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Sanders Strikes Late to Win War in West Union Opener After Mullens Mishaps

WEST UNION, Iowa (May 21, 2026) — Night No. 1 of the Memorial Weekend Swing delivered plenty of drama Thursday night as the Summit Racing Equipment USMTS presented by RacinDirt.com invaded Fayette County Speedway for the War in West Union.

Tanner Mullens started the night strong, earning the Hodges Farms & Dredging LLC Quick Time Award, along with an extra $100 and a JE Pistons trophy. Mullens then rolled from the Sybesma Graphics Pole and looked to be in control, leading the first 26 laps of the 40-lap main event.

But heartbreak struck the Wichita, Kansas, driver when a broken shifter forced him to the Danny Crane Racing Engines hot pit. Crews worked hard to get Mullens back on track, but what looked like a winning night ended with a 14th-place finish. Despite the setback, Mullens remains the USMTS points leader by one marker over Rodney Sanders.

When Mullens fell out of contention, Sanders was ready to pounce. The “Rocket” took command and never looked back, leading the final 14 laps to score the victory. It marked Sanders’ third straight USMTS win following his sweep at Tri-State Speedway.

Jim Chisholm worked the high side in pursuit of Sanders but settled for a strong runner-up finish. Kyle Brown of Madrid, Iowa, earned the Swift Springs Move of the Race and came home third. Brandon Davis finished fourth after battling through concerns with his air cleaner, while Harley Dais charged from 15th to round out the top five.

Jake Timm also made noise, racing from 10th to sixth. Gary Christian, who missed his heat race due to mechanical issues, stormed from 22nd to eighth and earned the FK Rod Ends Hard Charger Award.

The Memorial Weekend Swing continues Friday night at Hancock County Speedway in Britt, Iowa, with the Hobo 100k Nickel Nationals paying $5,000.05 to win.

For more information stay tuned to our Facebook for the rest of the weekend.

Hodges Farms & Dredging Qualifying Group A Fast Time: Tanner Mullens - 16.000

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #1: (8 Laps)

1. 7G-Gabe Hodges[5];
2. 02-Tanner Mullens[4];
3. 15W-Alex Williamson[3];
4. 21K-Kyle Brown[7];
5. 16B-Kaylin Lopez[1];
6. 55H-AJ Hoff[8];
7. 80XX-Jason Langford[6];
8. 58X-Gary Christian[2]

Fast Shafts Heat Race #2: (8 Laps)

1. 20-Rodney Sanders[2];
2. 91-Joe Duvall[1];
3. 24C-Jim Chisholm[4];
4. 49-Jake Timm[3];
5. 87H-Harley Dais[5];
6. 96-Taton Hansen[6];
7. 97JR-Landon Volkman[7]

Edelbrock Heat Race #3: (8 Laps)

1. 33Z-Zack VanderBeek[3];
2. 50III-Brandon Davis[2];
3. 23B-Brett Bumgardner[5];
4. 75-Terry Phillips[4];
5. 5-Reece Solander[7];
6. 10B-Brandon Givens[6];
7. 99L-Steve Lavasseur[1]

Summit Racing Equipment A-Main: (40 Laps)

1. 20-Rodney Sanders[3];
2. 24C-Jim Chisholm[6];
3. 21K-Kyle Brown[7];
4. 50III-Brandon Davis[4];
5. 87H-Harley Dais[15];
6. 49-Jake Timm[10];
7. 7G-Gabe Hodges[2];
8. 58X-Gary Christian[22];
9. 10B-Brandon Givens[18];
10. 5-Reece Solander[9];
11. 15W-Alex Williamson[16];
12. 91-Joe Duvall[12];
13. 96-Taton Hansen[17];
14. 02-Tanner Mullens[1];
15. 75-Terry Phillips[13];
16. 55H-AJ Hoff[8];
17. 99L-Steve Lavasseur[21];
18. 23B-Brett Bumgardner[11];
19. 16B-Kaylin Lopez[19];
20. 80XX-Jason Langford[14];
21. 33Z-Zack VanderBeek[5];
22. 97JR-Landon Volkman[20]

Lap Leader: Mullens 1-26, Sanders 27-40
Total Laps Led: Mullens 26, Sanders 14
Margin of Victory: 3.302 seconds.
Time of Race: 33 minutes, 27 seconds (5 cautions).
Provisional Starters:
Emergency Provisionals:
FK Rod Ends Hard Charger: Gary Christian (started 22nd, finished 8th).
Entries: 22.
Next Race: May 22, Hancock County Speedway, Britt, Iowa
Summit USMTS National Championship Points: Mullens 848, Sanders 847, Davis 834, Solander 822, Chisholm 818, Hodges 728, Phillips 712, Brown 690, Christian 677, Duvall 636
Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Points: Hodges 728, Stevens 614, Dais 276, Langford 254
FK Rod Ends USMTS Hard Charger Points: Davis 62, Brown 49, Phillips 38, Mullens 34, Hughes 29, VanderBeek 29, Chisholm 28, Sanders 26, Lavasseur 24
Miller Welders USMTS Manufacturers Championship Points: Skyrocket 84, Mullens 74, MBCustoms 69, Tri-Built 68, CDR 57, Harris 39, BOM 32
JE Pistons USMTS Engine Builder of the Year Points: KSE 75, ECE 68, Hatfield 67, Schroer 62, Mullins 46, Durham 40, Midstate 38, Stoen 31, Crane 29

Contingency Awards:
Aero Race Wheels- Lavasseur
American Racer- Williamson
Bear Graphix- Christian
Beyea Custom Headers- Davis
Brinn Inc.- Christian
Bryke Racing- Phillips
Champ Pans- Dais
Danny Crane Racing Engines- Timm
Driven Racing Oil- Sanders
Dynamic Drivelines- Lavasseur
Edelbrock- VanderBeek
Fast Shafts- Sanders
Featherlite Trailers- Sanders, Chisholm, Brown
FK Rod Ends- Christian
Gorsuch Performance Solutions- Sanders
Harris Auto Racing- VanderBeek
Hodges Farms & Dredging- Mullens
Hooker Harness- Duvall
Hyperco- Timm
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs- Bumgardner
JE Pistons- Mullens
Keyser Manufacturing- Solander
KSE Racing Products- Christian
Longacre Racing Products- Sanders, Chisholm, Brown, Davis
MD3- Mullens
MSD Performance- Davis
Penske Racing Shocks- Hansen
PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain- Phillips
QA1- Mullens
Quarter Master- Givens
Real Racing Wheels- Lavasseur
Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt- Sanders , Hodges
Simpson Race Products- Hodges
Sweet Manufacturing- Hoff
Swift Springs- Sanders, Brown
Sybesma Graphics- Mullens
Total Power- Williamson
VP Racing Fuels- Sanders
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products- Christian
Wilwood Disc Brakes- Hodges

OFFICIAL PARTNERS:
American Racer Tires, Beyea Custom Headers, Fast Shafts, Featherlite Trailers, FK Rod Ends, KSE Racing Products, Longacre Racing Products, Malvern Bank, Mesilla Valley Transportation, PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain, Racindirt.tv, Summit Racing Equipment, VP Racing Fuels, Wieland Metal Services

PARTICIPATING PARTNERS:
Boomtest Well Services, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Callie's Performance Products, Collins Brothers Towing of St. Cloud, Hochatown Saloon, Hodges Farms & Dredging, Mel Hambelton Ford, PBM Performance Products, Stakt Products LLC., Youdirt

CONTINGENCY PARTNERS:
Aero Race Wheels, Afco Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bear Graphix, Brinn Inc., Bryke Racing, Champ Pans, Danny Crane Racing Engines, Driven Racing Oil, Dynamic Drivelines, Edelbrock, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, Harris Auto Racing, Hooker Harness, Hyperco, Integra Racing Shocks, JE Pistons, MD3, Mel Hambelton Racing, MSD Performance, Penske Racing Shocks, QA1, Quarter Master, RaceQuip, Real Racing Wheels, Rush Racegear by Austin Witt, Simpson Race Products, Sweet Manufacturing, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Total Power, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes

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