Tanner Mullens picked the perfect time to deliver a championship statement.

The Wichita, Kansas, driver took command from Tyler Stevens after the opening 10 laps and held off Friday night’s winner Rodney Sanders to capture Saturday’s second night of the eighth annual Joe Duvall’s Funkadelic Dirt Track & Honky Tonk Extravaganza presented by Ameriflex Hose & Accessories at Salina Highbanks Speedway.

With contingency and lap money pushing his payday to $9,591, Mullens collected more than the biggest check of the weekend. He also moved atop the USRA Heartland Modified Tour presented by Real Racing Wheels standings, carrying a 15-point advantage over Tyler Davis into Sunday’s season finale at Arrowhead Speedway.

A field of 55 Modifieds assembled for the showdown between the Heartland tour and the USRA American Racer Modified Series presented by Day Motor Sports.

Stevens set the early pace from the pole, leading the first 10 circuits before third-starting Mullens took over. Sanders, fresh off his Springfield Raceway victory, quickly advanced from fifth to second and spent much of the 40-lap Pannell Chipping feature pursuing the leader.

Repeated cautions worked in Mullens’ favor, keeping him in clean air and interrupting Sanders’ pursuit. Sanders nevertheless mounted a late charge, trimming the deficit to less than half a second before one final caution with five laps remaining erased his momentum.

Mullens handled the closing restart and secured the victory ahead of Sanders, Jim Chisholm, Reece Solander and Talan Willis.

Two Tours, Two Championship Stories

While Mullens celebrated a pivotal Heartland victory, Willis delivered another strong performance in his pursuit of the American Racer Modified Series championship.

The Elizabeth, Louisiana, rookie advanced from eighth to fifth, finishing one position ahead of his closest championship challenger, Stormy Scott. Scott climbed from 13th to sixth, giving the ARMS points leaders a pair of strong finishes against the deep combined field.

Willis leaves Salina with 871 points and a 109-point advantage over Scott. Drake Findley remains third with 692, followed by defending series champion Kale Westover with 663 and Jason Hughes with 649.

Findley turned in the feature’s biggest advance, charging from 25th to 14th for an 11-position gain. Westover finished 10th, while Hughes advanced from 17th to 12th. Solander, seventh in ARMS points, complemented his fourth-place feature finish with the fastest qualifying lap of the night.

On the Heartland side, Davis gained six positions to finish eighth, but Mullens’ victory was enough to change the championship order. Mullens now holds 1,505 points to Davis’ 1,490, setting up a final-night showdown between the two Kansas drivers.

Trevor Hughes finished 13th and remains third in Heartland points. Chevy Coleman holds fourth, but his advantage over Wyatt Gaggero is down to just four points after Gaggero finished ninth and Coleman placed 25th. Henry Chambers added an 11th-place finish and remains sixth in the standings.

Funkadelic Support Adds Thousands for Racers

Joe Duvall’s work gathering support from businesses, racers and friends of the Funkadelic brought substantial additional money and awards to Saturday’s program.

All 40 feature laps carried sponsorship, creating a $5,500 lap-leader fund. Stevens earned $1,100 for leading the opening 10 laps, while Mullens collected the remaining $4,400. Combined with the advertised $5,000 winner’s purse and an additional $191 winner’s bonus from Pettyjohn Plastering and Construction, Mullens’ victory was worth $9,591.

Deatherage Opticians and Bulletproof Tees combined to offer $191 for nightly quick time, while Transmissions Unlimited and Bulletproof Tees brought the nightly hard charger award to $391. Transmissions Unlimited also offered $100 apiece to the first three B-main non-transfer drivers and $50 to one additional non-transfer driver each night.

Pettyjohn Plastering and Construction added a $1,091 award for the highest average

finisher across the three-night weekend. Trackside 3D Printing by CA supplied Quick Start Wash Caps for Saturday’s and Sunday’s quick-time winners, and KS Engineering sponsored Saturday’s driver lunch of pulled pork sandwiches, chips and drinks.

The generosity extended beyond the posted awards.

Justin Bolt of VP Racing Fuels Heartland won a $5,000 raffle drawing and elected to give away the entire prize. Bolt directed $2,500 back to the racers, providing $500 bonuses to the drivers finishing 26th through 30th: Tyler Wolff, Justin Franz, Jared Russell, Kyle Slader and Ho Dean.

The remaining $2,500 is being donated to Chase Higgins, a young micro sprint racer from Parker, Kansas, who suffered serious burns in a racing accident earlier this season.

Lap-money contributors included Muskogee Powder Coating; a contribution in memory of Jason Russell 2J; Creason Racing Engines; Lobo Racing; Seth Schroer Machine; John Potter; Holman Pump and Well Service; Brassmonkey Racing; Chucks Auto Salvage; Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo KT; Legacy 2 Development Group; Central Spray Foam and Cement Lifting; O’Neil Machining; Mid America Dirt; Big Johnson’s Dock & Service; Dizzy Dean Electric; Theodore Concrete; Tyler Akins; Kingzsidepiece Racing; L&L Energy; Mark and Deana Chisolm; K Stafford Industries; Trackside 3D Printing by CA; Fast Lane Trailer Sales; Packard Land Service LLC; Billy Gordon; The Shops at Grand Meridian; Barry Braun’s Bar and Grill; Danny Crane Racing Engines; Parker Wall Racing; Ryker Wall Racing; and Jeff and Tina Landon Racing. Additional lap contributions were listed under “Winners Get Thicker Envelopes” and “Real Modifieds Not Wanna B Mods.”

Preliminary Action

Solander posted the night’s fastest qualifying lap at 15.417 seconds in the second Deatherage Opticians qualifying group. Scott topped the first group with a 15.700-second lap.

Heat victories went to Tyler Wolff in the Rick Beebe Heating and Air Conditioning opener, Mullens in the Smith Equipment Company second heat, Chisholm in the Kevko Racing third heat, Solander in the Swift Spring fourth heat, Stevens in the Mel Hambelton Ford Racing fifth heat and Sanders in the Integra Shocks sixth heat.

Jared Russell won the Real Racing Wheels first B-main, with Shane Hartline taking the Day Motor Sports second B-main.

The Funkadelic concludes Sunday, October 25, at Arrowhead Speedway in Colcord, Oklahoma, with another ARMS versus HMT showdown and the Heartland championship on the line.

USRA Heartland Modified Tour Points — After October 24

1. Tanner Mullens — 1,505

2. Tyler Davis — 1,490 (–15)

3. Trevor Hughes — 1,392 (–113)

4. Chevy Coleman — 1,315 (–190)

5. Wyatt Gaggero — 1,311 (–194)

6. Henry Chambers — 1,225 (–280)

7. Dean Wille — 1,193 (–312)

8. Shadren Turner — 1,119 (–386)

9. Cole Campbell (R) — 1,043 (–462)

10. Rick Beebe — 1,019 (–486)

USRA American Racer Modified Series Points — After October 24

1. Talan Willis (R) — 871

2. Stormy Scott — 762 (–109)

3. Drake Findley — 692 (–179)

4. Kale Westover — 663 (–208)

5. Jason Hughes — 649 (–222)

6. Rusty Trevathan Jr — 622 (–249)

7. Reece Solander — 565 (–306)

8. Bo Day — 537 (–334)

9. Rodney Sanders — 367 (–504)

10. Sam Osman — 340 (–531)

Media Results — October 24, 2026
Salina Highbanks Speedway — Salina, Oklahoma
USRA American Racer Modified Series / USRA Heartland Modified Tour — 55 Entries

A Feature 1 40 Laps | 00:29:30.699 | Pannell Chipping: 1. Tanner Mullens; 2. Rodney Sanders; 3. Jim Chisholm; 4. Reece Solander; 5. Talan Willis; 6. Stormy Scott; 7. Tyler Stevens; 8. Tyler Davis; 9. Wyatt Gaggero; 10. Kale Westover; 11. Henry Chambers; 12. Jason Hughes; 13. Trevor Hughes; 14. Drake Findley; 15. Dean Wille; 16. Paden Phillips; 17. Treyton Gann; 18. Jason Pursley; 19. David Tanner; 20. Lance Town; 21. Michael Taylor III; 22. Rick Beebe; 23. Shane Hartline; 24. Terry Phillips; 25. Chevy Coleman; 26. Tyler Wolff; 27. Justin Franz; 28. Jared Russell; 29. Kyle Slader; 30. Ho Dean.

B Feature 1 12 Laps | 00:06:31.102 | Real Racing Wheels: 1. Jared Russell; 2. Paden Phillips; 3. Kyle Slader; 4. Drake Findley; 5. Steve Holzkamper; 6. Chevy Coleman; 7. Lance Town; 8. Roy Long; 9. Geoff Lary; 10. Lane Traster; 11. Joey Vaughn; 12. Donnie Fellers; 13. Fausten Willhite; 14. Ho Dean; 15. Robert Bailey; 16. Jacob Stoll; 17. Craig Yeoman; 18. Kort Morgan.

B Feature 2 12 Laps | 00:03:26.566 | Day Motor Sports: 1. Shane Hartline; 2. Michael Taylor III; 3. David Tanner; 4. Chad Davis; 5. Jordan Barbee; 6. Jason Pursley; 7. Dustin Walker; 8. Brent Holman; 9. Rick Beebe; 10. Kendall Shultz; 11. Brandon Huff; 12. Jarret Dotson; 13. Ashley Baskett; 14. Brandon Dean; 15. Tyler Lacy; 16. Toby Lindell; 17. Ryan Murphy; 18. Rusty Trevathan Jr; 19. Cole Campbell.

Heat 1 8 Laps | 00:02:09.930 | Rick Beebe Heating and Air Conditioning: 1. Tyler Wolff; 2. Kale Westover; 3. Stormy Scott; 4. Jared Russell; 5. Steve Holzkamper; 6. Lance Town; 7. Craig Yeoman; 8. Donnie Fellers; 9. Roy Long.

Heat 2 8 Laps | 00:02:08.703 | Smith Equipment Company: 1. Tanner Mullens; 2. Dean Wille; 3. Trevor Hughes; 4. Drake Findley; 5. Jacob Stoll; 6. Geoff Lary; 7. Fausten Willhite; 8. Ho Dean; 9. Chevy Coleman.

Heat 3 8 Laps | 00:03:49.848 | Kevko Racing: 1. Jim Chisholm; 2. Wyatt Gaggero; 3. Jason Hughes; 4. Paden Phillips; 5. Kyle Slader; 6. Lane Traster; 7. Kort Morgan; 8. Robert Bailey; 9. Joey Vaughn.

Heat 4 8 Laps | 00:02:09.783 | Swift Spring: 1. Reece Solander; 2. Talan Willis; 3. Tyler Davis; 4. Shane Hartline; 5. Jason Pursley; 6. Brandon Dean; 7. Jarret Dotson; 8. Toby Lindell; 9. Ashley Baskett; 10. Cole Campbell.

Heat 5 8 Laps | 00:02:11.634 | Mel Hambelton Ford Racing: 1. Tyler Stevens; 2. Terry Phillips; 3. Treyton Gann; 4. Michael Taylor III; 5. Jordan Barbee; 6. Chad Davis; 7. Rick Beebe; 8. Tyler Lacy; 9. Ryan Murphy.

Heat 6 8 Laps | 00:02:10.249 | Integra Shocks: 1. Rodney Sanders; 2. Henry Chambers; 3. Justin Franz; 4. David Tanner; 5. Dustin Walker; 6. Brent Holman; 7. Kendall Shultz; 8. Brandon Huff; 9. Rusty Trevathan Jr.

Qualifying 1 | 00:00:32.368 | Deatherage Opticians: 1. Stormy Scott; 2. Tanner Mullens; 3. Jim Chisholm; 4. Tyler Wolff; 5. Chevy Coleman; 6. Jason Hughes; 7. Kale Westover; 8. Trevor Hughes; 9. Wyatt Gaggero; 10. Jared Russell; 11. Drake Findley; 12. Paden Phillips; 13. Lance Town; 14. Jacob Stoll; 15. Kyle Slader; 16. Roy Long; 17. Dean Wille; 18. Lane Traster; 19. Craig Yeoman; 20. Geoff Lary; 21. Joey Vaughn; 22. Steve Holzkamper; 23. Ho Dean; 24. Kort Morgan; 25. Donnie Fellers; 26. Fausten Willhite; 27. Robert Bailey.

Qualifying 2 | 00:00:34.028 | Deatherage Opticians: 1. Reece Solander; 2. Tyler Stevens; 3. Henry Chambers; 4. Talan Willis; 5. Terry Phillips; 6. Rodney Sanders; 7. Tyler Davis; 8. Treyton Gann; 9. David Tanner; 10. Shane Hartline; 11. Jordan Barbee; 12. Brent Holman; 13. Jason Pursley; 14. Michael Taylor III; 15. Dustin Walker; 16. Jarret Dotson; 17. Chad Davis; 18. Justin Franz; 19. Brandon Dean; 20. Rick Beebe; 21. Kendall Shultz; 22. Toby Lindell; 23. Tyler Lacy; 24. Brandon Huff; 25. Ashley Baskett; 26. Ryan Murphy; 27. Rusty Trevathan Jr; 28. Cole Campbell.

For updated schedules, championship standings, event details, and breaking series news, visit HeartlandModifiedTour.com or AmericanRacerModifiedSeries.com. Fans unable to attend in person can catch every remaining race of the 2026 season live and on demand exclusively on RacinDirt.tv.

The USRA Heartland Modified Tour presented by Real Wheels and the  American Racer Modified Series presented by Day Motorsports would like to recognize and thank our 2026 season long partners. Please thank them, with your patronage for their support.

Gold Partners – Central Spray Foam & Cement Lifting, Day Motor Sports, Deatherage Opticians, Dirt Track Specialist, Dylan Scott Entertainment, Hochatown Saloon, Kevko Racing, Midwest Sheet Metal, Mel Hambelton Ford Racing, Pannell Chipping, RacinDirt.com, Real Racing Wheels, Rick Beebe Heating and Air Conditioning, Smith Equipment Company, Swift Springs, VP Racing Fuels Heartland, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products

Silver Partners – American Racer Tires, Buck Monson Photos, Bulletproof Tees and Racewear, Duvall Electric, Integra Shocks, JRT Trucking, Keyser Manufacturing, Midwest Automation, Photos By Boyd, Scotty Dogg’s Hideout

Bronze Partners – Bryke Racing, Fast Shafts, Freight Logistics Inc., KS Engineering, Maxima Racing Oil, Milburn Acreages by Tillison Enterprises, PEM Racing, Premier Lubricants, Schoenfeld Headers, Service Plumbing of Wichita, Transmissions Unlimited, Wagdog Spices, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Yeoman Race Engines

2026 Point Funds (ARMS, HMT, NLMS)

1. $7,500

2. $4,500

3. $3,500

4. $3,000

5. $2,500

6. $2,400

7. $2,300

8. $2,200

9. $2,100

10. $2,000

*80 Percent attendance required to remain point fund eligible

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