Mark Smith claims first USMTS victory at Amarillo Ambush

NewsJune 20, 2025

Mark Smith claims first USMTS victory at Amarillo Ambush

AMARILLO, Texas (June 20, 2025)—On Friday night, the 12th Annual Amarillo Ambush presented by B&J Welding and Walkon Construction roared to life at Route 66 Motor Speedway, where Mark Smith of Anthony, N.M., captured his first career USMTS victory.

The 22-year-old became the seventh different winner in 16 feature races this season and the second rookie to earn a maiden win, leading all 35 laps in a thrilling Summit Racing Equipment “A” Main.

Smith held off a fierce challenge from Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., who finished second, just 0.508 seconds behind, marking his best result of 2025. Phillips, 58, nearly secured his 42nd career USMTS feature win.

Tanner Mullens of Wichita, Kan., the 2020 USMTS Grant Junghans Rookie of the Year, took third. Kale Westover of Altus, Okla., who ran second for much of the race, made a bold move on the final lap but slipped to fourth.

Meanwhile, A.J. Sharpensteen, a 37-year-old multi-generational local racer following in the footsteps of Alan Sharpensteen, rounded out the top five.

Smith's commanding performance earned him contingency awards from Featherlite Trailers, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, MD3, Sybesma Graphics, Swift Springs and VP Racing. Phillips secured a Simpson Race Products award, while Mullens claimed honors from Hodges Farms & Dredging, JE Pistons and QA1.

Westover picked up awards from Beyea Custom Headers, Edelbrock and MSD Performance. Sharpensteen received the Champ Pans and Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt prizes.

The FK Rod Ends Hard Charger Award went to Xavier Ortega of Las Cruces, N.M., who surged from 20th to 10th. Other notable contingency awards included Wilwood Disc Brakes to Rodney Sanders, and Fast Shafts to Jim Chisholm.

The event saw 46 entries, with the next race set for Saturday back at Route 66 Motor Speedway. For more information, check out www.route66motorspeedway.net.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt
12th Annual Amarillo Ambush presented by B&J Welding and Walkon Construction – Night 1 of 2
Route 66 Motor Speedway, Amarillo, Texas
Friday, June 20, 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.

HODGES FARMS & DREDGING QUALIFYING GROUP #1:
1. (9) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan., 16.379
2. (11) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa, 16.461
3. (4) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr.., El Paso, Texas, 16.496
4. (1) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C., 16.525
5. (18) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan., 16.544
6. (23) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla., 16.685
7. (12) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., 16.72
8. (22) 22M Sammy McNabb, Amarillo, Texas, 16.775
9. (19) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla., 16.809
10. (14) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas, 16.982
11. (15) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M., 16.982
12. (8) 24X Xavier Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M., 17.026
13. (21) 24 Diego Alvarado, El Paso, Texas, 17.037
14. (3) 117 Toby Herring, Hobbs, N.M., 17.173
15. (13) 1 Ryan Reeves, Lubbock, Texas, 17.206
16. (10) 100 Braden Howell, Amarillo, Texas, 17.237
17. (17) 58 Braden Elliott, Amarillo, Texas, 17.307
18. (20) 55G Braden Gress, Amarillo, Texas, 17.377
19. (16) 2 Kohl McCutcheon, Alamogordo, N.M., 17.486
20. (7) 2S Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., 17.536
21. (2) 17M Roy Don Mason, Hobbs, N.M., 17.713
22. (6) 2X Gene Weaver, Amarillo, Texas, 17.822
DQ - (5) 11G Cameron Gillmore, Amarillo, Texas, 16.864

HODGES FARMS & DREDGING QUALIFYING GROUP #2:
1. (5) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa, 16.545
2. (19) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M., 16.699
3. (6) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, 16.733
4. (14) 56 Broc Bowen, Fannin, Texas, 16.768
5. (2) 18 Bobby Mayfield, Elk City, Okla., 16.994
6. (23) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa, 17.009
7. (11) 15W Kale Westover, Altus, Okla., 17.061
8. (7) 12C Leland Cruz, Amarillo, Texas, 17.111
9. (9) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M., 17.144
10. (18) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M., 17.149
11. (3) 21 Derek Scott, Canyon, Texas, 17.202
12. (1) 818 Kalvin King, Amarillo, Texas, 17.246
13. (16) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D., 17.266
14. (10) D25 David Tanner, Wichita Falls, Texas, 17.274
15. (17) 71W Billy Wilker, Idalou, Texas, 17.352
16. (8) 11D Cole Dennis, Altus, Okla., 17.386
17. (22) 77 Ronnie Yanacsek, Amarillo, Texas, 17.417
18. (20) 18JR Ricardo Olague Jr., El Paso, Texas, 17.617
19. (13) 29 Chris Elliott, Amarillo, Texas, 17.709
20. (15) 37 Coty Tanquary, Lubbock, Texas, 17.729
21. (21) 1126 Chad Tanquary, Lubbock, Texas, 17.788
22. (12) 88R Rogelio Guzman, El Paso, Texas, 18.772
DQ - (4) 7 A.J. Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas, 16.815

SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps):
1. (1) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
2. (4) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
3. (2) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan.
4. (5) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
5. (3) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr.., El Paso, Texas
6. (6) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (12) 11G Cameron Gillmore, Amarillo, Texas
8. (10) 2 Kohl McCutcheon, Alamogordo, N.M.
9. (11) 17M Roy Don Mason, Hobbs, N.M.
10. (8) 1 Ryan Reeves, Lubbock, Texas
11. (9) 58 Braden Elliott, Amarillo, Texas
12. (7) 24 Diego Alvarado, El Paso, Texas

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. (4) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
2. (2) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
3. (3) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C.
4. (10) 2S Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (1) 22M Sammy McNabb, Amarillo, Texas
6. (6) 24X Xavier Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (11) 2X Gene Weaver, Amarillo, Texas
8. (7) 117 Toby Herring, Hobbs, N.M.
9. (9) 55G Braden Gress, Amarillo, Texas
10. (8) 100 Braden Howell, Amarillo, Texas
11. (5) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. (1) 15W Kale Westover, Altus, Okla.
2. (4) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
3. (3) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
4. (12) 7 A.J. Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas
5. (7) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
6. (5) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M.
7. (6) 21 Derek Scott, Canyon, Texas
8. (2) 18 Bobby Mayfield, Elk City, Okla.
9. (8) 71W Billy Wilker, Idalou, Texas
10. (9) 77 Ronnie Yanacsek, Amarillo, Texas
11. (10) 29 Chris Elliott, Amarillo, Texas
12. (11) 1126 Chad Tanquary, Lubbock, Texas

WIELAND HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. (2) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
2. (5) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
3. (3) 56 Broc Bowen, Fannin, Texas
4. (4) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (7) D25 David Tanner, Wichita Falls, Texas
6. (6) 818 Kalvin King, Amarillo, Texas
7. (1) 12C Leland Cruz, Amarillo, Texas
8. (8) 11D Cole Dennis, Altus, Okla.
9. (11) 88R Rogelio Guzman, El Paso, Texas
10. (10) 37 Coty Tanquary, Lubbock, Texas
11. (9) 18JR Ricardo Olague Jr., El Paso, Texas

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (4) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr.., El Paso, Texas
2. (2) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan.
3. (1) 56 Broc Bowen, Fannin, Texas
4. (5) 2X Gene Weaver, Amarillo, Texas
5. (8) 21 Derek Scott, Canyon, Texas
6. (3) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
7. (12) 55G Braden Gress, Amarillo, Texas
8. (10) 117 Toby Herring, Hobbs, N.M.
9. (15) 18JR Ricardo Olague Jr., El Paso, Texas
10. (13) 37 Coty Tanquary, Lubbock, Texas
11. (14) 29 Chris Elliott, Amarillo, Texas
12. (9) 12C Leland Cruz, Amarillo, Texas
13. (11) 88R Rogelio Guzman, El Paso, Texas
14. (7) 818 Kalvin King, Amarillo, Texas
15. (6) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
DNS - 1 Ryan Reeves, Lubbock, Texas
DNS - 1126 Chad Tanquary, Lubbock, Texas

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (1) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (2) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
3. (3) D25 David Tanner, Wichita Falls, Texas
4. (6) 24X Xavier Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (16) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas
6. (11) 18 Bobby Mayfield, Elk City, Okla.
7. (15) 58 Braden Elliott, Amarillo, Texas
8. (5) 22M Sammy McNabb, Amarillo, Texas
9. (9) 11D Cole Dennis, Altus, Okla.
10. (12) 71W Billy Wilker, Idalou, Texas
11. (7) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M.
12. (8) 2 Kohl McCutcheon, Alamogordo, N.M.
13. (10) 17M Roy Don Mason, Hobbs, N.M.
14. (4) 11G Cameron Gillmore, Amarillo, Texas
15. (13) 77 Ronnie Yanacsek, Amarillo, Texas
16. (14) 100 Braden Howell, Amarillo, Texas
DNS - 24 Diego Alvarado, El Paso, Texas

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. (1) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
2. (3) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
3. (6) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
4. (2) 15W Kale Westover, Altus, Okla.
5. (7) 7 A.J. Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas
6. (9) 2S Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (12) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
8. (16) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
9. (13) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr.., El Paso, Texas
10. (20) 24X Xavier Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
11. (4) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
12. (5) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
13. (14) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
14. (11) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C.
15. (10) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
16. (18) D25 David Tanner, Wichita Falls, Texas
17. (8) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
18. (19) 2X Gene Weaver, Amarillo, Texas
19. (21) 21 Derek Scott, Canyon, Texas
20. (17) 56 Broc Bowen, Fannin, Texas
21. (23) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
22. (15) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan.
23. (22) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas
24. (24) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M.

Lap Leaders: M. Smith 1-35.
Total Laps Led: M. Smith 35.
Margin of Victory: 0.508 second.
Time of Race: minutes, seconds ( cautions).
Provisional Starters: Girolamo, N. Smith.
FK Rod Ends Hard Charger: Ortega (started 20th, finished 10th).
Entries: 46.
Next Race: June 21, Route 66 Motor Speedway, Amarillo, Texas
Summit USMTS National Championship Points: Sanders 1452 Jim Chisholm 1353 Mullens 1295 Strickler 1266 Joe Chisholm 1187 Phillips 1177 Christian 1119 Hughes 1083 K. Brown 1019 Solander 983.
Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Points: Joe Chisholm 1113 Hughes 1011 Solander 933 Girolamo 652 M. Smith 582.
FK Rod Ends USMTS Hard Charger Points: Sanders 73, Jim Chisholm 54, Alex Williamson 47, Strickler 46, Phillips 46.
Miller Welders USMTS Manufacturers Championship Points: MBCustoms 137 CDR 124 Skyrocket 123 Mullens 95 Bloodline 73.
JE Pistons USMTS Engine Builder of the Year Points: Hatfield 133 KSE 126 Mullins 111 ECE 100 Durham 82.

Contingency Awards:
Aero Race Wheels – Alvarado.
American Racer – S. Scott.
Bear Graphix – Solander.
Beyea Custom Headers – Westover.
Bryke Racing – Hughes.
BSB Manufacturing – Bowen.
Champ Pans – Sharpensteen.
Danny Crane Racing Engines – S. Scott.
Dynamic Drivelines – Tanquary.
Edelbrock – Westover.
Fast Shafts – Jim Chisholm.
Featherlite Trailers – M. Smith, Phillips, Mullens.
FK Rod Ends – Ortega.
Gorsuch Performance Solutions – M. Smith.
Harris Auto Racing – Girolamo.
Hodges Farms & Dredging – Mullens.
Hooker Harness – Brown.
Hyperco – Yanacsek.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Weaver.
JE Pistons – Mullens.
Keyser Manufacturing – Ortega.
KSE Racing Products – Ortega.
MD3 – M. Smith.
MSD Performance – Westover.
Penske Racing Shocks – J. Gallardo.
PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain – Tanner.
QA1 – Mullens.
Quarter Master – Ahumada.
RaceQuip – Houston.
RacerWebsite – Mayfield.
Real Racing Wheels – D. Scott.
Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt – Sharpensteen.
Simpson Race Products – Phillips.
Sweet Manufacturing – Tanner.
Swift Springs – Houston, Sharpensteen, M. Smith.
Sybesma Graphics – M. Smith.
Total Power – N. Smith.
VP Racing – M. Smith.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Alvarado.
Wilwood Disc Brakes – Sanders.

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