Zack VanderBeek

Up next for the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt is a whirlwind week of racing to open the month of August in the Mel Hambelton Racing USMTS Central Region.

With just five of the scheduled twelve events in the books, the points battle is close in the region as well as the national rankings, and the first weekend of the month will find the USMTS racers tackling three venues that couldn’t be more different.

Lucas Oil Speedway - Wheatland, Missouri
15th Annual Slick Mist Show-Me Shootout presented by Foley Equipment
Friday-Saturday, August 2-3

The Summit USMTS Modifieds bring the heat back to the “Diamond of Dirt Tracks” for back-to-back $5,000-to-win shows.

In prior visits to the Lucas Oil Speedway, 2021 USMTS National Champion Dereck Ramirez won three Slick Mist Show-Me Shootouts in a row before Rodney Sanders picked up the win here last year.

Along with Sanders, Kelly Shryock, Jeremy Payne and Terry Phillips are two-time winners here while Jason Krohn, Ryan Gustin, Johnny Scott, Zack VanderBeek, Stormy Scott, and Tanner Mullens each have one win in Wheatland on their résumé.

The Lucas Oil Speedway is one of the best racing facility in the nation. With 21 VIP luxury suites, a giant HD Jumbo Tron screen, Musco Sports lighting, Bose Stadium sound system, a go-kart slick track for all ages, The Diamond Bar, the best track food in the country, and the nicest pits in dirt track racing are just a few of the amenities that set this place apart from the others.

What’s more, this event is less than two months before the 11th Annual Summit USRA Nationals on Wednesday-Saturday, September 17-21, so look for a massive car count with USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods on the card both nights, along with Late Models.

The Lucas Oil Speedway is a semi-banked 3/8-mile clay oval located 0.2 mile south of US 54 on SR 83, then east to 18842 Speedway Dr, Wheatland, MO 65779.

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Beatrice Speedway - Beatrice, Nebraska
3rd Annual Battle By The Big Blue presented by Valentino's
Wednesday, August 7

The Summit USMTS return to the Beatrice Speedway in Beatrice, Neb., for the first time in 17 years. On Wednesday, August 7. The third ever visit by the Summit USMTS will be a spectacular

The Summit USMTS Modifieds made their first appearance at the Beatrice Speedway on August 16, 1999. With drivers such as Ron Jones, Wayne Larson, Mark Noble, Tim Donlinger and Joe Kosiski on hand, it was local favorite Greg Metz who scored the win in front of a packed house.

The series returned nearly eight years later on August 8, 2007. Four-time USMTS National Champion Jason Hughes is expected to return in 2024 after holding off arch rival Kelly Shryock to win the 2007 event.

With 2007 USMTS national champ Jason Krohn finishing third, the podium represented 14 national titles with two Beatrice Speedway legends—Jordan Grabouski and Johnny Saathoff—rounding out the top five finishers.

Two (2) provisional starting spots will be awarded to the top two (2) in track points that fail to qualify for "A" Main. Beatrice Speedway’s weekly Sports Mods will also be in action.

The Beatrice Speedway is a semi-banked 3/8-mile clay oval located 1.7 miles west of US 77 on US 136, then 0.3 miles south to 321 Logan St, Beatrice, NE 68310 (at the Gage County Fairgrounds).

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Lakeside Speedway - Kansas City, Kansas
7th & 8th Annual Grant Junghans Memorial
Thursday-Friday, August 8-9

The Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt.com returns to Don Marrs’ Lakeside Speedway for the 7th and 8th Annual Grant Junghans Memorial races to celebrate the life of one of the most popular dirt modified racers of all time.

Thursday’s event will see double features paying $2,222 to win each before returning Friday night for $12,002 to win and no less than $1,002 to start the main event for licensed drivers.

USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods will round out the three-division program and competing for valuable Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series points.

Entry fees, spectator tickets and pit pass sales will benefit the Grant Junghans Memorial Fund which supports research and funding for childhood cancer.

The racing world lost one of its finest ambassadors in March 2016, and the Grant Junghans Memorial race is an opportunity for his family, friends, fans and fellow competitors to remember the good times and racing memories shared in his 27 years with us.

Junghans was first diagnosed with cancer in February of 2010. Despite on-again off-again chemotherapy treatments and numerous surgeries, he never lost his sense of humor, fighting spirit or natural-born tendency to be decent to others.

He was also the 2009 USMTS Rookie of the Year and that award has since been renamed in his honor.

Lucas Schott topped the inaugural event in 2016. Rodney Sanders, Jake O'Neil, Jacob Bleess and Ricky Thornton Jr. won the next four and Tanner Mullens is the defending champion of the Grant Junghans Memorial.

Last year’s race at the Lakeside Speedway was rained out, hence the doubleheader this year on August 8-9.

The Lakeside Speedway is a high-banked 4/10-mile dirt oval located 1 west of I-435 (exit 18) on SR 5 (northwest of Kansas City) to 5615 Wolcott Dr, Kansas City, KS 66109.

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Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt
Points as of July 29, 2024

1. 49 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn., 1901 (2 wins)
2. 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa, 1877 (4 wins)
3. 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, 1785 (4 wins)
4. 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., 1688
5. 60 Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn., 1661 (2 wins)
6. 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan., 1622 (1 win)
7. 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., 1562 (1 win)
8. 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan., 1521
9. 15W Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn., 1470
10. 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla., 1465
11. 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa, 1423
12. 01 Jacob Hobscheidt, Plattsmouth, Neb., 1415
13. 7G Gabe Hodges, Lebo, Kan., 1331
14. 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn., 1233
15. 0 Jake O'Neil, Tucson, Ariz., 989 (3 wins)
Other winners:
18. 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn., 838 (1 win)
26. 4W Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark., 530 (1 win)
31. 50III Brandon Davis, Hayfield, Minn., 407 (1 win)
38. 87 Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, Kan., 302 (1 win)
48. 47 Jack Sartain, Royse City, Texas, 258 (1 win)

Mel Hambelton Racing USMTS Central Region
Points as of July 29, 2024

1. 49 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn., 440 (1 win)
2. 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa, 419 (1 win)
3. 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, 387
4. 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., 387
5. 4R Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., 382
6. 01 Jacob Hobscheidt, Plattsmouth, Neb., 379
7. 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan., 368
8. 60 Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn., 366
9. 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., 354
10. 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa, 331
11. 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla., 326
12. 15W Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn., 323
13. 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan., 321
14. 19SB Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif., 272
15. 7G Gabe Hodges, Lebo, Kan., 266
16. 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn., 262
17. 99L Steve Lavasseur, River Falls , Wis., 255
18. 26S Steven Glenn, Hamilton, Mo., 241
Other winners:
21. 4W Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark., 206 (1 win)
22. 87 Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, Kan., 199 (1 win)
27. 0 Jake O'Neil, Tucson, Ariz., 187 (1 win)

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