Heartbreak for Chambers as Mullens Wins again during SaltCity Showdown
HUTCHINSON, Ks. (July 10, 2026) — Tanner Mullens spent the opening laps of Friday night's USRA Heartland Modified Tour feature stalking leader Henry Chambers around the historic SaltCity Racing oval at the Kansas State Fairgrounds, applying just enough pressure to force the young driver into a difficult decision.
That pressure ultimately proved to be the turning point of the race.
Chambers jumped to the lead at the drop of the green and immediately established himself as the driver to beat, with Mullens never allowing the gap to grow by more than a couple of car lengths. Twice Mullens drove deep into turns one and two, showing Chambers his nose. The repeated challenges convinced Chambers to move lower and lower around the speedway in an effort to protect the bottom groove.
On lap eight, that defensive line became one step too low.
Entering turns three and four, Chambers clipped the inside berm, upsetting his machine before the right rear caught the cushion, sending the No. 17 into a violent flip that brought the race to an immediate halt. After somehow attempting to restart the race at the tail end of the field, a few laps later Chambers pulled into the pits, climbed from the car under his own power, and his heartbreaking bid for a first career Heartland Modified Tour victory had come to an end.
The accident handed the lead to Mullens, who survived a challenge of his own over the final 12 circuits. Mullens had broken a right front shock forcing him to carefully manage a difficult race car through late race traffic to secure his second Heartland Modified Tour victory at SaltCity Racing and 4th of the season.
While celebrating in victory lane, Mullens admitted watching his chassis customer and fellow competitor lose a likely victory was bittersweet.
"Yeah, he had a really good car," Mullens said. "I could make up some ground there getting in, but, yeah, he had a good car, and probably gonna win if he didn't make any mistakes. I just kept getting in there, down on that that berm. I kind of showed him my nose a couple times and kept getting him lower and lower, and just trying to get him to make a mistake. I didn't want it to be that big, but I'm glad he's okay, and glad we had a 1-2 here with Mullens Cars."
The victory carried extra meaning for Mullens, whose family has enjoyed decades of success at the Kansas State Fairgrounds.
"Yeah, for sure," Mullens said. "I don't know, it's the biggest race for me every year, just no matter what it is, when we come here just because it's been a family tradition coming here a long time and racing. My grandpa won here, and my dad—they won I don't know how many times—so I think that's why I get excited to come back and try to catch up a few more."
Mullens also revealed just how difficult the closing laps became after damaging his car.
"I kept getting in that hole down there getting into one, which I've been doing pretty good here. But, I don't know, it broke, and it went bad. Really, when you had to get in and out of the gas is where it really got upset. Then I got to lap traffic there, and that was a handful."
Behind Mullens, Chevy Coleman continued what has been a breakout season by recording a career-best runner-up finish aboard the No. 41 machine. After knocking on the door throughout the first half of the season, Coleman appears poised to score his first Heartland Modified Tour victory in the very near future.
Current championship leader Tyler Davis quietly strengthened his points lead with another consistent third-place finish, while Shadren Turner crossed the stripe fourth and Trevor Hughes completed the top five.
Cole Campbell finished sixth ahead of Dean Wille, who finished seventh, Wyatt Gaggero finished eighth, Chris Kratzer ninth, and Paden Phillips rallied from 24th starting position to complete the top ten earning PEM Gears and Drivetrain Hard Charger honors after an impressive drive through the field.
Shadren Turner paced qualifying with a lap of 22.939 seconds to earn Deatherage Opticians Overall Quick Time honors. Heat race victories went to Henry Chambers, Tanner Mullens, and Trevor Hughes.
The USRA Heartland Modified Tour returns to action Saturday night at 81 Speedway in Park City, Kansas, as the two-night Kansas swing concludes.
Media Results for 7/10/2026 at SaltCity Racing - Hutchinson, KS
USRA Heartland Modified Tour
26 Entries
Pannell Chipping A Feature (20 Laps):
Tanner Mullens 2. Chevy Coleman 3. Tyler Davis 4. Shadren Turner 5. Trevor Hughes 6. Cole Campbell 7. Dean Wille 8. Wyatt Gaggero 9. Chris Kratzer 10. Paden Phillips 11. Troy Gemmill 12. Dakota Dale 13. Mike Petersilie 14. Alex Cammon 15. Kason Carroll 16. Tad Davis 17. Kasey Coleman 18. Brendon Gemmill 19. Henry Chambers 20. Randy Wilson 21. Peyton Burkhart 22. Ethyn Hafner 23. James Weve 24. Davis Givens 25. Chad Taylor 26. Rick Beebe (DNS)
PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain Hard Charger:
Paden Phillips (+14)
Rick Beebe Heating & Air Conditioning Heat 1 (6 Laps):
Henry Chambers 2. Shadren Turner 3. Cole Campbell 4. Brendon Gemmill 5. Troy Gemmill 6. Dakota Dale 7. Peyton Burkhart 8. Mike Petersilie 9. Kason Carroll
Smith Equipment Company Heat 2 (6 Laps):
Tanner Mullens 2. Tyler Davis 3. Ethyn Hafner 4. Wyatt Gaggero 5. Tad Davis 6. Rick Beebe 7. Alex Cammon 8. Kasey Coleman 9. Randy Wilson (DNS)
Kevko Racing Heat 3 (6 Laps):
Trevor Hughes 2. Chevy Coleman 3. Chris Kratzer 4. Dean Wille 5. James Weve 6. Davis Givens 7. Chad Taylor 8. Paden Phillips
Deatherage Opticians Overall Quick Time:
Shadren Turner (22.939)
Current USRA Heartland Modified Tour Point Standings
Tyler Davis 623
Trevor Hughes (-56) 567
Cole Campbell (R) (-76) 547
Chevy Coleman (-93) 530
Paden Phillips (-122) 501
Shadren Turner (-124) 499
Wyatt Gaggero (-124) 499
Tanner Mullens (-128) 495 (4 wins in just 5 starts)
Henry Chambers (-140) 483
Dustin Hodges (-163) 460
A couple of noteworthy storylines after Friday night's race:
- Tyler Davis continues to control the championship with a 56-point lead over Trevor Hughes after another podium finish.
- Chevy Coleman climbs to fourth in points following his career-best runner-up finish and now sits within 93 markers of the lead.
- Tanner Mullens jumps to eighth in points despite competing in only five of the seven events, making him one of the hottest drivers on tour with four victories this season.
- The battle for sixth remains incredibly tight, with Shadren Turner and Wyatt Gaggero tied at 499 points.
- Henry Chambers' flip while leading drops him to ninth in the standings after what appeared destined to be a breakthrough victory.
The USRA Heartland Modified Tour Presented by Real Racing Wheels enters year three in 2026, and we would like to recognize and thank our season long partners. Please thank them, with your patronage for their support.
Gold Partners - Central Spray Foam & Cement Lifting, Day Motor Sports, Deatherage Opticians, Dirt Track Specialist, Dylan Scott Entertainment, Hochatown Saloon, Kevko Racing, Midwest Sheet Metal, Mel Hambelton Ford Racing, Pannell Chipping, RacinDirt.com, Real et Metal, Mel Hambelton Ford Racing, Pannell Chipping, RacinDirt.com, Real Racing Wheels, Rick Beebe Heating and Air Conditioning, Smith Equipment Company, Swift Springs, VP Racing Fuels Heartland, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products
Silver Partners – American Racer Tires, Buck Monson Photos, Bulletproof Tees and Racewear, Duvall Electric, Integra Shocks, JRT Trucking, Keyser Manufacturing, Midwest Automation, Photos By Boyd, Scotty Dogg's Hideout
Bronze Partners – Bryke Racing, Fast Shafts, Freight Logistics Inc., KS Engineering, Maxima Racing Oil, Milburn Acreages by Tillison Enterprises, PEM Racing, Premier Lubricants, Schoenfeld Headers, Service Plumbing of Wichita, Transmissions Unlimited, Wagdog Spices, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Yeoman Race Engines
2026 Point Funds (ARMS, HMT, NLMS)
1. $7,500
2. $4,500
3. $3,500
4. $3,000
5. $2,500
6. $2,400
7. $2,300
8. $2,200
9. $2,100
10. $2,000
*80 Percent attendance required to remain point fund eligible