Shryock Crowned "King of America" in Modified Nationals at Humboldt

video by Mike Kraft
Humboldt, KS | Oct. 22, 2011 - Kelly Shryock owns nine titles and 176 career victories under the United States Modified Touring Series banner, and now you can officially call him “The King” of the dirt Modified racing world. Saturday night at the Humboldt Speedway, the 46-year-old from Fertile, Iowa, waited patiently for the first 50 laps and then took control for the final 25 laps to win the inaugural King of America Modified Nationals...
NIGHTS 1 & 2 VIDEOS & RESULTS
NIGHT 3 VIDEO & RESULTS

After blowing an engine Wednesday, Shryock used his “mulligan” to re-qualify Friday night where he sped to a win and earned the outside front row for Saturday night’s $15,000-to-win main event.

But it was polesitter Mark Dotson of Cameron, Mo., who took command at the drop of the green flag Saturday night as 29 of the best drivers in the sport chased him around the popular 3/8-mile clay oval.

The race’s first caution came with 10 laps in the books. Back-to-back yellow flags followed with a four-car tangle on the restart and then another one lap later when seventh-running Rodney Sanders slowed on the track with mechanical problems.

Dotson fended off Shryock on each restart, but it was Jon Tesch who found the high side to his liking and powered around the outside of Dotson to lead the 13th lap. The Watertown, S.D., pilot came up on lapped traffic eight laps later as Shryock got under Dotson to take over the second spot with Johnny Scott, Terry Phillips and Steven Whiteaker Jr. close behind.

As the leaders exited turn 4 to complete laps 38, Shryock snuck underneath Tesch to gain the lead for the first time, but the ‘Wizard of Watertown’ scrambled to regain the point the next time around while Dotson and Scott were glued to the bumper of the lead pair.

Soon, Phillips and Gustin also closed in as the top 6 were within two seconds of each other. With lapped traffic in play and the lower groove beginning to get faster, Shryock found his way by Tesch on lap 50. Scott and Phillips also found their way by Tesch before the yellow flag appeared again lap 58 when Dotson and Gustin got together and ended their hopes for victory.

Shryock was undeterred and kept Scott behind him for the next 10 laps before the fifth and final caution occurred with seven laps remaining. Once again, however, Shryock was flawless on the restart and won going away to claim the $15,000 top prize and the crown at the King of America Modified Nationals.

Scott, who won Thursday’s qualifying feature, finished 1.022 seconds behind Shryock in second, with last month’s Featherlite Fall Jamboree winner, Terry Phillips coming home in third ahead of Tesch and Whiteaker.

Ryan Ruter advanced six positions to finish sixth, Jeremy Payne snared seventh-place money, Randy Timms earned an eighth-place finish, Dereck Ramirez nabbed ninth and Brian Bolin rounded out the top 10 at the finish line.

Each of the 30 main event starters pocketed at least $1,500 and Ramirez picked up an extra $1,000 from Hanson Tire Service by earning the hard charger award.

John Schwab earned the $500 Roadrunner Trucking Passmaster bonus for passing a total of 23 cars during his run from the “E” Main to the “C” Main.

In the accompanying 20-lap B-Mod feature race, Scott Drake collected the $1,000 winner’s share of the prize money.

A packed house was on hand for Saturday’s blockbuster finale, but if you missed this year's event you won't have long to wait to see the next one. Officials announced tonight that the 2nd annual King of America will be held here at the Humboldt Speedway during the third or fourth weekend in March in 2012.

The inaugural King of America Modified Nationals was made possible by several great sponsors including Allen’s Automotive, Casey’s General Stores, Hanson Tire Service, River’s Edge Scrap Management, Roadrunner Trucking, Schwab’s Tinker Shop and Swan Energy.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also follow the USMTS on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RESULTS

SWAN ENERGY FINAL A-Mod A-MAIN RESULTS (75 laps):
1. (2) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ProPower, 75, $15,000.
2. (9) 12j Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/Mullins, 75, $8000.
3. (7) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 75, $5000.
4. (3) 14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D., GRT/Sput’s, 75, $4000.
5. (4) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, 75, $3000.
6. (12) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa, Sidebiter/Sput’s, 75, $2500.
7. (11) 74 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 75, $2200.
8. (10) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla., Hughes/Geddes, 75, $2000.
9. (19) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 75, $2800.
10. (5) X2 Brian Bolin, Fort Scott, Kan., Intruder/Yeoman, 75, $1700.
11. (13) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Skyrocket/GMPP, 75, $1675.
12. (15) 02 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 75, $1650.
13. (16) 90 Terry Schultz, Sedalia, Mo., Mach1/Schultz, 75, $1625.
14. (20) 12 Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, Ark., TRE/Homegrown, 75, $1600.
15. (23) 18 Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., GRT/Sput’s, 75, $1575.
16. (21) 20r Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Skyrocket/ASI, 75, $1550.
17. (25) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., Hughes/Sput’s, 75, $1540.
18. (27) 98 Jeff Cutshaw, Cross Timbers, Mo., Hoffman/DP, 75, $1530.
19. (24) 51 Tim Setzer, Archie, Mo., Hughes/AEM, 75, $1520.
20. (8) 21 Johnny Fennewald, Appleton City, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 75, $1510.
21. (28) 25 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn., Hughes/Mullins, 75, $1500.
22. (30) 52 Mitch Keeter, Joplin, Mo., Hoffman/Yeoman, 67, engine, $1500.
23. (18) 98 John Allen, Chanute, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 65, flat tire, $1500.
24. (22) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa, BC/Mullins, 64, mechanical, $1500.
25. (17) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 58, handling, $1500.
26. (1) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo., GRT/KSE, 57, crash, $1500.
27. (14) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 57, crash, $1500.
28. (26) 73b Shad Badder, Oak Grove, Mo., BillsBuilt/Yancy’s, 56, mechanical, $1500.
29. (29) 118 Terry Beckham II, Webb City, Mo., TRE/Beckham, 54, mechanical, $1500.
30. (6) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Geddes, 10, fuel pump, $1500.
Lap Leaders: Dotson 1-12, Tesch 13-37, Shryock 38, Tesch 39-50, Shryock 51-75.
Total Laps Led: Tesch 37, Shryock 26, Dotson 12.
Margin of Victory: 1.022 seconds.
Hanson Tire Service Hard Charger: Ramirez (started 19th, finished 9th).
Roadrunner Trucking Passmaster: Schwab (passed 23 cars).

King of America Night 4: A-Modifieds: C & B-Mains + B-Mod: A-Main

video by Mike Kraft