4/22/2023
Dereck Ramirez
Ramirez contests three feature events as part of Ed Gressel Memorial at 81 Speedway
The inaugural Ed Gressel Memorial at 81 Speedway in Park City, Kansas, attracted more than 50 stout United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) Dirt Modifieds, including the Koda Services, Inc. No. 4R of series regular Dereck Ramirez. The event featured three complete shows, with Woodward, Oklahoma’s Ramirez turning in a best finish of fifth.
Preliminary action kicked off on the 3/8-mile semi-banked oval on Thursday evening with Ramirez fourth quickest in his qualifying group. He started third and finished second in his heat race, starting him 12th for the 30-lap feature. After breaking into the top-10 early, Ramirez finished in the 12th spot.
On Friday, Ramirez had another strong qualifying effort, coming in second in his group. That put him on the pole for his heat race, where he finished in the runner-up position. He also qualified for the evening’s Dash 4 Cash race and again started first and finished second. Friday’s 35-lap A-Main was Ramirez’s strongest feature of the weekend as he picked up one position from his sixth-place starting spot to come home with a top-five result.
For Saturday’s finale, Ramirez set the quickest time in his qualifying group and moved from sixth to third in his heat race. He again competed in the night’s dash race with a second-place effort.
Ramirez started on point for the 50-lap, $10,000-to-win feature and looked strong early, leading the first half of the race. He maintained a spot near the front until the event’s late stages when he faded to an 18th-place finish.
Full results are available at www.usmts.com.
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