MEEKER, Okla. — The American Racer USRA Modified Series presented by Day Motor Sports kicked off the 2023 campaign Friday night at the Red Dirt Raceway, with the first of two events this weekend out of 25 on this year’s calendar.
The evening brought a strong field of USRA Modifieds to the popular quarter-mile red dirt oval, and the first trip to victory lane this year for Tanner Mullens.
Fellow Summit USMTS regular Colton Horner jumped out to lead 11 of the first 12 laps, but Mullens stayed glued to his bumper before using lapped traffic to his advantage to grab first-place at the flag stand as the leaders completed lap 13.
From there, the 30-year-old from Wichita, Kansas, had to deal with a swarm of lapped cars while keeping the likes of Rodney Sanders, Kale Westover and Joe Duvall behind him, which he did for the next 23 laps to nab the $2,000 winner’s paycheck.
Sanders, Westover and defending USRA Modified National Champion Tyler Davis were second, third and fourth, respectively, while Sean Gaddis snuck into the top five late in the race.
Feature Finish (35 Laps)
1. (3) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan., 2. (8) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, 3. (5) 15W Kale Westover, Altus, Okla., 4. (16) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan., 5. (6) 7 Sean Gaddis, Diana, Texas, 6. (11) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., 7. (2) 56 Colton Horner, Houston, Texas, 8. (17) 4R Jared Russell, Wagoner, Okla., 9. (18) 24X Xavier Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M., 10. (4) 7X Chris Dawson, Lubbock, Texas, 11. (20) D25 David Tanner, Wichita Falls, Texas, 12. (22) 39 Ho Dean, Tulsa, Okla., 13. (21) 1233 Matt Beasley, Davis, Okla., 14. (9) 52 Chad Davis, Tulsa, Okla., 15. (13) 24M Manuel Williams II, Fouke, Ark., 16. (1) 17 Brandon Dean, Sapulpa, Okla., 17. (7) 99 Jared Baird, Norman, Okla., 18. (10) 2G Kenny Gaddis, Diana, Texas, 19. (15) 82 Jimmie Williams, Denison, Texas, 20. (19) 15C Cam Case, Edmond, Okla., 21. (14) 18 Bobby Mayfield, Elk City, Okla., 22. (12) 24 Manuel Williams Sr., Fouke, Ark., 23. (24) 11H Denver Howard, Woodward, Okla., 24. (23) 24W Mason Williams, Fouke, Ark.