5/26/2024
Tanner Mullens
Mullens grabs 3 USMTS top-10 results during Memorial Day stretch
Tanner Mullens and his Mel Hambelton Ford No. 02 Modified team participated in four consecutive nights of Summit USMTS competition around the Memorial Day holiday and posted three straight top-10 finishes.
First up on Wednesday, 24 USMTS Modified drivers took on the 14th annual USMTS Spring Classic at Hamilton County Speedway, where a $3,000 first-place payout was on offer. Mullens grabbed a sixth-place result in his heat race on the half-mile oval in Webster City, Iowa, then transferred into the feature via a victory in the B-Main. Mullens began the 35-lap main event from 15th on the grid and turned in a ninth-place finish.
The next night, 25 USMTS Modifieds were in the pits at West Union, Iowa’s Fayette County Speedway for the 11th annual War in West Union. Mullens collected a third-place finish in his heat on the 3/8-mile track and redrew to roll off from the third spot in the 40-lap, $3,000-to-win A–Main. Despite conceding five spots in the race, Mullens still came home with a solid eighth-place result.
On Friday, it was off to Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wisconsin, for the 42-car, 13th annual USMTS Spring Shootout. Mullens finished third in his heat and started the 40-lap, $5,000-to-win main event from the sixth row. He drove forward five positions to claim seventh in the final rundown. However, he hurt his engine during the feature at the 1/3-mile speed plant.
The next day, 50 USMTS Modifieds were on hand at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minnesota, for the 21st annual LR Waste Services Southern Minnesota Spring Challenge. After an engine change from the previous night, Mullens took the third spot in his heat and grabbed the checkered flag in his B-Main on the 3/8-mile oval. He started the 40-lap, $5,000-to-win feature from 13th and finished 11th.
A five-race slate of USMTS shows had been scheduled around the Memorial Day holiday, but Sunday’s 9th annual USMTS Mod Mania at Iowa’s 1/3-mile Mason City Motor Speedway fell to Mother Nature.
After the Memorial Day races, Mullens is seventh in the USMTS point standings.
Full results from all events are at www.usmts.com.
Article Credit: Tyler Rinken image