MOBERLY, MO. – The USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour left the 24 Raceway with some unfinished business last August after recording the first-ever tie for the win when Jon Tesch and Zack VanderBeek crossed he finish line in a dead heat.

Again Saturday night at the Moberly, Mo., oval, it was Tesch and VanderBeek leading the pack to the checkered flag. This time USMTS officials were ready as the new AMB i.t. timing and scoring system now in use would settle the score if needed.

It wasn’t.

This time, a winner could be declared with the naked eye as Tesch beat VanderBeek to the flagstand by two car-lengths to capture the victory at the 4/10-mile high-banked clay oval in Moberly, Mo.

The win, worth $2,000, was Tesch’s second of the season and helped close the gap between himself and Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region points leader Jason Hughes. Hughes, on the other hand, passed polesitter Kelly Shryock for the lead on lap 8 of the Sunoco “A” Main and appeared to be on his way to a third straight triumph. However, a flat tire with eight laps to go forced Hughes to pits for repairs. He rejoined the pack at the rear of the field but could only climb back to a tenth-place finish at the end of the 35-lapper.

PBM Performance Products Hard Charger of the Race Johnny Bone Jr. came from the 13th starting spot on the 24-car grid to take third, while Rodney Sanders raced from 14th to fourth ahead of Dean Mahlstedt. Colt Mather, Dereck Ramirez, Bryan Rowland, Shryock and Hughes completed the top-10.

Dustin Boney was one of the fastest cars on the track, and had moved into second by the midway point when he suffered a flat tire. After returning to the race, Boney clawed his way back into the top-5 only to be sidelined by engine failure.

Michael Long earned the AFCO Pole Award by earning the most passing points during the heat races, but was the first driver to drop out of the main event.

Hughes clings to a 23-point advantage (458 to 435) over Tesch in the Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region points standings, with Sanders in third with 406 markers. Bone is fourth with 402, followed by Boney (390), VanderBeek (390), Shryock (373), Chad Wheeler (364), Scott Green (364) and Rowland (349).

In the DandyLand Farms Rookie of the Year points, Wheeler’s teammate Tate Cole assumed the top spot, with Kip Hughes dropping to second after missing Saturday’s show. Don Crnkovich is third, fourth is Tim Shields and Gary Langworthy Jr. sits in fifth place.

A tight points race in the COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year points has developed, with Mullins Race Engines holding a two-point lead (49 to 47) over Sput’s Racing Engines. In the Chassis Builders Championship, Hughes and his Hughes Racing Chassis hold a two point advantage (51 to 49) over Shryock’s Skyrocket Chassis.

The stars and cars of the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour get a one-month break before returning to the road and hitting the trail hard. On Thursday, May 14, the Caney Valley Speedway in Caney, Kan., plays host to the USMTS touring titans for the first time ever. The event will be the first of 20 shows over 24 days.

For the USMTS Southern Series, action picks back up next weekend with a Lone Star State tripleheader. On Friday, April 17, action will be at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, Texas. Followed by a return trip to the Gator Motorplex in Willis, Texas, on Saturday, April 18, and the 105 Speedway in Cleveland, Texas, on Sunday, April 19.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information from the USMTS.