After an action-packed Independence Day weekend that produced three races, three different podiums, and a continued tightening of the championship battle, the USRA Heartland Modified Tour presented by Real Racing Wheels returns to familiar ground this weekend with a pair of Kansas stops at two of the state’s most recognizable dirt tracks.

The tour heads to SaltCity Racing at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson on Friday night before concluding the weekend Saturday evening at the legendary 81 Speedway in Park City. The two-night swing not only marks another critical weekend in the 2026 championship chase, but also serves as a homecoming for many of the tour’s top contenders.

Fresh off another consistent weekend, Tyler Davis continues to lead the championship standings with 532 points. While the Wichita veteran has yet to visit victory lane this season, his remarkable consistency has allowed him to build a 49-point advantage over Trevor Hughes entering the seventh and eighth races of the campaign.

Behind Davis, the battle remains incredibly tight throughout the remainder of the top ten. Rookie Cole Campbell sits third, followed by Dustin Hodges, Chevy Coleman, Paden Phillips, Henry Chambers, Wyatt Gaggero, defending series champion Bobby Williams, and Shadren Turner. With only a handful of races completed, every position continues to carry significant weight as drivers chase one of the richest point funds in regional modified racing.

Current USRA Heartland Modified Tour Point Standings

1. Tyler Davis 532

2. Trevor Hughes (-49) 483

3. Cole Campbell (R) (-66) 466

4. Dustin Hodges (-72) 460

5. Chevy Coleman (-97) 435

6. Paden Phillips (-103) 429

7. Henry Chambers (-104) 428

8. Wyatt Gaggero (-109) 423

9. Bobby Williams (-117) 415

10. Shadren Turner (-120) 412

Kansas and Missouri have become the foundation of the Heartland Modified Tour, and this weekend’s venues are another example why.

Friday night’s stop at the historic Kansas State Fairgrounds brings the series back to the sweeping half-mile at SaltCity Racing, where Tanner Mullens earned the victory one season ago. The fast, momentum-driven racing surface traditionally rewards patience, precision, testing both man and machine.

Saturday, the tour shifts just east to 81 Speedway, one of the Midwest’s premier weekly racing facilities. Previous Heartland Modified Tour winners at the historic oval include Rodney Sanders, Tyler Wolff, and Tanner Mullens, who owns two series victories at the facility.

For several championship contenders, however, this weekend means far more than simply another two races.

Both SaltCity Racing and 81 Speedway have served as home tracks for current championship leader Tyler Davis, fifth-place Chevy Coleman, eighth-place Wyatt Gaggero, and Dakota Dale. Former Heartland Modified Tour standout Tad Davis also built much of his success at these Kansas facilities, making this weekend a return to familiar surroundings for many of the tour’s veteran competitors.

Meanwhile, Paden Phillips and Henry Chambers have each adopted 81 Speedway as their weekly home during previous seasons, while committing to full-time Heartland Modified Tour campaigns in 2026. Their extensive experience around the Park City oval could prove valuable as both drivers continue battling inside the top seven in points.

Momentum also belongs to Tanner Mullens entering the weekend. Although not competing for the championship due to limited appearances, the Wichita native has become one of the hottest drivers in the region, winning three of his four Heartland Modified Tour starts this season, including victories last Thursday at Lucas Oil Speedway and Friday night at I-35 Speedway before narrowly finishing second to Dean Wille during Saturday’s thriller. His previous success at both Kansas facilities immediately places him among the favorites once again.

Trevor Hughes continues searching for his first win of the season despite remaining firmly in championship contention. Add in consistent frontrunners Cole Campbell, Bobby Williams, Shadren Turner, and a host of local Kansas talent, and another highly competitive weekend appears to be in store.

As the calendar turns deeper into July, opportunities to gain—or lose—valuable championship ground become increasingly important. With two races in two nights, familiar racetracks, hometown pride on the line, and a championship battle beginning to take shape, fans should expect another exciting weekend of USRA Heartland Modified Tour competition.

The action begins Friday, July 10, at SaltCity Racing at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson before concluding Saturday, July 11, at 81 Speedway in Park City.

The USRA Heartland Modified Tour Presented by Real Racing Wheels enters year three in 2026, and we 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, Kevko Racing, Midwest Sheet Metal, Mel Hambelton Ford Racing, Pannell Chipping, RacinDirt.com, Real et 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

NEXT: Steven Brooks Returns To Victory Lane With The Summit Modifieds At Kankakee