Zack VanderBeek

USMTS invades Sunflower State this weekend as point battles heat up

The road warriors of the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt return to the Mel Hambelton Racing USMTS Central Region for the final time in 2024 this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26.

The weekend kicks off with the 13th Annual Jayhawk Classic at the legendary Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., on Friday before returning to the exciting 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan., on Saturday for the 4th Annual Modified Spooktacular.

Jim Chisholm of Osage, Iowa, already has the title in his pocket for the Collins Brothers Towing USMTS North Region presented by Featherlite. He comes into this weekend as the Mel Hambelton Racing USMTS Central Region finales as the points leader.

Not far behind, Terry Phillips is 28 points behind while Jake Timm and Rodney Sanders sit third and fourth and the only other drivers mathematically able to catch Chisholm. Chisholm is still in the hunt to win all three regions, and thus earn $180,000 if he becomes the 2024 USMTS National Champion.

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Chisholm and Timm are both looking to capture their first wins at the Lakeside Speedway while Phillips and Sanders are both five-time visitors to Victory Fuel Victory Lane here.

Alongside the USMTS Modifieds on Friday will be USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods.

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

For complete event information, check out the FAST FACTS for the 13th Annual Jayhawk Classic.

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Saturday’s regional finale will happen just outside of Wichita in Park City for a treat to one of the most popular and high-intensity dirt racetracks in America.

Four-time USMTS National Champion Jason Hughes won the first USMTS event at the 81 Speedway in 2008, and again in 2017. The winningest USMTS driver here is five-time national champ Rodney Sanders who has six wins here. Of note, Hughes and Sanders possess the second and third most career wins in USMTS behind nine-time titlist Kelly Shryock.

Prior to racing on Saturday, trick-or-treating for the kids will happen from 2-3 p.m. with a Halloween Walk through the pits. Trunk-or-Treat is free to the public, and racers and encouraged to brings treats, hero cards and decorations for the kids.

Also racing will be the JLR Property Management 316 Mods and Allied Battery Stock Cars.

The 81 Speedway is a high-banked 3/8-mile dirt oval located at 7700 N Broadway, Park City, KS 67219. The track is just north of Wichita on I-135 to exit 16, then 0.7 mile west on 77th St.

For complete event information, check out the FAST FACTS for the 4th Annual Modified Spooktacular.

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The final four races of the 2024 campaign happen Nov. 1-2 at the Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, La., followed by the season finale Nov. 8-9 at the Heart O’ Texas Speedway in Elm Mott, Texas.

Each night in the Lonestar State will pay $5,000 to win and culminate with the final points races for the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt and the ARMI Contractors USMTS South Region presented by Gene Nicholas, LLC.

Check out USMTS.com for schedules, points, photos, souvenirs, videos and more. Follow our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube. Don't forget to subscribe for free to get USMTS news delivered to your inbox plus Members Only benefits.

With live and on-demand coverage of every USMTS event plus exclusive interviews, instant replays, multiple camera angles and more, subscribe to RacinDirt for live streaming on all of your devices.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Beyea Headers, Callies Performance Products, Chevrolet Performance, Fast Shafts, Featherlite Trailers, FK Rod Ends, KSE Racing Products, Malvern Bank, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Nitroquest Media, PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain, RacinDirt, Summit Racing Equipment, TicketSmarter, VP Racing - Heartland, Wieland.