SAUK RAPIDS, Minn. — Tanner Mullens delivered a flawless drive, leading all 40 laps of the fifth annual Mod Wars finale at the Granite City Motor Park to claim victory in the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt on Sunday night.
Mullens outdueled a fiercely competitive 21-car field, crossing the finish line less than a second ahead of his closest rival in a heart-pounding showdown that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Starting from the pole after a strong showing in the Hodges Farms & Dredging Qualifying, the 2020 Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Award winner set a blistering pace from the green flag, navigating lapped traffic and two cautions with unflappable composure.
Chasing Mullens was Joe Chisholm, who charged from fourth to secure a hard-fought second-place finish and nearly capturing his third victory in the last four races while he aims for this year’s rookie title.
Local hero Joseph Thomas thrilled the hometown crowd, piloting his machine from third to a solid third-place finish after pacing qualifying and winning the first heat race.
Zach Benson, another Minnesota native, electrified fans with a dynamic run from eighth to fourth, rounding out the top five was five-time USMTS national champ Rodney Sanders, who clawed his way from 13th to fifth.
The finish:
Tanner Mullens, Joe Chisholm, Joseph Thomas, Zach Benson, Rodney Sanders, Reece Solander, Gary Christian, Terry Phillips, Taton Hansen, Shane Sabraski, Alex Williamson, Brandon Mehrwerth, Troy Girolamo, Curtis Stieh, A.J. Hoff, Jim Chisholm, Kyle Strickler, Trevor Hughes, James Parker, Jacob Bleess, Kyle Brown.
