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Joe makes it a Chisholm sweep at USMTS Summit Texas Winter Nationals
The outlaw modifieds of the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt returned to the Heart O' Texas Speedway on Saturday for the second and final night of the 10th Annual Texas Winter Nationals.
Like the night before, Chisholm was the early leader of the 40-lap main event, but this night it was Joe Chisholm, the younger brother of defending USMTS national champ and winner of Friday's feature Jim Chisholm.
Running the faster but more dangerous high side of the high-banked 3/8-mile clay oval, the night's first G-Style Energy Caution Flag waved with 12 laps complete.
With the option to remain on the top groove where he stayed with for the first dozen laps, Joe Chisholm chose to restart from the bottom. The choice cost him the lead as Tanner Mullens stole first place away while Kyle Strickler and Rodney Sanders tussled for the third spot.
Three laps later, a multi-car incident in turn one slowed the pace again and Mullens found himself in a thrilling back-and-forth with Joe Chisholm who regained the top spot on lap 19 after some contact with Mullens.
The yellow flag appeared for a third time on lap 23 when Joe Chisholm's strong run from 16th ended with contact between himself and Strickler. Both suffered damage and restarted from the rear of the pack with 17 laps to go.
On the restart, a quick spin by Carlos Ahumada Jr. brought about the fifth and final caution as he was sniffing the top five.
Back under green, it was Joe Chisholm racing away from his pursuers as “Smoke” notched his career-first USMTS victory and the $5,000 winner's share of the prize money.
“I just kept on telling myself it was a weekly show,” said the 18-year-old from Osage, Iowa. “I race against Jim and Jake (Timm) and Brandon Davis, and they're just as good as any other USRA or USMTS competitor out there.
Even at just 18 years old, Joe Chisholm has a solid résumé with a pair of USRA B-Mod national titles in 2022 and 2023, and a victory at last year's Summit USRA Nationals en route to runner-up honors in the USRA Modified national points.
Nevertheless, it was nerve-racking for him.
“I had to calm myself down a few times, and sorry for getting into Tanner in three and four,” he added. “I thought I was going to stick a little bit better. I made a couple mistakes, but I was able to bounce back and learn from it.”
Mullens came home second to build on his weekend of podium finishes. He finished third on Friday night, and won Thursday's USRA American Racer Modified Series event here.
“I know that's just racing there. I know he wouldn't do it on purpose,” Mullens said of the contact between himself and the winner. “I thought I had something there for a minute, but he gets down the straight-away pretty good. We'll save the notes for the for the next race here and then come back.”
Rolling past the checkered flag behind Mullens was Terry Phillips to join Joe Chisholm and Mullens on the Featherlite Trailers Top-3 podium. His charge from 15th on the starting grid earned T.P. the FK Rod Ends Hard Charger Award.
Rodney Sanders and rookie contender Reece Solander rounded out the top five while the rest of the top-10 were Kyle Brown, Nathan Smith, Gary Christian, Jim Chisholm and Alex Williamson.
Rocket welcomes USMTS next weekend: After a thriller last year, fans can expect more of the same when the USMTS returns to the Rocket Raceway Park in Petty, Texas, for the 15th Annual Texas Spring Nationals on Friday and Saturday, March 7-8.
Both nights will pay $5,000 to win the Summit Racing Equipment “A” Main, with USRA Stock Cars, USRA Limited Mods (USRA B-Mods permitted) and Sunoco USRA Factory Stocks also in action both nights. Eco-Mods join the card on Saturday.
Located about 15 minutes west of Paris and 25 minutes east of Bonham, check out RocketRacewayPark.com, follow on Facebook, Instagram and X to learn more.
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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt
10th Annual Texas Winter Nationals – Day 2 of 2
Heart O' Texas Speedway, Elm Mott, Texas
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown. Heat race lineups are determined via group qualifying. The top 12 in heat race passing points advance to the Summit Racing Equipment “A” Main.
QUALIFYING GROUP 1:
1. 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan., 15.197
2. 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M., 15.222
3. 12H Mike Hansen, Dickinson, N.D., 15.364
4. 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, 15.400
5. 47 Jack Sartain, Royse City, Texas, 15.431
6. 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa, 15.453
7. 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan., 15.516
8. 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa, 15.579
9. 12J Jason Ingalls, Longview, Texas, 15.591
10. 71X Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas, 15.620
11. 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D., 15.628
12. 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., 15.668
13. 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa, 15.867
14. 56 Broc Bowen, Fannin, Texas, 15.877
15. 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla., 15.958
16. 91 Joe Duvall, Justice, Okla., 15.988
17. 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla., 16.174
18. 2GG Kenny Gaddis, Diana, Texas, 16.550
19. 15W Kale Westover, Altus, Okla., 16.589
20. D25 David Tanner, Wichita Falls, Texas, 16.739
21. 13S John Smelley, Longview, Texas, 17.438
22. 62 J.D. Davis, Merkel, Texas, 17.708
QUALIFYING GROUP 2:
1. 91X Jamie Burford, Keatchie, La., 15.070
2. 29 Keith Hammett, Brookland, Ark., 15.078
3. 24W Mason Williams, Fouke, Ark., 15.118
4. 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C., 15.140
5. 24M Manuel Williams II, Fouke, Ark., 15.174
6. 97 Cole Anderson, Le Center, Minn., 15.179
7. 45T Eric Tomlinson, Robinson, Texas, 15.190
8. 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas, 15.208
9. 12S Chase Hatton, De Berry, Texas, 15.229
10. 11J Justin Radcliff, Waco, Texas, 15.257
11. P1 Paul White, Waco, Texas, 15.270
12. 15WX Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn., 15.342
13. 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M., 15.385
14. 99L Steve Lavasseur, River Falls , Wis., 15.414
15. 17 Henry Chambers, Baldwin City, Kan., 15.426
16. 71 Chad Melton, Mineral Wells, Texas, 15.552
17. 7 Sean Gaddis, Diana, Texas, 15.559
18. 80XX Jason Langford, Palestine, Texas, 15.623
19. 7G David Goode Jr., Copperas Cove, Texas, 15.755
20. 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn., 33.144
21. 7S Troy Schaberg, Amity, Ark., 33.144
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps):
1. (2) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
2. (7) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
3. (3) 47 Jack Sartain, Royse City, Texas
4. (5) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan.
5. (8) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
6. (1) 12J Jason Ingalls, Longview, Texas
7. (11) 13S John Smelley, Longview, Texas
8. (9) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
9. (10) 15W Kale Westover, Altus, Okla.
10. (6) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
11. (4) 12H Mike Hansen, Dickinson, N.D.
FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. (2) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
2. (4) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
3. (3) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
4. (1) 71X Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas
5. (5) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M.
6. (6) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
7. (7) 56 Broc Bowen, Fannin, Texas
8. (9) 2GG Kenny Gaddis, Diana, Texas
9. (8) 91 Joe Duvall, Justice, Okla.
10. (10) D25 David Tanner, Wichita Falls, Texas
DNS - 62 J.D. Davis, Merkel, Texas
EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. (1) 12S Chase Hatton, De Berry, Texas
2. (3) 24M Manuel Williams II, Fouke, Ark.
3. (2) 45T Eric Tomlinson, Robinson, Texas
4. (4) 24W Mason Williams, Fouke, Ark.
5. (10) 7G David Goode Jr., Copperas Cove, Texas
6. (7) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
7. (6) P1 Paul White, Waco, Texas
8. (5) 91X Jamie Burford, Keatchie, La.
9. (11) 7S Troy Schaberg, Amity, Ark.
10. (8) 17 Henry Chambers, Baldwin City, Kan.
11. (9) 7 Sean Gaddis, Diana, Texas
WIELAND METAL SERVICES HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. (2) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas
2. (4) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C.
3. (6) 15WX Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn.
4. (7) 99L Steve Lavasseur, River Falls , Wis.
5. (3) 97 Cole Anderson, Le Center, Minn.
6. (8) 71 Chad Melton, Mineral Wells, Texas
7. (5) 29 Keith Hammett, Brookland, Ark.
8. (9) 80XX Jason Langford, Palestine, Texas
9. (10) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
10. (1) 11J Justin Radcliff, Waco, Texas
REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (1) 47 Jack Sartain, Royse City, Texas
2. (7) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
3. (5) 71 Chad Melton, Mineral Wells, Texas
4. (3) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M.
5. (2) 45T Eric Tomlinson, Robinson, Texas
6. (8) 91X Jamie Burford, Keatchie, La.
7. (12) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
8. (13) D25 David Tanner, Wichita Falls, Texas
9. (9) P1 Paul White, Waco, Texas
10. (11) 7S Troy Schaberg, Amity, Ark.
11. (14) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
12. (15) 11J Justin Radcliff, Waco, Texas
13. (16) 62 J.D. Davis, Merkel, Texas
14. (10) 2GG Kenny Gaddis, Diana, Texas
15. (4) 71X Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas
16. (6) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (15) 7 Sean Gaddis, Diana, Texas
2. (1) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
3. (7) 12J Jason Ingalls, Longview, Texas
4. (13) 17 Henry Chambers, Baldwin City, Kan.
5. (2) 7G David Goode Jr, Copperas Cove, Texas
6. (14) 12H Mike Hansen, Dickinson, N.D.
7. (11) 15W Kale Westover, Altus, Okla.
8. (5) 13S John Smelley, Longview, Texas
9. (12) 91 Joe Duvall, Justice, Okla.
10. (3) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
11. (10) 80XX Jason Langford, Palestine, Texas
12. (8) 56 Broc Bowen, Fannin, Texas
13. (4) 97 Cole Anderson, Le Center, Minn.
14. (6) 29 Keith Hammett, Brookland, Ark.
15. (9) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (2) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
2. (4) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
3. (15) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
4. (3) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
5. (10) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan.
6. (6) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
7. (19) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M.
8. (25) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
9. (16) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
10. (9) 15WX Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn.
11. (14) 7 Sean Gaddis, Diana, Texas
12. (5) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C.
13. (23) 91X Jamie Burford, Keatchie, La.
14. (26) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
15. (1) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas
16. (7) 24M Manuel Williams II, Fouke, Ark.
17. (20) 17 Henry Chambers, Baldwin City, Kan.
18. (11) 99L Steve Lavasseur, River Falls , Wis.
19. (8) 12S Chase Hatton, De Berry, Texas
20. (12) 24W Mason Williams, Fouke, Ark.
21. (18) 12J Jason Ingalls, Longview, Texas
22. (17) 71 Chad Melton, Mineral Wells, Texas
23. (22) 7G David Goode Jr., Copperas Cove, Texas
24. (13) 47 Jack Sartain, Royse City, Texas
25. (21) 45T Eric Tomlinson, Robinson, Texas
26. (24) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
Lap Leaders: Joe Chisholm 1-12, Mullens 13-18, Joe Chisholm 19-40.
Total Laps Led: Joe Chisholm 34, Mullens 6.
Margin of Victory: 0.793 second.
Time of Race: 29 minutes, 44.299 seconds (5 cautions).
Provisional Starters: Burford, Hughes.
Emergency Provisionals: Christian, M. Smith.
FK Rod Ends Hard Charger: Phillips (started 15th, finished 3rd).
Entries: 43.
Next Race: Friday-Saturday, March 7-8, Rocket Raceway Park, Petty, Texas.
Summit USMTS National Championship Points: Joe Chisholm 190, Mullens 187, Sanders 182, Jim Chisholm 177, Phillips 165, Williamson 153, Brown 153, Strickler 152, Christian 146, Solander 142.
Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Points: Solander 142, Hughes 128, Chambers 122, Hammett 101, Schaberg 90, Smelley 90, Davis 90, Langford 90.
FK Rod Ends USMTS Hard Charger Points: Hughes 15, Ahumada 13, Jim Chisholm 13, Phillips 13, Williamson 13.
Miller Welders USMTS Manufacturers Championship Points: Skyrocket 20, Mullens 17, MBCustoms 16, Bloodline 11, CDR 11.
Callies/JE Pistons USMTS Engine Builder of the Year Points: KSE 20, ECE 17, Hatfield 16, Mullins 13, Durham 12.
Contingency Awards:
Aero Race Wheels – Girolamo.
American Racer – Williamson.
Bear Graphix – Melton.
Beyea Custom Headers – Sanders.
Bryke Racing – Ahumada.
BSB Manufacturing – Mason Williams.
Champ Pans – Solander.
Danny Crane Racing Engines – Brown.
Edelbrock – Hatton.
Fast Shafts – Brown.
Featherlite Trailers – Joe Chisholm, Mullens, Phillips.
FK Rod Ends – Phillips.
Gorsuch Performance Solutions – Joe Chisholm.
Harris Auto Racing – Ingalls.
Hodges Farms & Dredging – Burford.
Hooker Harness – Strickler.
Hyperco – Brown.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Lavasseur.
Keyser Manufacturing – Williamson.
KSE Racing Products – Jim Chisholm.
MD3 – Joe Chisholm.
MSD Performance – Sanders.
Penske Racing Shocks – Burford.
PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain – Lavasseur.
QA1 – Mullens.
Quarter Master – Jim Chisholm.
RacerWebsite.com – Davis.
Real Racing Wheels – Westover.
Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt – Joe Chisholm.
Simpson Race Products – Mullens.
Sweet Manufacturing – Manuel Williams II.
Swift Springs – Joe Chisholm, S. Gaddis, Hatton.
Sybesma Graphics – Joe Chisholm.
Total Power – S. Gaddis.
VP Racing – Joe Chisholm.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Houston.
Wilwood Disc Brakes – N. Smith.
Unleashing the beast: The Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt is the ultimate proving ground where only the fiercest, most skilled dirt slingers in North America dare to tread. This is where legends are forged, battles are won and the roar of engines drowns out the weak.
Back in 1998, Todd and Janet Staley took a raw, untamed beast called the United States Modified Series and unleashed it on the world as the USMTS. Since 1999, this juggernaut has been tearing up the tracks while dishing out over $20 million in hard-earned cash to more than 4,700 warriors across 185 battlefields in 19 states.
This is where the elite meet, and every driver from the top guns to the local heroes, get a shot at glory. Over 1,500 gladiators from 36 states have thrown down at 58 of America's most brutal dirt tracks, turning each event into a spectacle of speed, skill and sheer audacity.
As we charge into the 27th season in 2025, get ready for 22 of the toughest, grittiest arenas in the land to host 39 nights of relentless, heart-pounding action. This is where the real racers of dirt modified racing come to show their mettle. Are you ready to witness the chaos, the speed, the glory? This is where legends are made, the dirt flies and the engines roar. Get ready for the USMTS—where only the toughest survive.
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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Beyea Headers, 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, VP Racing - Heartland, Wieland.
USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Boomtest Well Service, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Callies Performance Products, Collins Brothers Towing, Hochatown Saloon, Mel Hambelton Ford, Miller Welders, PBM Performance Products, STAKT Products, YouDirt.com.
USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bear Graphix, Bryke Racing, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Danny Crane Racing Engines, Dynamic Drivelines, Edelbrock, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, Hooker Harness, Hyperco, Integra Racing Shocks and Springs, JE Pistons, JRi Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, MD3, Mel Hambelton Racing, MSD Performance, Penske Racing Shocks, QA1, Quarter Master, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt, Simpson Performance Products, Sweet Manufacturing, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Total Power, Victory Fuel, Victory Vault, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Racing.