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6th place in prelim, engine woes for Tom Berry Jr. at Mason City

The 2023 calendar took Tom Berry Jr. to Mason City Motor Speedway (Mason City, Iowa) over the weekend for the 10th annual Summit United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) North Iowa Nationals.

Among 37 USMTS competitors registered for competition in the event opener on Thursday evening, Berry set quick time in his group qualifying session. He then drove his Xtreme Lubricants No. 11x Modified from sixth to second in his heat race, putting him seventh on the grid for the 35-lap, $3,000-to-win A-Main. He moved forward one spot on the 1/3-mile oval to claim the sixth finishing position.

Forty-two USMTS Modifieds were in the pit area on Friday, and Berry again started strong, turning in a third-place effort in his qualifying group and finishing as runner-up in his heat. He started the 40-lap, $5,000-to-win main event from the ninth spot but was forced to retire after a handful of laps. He was scored as finishing 25th.

Saturday’s finale brought 38 Modifieds to Mason City in search of the $10,000 first-place payout in the 50-lap main event. Berry’s night would end early though. After starting and finishing 10th in his heat race he was unable to make the call for the B-Main.

During the course of the North Iowa Nationals Berry broke both of his engines, likely ending his 2023 USMTS campaign.

Despite the setback, he sits eighth in USMTS National points and continues to lead the Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year standings.

Full results can be found at www.usmts.com.

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