Friday night saw 28 cars sign in for the Inaugural Super Dirt Showdwon at Salt City in Hutchinson, Kansas. The race was a joint effort between the Mel Hambelton Racing POWRi Heartland Late Model Tour, the Revival Super Dirt Series and the speedway.

When the dust settled Muskogee, Oklahoma youngster Eli Ross was standing in Wehrs Machine Victory Lane. He set second fast time in his group early on and won his heat race. Guaranteed a starting position in the top two, Ross drew the outside pole at the Wagdog Spices redraw.

When the green waved on the main event, Ross quickly jumped to the lead on the big half-mile. He had to weather a few challenges on restarts. However with three to go, Scott Crigler threw the kitchen sink at him. He closed the gap and shot underneath him heading to turn one. Ross kept his composure and rolled on for the victory. The win marks his first with the HLMT.

Ross came into the event leading Revival’s overall and northern region points. Both those margins increased last night. Overall, it is his 12th win of the season.

Crigler ran a strong second, trying desperately to sniff the lead late in the feature. He set the Deatherage Opticians Fast Time in qualifying with a best lap at 20.830. He was the only driver to go sub 21 seconds.

Tad Pospisil made his HLMT debut last night as well. He fired from the pole after winning his heat. When the VP Checkers flew, he rounded out the evening’s podium.

On the points side of things, Sawyer Crigler holds a 24 point margin over his dad Scott, in the chase for the title and $10,000 payday at season’s end.

Saturday night we’ll do it all over again. Friday was contested with the HLMT race format. Saturday will run the Revival race format. $5,000 is up for grabs to the winner.

There are no support class cars in action, only Super Late Models are on the docket.

Pannell Chipping A Feature (20 Laps): 1. Eli Ross 2. Scott Crigler 3. Tad Pospisil 4. Sawyer Crigler 5. Chris Bragg 6. Brandon Morton 7. John Rowland 8. Jake Nightingale 9. Mike Petersile 10. Jarrett Bransom 11. John Hanson 12. Kayden Clatt 13. Delbert Smith 14. Dan Smith 15. Kip Hughes 16. Jadyn Friesen 17. Damian Patocka 18. Randy Wilson 19. Dustin Walker 20. Dakota Dellinger 21. Jason Sivils 22. Dusty Leonard 23. Gary Kilbourne 24. Matt Menzie

Hoosier Tire Great Plains B Feature (8 Laps): 1. Dusty Leonard 2. Damian Patocka 3. Matt Menzie 4. Mike Petersile 5. Dustin Walker 6. Randy Wilson 7. Dakota Dellinger 8. Gary Kilbourn 9. Gary Cooper 10. Glen Powell 11. Bill Leighton 12. Joey Smith

Rick Beebe Heating and Air Conditioning Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. Scott Crigler 2. Jake Nightingale 3. Jarrett Bransom 4. Jason Sivils 5. Matt Menzie 6. Gary Kilbourn 7. Joey Smith

Smith Equipment Company Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. Eli Ross 2. John Rowland 3. Dan Smith 4. Delbert Smith 5. Dusty Leonard 6. Gary Cooper 7. Glen Powell

Kevko Racing Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. Sawyer Crigler 2. John Hansen 3. Jaydn Friesen 4. Kip Hughes 5. Damian Patocka 6. Randy Wilson 7. Dakota Dellinger

Swift Springs Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. Tad Pospisil 2. Chris Bragg 3. Brandon Morton 4. Kayden Clatt 5. Mike Petersile 6. Dustin Walker 7. Bill Leighton

For updated schedules, championship standings, event details, and breaking series news, visit HeartlandLateModelTour.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 POWRi Mel Hambelton Racing Heartland Late Model Tour would like to recognize and thank our 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, Hoosier Tire Great Plains, 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 HLMT Points Fund

1. $10,000

2. $6,000

3. $5,000

4. $4,000

5. $3,000

6. $2,800

7. $2,600

8. $2,400

9. $2,200

10. $2,000

*80 Percent attendance required to remain point fund eligible

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