USMTS
National Champion Gets $100,000, Leon Ramirez Trophy in
2022
WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (Feb. 21)
— No title is
more sought after in Dirt Modified racing than that of
being a USMTS National Champion. In fact, entering the
24th season for the series in 2022, only eight drivers
have done so.
And now, with today’s announcement by USMTS officials,
this year’s champ will earn the richest paycheck in
series history as $100,000 is going to the Summit USMTS
National Championship presented by RacinDirt points
champion.
The move is a homage
to Leon Ramirez, who was laid to rest this past
Saturday, Feb. 19, after a long, hard-fought battle with
cancer.
“Few people this millennium have done
more to support dirt track racers, their crews and their
families than Leon Ramirez,” said USMTS President Todd
Staley. “We love and will miss Leon dearly and we will
be honoring him in multiple ways this season and
beyond.”
The tribute to Ramirez is made possible
by S&S Fishing & Rental owners Shane and Shelley
Sprinkle, who were close friends with Ramirez and his
family.
In addition, the USMTS will begin a new
annual tradition of awarding a one-of-a-kind trophy to
the USMTS National Champion which, tentatively, will be
named the Leon Ramirez Trophy from now until the USMTS
sees its final checkered flag.
USMTS
National Champions 1999-2021: Although he was
winless in his first two seasons, Fertile, Iowa’s Kelly
Shryock was the first USMTS National Champion and scored
his first of eight straight titles in 1999. He bounced
back to notch his ninth title in 2009 after Minnesota
racers Jason Krohn of Slayton and Tim Donlinger claimed
the 2007 and 2008 crowns.
In 2010, Jason Hughes
earned his first USMTS National Championship. Three more
followed in 2015, 2016 and 2017 for the Westville,
Okla., pilot.
Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa,
recorded back-to-back national championships in 2010 and
2011 while Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas, did the same
at the conclusion of the 2013 and 2014 campaigns.
Sanders also took the titles in 2019 and 2020, but
in 2018 Johnny Scott had a dominating season and
registered his first and only USMTS National
Championship—one that was worth a record $50,000 at the
time.
After a pair of runner-up finishes behind
Sanders in the 2019 and 2020 campaigns, Dereck Ramirez
of Woodward, Okla., finally sealed the deal in 2021 and
pocketed a record $70,000 for his team’s efforts.
2022 blasts off March 4-5 at Rocket Raceway
Park: The Summit USMTS National Championship
presented by RacinDirt will invade the Rocket Raceway
Park in Petty, Texas, on Friday and Saturday, March 4-5,
for the 12th Annual Texas Spring Nationals.
The
fast and wide quarter-mile high-banked dirt oval will
also welcome USRA Stock Cars, USRA Limited Mods and USRA
Factory Stocks both nights. An open practice for all
competing divisions is slated for Thursday, March 3.
Most recently known as 82 Speedway, the track opened
as East Texas Speedway in 2015 and hosted the USMTS on
June 25 for the first and only visit by the series.
Philip Houston was the winner that night.
The
Rocket Raceway Park holds 3,400 spectators and its
elevated grandstands offer superb viewing from any seat.
The venue can be found in Lamar County—about 15 minutes
west of Paris and 25 minutes east of Bonham. The
physical location is 16369 US Hwy 82, Petty, TX 75470.
Learn more at
RocketRacewayPark.com and follow them on
Facebook,
Instagram and
Twitter.
Visit
usmts.com for
schedules,
points,
photos,
souvenirs,
videos and more. Follow our social media channels on
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Click here to get USMTS news delivered to your
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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American
Racer Racing Tires, Beyea
Headers, Chevrolet
Performance, Compstar, Dirt
Draft, Fast
Shafts, FK
Rod Ends, Intercomp, K1
RaceGear by Ryan Bowers Motorsports, KSE
Racing Products, Malvern
Bank, Mesilla
Valley Transportation, MSD
Performance, Nitroquest
Media, PEM
Racing Gears & Drivetrain, RacinDirt, Summit
Racing Equipment, Super
Clean, VP
Racing Fuels, Wrisco
Industries.
USMTS PARTICIPATING
SPONSORS: ARMI
Contractors, Boubin
Tire & Automotive, Brodix
Cylinder Heads, Hacienda
Mechanical, Mel
Hambelton Ford Racing, Midwest
Wrap Co., Miller
Welders, PBM
Performance Products, Rancho
Milagro Racing, RHRSwag.com, S&S
Fishing & Rental, YouDirt.com.
USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO
Racing Products, Allstar
Performance, BigDeal
Car Care, Bryke
Racing, BSB
Manufacturing, Champ
Pans, Deatherage
Opticians, Edelbrock, Hooker
Harness, Integra
Racing Shocks and Springs, JE
Pistons, Keyser
Manufacturing, Penske
Racing Shocks, Performance
Bodies & Parts, QA1, Race
Smart Wraps, RacerWebsite.com, Real
Racing Wheels, Simpson
Performance Products, Swift
Springs, Sybesma
Graphics, Tire
Demon, Wehrs
Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood
Racing.
USMTS RACETRACKS:
81 Speedway,
Arrowhead Speedway,
Belleville High Banks,
Casino Speedway,
Cedar Lake Speedway,
Chateau Speedway,
Dallas County Speedway,
Deer Creek Speedway,
Fayette County Speedway,
Hamilton County Speedway,
Humboldt Speedway,
I-70 Speedway,
Lakeside Speedway,
Lucas Oil Speedway,
Mason City Motor Speedway,
Mississippi Thunder Speedway,
Ogilvie Raceway,
Red Dirt Raceway,
Rocket Raceway Park,
Tri-State Speedway,
Winneshiek Raceway.
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Contact Info:br>
Jeff Nun
Chief Communications Officer
United States Modified Touring Series, Inc. (USMTS)
1715 W 2nd St, PO Box 905
Webster City, IA 50595
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