Gremlins return in MSD Central Region openers

Zack VanderBeek raced with the USMTS Modifieds this past weekend at the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan., and I-35 Speedway in Winston, Mo. On Saturday at Humboldt, a broken rear end in hot laps forced VanderBeek to take a provisional for the main event where he finished 24th driving Danny Crane's No. 78 Modified.

After some late night and early morning repairs, the No. 33z Casey's General Stores machine was up and running Sunday, but new-car gremlins returned and 'The Z-Man' dropped out of the main event early, finishing 25th.

Complete Results: Humboldt Speedway | I-35 Speedway

Next week, the Best of the Best in open-wheel dirt modified racing will descend upon the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan., for the King of America V presented by Chix Gear on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 26-28. The winner of Saturday’s 100-lap main event will earn $10,000 while every driver making the big dance will pocket no less than $1,000 to start the race.

Last month, the USMTS forged an agreement with MAVTV to televise five events that will be tape-delayed broadcast on the growing cable network. The series of shows will begin with the upcoming King of America V presented by Chix Gear, and bring the USMTS and its competitors to a national television audience while also giving our sponsors and those of the drivers some invaluable exposure.

Each driver will run four heat races from four different starting positions—two on Thursday and two on Friday. Passing points will be combined for each driver using the best three of their four heat races. From there, the top 12 drivers in overall points from Thursday and Friday will be locked into the first six rows of Saturday’s “A” Main. Also on Thursday and Friday, the top 16 points-earners each night will run a feature race with $1,000 up for grabs to the winner.

In addition to the USMTS Modifieds, the Holley Iron Man Series featuring USRA B-Mods will run a complete show of heat races and main events all three days. Thursday’s winners gets $500, Friday’s winner gets $2,000 and Saturday’s winner goes home with $1,000. An entry form for USRA B-Mods is available on the USRA website at www.usraracing.com or by calling the USRA offices at 515-832-6000.

Two-time and defending USMTS National Champion Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas, is the defending King of America. Marshalltown, Iowa’s Ryan Gustin, who captured the USMTS title in 2011-12, won the 2013 event and Stormy Scott of Las Cruces, N.M., won the event in 2012. Nine-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock won the inaugural race in 2011.

There will be an open practice for all drivers on Wednesday from 6-9 p.m. Admission to the grandstands is free. Pit passes are $20.

While the event is being recorded for the MAVTV broadcast this summer, there’s no need to wait to see all of the action. RacinDirt.com will carry every lap of every race all three nights live via pay-per-view. Order your live broadcast package today at www.RacinDirt.com.

The Humboldt Speedway is a located 0.1 mile west of US 169 at the Humboldt Exit, then 0.5 mile south, then 0.9 mile east on Georgia Rd. For more information call 620-431-2470 or visit www.humboldtspeedway.com. For camping, ATV and/or golf cart permits call 620-473-3694.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usmts, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts or subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.