By SCOTT STEWART THIS SATURDAY the USMTS Modifieds will make their first appearance here for 2015. Also running will be the Iron Man Series B-Mods, and Stock Cars plus Pure Stocks — this is a non-points event.
The inaugural “Battle at the Bullring” on Saturday evening at Humboldt Speedway ended with Billings, Mo., driver Shawn Strong hoisting the championship trophy and collecting $9,000 for claiming the big win.
Strong’s victory came against 138 B-mod competitors representing 11 states and Canada throughout three straight nights of close competition. Strong ended the qualification rounds in fifth position and started inside of row three of the 50-lap finale after taking the checkered flag in three out of four of his preliminary events.
Bonner Springs driver Ethan Isaacs paced the early laps in his home-built HBJ Chassis no. 66. He was one of five drivers to break away from the rest of the 30-car field that initially took the green flag. Kansas City’s Mike Higley, who finished the 2014 season with two big-money B-mod wins, drove past Isaacs to take the helm just past the 20-lap marker and appeared to be on his way to a third-consecutive giant check as he masterfully paced the five-car getaway.
Late in the event, Strong began to make his moves. Lap after lap he was able to put himself into position for the win. In the final 10 laps he put the pressure on Isaacs and eventually took the runner-up spot just behind Higley, where he began searching for the right place and time to make the pass.
The winning moment came on lap 45 in turn two when Strong’s Ruble powered past Larry Shaw’s no. 14, and rocketed past Higley’s Rage no. 11 to take command. Once out front, Strong consistently hit his marks in the closing laps capping off the weekend with his biggest win to date in front of a standing room only crowd at the Hummer.
Gates open at 5, with races at 7:30 p.m. General admission is $17 and kids cost $5.
The following week the “King Of America” race will return. It’s March Madness at the Hummer.
Humboldt Speedway opens to battle
