Strickler takes command late for USMTS Show-Me Shootout win at Lucas Oil Speedway

NewsAugust 2, 2025 by Lyndal Scranton

Strickler takes command late for USMTS Show-Me Shootout win at Lucas Oil Speedway

WHEATLAND, Mo. (Aug. 2, 2025)—After struggling to 25th place in Friday's opener, Kyle Strickler turned it around in a big way Saturday night at the 16th annual USMTS Slick Mist Show-Me Shootout presented by Foley Equipment.

Thirty-four drivers entered the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt action.

Strickler, the veteran from Mooresville, N.C., captured the finale of the weekend doubleheader at Lucas Oil Speedway. Starting eighth, Strickler took the lead from Tanner Mullens on lap 41 and went on to prevail in the 50-lap main event over Jim Chisholm for a $5,000 pay day.

Strickler, who's driven Late Models in the past including a podium finish at the Show-Me 100 at Lucas Oil Speedway in 2020, was ecstatic about his rebound from a night earlier.

"This is just awesome," Strickler said in victory lane. "I've run second in the Show-Me (100) and to win a USMTS race here is awesome. This is a beautiful facility. Everybody said the race track is hard to get ahold of here, I just had to start with the completely wrong set-up on the thing.

"Tomorrow's my birthday. This will make the long trip home a lot easier. Man, there ain't nothing like a win to turn things around. I'm getting old. I turn 42 tomorrow. I was really trying to manage my tires, and I think I did a really good job of being patient on the starts and not put myself in a bad position."

The race had a rough beginning that required patience from the contenders as there were two cautions before two official laps could be completed. Reece Solander was credited with leading the first lap with Kyle Brown in second.

Mullens, looking for a weekend sweep, moved into second on lap five as the race began to get some rhythm under green, but was 1.5 seconds behind Solander when the event's third caution stopped the momentum again.

The restart saw Mullens roar to the lead, going past Solander on the outside coming off turn two. Mullens extended his margin to one second by lap 15 with Solander in front of eighth-starting Kyle Strickler and Brown.

The leaders caught lapped traffic by lap 19 just as the fourth caution came out as Mullens led Solander and Strickler. Seven cars piled up in turn one on the restart, spinning due to fluid laid down by the car of sixth-running Sean Gaddis.

Following the lengthy delay to clean up the fluid, Mullens and Strickler broke away after the green to lead the field by about 10 car lengths. Mullens' advantage over Strickler was 1.1 seconds by lap 30 with Solander another 2.4 seconds behind in third. By lap 35, the leaders were dealing with slower traffic and Mullens was maintaining his advantage as the laps clicked away.

But suddenly Strickler came to life, cutting the gap to one-half second by lap 38 with Chisholm having moved into third to make it a three-car battle.

Strickler wrestled the lead away with a slider coming out of turn four on lap 41. Chisholm took second away from Mullens on lap 43, but was a half-second behind Strickler with six to go and couldn't make up any ground.

Strickler held on from there, beating Chisholm by .895 seconds with USMTS season championship leader Rodney Sanders third after starting 23rd. Mullens settled for fourth with Tyler Wolff fifth.

Chisholm, who swept the Show-Me Shootout a year ago en route to the series championship, was pleased with finishes of third and second on back-to-back nights.

"A really good weekend for us as a team. We can't complain at all," Chisholm said. "Congratulations to Kyle. He drove around us early and drove away with it. We probably took it a little too easy, early. We fell back a few spots, but it's all about not getting over your head. I'm super proud of my whole team."

Sanders, who was unable to complete his heat race due to a flat tire, salvaged a podium finish after the rough start to his night.

"We struggle early in the night here," Sanders said. "We were so bad in the heat and the B-Main. I just have to thank all my guys. It would be so easy to get down and take your confidence away. We were thrashing, just trying to get something going. It was a good team effort and a good rebound."

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt
16th Annual Slick Mist Show-Me Shootout – Night 2 of 2
Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, Mo.
Saturday, Aug. 2, 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. (3) 4W Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark., 17.853
2. (4) 3B Nic Bidinger, Perry, Kan., 17.959
3. (17) 15G Geoff Lary, Minden, La., 18.128
4. (12) 1B Bobby Williams, Hermitage, Mo., 18.226
5. (5) 22C Cole Campbell, Mexico, Mo., 18.373
6. (14) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa, 18.400
7. (10) 91 Joe Duvall, Justice, Okla., 18.403
8. (9) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., 18.570
9. (11) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan., 18.578
10. (8) 22H Dustin Hodges, Centralia, Mo., 18.614
11. (1) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn., 18.781
12. (13) 87 Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, Kan., 18.809
13. (7) 03 Jason Sivils, Bolivar, Mo., 19.083
14. (6) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo., 19.127
15. (2) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla., 19.154
16. (15) 68 Dean Wille, Warrensburg, Mo., 19.528
17. (16) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D., 19.744

HODGES FARMS & DREDGING QUALIFYING GROUP #2:
1. (6) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan., 17.881
2. (7) 38C Jason Pursley, Hermitage, Mo., 17.937
3. (1) 10 Dayton Pursley, Hermitage, Mo., 17.956
4. (13) 10B Brandon Givens, Wichita, Kan., 18.023
5. (8) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C., 18.039
6. (11) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa, 18.054
7. (17) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M., 18.206
8. (9) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, 18.266
9. (12) 21 Greg Scheffler, Pittsburg, Mo., 18.280
10. (16) 29 Keith Hammett, Brookland, Ark., 18.322
11. (5) 97 Cole Anderson, Le Center, Minn., 18.341
12. (14) 7 Sean Gaddis, Diana, Texas, 18.418
13. (2) 33S Ben Stockton, Kansas City, Mo., 18.443
14. (4) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa, 18.520
15. (3) 71 Chad Melton, Mineral Wells, Texas, 18.646
16. (10) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla., 18.668
17. (15) 23N Kenny Nutter, Bolivar, Mo., 18.787

SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps):
1. (2) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
2. (3) 91 Joe Duvall, Justice, Okla.
3. (4) 22C Cole Campbell, Mexico, Mo.
4. (5) 15G Geoff Lary, Minden, La.
5. (6) 4W Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark.
6. (1) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
7. (8) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
8. (9) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
9. (7) 03 Jason Sivils, Bolivar, Mo.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. (2) 22H Dustin Hodges, Centralia, Mo.
2. (4) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
3. (1) 87 Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, Kan.
4. (3) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
5. (6) 3B Nic Bidinger, Perry, Kan.
6. (7) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
7. (5) 1B Bobby Williams, Hermitage, Mo.
8. (8) 68 Dean Wille, Warrensburg, Mo.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. (4) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C.
2. (3) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
3. (6) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan.
4. (7) 33S Ben Stockton, Kansas City, Mo.
5. (8) 71 Chad Melton, Mineral Wells, Texas
6. (9) 23N Kenny Nutter, Bolivar, Mo.
7. (5) 10 Dayton Pursley, Hermitage, Mo.
8. (1) 97 Cole Anderson, Le Center, Minn.
9. (2) 21 Greg Scheffler, Pittsburg, Mo.

WIELAND HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. (1) 7 Sean Gaddis, Diana, Texas
2. (4) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
3. (5) 10B Brandon Givens, Wichita, Kan.
4. (6) 38C Jason Pursley, Hermitage, Mo.
5. (2) 29 Keith Hammett, Brookland, Ark.
6. (8) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
7. (7) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
8. (3) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (1) 22C Cole Campbell, Mexico, Mo.
2. (3) 87 Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, Kan.
3. (4) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
4. (7) 10 Dayton Pursley, Hermitage, Mo.
5. (8) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
6. (2) 3B Nic Bidinger, Perry, Kan.
7. (6) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
8. (10) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
9. (9) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
10. (11) 03 Jason Sivils, Bolivar, Mo.
11. (5) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (1) 4W Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark.
2. (3) 71 Chad Melton, Mineral Wells, Texas
3. (2) 33S Ben Stockton, Kansas City, Mo.
4. (6) 1B Bobby Williams, Hermitage, Mo.
5. (7) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
6. (4) 23N Kenny Nutter, Bolivar, Mo.
7. (8) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
8. (5) 29 Keith Hammett, Brookland, Ark.
9. (9) 68 Dean Wille, Warrensburg, Mo.
10. (11) 21 Greg Scheffler, Pittsburg, Mo.
11. (10) 97 Cole Anderson, Le Center, Minn.

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT “A” MAIN (50 laps):
1. (8) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C.
2. (7) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
3. (23) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
4. (4) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
5. (14) 4W Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark.
6. (2) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan.
7. (1) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
8. (26) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
9. (24) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
10. (13) 22C Cole Campbell, Mexico, Mo.
11. (20) 1B Bobby Williams, Hermitage, Mo.
12. (9) 38C Jason Pursley, Hermitage, Mo.
13. (22) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
14. (10) 91 Joe Duvall, Justice, Okla.
15. (19) 10 Dayton Pursley, Hermitage, Mo.
16. (11) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
17. (18) 33S Ben Stockton, Kansas City, Mo.
18. (12) 15G Geoff Lary, Minden, La.
19. (27) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
20. (17) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
21. (3) 10B Brandon Givens, Wichita, Kan.
22. (15) 87 Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, Kan.
23. (5) 22H Dustin Hodges, Centralia, Mo.
24. (25) 3B Nic Bidinger, Perry, Kan.
25. (6) 7 Sean Gaddis, Diana, Texas
26. (21) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
27. (16) 71 Chad Melton, Mineral Wells, Texas

Lap Leaders: Solander 1-5, Mullens 6-40, Strickler 41-50.
Total Laps Led: Mullens 35, Strickler 10, Solander 5.
Margin of Victory: 0.895 second.
Time of Race: 32 minutes, 23.115 seconds (5 cautions).
Provisional Starters: Sanders, Joe Chisholm.
Emergency Provisionals: Bidinger, Christian, Girolamo.
FK Rod Ends Hard Charger: Wolff (started 14th, finished 5th).
Entries: 34.
Next Race: Aug. 21, Electric City Speedway, Butler, Mo.
Summit USMTS National Championship Points: Sanders 2153, Mullens 2025, Chisholm 2006, Chisholm 1836, Strickler 1835, Christian 1764, Phillips 1753, Solander 1566, Hughes 1561, Brown 1535.
Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Points: Chisholm 1667, Solander 1435, Hughes 1433, Girolamo 994, Smith 819.
FK Rod Ends USMTS Hard Charger Points: Sanders 91, Mullens 77, Phillips 75, Chisholm 74, Strickler 60.
Miller Welders USMTS Manufacturers Championship Points: MBCustoms 200, Skyrocket 189, CDR 186, Mullens 158, Bloodline 113.
JE Pistons USMTS Engine Builder of the Year Points: KSE 199, Hatfield 194, Mullins 166, ECE 163, Durham 117.

Contingency Awards:
Aero Race Wheels – Smith.
American Racer – Phillips.
Bear Graphix – Fuqua.
Beyea Custom Headers – Mullens.
Bryke Racing – D. Pursley.
BSB Manufacturing – Phillips.
Champ Pans – Wolff.
Danny Crane Racing Engines – Solander.
Driven Racing Oil – Strickler.
Dynamic Drivelines – Hughes.
Edelbrock – Strickler.
Fast Shafts – Hodges.
Featherlite Trailers – Jim Chisholm, Sanders, Strickler.
FK Rod Ends – Wolff.
Gorsuch Performance Solutions – Strickler.
Harris Auto Racing – Givens.
Hodges Farms & Dredging – Wolff.
Hooker Harness – J. Pursley.
Hyperco – Fuqua.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Lary.
Keyser Manufacturing – Campbell.
KSE Racing Products – Wolff.
MD3 – Mullens.
MSD Performance – Mullens.
Penske Racing Shocks – Hoff.
PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain – Duvall.
QA1 – Wolff.
Quarter Master – Joe Chisholm.
RaceQuip – Hodges.
RacerWebsite – Bailey.
Real Racing Wheels – Givens.
Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt – Strickler.
Simpson Race Products – Mullens.
Sweet Manufacturing – Smith.
Swift Springs – Campbell, Sanders, Strickler.
Sybesma Graphics – Brown.
Total Power – Williams.
VP Racing – Strickler.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Scheffler.
Wilwood Disc Brakes – Brown.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

The USMTS 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.

Since 1999, this is where the elite meet, and every driver from the top guns to the local heroes get a shot at glory at some of America's most brutal dirt tracks. This is where the Best of the Best in dirt modified racing come to show their mettle.

When it comes to outlaw dirt modified racing, the USMTS has no equal. USMTS is the Real Deal. Don't be afraid of the fast.

Check out usmts.com to learn more, and follow our social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube. Subscribe for free to get 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.TV. Plus, get exclusive content on your desktop, laptop, tablet or on your smartphone using apps from Amazon Fire, Apple iOS, Apple TV, Google Play and Roku.

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.