
VanderBeek returns to USMTS victory lane at Scotland County Speedway
MEMPHIS, Mo. (Aug. 23, 2025)—Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon, Iowa, put a new car in victory lane for the first time Saturday, capturing his 52nd career USMTS victory and a $5,000 top prize during the 10th Annual Mid-America Nationals at Scotland County Speedway.
The 40-lap main event was a thrilling affair. Polesitter Joe Duvall of Justice, Okla., led the first two laps before surrendering the lead to Jim Chisholm of Osage, Iowa. Chisholm appeared to be in control until VanderBeek, who started seventh, began to reel him in.
VanderBeek, 41, took the lead on lap 25 and pulled away over the final laps to seal the win, while Chisholm nipped points leader Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas, at the flagstand for second.
"This is a new car that we've been working on, and really had high hopes of coming out here this year and showcasing it, and we haven't had the opportunity. This just showed it, and we were finally able to get on the road here a little bit,” VanderBeek declared in his post-race interview. We had a really good car last night (at Callaway Raceway), and I knew it, but the track wasn't letting us really get there."
VanderBeek got to second place with 10 laps complete, and then chased down Chisholm, taking the lead around the high side of the racetrack .
Tanner Mullens of Wichita, Kan., who climbed from the 19th spot on the starting grid into the top five on lap 24 when the race's second Gorsuch Performance caution flag waved. Meanwhile, Kyle Strickler, who was disqualified after his heat race win, started 22nd and was close behind in the seventh spot with 15 laps remaining.
Mullens earned the FK Rod Ends Hard Charger Award with a sixth-place finish while Strickler had problems late in the race and fell out and wound up 16th.
Tonight was Vanderbeek's 52nd career USMTS triumph—fifth on the all-time wins list. His last one happened May 28, 2023, at the Fayette County Speedway in West Union, Iowa.
"We haven't hardly had any laps. This is, like, the third night on this car this year, and just haven't been able to get it up on the on the road and really showcase it. I think we really got something to work with here, and you don't just drive around (Joe Chisholm) like that without good equipment. I'm not the best driver in the world, but I've got a lot of laps, and I rely on preparation and attention to detail.
"I know you're watching, dad, that one's for you. Wish you could be here,” VanderBeek added, referring to his father and long-time crew chief, Jim VanderBeek, who is home recovering from an accident. “We got it done for you."
Reece Solander of Emporia, Kan., held off Gary Christian of Broken Bow, Okla., for a fourth-place paycheck, while Osage, Iowa's Joe Chisholm, Trevor Hughes of Westville, Okla., Austen Becerra of Carthage, Ill., and “Big Daddy” Joe Duvall of Justice, Okla., completed the top 10.
Next up for the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt is the inaugural Red, White & blue Nationals at the Tri-State Speedway in Pocola, Okla., Sept. 11-13. The event will honor our nation's heroes and those we lost in the 2001 terrorist attacks on American soil.
The event will $3,000 to win on Thursday and $5,000 to win Friday before wrapping up on Saturday with a $20,000-to-win finale
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.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt
Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, Mo.
10th Annual USMTS Mid-America Nationals
Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025
Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown. Heat race lineups are determined via group qualifying. All drivers advanced to the Summit Racing Equipment “A” Main.
HODGES FARMS & DREDGING QUALIFYING:
1. (5) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa, 18.317
2. (10) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan., 18.353
3. (7) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan., 18.392
4. (20) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla., 18.414
5. (9) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla., 18.425
6. (17) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa, 18.432
7. (18) 33Z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, 18.463
8. (6) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C., 18.518
9. (4) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, 18.577
10. (16) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn., 18.578
11. (19) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa, 18.611
12. (2) 91 Joe Duvall, Justice, Okla., 18.636
13. (14) 10C Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa, Iowa, 18.653
14. (8) 22 Austen Becerra, Carthage, Ill., 18.854
15. (3) 68 Dean Wille, Warrensburg, Mo., 19.085
16. (11) 89 Tyler Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo., 19.089
17. (15) 99H Lee Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo., 19.411
18. (12) 28 Preston Dawson, Callao, Mo., 19.544
19. (13) 2R Fisher Reese, Memphis, Mo., 19.75
20. (1) 92 Tyler Grooms, Trenton, Mo., 20.33
DNS - 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., 20.33
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (2) 33Z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa
2. (4) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
3. (3) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
4. (1) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
5. (5) 10C Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa, Iowa
6. (6) 89 Tyler Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.
7. (7) 2R Fisher Reese, Memphis, Mo.
FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (4) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan.
2. (3) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
3. (1) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
4. (5) 22 Austen Becerra, Carthage, Ill.
5. (6) 99H Lee Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.
6. (7) 92 Tyler Grooms, Trenton, Mo.
DQ - (2) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C.
EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) 91 Joe Duvall, Justice, Okla.
2. (2) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
3. (3) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
4. (6) 28 Preston Dawson, Callao, Mo.
5. (7) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
6. (5) 68 Dean Wille, Warrensburg, Mo.
7. (4) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (7) 33Z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa
2. (2) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
3. (6) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
4. (8) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan.
5. (5) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
6. (19) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
7. (3) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
8. (4) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
9. (11) 22 Austen Becerra, Carthage, Ill.
10. (1) 91 Joe Duvall, Justice, Okla.
11. (12) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
12. (13) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
13. (18) 68 Dean Wille, Warrensburg, Mo.
14. (14) 99H Lee Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.
15. (15) 10C Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa, Iowa
16. (21) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C.
17. (20) 2R Fisher Reese, Memphis, Mo.
18. (16) 92 Tyler Grooms, Trenton, Mo.
19. (10) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
20. (17) 89 Tyler Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.
21. (9) 28 Preston Dawson, Callao, Mo.
Lap Leaders: Duvall 1-2, Jim Chisholm 3-24, VanderBeek 25-40.
Total Laps Led: Jim Chisholm 22, VanderBeek 16, Duvall 2.
Margin of Victory: 1.688 seconds.
Time of Race: 20 minutes, 14.35 seconds (2 cautions).
FK Rod Ends Hard Charger: Mullens (started 19th, finished 6th).
Entries: 21.
Next Race: Sept. 11-13, Tri-State Speedway, Pocola, Okla.
Summit USMTS National Championship Points: Sanders 2429, Mullens 2310, Jim Chisholm 2280, Joe Chisholm 2068, Strickler 2060, Christian 1998, Phillips 1959, Hughes 1812, Solander 1795, Brown 1720.
Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Points: Joe Chisholm 1823, Hughes 1600, Solander 1592, Troy Girolamo 994, Mark Smith 819.
FK Rod Ends USMTS Hard Charger Points: Mullens 95, Sanders 94, Phillips 84, Jim Chisholm 77, Strickler 66.
Miller Welders USMTS Manufacturers Championship Points: MBCustoms 224, Skyrocket 212, CDR 208, Mullens 184, Bloodline 122.
JE Pistons USMTS Engine Builder of the Year Points: KSE 224, Hatfield 219, ECE 188, Mullins 187, Durham 126.
Contingency Awards:
Aero Race Wheels – L. Hibner.
American Racer – Christian.
Beyea Custom Headers – Solander.
Bryke Racing – Carter.
BSB Manufacturing – T. Hibner.
Champ Pans – Christian.
Danny Crane Racing Engines – Mullens.
Driven Racing Oil – VanderBeek.
Dynamic Drivelines – Strickler.
Edelbrock – Duvall.
Fast Shafts – Solander.
Featherlite Trailers – VanderBeek, Jim Chisholm, Sanders.
FK Rod Ends – Mullens.
Gorsuch Performance Solutions – VanderBeek.
Harris Auto Racing – Dawson.
Hodges Farms & Dredging – Joe Chisholm.
Hooker Harness – Hoff.
Hyperco – T. Hibner.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Grooms.
Keyser Manufacturing – Duvall.
KSE Racing Products – Mullens.
MD3 – Jim Chisholm.
MSD Performance – Solander.
Penske Racing Shocks – Wille.
PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain – Wille.
QA1 – Joe Chisholm.
Quarter Master – Becerra.
RacerWebsite – Phillips.
Real Racing Wheels – Mullens.
Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt – Solander.
Simpson Race Products – VanderBeek.
Sweet Manufacturing – Strickler.
Swift Springs – VanderBeek, Reese.
Sybesma Graphics – Duvall.
Total Power – Phillips.
VP Racing – VanderBeek.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Dawson.
Wilwood Disc Brakes – Joe Chisholm.
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.
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 PRESENTING 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, Driven Racing Oil, Dynamic Drivelines, Edelbrock, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, Harris Auto Racing, 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, RaceQuip, 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.