USMTS goes topless at Route 66 Motor Speedway

September 25, 2024

After a five-year hiatus from the Route 66 Motor Speedway, the USMTS Modified return to the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval in Amarillo, Texas, on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-5, for the 11th Annual Amarillo Ambush.

This year’s clash will feature a special look as all racecars will be topless, giving the fans a unique view as the saw the wheel as they cut through wind.

Overall, this will be the 13th matchup between the Best of the Best in dirt modified racing and the tough regional USRA Modified racers in Texas and New Mexico.

Past USMTS events have played out in front of standing-room-only crowds at the popular racing destination in the Texas panhandle. The facility boasts seating for more than 4,000 race fans plus handicapped parking, stadium lighting, full concessions and several luxurious V.I.P. booths.

The track’s racing surface is a generous 75 feet wide in the turns with 20 degrees of banking, and 65 feet wide down the straight-aways with five degrees of banking. The pits have concrete pads available with lighting and water.

Hometown favorite Rodney Sanders, originally from nearby Happy, Texas, captured the inaugural event here in 2010 and added a second trophy to his case in 2015 before adding a series-best third triumph in the 2018 stop.

Other winners here include Kelly Shryock, Jason Hughes, Randy Timms, Ryan Gustin and Stormy Scott, who won back-to-back races in 2013-2014.

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Fresh off a $50,000 victory last weekend in Texas, and his second Featherlite Fall Jamboree triumph at the end of August, the 21-year-old from Osage, Iowa, comes into the 11th Annual Amarillo ambush as the national points leader in the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt.

Here’s the top 13 drivers in the rankings who have competed in all 29 events thus far in 2024:

1. 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa ... 2,508 (7 wins)
2. 49 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn. ... 2,472 (3 wins)
3. 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas ... 2,354 (4 wins)
4. 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo. ... 2,284 (1 win)
5. 60 Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn. ... 2,196 (2 wins)
6. 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan. ... 2,097 (1 win)
7. 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla. ... 2,067 (1 win)
8. 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan. ... 2,017
9. 15W Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn. ... 1,942
10. 58x Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla. ... 1,920
11. 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa ... 1,886
12. 01 Jacob Hobscheidt (R), Plattsmouth, Neb. ... 1,860
14. 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn. ... 1,608

Other winners this season include Jake O'Neil (4 wins), Tyler Wolff (2 wins), Lucas Schott, Brandon Davis, Darron Fuqua and Jack Sartain.

Next weekend’s doubleheader will also award points in the ARMI Contractors USMTS South Region presented by Gene Nicholas, LLC. With half of the 12 events in the books, here’s the current top five:

1. 60 Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn. ... 511 (1 win)
2. 49 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn. ... 503
3. 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla. ... 471 (1 win)
4. 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo. ... 458
5. 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa ... 456 (2 wins)

Other winners the region include Sanders and Sartain.

Race fans can also expect a lair of hungry local and regional racers including the track’s USRA Modified points leader Sammy McNabb. Other entries expected include Leland Cruz, A.J. Sharpensteen, Derek Scott, Trey Melton, Ronnie Yanacsek, Kale Westover, Philip Houston, David Tanner, Nathan Smith, Mark Smith, Fito Gallardo and Jake Gallardo.

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The 11th Annual Amarillo Ambush will pay $5,000 to win both night with $600 to start Friday and $800 to start on Saturday. All drivers must remove their roofs for the event.

USRA Limited Mods and USRA Factory Stocks will take on the track’s Street Stocks both nights. Factory Stocks are allowed one (1) four-barrel carburetor and headers but must be factory stock.

The Route 66 Motor Speedway will host a practice night on Thursday, Oct. 3, for the classes competing next weekend. The pits will open at 3:30 p.m. with hot laps starting at 5:30. Pit passes are $25. Grandstands will be closed.

On Friday and Saturday, the pits open at 3:30 p.m., grandstands open at 5:30, the pit meeting happens at 6 and hot laps begin at 6:30. Racing gets underway at 7.

Adult general admission spectator tickets are $25 each night while current and retired members of the military, seniors (65+) and kids ages 5-13 are just $10. Children 5 and under are admitted into the grandstands free of charge. Pit passes are $40 on Friday and $45 Saturday.

Race fans can click here to get tickets in advance. Online sales will be available through Sept. 29.

Licenses are not required, but competitors can purchase a USMTS license online at usmts.com/register or call (515) 832-7944 to buy a license and/or register for the race. To download the entry form, click here.

The Route 66 Motor Speedway is a 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval located 1.5 miles south of I-40 at exit 75 on Lakeside Dr. in Amarillo. For more information, check out route66motorspeedway.net.

Check out USMTS.com for schedules, points, photos, souvenirs, videos and more. Follow our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube. Don't forget to subscribe for free to get USMTS news delivered to your inbox plus Members Only benefits.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Beyea Headers, Callies Performance Products, Chevrolet Performance, Fast Shafts, Featherlite Trailers, FK Rod Ends, KSE Racing Products, Malvern Bank, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Nitroquest Media, PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain, RacinDirt, Summit Racing Equipment, TicketSmarter, VP Racing - Heartland, Wieland.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: ARMI Contractors, Boomtest Well Service, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Collins Brothers Towing, Gene Nicholas, LLC, Hacienda Mechanical, Hochatown Saloon, Mel Hambelton Ford, Miller Welders, PBM Performance Products, Rancho Milagro Racing, Salty's BBQ & Catering, Shop Quik Stores, STAKT Products, YouDirt.com.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bear Graphix, Bryke Racing, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Danny Crane Racing Engines, Deatherage Racing Opticians, Edelbrock, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, Gunshepherd.com, Hooker Harness, Hyperco, Integra Racing Shocks and Springs, JE Pistons, Keyser Manufacturing, MD3, Mel Hambelton Racing, MSD Performance, Penske Racing Shocks, Performance Bodies & Parts, QA1, Quarter Master, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt, Simpson Performance Products, Sweet Manufacturing, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Total Power, Victory Fuel, Victory Vault, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Racing.