PRYOR CREEK, Okla. – Stormy Scott passed Jason Hughes on lap 16, and then out-gunned his chasers over the final 19 circuits to score a $4,000 payday and his fourth win of the season Saturday as the USMTS Casey’s Cup Series tackled the Salina Highbanks Speedway.

Earning his second front row start in as many nights, Hughes grabbed the early advantage in the 35-lap main event while Scott disposed of six competitors in four laps to move into the runner-up position.

Friday night’s winner, Jeremy Payne, joined Scott in the fourth row for the start of the race and followed him through the field, overtaking Johnny Bone Jr. for third with 11 laps in the books while Scott began to pressure Hughes for the top spot.

On lap 17 while jousting with back-markers, Scott made his move and slipped past Hughes for the lead. But the 2010 USMTS national champion didn’t fade and kept Scott in his crosshairs while they worked their way into lapped traffic. A caution flag on lap 23 kept the leaders close together with a clear track in front of them. Back under green, Payne got around Hughes one lap later and followed Scott around the high side of the high-banked 3/8-mile clay oval.

The race’s third caution on lap 30 proved to be the downfall for Payne, however. As the green flag waved to start the final five-lap sprint to the finish, Payne bobbled in the first turn and by the time the field completed the next lap he had dropped seven spots.

Scott, on the other hand, was flawless for the final handful of go-arounds and sailed to his 12th career USMTS win and first at the popular Pryor Creek, Okla., speedplant.

Despite returning home without a trophy this weekend, Hughes held strong for a runner-up finish to go along with Friday night’s third-place result.

Johnny Scott raced from 11th on the starting grid to third at the finish line while two-time defending USMTS national champion Ryan Gustin claimed fourth with Rodney Sanders taking fifth and earning the Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger Award.

Sixth through tenth were Bone, Thomas Tillison Jr., Zack VanderBeek, Payne and Terry Beckham II, who came from the 26th and final starting spot courtesy of a track provisional.

The USMTS Casey’s Cup Series continues next weekend with the three-day 4s Motorsports Red River Rumble powered by Lecolift.

On Thursday, April 25, the USMTS Modifieds visit the Texas Thunder Speedway in Killeen, Texas, for the first time in series history and then makes its maiden voyage to the Kennedale Speedway Park in Kennedale, Texas, on Friday, April 26. The trio of titanic events concludes on Saturday, April 27, with a trip to the Southern Oklahoma Speedway in Ardmore, Okla.

Each race will pay $2,000 to win ($4,000 for Big Dog Buy-Ins) and at least $250 to start the main event. Valuable USMTS points will be awarded in the Allgayer, Inc. Southern Region presented by Day Motor Sports.

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 check out our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/USMTSTV.

PRYOR, Okla. – Due to the overwhelming success and fan support when the USMTS Modifieds visited the Salina Highbanks Speedway back in April, officials are pleased to announce an encore event next Saturday, July 14 – this time featuring the USMTS National Championship Series with a $4,000-to-win main event on tap.

A crowd of more than 3,000 hungry race fans greeted the USMTS Modifieds three months as they made their first visit to the Salina Highbanks Speedway since 2004. Jason Hughes was the winner when the USMTS Modifieds made their only appearance at Salina in 2004, and last year’s return to the high-banked 3/8-mile clay oval fell to rain.

But this year’s return engagement was well worth the wait.

With 41 drivers on hand, they did not disappoint the packed house as veteran Terry Phillips and defending USMTS National Champion Ryan Gustin fought it out for 30 laps before Phillips emerged with his second win of the 2012 campaign.

To add even more bang to next Saturday’s blockbuster event, the Oil Capital Racing Series (OCRS) Sprint Cars will also be in the spotlight, giving fans two fantastic lightning-fast classes to satisfy their hunger for speed.

In addition to defending USMTS National Champion and current points leader Ryan Gustin, fans can also expect to see Rodney Sanders, Jason Hughes, Johnny and Stormy Scott, Kelly Shryock, Dereck Ramirez, Chris Brown, Chase Junghans, Zack VanderBeek, Mike Sorensen, Jason Krohn, Terry Phillips, Bryan Rowland, Rick Beebe, Jeremy Payne, Jon Tesch, Ron Keith, Austin Siebert, Ryan Ruter, Brandon Davis, Al Hejna and many more of the nation’s elite open-wheel dirt modified pilots.

Meanwhile, local favorites such as Joe Duvall, Danny Womack, Brian Parker, Shannon Scott, Jeran Frailey, Brett Hansen, Jason Foster, Mike Wroblewski, Chris Theodore, Mike Duvall, Jeremy Ross, Eddie Martin and others will be looking to keep the bulk of the prize money in the Sooner State.

After an off-season in 2010 that was busier than most tracks are during the height of the racing season, the new owners and management of the Salina Highbanks Speedway welcomed fans, drivers, crew members, sponsors and their families to the first night of weekly racing on April 2, 2011. Thousands of hours and dollars later, dozens of renovations and upgrades have given the popular dirt track new life.

The Salina Highbanks Speedway has over 5,000 brand new general admission seats, 100 balcony bar seats and 200 VIP seats that are located in the five-star Finish Line Restaurant which gives fans access to the comfort of indoor climate, a full service bar and grill and great views of beautiful Lake Hudson while enjoying the racing action.

In addition to the USMTS Modifieds and OCRS Sprint Cars, support classes for the Saturday, July 14, show will be local Grand Nationals and Pure Stocks. Gates open at 4 p.m. and hot laps start at 6:30 with the first green flag waving at 7 p.m.

General admission is $20 for adults $10 for kids ages 5-12 and children under 5 get in for free. A family pass is just $35 and includes two adults and two kids – a savings of $25. Other upgrade option are also available, such as Beer Garden ($20) and VIP ($25) seating. Adult pit passes are $35 and pit passes for kids ages 12 and under are $25.

After the final checkered flag waves, fans are invited to enjoy live music in the Beer Garden featuring Coy and the Low Rent Rustlers.

The Salina Highbanks Speedway is located about 6 miles east of Pryor, Okla., on SR 20. For reservations and ticket information, visit the website at www.salinahighbanksspeedway.com or call 918-434-7223.

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 and follow us on Twitter.

SALINA, Okla. — A crowd of more than 3,000 hungry race fans greeted the USMTS Modifieds Saturday as they made their first visit to the Salina Highbanks Speedway since 2004.

With 41 drivers on hand, they did not disappoint the packed house as veteran Terry Phillips and defending USMTS National Champion Ryan Gustin fought it out for 30 laps before Phillips emerged with his second win of the 2012 campaign.

Gustin drew the pole position for the start of the main event, but it was Phillips who took control at the drop of the green flag. With drivers being able to race high and low, ongoing battles for position went on throughout the field while the front row starters stole the race for the checkers.

Phillips led the first 15 laps before Gustin edged ahead to be scored the leader on lap 16. Phillips bounced back to regain control the next time around and passed the flagstand as the leader for the next 11 circuits. With three laps to go, the relentless Gustin again wrestled the top spot away but Phillips powered back to the front and led the final two laps to pick up the winner’s trophy and the $2,000 top prize.

USMTS Casey’s Cup Series points leader Rodney Sanders finished third and notched his sixth top-5 finish of the season as he held off Jason Hughes and 12th-starting Randy Timms. Kenny Wallace took sixth, Stormy Scott was seventh and Jeremy Payne recorded an eighth-place finish. Bryan Rowland and Johnny Scott sliced through the pack like a hot knife through butter, finishing ninth and tenth after starting 23rd and 24th, respectively. It was the second straight night that Rowland earned the Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger Award.

Justin Rexwinkle earned the Pole Award with most passing points during the four heat races, but fell out of the feature race just six laps in. He was awarded the Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award. Sanders continues to lead the USMTS Casey’s Cup Series points with Gustin, Stormy Scott, Hughes and Phillips filling out the rest of the top five.

On Sunday, the 7th Annual Race Brothers Farm & Home Supply Missouri Nationals will mark the 13th appearance of the USMTS Modifieds at Randy Mooneyham’s Monett Speedway.

Gustin is a two-time winner at the ‘Grand Ol’ Lady’ including two of the last three stops at the 3/8-mile red clay oval. Hughes and Phillips have also captured two wins at Monett. Other former winners include Kelly Shryock, defending USRA Modified track champion Johnny Bone Jr., George White and Mark Noble.

In addition to the USMTS Modifieds, fans will see USRA B-Mods, Pure Stocks and Legends Cars in action too. The pit gate opens at 4 p.m., grandstand gates open at 5, hot laps begin at 6:30 and the first green flag will be unfurled at 7 p.m.

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 and follow us on Twitter.