8/21/2026
USMTS – United States Modified Touring Series
Davis Rolls to Sixth Straight USMTS Victory
AMARILLO, Tex. (August 21, 2026) — Brandon Davis’ incredible summer continued Friday night as the USMTS national points leader raced to his sixth consecutive victory with the Summit Racing Equipment United States Modified Touring Series presented by RacinDirt.com during Night 1 of the 13th Annual Topless Amarillo Ambush at the Route 66 Motor Speedway.
Forty-nine of the nation’s best Modified drivers filled the pit area and delivered an action-packed night of racing in front of a packed house at the Amarillo, Texas, speed plant.
Rodney Sanders began the evening by recording the fastest lap during qualifying and earning the Hodges Farms & Dredging LLC Quick Time Award in Group 2.
Reece Solander, Brayden Kongdara, Hunter Sandy, Brandon Davis, Xavier Ortega and Kalvin King continued the evening’s program by collecting victories in their respective heat races and positioning themselves for a run at the main event.
When the green flag waved on the 35-lap finale, Sanders fired from the outside of the front row and quickly took command. The six-time USMTS national champion paced the field for the opening 12 circuits and appeared ready to challenge for another career victory.
A caution flag changed the complexion of the race and gave Davis the opportunity he needed.
Davis made his move on the ensuing restart, racing around Sanders to take over the top spot. Once in front, the current series points leader proved nearly impossible to challenge.
Although Davis controlled the remainder of the event, his trip to victory lane was anything but relaxing. Seven Aero Race Wheels caution periods repeatedly erased his advantage and placed a hungry group of challengers directly on his rear bumper.
Each restart provided another opportunity for someone to end the streak, but Davis answered every challenge. He consistently pulled away when the green flag returned and ultimately sailed across the finish line to secure his sixth consecutive USMTS victory.
The win was the 17th of Davis’ USMTS career and added another chapter to what has become one of the most impressive stretches of the 2026 campaign.
While Davis controlled the race out front, the battle behind him remained intense throughout the main event.
Kale Westover and Tanner Mullens traded positions several times as they fought for the runner-up spot. Westover, who started sixth, eventually prevailed and held on to finish second.
The strong performance continued an impressive stretch at Route 66 Motor Speedway for Westover, who entered Friday’s program fresh off a $2,066 victory at the facility the previous weekend.
Mullens completed the Featherlite Trailers Top-3 podium by advancing from seventh to third. The podium finish also helped Mullens remain firmly in the hunt near the top of the USMTS national championship standings.
After leading the opening 12 laps, Sanders remained among the frontrunners and brought home a fourth-place finish.
Kyle Brown turned in one of the night’s most impressive performances. After starting 17th, Brown charged through the field to finish fifth and earn the FK Rod Ends Hard Charger Award.
Brown’s run also carried major championship implications. Reece Solander suffered a disappointing DNF, allowing Brown to move into fifth place in the USMTS national points standings.
Several other competitors made impressive drives from deep in the starting field.
Joe Duvall advanced 12 positions, charging from 21st to ninth. Kohl McCutcheon followed closely behind after starting 22nd and finishing 10th.
Logan Cabbell climbed from the 25th starting position to finish 14th, while Steve Lavasseur advanced 10 spots after starting 26th and finishing 16th.
Despite the constant cautions, deep field of competitors and multiple challengers lining up behind him throughout the second half of the race, Davis once again found a way to win.
The victory allowed Davis to continue building his advantage in the chase for the 2026 USMTS national championship. He now holds a 115-point lead over Jim Chisholm, while Mullens sits 118 points behind the leader.
Sanders remains within striking distance at 136 points behind Davis, while Brown now occupies the fifth position, 382 points out of the lead.
With the victory, Davis will enter Saturday’s finale attempting to complete a sweep of the 13th Annual Topless Amarillo Ambush and extend his remarkable winning streak to seven consecutive events.
The Summit Racing Equipment USMTS presented by RacinDirt.com returns to action Saturday, Aug. 22, for Night 2 at Route 66 Motor Speedway.
Another talented field of competitors is expected as the series closes out its two-night visit to Amarillo. Additional event information and race-day updates will be posted throughout the day on the USMTS social media platforms.
Stay tuned as Night 2 of the 13th Annual Topless Amarillo Ambush comes your way from Route 66 Motor Speedway.
Hodges Farms & Dredging Qualifying Group A Fast Time: – Reece Solander 16.158
Hodges Farms & Dredging Qualifying Group B Fast Time: – Rodney Sanders 16.096
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #1: (8 Laps)
5X-Reece Solander[2];
24-Rick Ortega[1];
21K-Kyle Brown[4];
21-Derek Scott[3];
12B-Ronnie Yanacsek[5];
D25-David Tanner[7];
7R-Rick Lovelady[6];
11/26-Chad Tanquary[8]
Fast Shafts Heat Race #2: (8 Laps)
18K-Brayden Kongdara[4];
2S-Stormy Scott[2];
2-Tyler Stevens[7];
15W-Kale Westover[8];
117-Toby Herring[6];
7-AJ Sharpensteen[3];
28-Bronson Hawkins[5];
17M-Roy Don Mason[1]
Edelbrock Heat Race #3: (8 Laps)
12-Hunter Sandy[1];
10M-Talan Willis[2];
75-Terry Phillips[8];
G17-Fito Gallardo[4];
91-Joe Duvall[7];
17P-Peyton Gallardo[6];
55G-Braden Gress[5];
27V-Jeff Veazey[3]
Wieland Metal Services Heat Race #4: (8 Laps)
50III-Brandon Davis[3];
20-Rodney Sanders[4];
11G-Cameron Gillmore[1];
J17-Jake Gallardo[8];
99L-Steve Lavasseur[6];
100%-Braden Howell[5];
5-Jeff Taylor[2];
(DNS) 29-Chris Elliott;
(DNS) 55H-AJ Hoff
VP Racing Fuels Heat Race #5: (8 Laps)
24X-Xavier Ortega[1];
7G-Gabe Hodges[4];
12C-Leland Cruz[2];
24C-Jim Chisholm[6];
10B-Brandon Givens[8];
22M-Sammy McNabb[5];
37-Coty Tanquary[7];
2X-Gene Weaver[3]
Mesilla Valley Transportation Heat Race #6: (8 Laps)
818-Kalvin King[1];
02-Tanner Mullens[4];
58-Braden Elliott[3];
45-Logan Cabbell[5];
522-Kohl McCutcheon[2];
18-Bobby Mayfield[7];
29J-Jonathan Powers[6];
(DNS) 58X-Gary Christian
Real Racing Wheels B-Main #1: (12 Laps)
2S-Stormy Scott[4];
10B-Brandon Givens[5];
11G-Cameron Gillmore[2];
522-Kohl McCutcheon[11];
17P-Peyton Gallardo[7];
17M-Roy Don Mason[15];
12C-Leland Cruz[6];
G17-Fito Gallardo[3];
37-Coty Tanquary[8];
2X-Gene Weaver[10];
18-Bobby Mayfield[9];
(DNS) 55G-Braden Gress;
(DNS) 5-Jeff Taylor;
(DNS) 12B-Ronnie Yanacsek;
(DNS) 58X-Gary Christian;
(DNS) 55H-AJ Hoff
Real Racing Wheels B-Main #2: (12 Laps)
21K-Kyle Brown[1];
29J-Jonathan Powers[12];
91-Joe Duvall[6];
22M-Sammy McNabb[8];
45-Logan Cabbell[4];
21-Derek Scott[7];
58-Braden Elliott[2];
7R-Rick Lovelady[13];
27V-Jeff Veazey[17];
28-Bronson Hawkins[15];
24-Rick Ortega[3];
117-Toby Herring[5];
100%-Braden Howell[11];
99L-Steve Lavasseur[9];
(DNS) D25-David Tanner;
(DNS) 7-AJ Sharpensteen;
(DNS) 11/26-Chad Tanquary;
(DNS) 29-Chris Elliott
Summit Racing Equipment A-Main: (35 Laps)
50III-Brandon Davis[4];
15W-Kale Westover[6];
02-Tanner Mullens[7];
20-Rodney Sanders[2];
21K-Kyle Brown[17];
75-Terry Phillips[9];
24C-Jim Chisholm[11];
J17-Jake Gallardo[10];
91-Joe Duvall[21];
522-Kohl McCutcheon[22];
12-Hunter Sandy[13];
818-Kalvin King[15];
11G-Cameron Gillmore[20];
45-Logan Cabbell[25];
10M-Talan Willis[12];
99L-Steve Lavasseur[26];
17P-Peyton Gallardo[24];
22M-Sammy McNabb[23];
24X-Xavier Ortega[14];
7G-Gabe Hodges[5];
5X-Reece Solander[3];
29J-Jonathan Powers[19];
7-AJ Sharpensteen[27];
18K-Brayden Kongdara[1];
10B-Brandon Givens[18];
2S-Stormy Scott[16];
2-Tyler Stevens[8]
Lap Leader: Sanders 1-12, Davis 13-35
Total Laps Led: Davis 23, Sanders 12
Margin of Victory: 1.840 seconds.
Time of Race: 35 minutes, .45 seconds (7 cautions).
Provisional Starters: Steve Lavasseur, AJ Sharpensteen (Track)
Emergency Provisionals:
FK Rod Ends Hard Charger: Kyle Brown (started 17th, finished 5th).
Entries: 49.
Next Race: August 22, 2026, Amarillo, Texas, Route 66 Motor Speedway
Summit USMTS National Championship Points: Davis 2208, Chisholm 2093, Mullens 2090, Sanders 2072, Brown 1826, Solander 1792, Phillips 1724, Christian 1656, Hodges 1634, Duvall 1578
Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Points: Hodges 1634
FK Rod Ends USMTS Hard Charger Points: Brown 121, Davis 96, Lavasseur 92, Givens 86, Duvall 86, Chisholm 81, Phillips 74
Miller Welders USMTS Manufacturers Championship Points: Skyrocket 191, Tri-Built 181, MBCustoms 169, Mullens 159, CDR 111, Harris 106
JE Pistons USMTS Engine Builder of the Year Points: KSE 204, Hatfield 150, ECE 150, Schroer 101, Mullins 101, Midstate 101, Crane 78, OFI 77
Contingency Awards:
Aero Race Wheels- Chad Tanquary
American Racer- Tanner
Bear Graphix- J. Gallardo
Beyea Custom Headers- Brown
Brinn Inc.- Mason
Bryke Racing- Willis
Champ Pans- Brown
Danny Crane Racing Engines- Phillips
Driven Racing Oil- Davis
Dynamic Drivelines- Solander
Edelbrock- Sandy
Fast Shafts- Kongdara
Featherlite Trailers- Davis, Westover, Mullens
FK Rod Ends- Brown
Gorsuch Performance Solutions- Davis
Harris Auto Racing- Solander
Hodges Farms & Dredging- Sanders
Hooker Harness- King
Hyperco- Chisholm
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs- McNabb
JE Pistons- Sanders
Keyser Manufacturing- McCutcheon
KSE Racing Products- Brown
Longacre Racing Products- Davis, Westover, Mullens, Sanders
MD3- Davis
MSD Performance- Sanders
Penske Racing Shocks- Gillmore
PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain- Weaver
QA1- Sanders
Quarter Master- Duvall
Real Racing Wheels- Mullens
Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt- Phillips, Davis
Simpson Race Products- Solander
Sweet Manufacturing- Lavasseur
Swift Springs- Davis
Sybesma Graphics- Kongdara
TopShelf Motorsports- Sharpensteen
Total Power- Sandy
VP Racing Fuels- Davis
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products- Mayfield
Wilwood Disc Brakes- Chisholm
OFFICIAL PARTNERS:
American Racer Tires, Beyea Custom Headers, Fast Shafts, Featherlite Trailers, FK Rod Ends, KSE Racing Products, Longacre Racing Products, Malvern Bank, Mesilla Valley Transportation, PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain, Racindirt.tv, Summit Racing Equipment, VP Racing Fuels, Wieland Metal Services
PARTICIPATING PARTNERS:
Boomtest Well Services, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Callie’s Performance Products, Collins Brothers Towing of St. Cloud, Hochatown Saloon, Hodges Farms & Dredging, Mel Hambelton Ford, PBM Performance Products, Stakt Products LLC., Youdirt
CONTINGENCY PARTNERS:
Aero Race Wheels, Afco Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bear Graphix, Brinn Inc., Bryke Racing, Champ Pans, Danny Crane Racing Engines, Driven Racing Oil, Dynamic Drivelines, Edelbrock, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, Harris Auto Racing, Hooker Harness, Hyperco, Integra Racing Shocks, JE Pistons, MD3, Mel Hambelton Racing, MSD Performance, Penske Racing Shocks, QA1, Quarter Master, RaceQuip, Real Racing Wheels, Rush Racegear by Austin Witt, Simpson Race Products, Sweet Manufacturing, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Total Power, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes
Article Credit: Ryne Staley
Submitted By: Ryne Staley