D Cole Denner, Ionia, Iowa
8. (5) 4A Joel Alberts, Mantorville, Minn.
9. (2) 43 Zach Brom, Winona, Minn.
10. (7) 82 Jacob Poel, Spring Lake, Mich.

VP RACING HEAT RACE #5 (10 laps):
1. (2) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
2. (3) 99L Steve Lavasseur, River Falls , Wis.
3. (6) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
4. (7) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
5. (1) 07X Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif.
6. (9) 83 Kylie Kath, Claremont, Minn.
7. (4) 29D Brad Dierks, Clarence, Iowa
8. (5) 12J Jason Miller, Osceola, Wis.
9. (8) 77 Jacob Stark, Austin, Minn.
10. (10) 75J James Parker, Brownsdale, Minn.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (2) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
2. (7) 0 Jake O’Neil, Tucson, Ariz.
3. (3) 51W J.T. Wasmund, Pine Island, Minn.
4. (1) 4R Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
5. (6) 24 Aaron Benson, Clear Lake, Iowa
6. (8) 83 Kylie Kath, Claremont, Minn.
7. (4) 10C Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa, Iowa
8. (5) 60 Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn.
9. (15) 29H Joe Horgdal, Mantorville, Minn.
10. (9) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa
11. (12) 29D Brad Dierks, Clarence, Iowa
12. (18) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas
13. (14) 4A Joel Alberts, Mantorville, Minn.
14. (19) 82 Jacob Poel, Spring Lake, Mich.
15. (10) 99G Jason Grimes, Jamestown, N.D.
16. (17) 77 Jacob Stark, Austin, Minn.
17. (11) 94JR John Doelle, Arcadia, Wis.
18. (13) 98M Mitchel Madery, Kasson, Minn.
19. (16) 26S Steven Glenn, Hamilton, Mo.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (2) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
2. (5) 12H Mike Hansen, Dickinson, N.D.
3. (1) 95 Keith Foss, Winona, Minn.
4. (7) 15W Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn.
5. (9) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa
6. (3) 19SB Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif.
7. (6) 12M Nick Murgic, Rosemount, Minn.
8. (12) 99 Josh Angst, Winona, Minn.
9. (10) 01 Jacob Hobscheidt, Plattsmouth, Neb.
10. (17) 33Z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa
11. (18) 90W Ryan Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn.
12. (4) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
13. (15) 96 Taton Hansen, Spicer, Minn.
14. (11) 02D Cole Denner, Ionia, Iowa
15. (16) 43 Zach Brom, Winona, Minn.
16. (13) 28 Cory Davis, Seminole, Texas
17. (8) 07X Troy Morris III, Bakersfield, Calif.
18. (19) 75J James Parker, Brownsdale, Minn.
19. (14) 12J Jason Miller, Osceola, Wis.

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (1) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
2. (4) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
3. (8) 50III Brandon Davis, Hayfield, Minn.
4. (2) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
5. (6) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
6. (14) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
7. (7) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
8. (9) 7G Gabe Hodges, Lebo, Kan.
9. (5) 49 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
10. (3) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
11. (13) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
12. (18) 95 Keith Foss, Winona, Minn.
13. (21) 24 Aaron Benson, Clear Lake, Iowa
14. (11) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
15. (25) 10C Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa, Iowa
16. (17) 51W J.T. Wasmund, Pine Island, Minn.
17. (24) 19SB Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif.
18. (12) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
19. (20) 15W Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn.
20. (16) 12H Mike Hansen, Dickinson, N.D.
21. (27) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
22. (26) 60 Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn.
23. (28) 01 Jacob Hobscheidt, Plattsmouth, Neb.
24. (15) 0 Jake O’Neil, Tucson, Ariz.
25. (23) 83 Kylie Kath, Claremont, Minn.
26. (19) 4R Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
27. (10) 99L Steve Lavasseur, River Falls , Wis.
28. (22) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa
29. (29) 26S Steven Glenn, Hamilton, Mo.

Lap Leader: Schott 1-40.
Total Laps Led: Schott 40.
Margin of Victory: 0.424 second.
Time of Race: 11 minutes, 54.742 seconds (no cautions).
Provisional Starters: Carter, Ebert.
Emergency Provisionals: Christian, Hobscheidt, Glenn.
FK Rod Ends Hard Charger: Hughes (started 14th, finished 6tth).
Entries: 50.
Next Race: Sunday, May 26, Pritchard Family Auto Stores Mason City Motor Speedway, Mason City, Iowa.
Summit USMTS National Championship Points: TBA.
Collins Brothers Towing USMTS North Region Points: TBA.
Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Points: TBA.
FK Rod Ends USMTS Hard Charger Points: TBA.
Miller Welders USMTS Manufacturers Championship Points: TBA.
Callies/JE Pistons USMTS Engine Builder of the Year Points: TBA.

Contingency Awards:
Aero Race Wheels – Glenn.
American Racer – T. Davis.
Bear Graphix – Ebert.
Beyea Custom Headers – Phillips.
Bryke Racing – Carter.
BSB Manufacturing – Christian.
Champ Pans – Sanders.
Danny Crane Racing Engines – Hughes.
Deatherage Opticians – Grimes.
Edelbrock – Phillips.
Fast Shafts – Schott.
Featherlite Trailers – Schott, Joe Chisholm, B. Davis.
FK Rod Ends – Hughes.
Gorsuch Performance Solutions – Schott.
Hooker Harness – Foss.
Hyperco – Ebert.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – T. Davis.
Keyser Manufacturing – Brown.
KSE Racing Products – Timm.
MD3 – Schott.
Mel Hambelton Racing – Angst, Murgic.
MSD Performance – Phillips.
Penske Racing Shocks – Benson.
PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain – Schott.
QA1 – Schott.
Quarter Master – Timm.
RacerWebsite.com – Murgic.
Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt – Hoff.
Simpson Race Products – B. Davis.
Summit Racing Equipment – C. Davis, Grimes, T. Hansen, Murgic, Ramirez.
Sweet Manufacturing – Wasmund.
Swift Springs – Jim Chisholm, B. Davis, Schott.
Sybesma Graphics – Schott.
Total Power –Mullens.
Victory Fuel – Schott.
VP Racing – Schott.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Madery.
Wilwood Disc Brakes – Joe Chisholm.