Story By: BEN SHELTON / TANNER MULLENS RACING – WICHITA, KS – Tanner Mullens busted into the 2023 winner’s column in a big way over the weekend with back-to-back United States Racing Association (USRA) victories in the state of Oklahoma aboard his Mel Habmelton Ford / Sandlian Iron & Metal Auto Salvage No. 02 Bergman Tax & Accounting / Fuqua Trucking / Mullens Race Car Modified.
He bested the American Racer USRA Modified Series on Friday night at Red Dirt Raceway before notching a Summit Weekly Racing Series victory on Saturday at Longdale Speedway.
“Finally… that’s probably the best way to sum it up. For the most part I feel like we’ve been in contention in most events so far this year but just had no wins to show for it. We knocked down two this past weekend, so hopefully that gives us some momentum heading to 81 Speedway this week. I love that place, and there’ll be a lot of friends and family there. Most importantly the weekend is a great tribute to Ed Gressel, who did so much to support racers like me,” Mullens said.
Tanner Mullens went two-for-two over the course of the weekend, scoring victories in USRA Modified races at two tracks in the Sooner State.
The Wichita, Kansas, driver began the weekend by taking the top spot out of 28 entrants in the American Racer USRA Modified Series’ season-opening event at Meeker, Oklahoma’s Red Dirt Raceway on Friday evening.
Mullens moved from fourth to first in his eight-lap heat race on the quarter-mile oval and started the 35-lap feature from the third position in a 24-car field. Mullens took the lead on Lap 13 and masterfully worked his way through lapped traffic while maintaining his spot at the front of the pack. His No. 02 machine crossed the line ahead of Rodney Sanders and Kale Westover to take the $2,000 winner’s share.
On Saturday, Mullens and team moved to the season opener at Longdale Speedway (Longdale, Oklahoma) for a Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series contest. Different track, same result.
Mullens started fourth and finished third in his eight-lap heat race, putting him in the eighth starting spot for the 20-lap feature. He sprinted to the front, passing seven cars to best the 240 Consulting USRA Modifieds division, which boasted 18 entrants on the evening.
Tanner returns to the Summit USMTS trail this weekend – April 20-22 – with the inaugural Ed Gressel Memorial at 81 Speedway (Wichita, Kan.). The weekend includes a $3,000-to-win program on Thursday, a $5,000-to-win event on Friday and a $10,000-to-win finale on Saturday.
Tanner is currently 15th in the latest series standings and will be looking to make up ground in the championship battle this weekend.