May 27, 2025 | By USMTS PR

Dillard’s 23rd USMTS triumph happens in Mason City

MASON CITY, Ia.—The Pritchard Family Auto Stores Mason City Motor Speedway roared to life Sunday for the Jerry Hejna Memorial presented by Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar, Sevens Restaurant & Steakhouse and TAP’d Tap House & Cocktail Lounge.

The 11th race of the season for the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt saw Cade Dillard of Robeline, La., powered his way to victory in the 40-lap main event, marking his 23rd career USMTS win and tying him with Al Hejna for 14th on the all-time wins list.

Dillard, driving a CDR Race Cars chassis with a Stoen Racing Engines powerplant and backed by S&S Fishing & Rental, started fifth but surged to the lead on lap 31, and then dominating the last hadful of laps to secure his third career win in Mason City.

Five-time USMTS national champion Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas, led the most laps (17) and finished second, while Reece Solander of Emporia, Kan., claimed third. Kyle Strickler of Mooresville, N.C., earned the FK Rod Ends Hard Charger Award, charging from 11th to fourth, and Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., rounded out the top five.

The race saw intense battles, with Phillips leading the opening 13 laps before Sanders took command. Dillard’s decisive move in the final 10 laps sealed the victory on the high-banked 3/8-mile clay oval—a reconfigured version of the former I-35 Speedway, which was a sweeping half-mile track until its transformation in 2015.

Notably, Sanders and Dillard won the first two races on the new surface in 2016, and Phillips claimed the next USMTS victory here in 2018.

Gary Christian of Broken Bow, Okla., was sixth, Jake Timm of Winona, Minn. snared the seventh spot, defending USMTS national champ Jim Chisholm earned an eighth-place paycheck. Tanner Mullens, who finished ninth, holds the record in Mason City with five trips to Victory Lane since 2010., and Alex Williamson of Rushford, Minn., completed the top 10.

The next event for the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt is the 19th Annual Doug Murphrey Memorial at Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, La., on June 6-7.


OFFICIAL RESULTS

United States Modified Touring Series
Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt
Jerry Hejna Memorial presented by Rookies Rockin' Sports Bar, Sevens Restaurant & Steakhouse and TAP'd Tap House & Cocktail Lounge
Pritchard Family Auto Stores Mason City Motor Speedway, Mason City, Iowa

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown. Heat race lineups are determined via group qualifying. The top 12 in heat race passing points advance to the Summit Racing Equipment “A” Main.

HODGES FARMS & DREDGING QUALIFYING GROUP #1:
1. (12) 56 Shadren Turner, St. Joseph, Mo., 14.688
2. (1) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., 14.798
3. (7) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan., 14.934
4. (2) 1B Bobby Williams, Hermitage, Mo., 14.957
5. (15) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla., 15.033
6. (5) 80XX Jason Langford, Palestine, Texas, 15.057
7. (4) 29H Joe Horgdal, Mantorville, Minn., 15.135
8. (13) 49 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn., 15.198
9. (14) 99 Jason Grimes, Jamestown, N.D., 15.231
10. (10) 16B Kaylin Lopez, Chowchilla, Calif., 15.265
11. (8) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa, 15.352
12. (16) 21 Ben Nading, Ankeny, Iowa, 15.384
13. (9) 35 Bill Crimmins, Fort Dodge, Iowa, 15.410
14. (11) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa, 15.430
15. (17) 87H Harley Dais, Winona, Minn., 15.524
16. (6) 99L Steve Lavasseur, River Falls, Wis., 15.562
17. (3) 92 Tyler Grooms, Trenton, Mo., 15.875

HODGES FARMS & DREDGING QUALIFYING GROUP #2:
1. (9) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa, 14.907
2. (3) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan., 15.121
3. (6) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M., 15.133
4. (15) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn., 15.134
5. (7) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa, 15.144
6. (4) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, 15.183
7. (14) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., 15.192
8. (8) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla., 15.216
9. (16) 15W Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn., 15.232
10. (10) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M., 15.297
11. (2) 96 Taton Hansen, Spicer, Minn., 15.330
12. (11) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C., 15.539
13. (5) 19SB Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif., 15.551
14. (12) 23B Brett Bumgardner, Hawkeye, Iowa, 15.839
15. (1) 23 Darwin Karau, Kasson, Minn., 16.072
16. (13) 7S Todd Stinehart, Waseca, Minn., 16.279
DNS - 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D., 16.279

SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps):
1. (2) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
2. (3) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
3. (4) 56 Shadren Turner, St. Joseph, Mo.
4. (1) 29H Joe Horgdal, Mantorville, Minn.
5. (5) 99 Jason Grimes, Jamestown, N.D.
6. (6) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa
7. (8) 87H Harley Dais, Winona, Minn.
8. (7) 35 Bill Crimmins, Fort Dodge, Iowa
9. (9) 92 Tyler Grooms, Trenton, Mo.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. (1) 49 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
2. (4) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
3. (7) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
4. (2) 80XX Jason Langford, Palestine, Texas
5. (3) 1B Bobby Williams, Hermitage, Mo.
6. (8) 99L Steve Lavasseur, River Falls, Wis.
7. (6) 21 Ben Nading, Ankeny, Iowa
8. (5) 16B Kaylin Lopez, Chowchilla, Calif.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. (1) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
2. (2) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
3. (4) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
4. (5) 15W Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn.
5. (3) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M.
6. (7) 19SB Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif.
7. (6) 96 Taton Hansen, Spicer, Minn.
8. (9) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
9. (8) 23 Darwin Karau, Kasson, Minn.

WIELAND HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. (2) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
2. (4) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan.
3. (6) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C.
4. (1) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
5. (3) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
6. (5) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
7. (7) 23B Brett Bumgardner, Hawkeye, Iowa
8. (8) 7S Todd Stinehart, Waseca, Minn.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (1) 15W Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn.
2. (3) 1B Bobby Williams, Hermitage, Mo.
3. (4) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
4. (2) 29H Joe Horgdal, Mantorville, Minn.
5. (5) 99L Steve Lavasseur, River Falls, Wis.
6. (9) 16B Kaylin Lopez, Chowchilla, Calif.
7. (6) 87H Harley Dais, Winona, Minn.
8. (7) 21 Ben Nading, Ankeny, Iowa
9. (8) 7S Todd Stinehart, Waseca, Minn.
10. (10) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
DNS - 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (2) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
2. (5) 19SB Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif.
3. (3) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M.
4. (7) 96 Taton Hansen, Spicer, Minn.
5. (4) 99 Jason Grimes, Jamestown, N.D.
6. (6) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
7. (8) 92 Tyler Grooms, Trenton, Mo.
8. (9) 23 Darwin Karau, Kasson, Minn.
9. (1) 80XX Jason Langford, Palestine, Texas
DNS - 23B Brett Bumgardner, Hawkeye, Iowa
DNS - 35 Bill Crimmins, Fort Dodge, Iowa

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (5) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
2. (1) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
3. (8) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan.
4. (11) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C.
5. (2) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
6. (4) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
7. (7) 49 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
8. (12) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
9. (6) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
10. (13) 15W Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn.
11. (23) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
12. (3) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
13. (9) 56 Shadren Turner, St. Joseph, Mo.
14. (16) 19SB Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif.
15. (20) 96 Taton Hansen, Spicer, Minn.
16. (17) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
17. (18) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M.
18. (14) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
19. (22) 99 Jason Grimes, Jamestown, N.D.
20. (10) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
21. (15) 1B Bobby Williams, Hermitage, Mo.
22. (21) 99L Steve Lavasseur, River Falls, Wis.
23. (19) 29H Joe Horgdal, Mantorville, Minn.
24. (24) 80XX Jason Langford, Palestine, Texas
DNS - 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.

Lap Leaders: Phillips 1-13, Sanders 14-30, Dillard 31-40.

Total Laps Led: Sanders 17, Phillips 13, Dillard 10.

Margin of Victory: 3.366 seconds.

Time of Race: 20 minutes, 5.222 seconds (3 cautions).

Provisional Starters: M. Smith, Langford.

FK Rod Ends Hard Charger: Strickler (started 11th, finished 4th).

Entries: 34.

Next Race: June 6-7, Boothill Speedway, Greenwood, La..

Summit USMTS National Championship Points: Sanders 986, Chisholm 942, Mullens 874, Strickler 868, Chisholm 828, Williamson 817, Phillips 806, Hughes 724,
Christian 723, Brown 716.

Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Points: Chisholm 754, Hughes 652, Solander 574, Smith 479, Girolamo 473.

FK Rod Ends USMTS Hard Charger Points: Williamson 47, Sanders 42, Chisholm 37, Phillips 35, Strickler 33.

Miller Welders USMTS Manufacturers Championship Points: MBCustoms 91, Skyrocket 85, CDR 85, Mullens 61, SSR 51.

JE Pistons USMTS Engine Builder of the Year Points: KSE 92, Hatfield 87, Mullins 72, Stoen 67, ECE 67.


Contingency Awards:
Aero Race Wheels – Langford.
American Racer – Williamson.
Bear Graphix – Lavasseur.
Beyea Custom Headers – Strickler.
Bryke Racing – Hansen.
BSB Manufacturing – Brown.
Champ Pans – Phillips.
Danny Crane Racing Engines – Christian.
Dynamic Drivelines – Mari.
Edelbrock – Phillips.
Fast Shafts – Timm.
Featherlite Trailers – Dillard, Sanders, Solander.
FK Rod Ends – Strickler.
Gorsuch Performance Solutions – Dillard.
Harris Auto Racing – Williams.
Hodges Farms & Dredging – Turner.
Hooker Harness – Jim Chisholm.
Hyperco – Girolamo.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Hughes.
Keyser Manufacturing – Williamson.
KSE Racing Products – Strickler.
MD3 – Sanders.
MSD Performance – Strickler.
Penske Racing Shocks – Turner.
PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain – Grooms.
QA1 – Turner.
Quarter Master – Mullens.
RaceQuip – Horgdal.
RacerWebsite – Langford.
Real Racing Wheels – Timm.
Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt – Joe Chisholm.
Simpson Race Products – Christian.
Sweet Manufacturing – Hoff.
Swift Springs – swiftmove, Hansen, Dillard.
Sybesma Graphics – Sanders.
Total Power – M. Smith.
VP Racing – Dillard.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Lopez.
Wilwood Disc Brakes – Timm.