Gulbrandson grabs eighth USRA Hobby Stock National Championship
WEBSTER City, Ia. — Dustin Gulbrandson of Sioux Falls, S.D., captured the USRA Hobby Stock National Championship in 2024 and joined a mighty exclusive club with his eighth title since 2014 during this year’s Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series action.
Gulbrandson racked up points and wins at the Deer Creek Speedway, Fairmont Raceway, Hamilton County Speedway, I-90 Speedway, Lucas Oil Speedway, Mason City Motor Speedway, Mississippi Thunder Speedway and Rapid Speedway.
The 34-year-old, who also captured the 2020 Summit USRA Nationals, ended Dylan Clinton’s two-ear run at the top of the class with 21 wins in 44 starts. He finished in the top five on 38 occasions and 40 times inside the top 10.
2009 national champ Chris Hovden of Cresco, Iowa, gave Gulbrandson a run for his money but settled for a runner-up paycheck at season’s end. Decorah, Iowa’s Josh Ludeking was third.
USRA Hobby Stocks:
1. 6 Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D., 4433
2. 07 Chris Hovden, Cresco, Iowa, 4395
3. 81 Josh Ludeking, Decorah, Iowa, 4349
4. 15 Jeremy Crimmins, Fort Dodge, Iowa, 4280
5. 50 Bryce Sommerfeld, Fort Dodge, Iowa, 4136
6. 50K Kolby Goepel, Britt, Iowa, 4070
7. 18 Scott Spilde, Cresco, Iowa, 4015
8. 18JR Gavin Bartel, Kasson, Minn., 3978
8. 22 Steve Larson, Decorah, Iowa, 3978
10. 83 Scott Dobel, Manly, Iowa, 3976
Complete 2020 USRA Hobby Stock standings
Gulbrandson will collect $2,500 from an overall points fund of more than $100,000 and contingency awards worth over $40,000. Including national, regional, rookie and track points funds, nearly $1 million is returning to racers at season's end.
Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series national points for all divisions include each competitor’s best twenty (20) points nights during the 2024 campaign. Each competitor must have competed in at least one-half of the events held at any one USRA-sanctioned racetrack to be eligible for national points funds.
Past USRA Hobby Stock National Champions:
2023 - Dylan Clinton, West Union, Iowa
2022 - Dylan Clinton, West Union, Iowa
2021 - Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2020 - Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2019 - Eric Stanton, Carlisle, Iowa
2018 - Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2017 - Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2016 - Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2015 - Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2014 - Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2013 - Adam Cline, Decorah, Iowa
2012 - Dillon Anderson, Rudd, Iowa
2011 - Dan Strandberg, Worthington, Minn.
2010 - Shane Klaassen, Little Rock, Iowa
2009 - Chris Hovden, Cresco, Iowa
2008 - Jason McDaniel, Eldon, Iowa
2007 - Mitch Hovden, Decorah, Iowa
2006 - Nathan Wood, Sigourney, Iowa
USRA points funds are made possible by sanction fees contributed by the racetracks and support from the following marketing partners: American Racer Racing Tires, Beyea Headers, Callies Performance Products, Chevrolet Performance, Fast Shafts, Featherlite Trailers, FK Rod Ends, KSE Racing Products, Malvern Bank, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Nitroquest Media, PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain, RacinDirt, Summit Racing Equipment, TicketSmarter, VP Racing - Heartland, Wieland, ARMI Contractors, Boomtest Well Service, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Collins Brothers Towing, Gene Nicholas LLC, Hacienda Mechanical, Hochatown Saloon, Mel Hambelton Ford, Miller Welders, PBM Performance Products, Rancho Milagro Racing, Salty's BBQ & Catering, Shop Quik Stores, STAKT Products, YouDirt.com, AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bear Graphix, Bryke Racing, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Danny Crane Racing Engines, Deatherage Racing Opticians, Edelbrock, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, Gunshepherd.com, Hooker Harness, Hyperco, Integra Racing Shocks and Springs, JE Pistons, Keyser Manufacturing, MD3, Mel Hambelton Racing, MSD Performance, Penske Racing Shocks, Performance Bodies & Parts, QA1, Quarter Master, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt, Simpson Performance Products, Sweet Manufacturing, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Total Power, Victory Fuel, Victory Vault, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products and Wilwood Racing.
Awards Banquet approaching: The annual USRA Awards Banquet is Saturday, January 25, inside the 12,000-square-foot Star Pavilion at the Ameristar Casino Hotel located at 3200 N Ameristar Dr, Kansas City, MO 64161. This will once again be a joint celebration for the USRA and United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS). Tickets go on sale Nov. 29.
Entering its 25 season of dirt track racing in 2025, the United States Racing Association has attracted more and more racetracks and dirt track racers each year through fair, logical and cost-effective rules accompanied by an organization that puts the racers, racetracks and their fans first. During the 2024 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series, more than 60 of America's finest dirt ovals hosted more than 1,000 nights of racing.
To learn more about the USRA, check out USRAracing.com and follow our social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube. To get USRA news and exclusive promotions delivered to your inbox, click here.
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WHITEHEAD REPEATS IN SUNOCO USRA FACTORY STOCKS, ADDS USRA LIMITED MODS TITLE IN 2024
Justin Whitehead became the first driver in the 24-year history of the USRA to win two Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series national championships in the same year.
The 34-year-old from Texarkana, Texas, picked up his first title in 2023 racing in the Sunoco USRA Factory Stock division, doubled up his winnings this year and will pocket $6,000 plus double the contingencies for repeating his Sunoco USRA Factory Stock championship and adding the USRA Limited Mod crown this season.
In the USRA Limited Mods, Whitehead had to hold off a hot Derick Grigsby at the end. As in the Sunoco USRA Factory Stock class, Whitehead will pocket $3,000 cash for his efforts.
He picked up 7 wins, 20 top-fives and 26 top-ten finishes in the 31 races he competed in with the USRA Limited Mods. He visited the Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Boothill Speedway, Hunt County Raceway, Rocket Raceway Park, Sabine Speedway and Texarkana 67 Speedway in his hometown.
Grigsby, from Marshall, Texas, finished a close second in the final standings with Ethan Bailes of Elizabeth, La., taking the third spot.
USRA Limited Mods:
1. 36J Justin Whitehead, Texarkana, Texas, 4147
2. 69 Derick Grigsby, Marshall, Texas, 4099
3. E8 Ethan Bailes, Elizabeth, La., 4053
4. 29 Matthew Riskey, Commerce, Texas, 3985
5. 23T Coty Tupper, Blanchard, La., 3966
6. 92 Jeffrey Kaup, Woodward, Okla., 3963
7. 25 Kale Murphrey, Tullos, La., 3941
8. 7CC Colby Williams, Sibley, La., 3938
9. 47CC Conner Williams, Sibley, La., 3869
10. F5 Skeet Amason, New Boston, Texas, 3809
Complete 2024 USRA Limited Mod standings
Whitehead finished the season with 15 wins, 22 top-fives and 26 top-ten finishes in 32 Sunoco USRA Factory Stock shows. C.J. Howell took the second spot with Dallas Bourland rounding out the top three in the Sunoco USRA Factory Stocks.
Racing at the Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Boothill Speedway, Hunt County Raceway, Rocket Raceway Park, Sabine Speedway and Texarkana 67 Speedway is where whitehead did his damage.
Sunoco USRA Factory Stocks:
1. 36J Justin Whitehead, Texarkana, Texas, 4290
2. 2 C.J. Howell, Dry Prong, La., 4123
3. 48 Dallas Bourland, Fort Smith, Ark., 3983
4. 10X Chase Hatton, De Berry, Texas, 3896
5. 55 Dalton DuBois, Robeline, La., 3841
6. 55M Cody Myers, Bossier City, La., 3793
7. 15X Dakoda Wyatt, Provencal, La., 3710
8. 38 Deaon Redmon, Paris, Texas, 3677
9. 12 David Smith, Ruston, La., 3546
10. 100+ Ross Cook, Florine, La., 3459
Complete 2024 Sunoco USRA Factory Stock standings
“I’m not sure if people understand the commitment it takes to run two cars a night and be at the top of your game each and every night on the track,” said USRA President Todd Staley. “Kudos to Justin Whitehead for that feat. And then to top it off with two championships makes it even better.
“Congratulations to all of the drivers that worked hard all season and finished in the top ten. We hope to see you at the USRA Awards Banquet on January 25.”
Whitehead will collect $6,000 from an overall points fund of more than $100,000 and contingency awards worth over $40,000. Including national, regional, rookie and track points funds, nearly $1 million is returning to racers at season's end.
Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series national points for all divisions include each competitor’s best twenty (20) points nights during the 2024 campaign. Each competitor must have competed in at least one-half of the events held at any one USRA-sanctioned racetrack to be eligible for national points funds.
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