The United States Modified Touring Series rolls into the track up on the hill in Pocola, Oklahoma for a three-day show that may see a driver take home $28,000 if they sweep all three nights.
While this is not the first time the USMTS has graced the legendary Mighty Tri-State Speedway, it is the first running of the crowdsourced named Red, White, and Blue Nationals. Coinciding, with the 24th anniversary of 9/11, there are plans to honor those that lost their lives on that tragic day.
The USMTS is a national series for Modified race cars in the same fashion that World of Outlaws and the Kyle Larson and Brad Sweet owned High Limit Racing is for Sprint Cars. USMTS Modifieds are as the name alludes to a modified tube chassis car that uses a General Motors A-Body front clip, found in Chevrolet Chevelles, Oldsmobile Cutlass’, and Pontiac Le Mans/GTO’s from the 1970’s. The motors are V8 small blocks, while other makes are allowed like Ford and Dodge, a majority are Chevrolet based.
USMTS and Tri-State Speedway have quite a history together. In the first USMTS race at Tri-State in 2008, Stilwell, Oklahoma native Eddie Martin took the checkered flag. While the next three races were won by 4-time series champion Jason Hughes. It would be 2018 when USMTS would make their return to Tri-State, and Zack VanderBeek would take the victory. In 2019 the focus of MAVTV (now RacerTV) series “Dirt Knights” Hunter Marriot would take home the trophy. 2020 saw Happy, Texas’ Rodney Sanders hold off Terry Phillips for the first of three wins for Sanders. Derrick Ramirez won in 2021. For 2022 there were two USMTS races, one in May that was won by Jake O’Neal and then the October race won by Dan Ebert. A scheduling conflict kept the series away in 2023. The return in 2024 ran in conjunction with the 45th Annual Cecil Harlin Kegger, Rodney Sanders would be the first repeat USMTS winner since Jason Hughes.
Action starts tonight with a practice session from 6pm – 8pm, then on Thursday the racing action kicks off with USRA B-Mods and USRA Stock Cars. The USMTS cars will be running for $3,000 on Thursday and then Friday for $5,000. Saturday is the big show for $20,000 for the winner of the USMTS feature. USRA B-Mods and Stock Cars will be the supporting groups all three nights with the addition of USRA Factory Stocks on Saturday.
