Story By: BEN SHELTON / TANNER MULLENS RACING – WICHITA, KS – Tanner Mullens enjoyed a dominant weekend aboard his Mel Hambelton Ford / Sandlian Iron & Metal Auto Salvage No. 02 Bergman Tax & Accounting / Fuqua Trucking / Mullens Race Car Modified.
Tanner Mullens visited the Lonestar State over the weekend and came away with a pair of winner’s checks from the United States Racing Association (USRA) American Racer Modified Series (ARMS).
“It was a big weekend for us in Texas. We faced solid fields of cars both night, and both nights we had charge from back in the pack to get the win. We got the job done on Friday and Saturday, and that was a big shot in the arm for our team as we prepare for a four-race swing win the USMTS this weekend,” Mullens shared. “A huge thanks to my family, my team, my sponsors, and all our marketing partners, who make this possible each week.”
The Wichita, Kansas, driver’s first stop last weekend was West Texas Raceway (Lubbock, Texas) on Friday, where Mullens’ Mel Hambelton Ford No. 02 machine was one of 43 entries.
Mullens won his heat race on the 3/8-mile clay oval and began the 30-lap main event from the ninth spot. He charged forward eight positions to take the lead on Lap 9 and never looked back, scoring the $2,000 victory over Carlos Ahumada Jr., Nathan Smith, Jake Gallardo and Mark Smith.
On Saturday, Mullens and his team headed to Route 66 Motor Speedway (Amarillo, Texas), where 36 entries were looking to take home the $2,000 winner’s share from the 3/8-mile, semi-banked clay oval.
Mullens finished fourth in his heat race, putting him in a B-Main, where he won from the pole.
Starting 13th for the 25-lap feature event, Mullens tore through the field just as he had the night before and took over the top spot on the 15th lap. Once out front, he pulled away from the competition and took the checkered flag by 5.652 seconds over runner-up Cole Traugott.
Kale Westover, Joe Duvall and Sean Gaddis rounded out the top-five.
Mullens’ pair of weekend victories were his second and third with ARMS this year and brought his 2023-win total to five overall.
Tanner Mullens Racing is gearing up for four days of USMTS racing over the extended Memorial Day weekend. Festivities open with the three-day 20th annual LRS Waste Services USMTS Southern Minnesota Spring Challenge. The event posts a $3,000 winner’s check on Thursday, a $5,000 top prize on Friday, and a $10,000 victor’s take on Saturday.
Then on Sunday, Fayette County Speedway (West Union, Iowa) posts a $10,000 top prize for the Summit USMTS contingent.
Tanner currently sits 13th in the latest series standings.