6/21/2025
Tanner Mullens
Mullens takes USMTS Summersota Nationals victory
On Tuesday, Tanner Mullens opened a stretch of four Summit USMTS Modified shows in a week with a win at Casino Speedway in Watertown, South Dakota. After scoring his 12th overall feature triumph of the year, he went on to claim three more top-five finishes from Wednesday through Saturday.
The 14th annual Summersota Nationals at Casino Speedway brought 29 USMTS Modifieds to the quarter-mile track, where a $3,000 first-place payout was up for grabs. Mullens won his heat race in his No. 02 car and began the 35-lap feature from the top spot. He led until just past the halfway point, when he relinquished the lead to Reece Solander on the backstretch after a restart.
However, in the race’s closing laps, Mullens got to the outside of Solander and took the checkered flag by just 0.176 seconds. Rodney Sanders completed the podium, with Travis Saurer and Jim Chisholm finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
Wednesday saw the USMTS schedule shift to Norfolk, Nebraska’s Off Road Speedway for the inaugural Nebraska Nationals. Mullens won his heat for the second consecutive night and rolled off seventh in the 35-lap, $3,000-to-win feature. He picked up three spots and came home fourth in the 19-car field, finishing behind Sanders, Gary Christian and Joe Chisholm. Fifth place went to Tyler Davis.
Mullens moved on to Amarillo, Texas, and Route 66 Motor Speedway on Friday and Saturday for the 12th annual Amarillo Ambush. Forty-six USMTS competitors were at the 3/8-mile track each night for the topless Modified event.
On Friday, Mullens turned in the overall quickest time in qualifying. He took second in his heat race, then rolled off sixth to begin the 35-lap, $5,000-to-win A-Main. He finished third behind Mark Smith and Terry Phillips. Kale Westover and A.J. Sharpensteen rounded out the top five.
Finally, on Saturday, Mullens took fifth in his heat and was runner-up in his B-Main. He began the $5,000-to-win main event from 16th on the grid and rocketed to a fourth-place result, earning him the FK Rod Ends Hard Charger Award. He finished behind Kyle Strickler, Sanders and Solander, with fifth place going to Stormy Scott.
Mullens is currently third in the USMTS National Championship point standings.
Full results from the week are at www.usmts.com.
Article Credit: USMTS image