3/2/2024
Dereck Ramirez
Ramirez charges to 5th in USMTS Texas Spring Nationals finale
Dereck Ramirez got off to an inauspicious start on Friday at Petty, Texas’ Rocket Raceway Park, but the 2021 United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) champion rebounded and ultimately turned in a fifth-place finish during the 14th annual USMTS Texas Spring Nationals.
Friday night’s program saw 65 Modifieds at the 3/8-mile track where a $5,000 first-place payday was up for grabs. In his heat race, a tangle with Tyler Wolff relegated Ramirez to a ninth-place finish. He then finished 18th in his B-Feature, but used a provisional to start 25th in the 40-lap main event. He recorded a 21st-place result.
The next day, Ramirez turned in an impressive performance as the field swelled to 67 USMTS Modifieds. After finishing as runner-up in his heat and third in his consolation race, he rolled off 19th in Saturday's 50-lap, $5,000-to-win A-Main. Ramirez rocketed forward 14 spots to claim a fifth-place result, taking the checkered flag behind Dan Ebert, Kyle Brown, Jake Timm and Tanner Mullens.
After the Texas Spring Nationals, Ramirez sits eighth in the USMTS National Championship point standings.
Full results are at www.usmts.com.
Article Credit: Tyler Rinken image
