WHEATLAND, Mo. (March 22, 2026)—After Mother Nature washed out the originally scheduled season opener in Texas, the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt will officially kick off the 2026 campaign with one of the biggest events on the calendar—King of America XV at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, March 26–28.

The the 15th annual three-day crown jewel event is expected to attract many of the top dirt modified drivers in the nation to the state-of-the-art facility known as the “Diamond of Dirt Tracks,” with over $150,000 in total prize money on the line.

Practice for all divisions will be held Wednesday, March 25 from 6:30–9:30 p.m., giving teams their first opportunity of the season to dial in their machines before the battle begins.

Thursday & Friday: Qualifying Nights

Racing action kicks off Thursday and Friday with full programs featuring group qualifying, draft-style heat races, B-Mains and 30-lap A-Main events for the USMTS Modifieds.

Each night will pay $3,000 to win and $300 to start the feature event.

Drivers will accumulate points from qualifying, heat races and passing points across the two preliminary nights. The top nine drivers will take their best of the two and will be locked directly into Saturday night’s 3-wide start championship finale.

Saturday: Championship Night

Saturday night will B-Mains and last-chance qualifying races giving drivers two final opportunities to transfer into the King of America finale, which will pay $15,000 to win and $1,500 to start.

Also on Saturday night, drivers who do not qualify for the main event will compete in a $1,000-to-win, $250-to-start Modified Non-Qualifier race, ensuring plenty of action throughout the night.

Full Programs for Support Classes

Joining the USMTS Modifieds will be the USRA Iron Man Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods, competing Thursday and Friday for $1,000 to win and $100 to start.

The top eight drivers in points will take their best night and will lock into Saturday’s championship races, which will pay $3,000 to win and $400 to start for both divisions.

New Format for 2026

The 2026 season introduces the new USMTS draft-style heat race format combined with the USMTS Passing Point system, rewarding drivers for both performance and passing cars throughout the field.

Drivers will draw for qualifying order, earn points based on time trial results, and then select their starting positions for heat races based on those qualifying results.

A Crown Jewel Tradition

Now entering its 15th year, the King of America has become one of the premier dirt modified events in the country, drawing elite drivers and passionate fans from across the nation.

With the 2026 season opener now shifting to Wheatland, fans can expect a stacked field of talent all chasing the coveted King of America crown.

About the USMTS: 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.

Since 1999, the United States Modified Series juggernaut has been burning up dirt tracks while dishing out over $20 million in cash to more than 4,700 warriors across 185 battlefields in 19 states.

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.

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.

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​USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Beyea Headers, Fast Shafts, Featherlite Trailers, FK Rod Ends, KSE Racing Products, Longacre 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, G-Style Transport, LLC., Hochatown Saloon, Hodges Farms & Dredging, Mel Hambelton Ford, PBM Performance Products, STAKT Products, YouDirt.com.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bear Graphix, Brinn Inc., Bryke Racing, 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, Keyser Manufacturing, MD3, Mel Hambelton Racing, Penske Racing Shocks, QA1, Quarter Master, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt, Sweet Manufacturing, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Total Power, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Racing.

Drivers: RacerWebsite has been designing and operating websites for racers more than 25 years. All websites are responsive and you can update right from victory lane. They look great on any device, plus they're easy to update, that means you look great even if your sheet metal doesn't. Check out RacerWebsite.com

Track Operators: Nitroquest the leader in producing websites for race track owners that reach the audience you need to put butts in the seats, impress sponsors and let racers know you're serious about winning. Email info@nitroquest.com for more details.