Gustin, VanderBeek among favorites for USMTS at Upper Iowa Speedway

DECORAH — The Webster City-based United States Modified Touring Series doesn't race in Iowa all that often. But when it comes back to Iowa, the chances an Iowa native runs well almost always are high.

Such is the case again for this weekend, when USMTS makes its first laps in Iowa at Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah on Sunday. When the high-powered Modifieds roll out at the northeast Iowa oval, a pair of Iowa guys are going to be high on the list of those favored to win.

New Sharon native Zack VanderBeek and Marshalltown driver Ryan Gustin have combined to win five of the 11 USTMS races held at UIS, with VanderBeek getting his third win last year. Gustin has a pair himself, but hasn't been there since 2012 — which also happens to be the last time he won.

'Once you strap in the car, you don't necessarily think about if you're in Iowa or Texas; you go do your job and hopefully get a win, but when you're out of the car it's definitely nicer,' Gustin said. 'I feel like we have a car to beat no matter where we go throughout the country in our Modified. When we pull in, we have as good a chance as anybody. If that changes, it's time to figure something out.'

Gustin and VanderBeek have been guys to beat everywhere this season, and have been for a few years. VanderBeek currently sits third in USMTS Central Region points and fifth in Southern Region points with one win and is in the first season racing self-built chassis. He also got his first career USMTS win, in 2005, at UIS.

Gustin is second in Southern Region points with two wins so far this season — the first of a new deal racing for Jason Hughes Racing. Hughes has multiple USMTS titles to his credit and the pair have proved to be formidable, to say the least, in their brief time teamed up.

Combine a highly successful team with some track familiarity, and it makes sense why Gustin, in particular, is so confident.

'We've raced extremely well together and I don't see that changing,' Gustin said.

Gustin also has more motivation than usual for this weekend, which also includes races at Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wis., and Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn.

His grandfather, Dale DeFrance — father to IMCA Late Model driver Darrel DeFrance — died early Monday morning, and Gustin said he, his Modified-racer brothers and sister Jimmy, Richie and Jenae all would be racing this weekend in his memory.

Gustin said his grandpa 'loved racing more than anyone I know,' so that's what the family planned to go do.

'I'm racing for him this weekend,' Gustin said.

TIRE SAMPLES CLEAR FROM MODIFIED SUPER WEEKEND

Farley Speedway Promotions announced Monday tire samples from the top 10 finishers of both the Modified and Sport Mod races at the Modified Super Weekend came clear, with no failures, making the results of the event official.

Mooresville, N.C., driver Kyle Strickler gets $50,000 for the win in Modified ahead of Hunter Marriott ($20,000) and Johnny Scott ($8,000). Waseca, Minn., driver Jared Boumeester won the Sport Mod event, and will get $20,000 after he beat Boone driver Jake McBirnie by 0.017 seconds.

FSP's release said checks to those competitors whose tires were tested would be mailed out Monday.

IOWAN BRETT MOFFITT LOSES TRUCK SERIES RIDE

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team Red Horse Racing announced Monday it was closing its doors effective immediately after 13 seasons due to a lack of funding, according to Motorsport.com.

The team's closure means Grimes native Brett Moffitt is out of a ride. What comes next for the 24-year-old racer remains to be seen.

The 2015 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year won last season at Michigan Speedway for Red Horse, and his three top-five finishes in six starts last season parlayed into a handshake agreement for a full season this year. Through five races, Moffitt sat 10th in series points with a pair of top-10 finishes.

MOTOGP CHAMPION NICKY HAYDEN DIES

American motorcycle racer and 2006 MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden died Monday at age 35, five days after being hit by a car while riding his bicycle in Italy.

The Owensboro, Ky., native was reported to have sustained severe cerebral damage and multiple traumatic injuries in the accident, which happened days after he raced in the SuperBike World Championship round at Imola.

Hayden raced 13 seasons and part of a 14th in MotoGP, which is the highest level of motorcycle racing in the world. He won three MotoGP races in his career, including back-to-back at the United States Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 2005 and 2006. His 2006 championship, by five points over legendary Italian rider Valentino Rossi, is the last by an American in MotoGP.

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