Solander Survives Attrition-Filled Brandon Mitchell Memorial Opener at Old No. 1 Speedway
HARRISBURG, AR � SEPTEMBER 11, 2026—Reece Solander survived an attrition-filled opening night of the Brandon Mitchell Memorial weekend Friday at Old No. 1 Speedway, taking command on lap 16 and going on to capture the 30-lap USRA American Racer Modified Series presented by Day Motor Sports main event.
A strong field of 37 competitors checked in for the opening night of the third annual Brandon Mitchell Memorial, which is being contested under the ARMS banner for the first time in 2026.
Tyler Stevens established himself as the early man to beat. After earning the Deatherage Opticians Overall Quick Time Award with a lap of 15.747 seconds and later winning his Kevko Racing heat race, Stevens started from the pole and jumped to the early lead in the Pannell Chipping A Feature.
Stevens controlled the opening portion of the race before mechanical trouble brought his bid to an abrupt end just before a restart with nine laps complete. His departure handed the top spot to Drake Findley, who had started alongside Stevens on the front row after earlier winning the Swift Springs fourth heat.
Findley inherited the lead with Solander lurking close behind. Solander, who had already visited victory lane in the Rick Bebee Heating & Air Conditioning opening heat race, continued to apply pressure as the field battled through a race that steadily claimed contenders.
On lap 16, Solander made his move, taking the lead away from Findley and putting the No. 5 out front for good.
From there, Solander navigated the remaining restarts and continued attrition to secure the opening-night victory. Lucas Lee advanced from sixth to finish runner-up, while Findley held on for third. The deepest charge among the front finishers belonged to Carson Wyatt, who raced from 21st to fourth after transferring through the Day Motor Sports B Feature. Kyle Beard completed the top five after starting 19th.
Justin Jarrett was another big mover, climbing from 24th to sixth, followed by Cayden Mitchell, Rusty Trevathan Jr., Landon Meilke and Jeff Taylor to complete the top 10.
Heat race victories went to Solander in the Rick Bebee Heating & Air Conditioning Heat 1, Hunter Breland in the Smith Equipment Company Heat 2, Stevens in the Kevko Racing Heat 3 and Findley in the Swift Springs Heat 4. Wyatt won the Day Motor Sports B Feature to earn his way into the main event before completing his impressive charge to fourth.
The Brandon Mitchell Memorial weekend concludes Saturday night at Old No. 1 Speedway with the Heavy Duty 35, as the USRA American Racer Modified Series presented by Day Motor Sports returns for the second and final night of the weekend.
MEDIA RESULTS
USRA American Racer Modified Series presented by Day Motor Sports – Old No. 1 Speedway – Harrisburg, Arkansas – September 11, 2026 – 37 Entries
A Feature 30 Laps – Pannell Chipping: 1. Reece Solander; 2. Lucas Lee; 3. Drake Findley; 4. Carson Wyatt; 5. Kyle Beard; 6. Justin Jarrett; 7. Cayden Mitchell; 8. Rusty Trevathan Jr.; 9. Landon Meilke; 10. Jeff Taylor; 11. Ryan Gillmore; 12. Geoff Lary; 13. Brian Alls; 14. Troy Dow; 15. Keith Hammett; 16. Dennis Kimbrough; 17. Hunter Breland; 18. Grayson Moore; 19. Charles Caldwell; 20. Tyler Stevens; 21. Travis Mosley; 22. Devon Andrews; 23. Jason Hughes; 24. Chad Williams.
B Feature 12 Laps – Day Motor Sports: 1. Carson Wyatt; 2. Devon Andrews; 3. Jason Hughes; 4. Justin Jarrett; 5. Robert Billington; 6. Douglas Moore; 7. Dakota Skudlark; 8. Johnny Brown; 9. Levi Pillow; 10. Colby Richardson; 11. Cody Calhoun; 12. Pappie Leonard; 13. Tyler Vaughn; 14. Talan Willis; 15. Stormy Scott; 16. Shelbie Leonard; 17. Kale Westover.
Heat 1 8 Laps – Rick Bebee Heating & Air Conditioning: 1. Reece Solander; 2. Ryan Gillmore; 3. Landon Meilke; 4. Dennis Kimbrough; 5. Charles Caldwell; 6. Robert Billington; 7. Pappie Leonard; 8. Tyler Vaughn; 9. Stormy Scott.
Heat 2 8 Laps – Smith Equipment Company: 1. Hunter Breland; 2. Lucas Lee; 3. Troy Dow; 4. Jeff Taylor; 5. Kyle Beard; 6. Devon Andrews; 7. Justin Jarrett; 8. Douglas Moore; 9. Johnny Brown.
Heat 3 8 Laps – Kevko Racing: 1. Tyler Stevens; 2. Chad Williams; 3. Cayden Mitchell; 4. Grayson Moore; 5. Brian Alls; 6. Dakota Skudlark; 7. Cody Calhoun; 8. Talan Willis; 9. Shelbie Leonard; 10. Kale Westover.
Heat 4 8 Laps – Swift Springs: 1. Drake Findley; 2. Geoff Lary; 3. Travis Mosley; 4. Keith Hammett; 5. Rusty Trevathan Jr.; 6. Carson Wyatt; 7. Colby Richardson; 8. Levi Pillow; 9. Jason Hughes.
Qualifying 1 – Deatherage Opticians: 1. Stormy Scott, 15.753; 2. Hunter Breland, 15.811; 3. Reece Solander, 16.027; 4. Lucas Lee, 16.121; 5. Ryan Gillmore, 16.152; 6. Jeff Taylor, 16.259; 7. Tyler Vaughn, 16.394; 8. Troy Dow, 16.638; 9. Charles Caldwell, 16.800; 10. Devon Andrews, 16.874; 11. Dennis Kimbrough, 17.034; 12. Justin Jarrett, 17.287; 13. Landon Meilke, 17.341; 14. Kyle Beard, 17.476; 15. Pappie Leonard, 17.857; 16. Douglas Moore, 18.355; 17. Robert Billington, 19.581; 18. Johnny Brown, 19.581.
Qualifying 2 – Deatherage Opticians: 1. Tyler Stevens, 15.747; 2. Drake Findley, 15.930; 3. Talan Willis, 16.020; 4. Geoff Lary, 16.178; 5. Chad Williams, 16.231; 6. Carson Wyatt, 16.429; 7. Cayden Mitchell, 16.806; 8. Travis Mosley, 17.186; 9. Brian Alls, 17.366; 10. Levi Pillow, 17.595; 11. Cody Calhoun, 23.223; 12. Colby Richardson, DNS; 13. Shelbie Leonard, DNS; 14. Jason Hughes, DNS; 15. Kale Westover, DNS; 16. Keith Hammett, DQ; 17. Grayson Moore, DQ; 18. Rusty Trevathan Jr., DQ; 19. Dakota Skudlark, DQ.
Deatherage Opticians Overall Quick Time Award: Tyler Stevens – 15.747.
For updated schedules, championship standings, event details, and breaking series news, visit AmericanRacerModifiedSeries.com. Fans unable to attend in person can catch every remaining race of the 2026 season live and on demand exclusively on RacinDirt.tv
The USRA American Racer Modified Series presented by Day Motorsports would like to recognize and thank our 2026 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 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