United States Modified Touring Series

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Mike Stearns Captures First Career USMTS Victory at Casino Speedway

WATERTOWN, S.D. (July 16, 2026) — Night two of the Summit Racing Equipment United States Modified Touring Series presented by RacinDirt.com five-day Upper Midwest swing brought the stars of the series to the historic Casino Speedway in Watertown, South Dakota, where a packed field of 28 of the nation’s best Modified drivers battled for a $3,000 winner’s payday. By the end of the evening, it was one of South Dakota’s own celebrating a career-defining victory.

Mike Stearns thrilled the hometown crowd by capturing his first career USMTS feature victory, holding off one of the hottest drivers on tour, Jim Chisholm, in a memorable 40-lap main event. Starting seventh, Stearns patiently worked his way through the field before taking command late in the race, surviving multiple restarts and relentless pressure to earn the biggest win of his Modified career.

The evening began with qualifying where Brandon Davis continued his impressive speed by claiming the Hodges Farms & Dredging Quick Time Award, pocketing the extra $100 courtesy of Jeff Hodges. Davis also earned the coveted JE Pistons Quick Time Trophy for setting the fastest lap of the night.

Heat race victories were captured by Travis Saurer, Joseph Thomas, Steve Lavasseur, and Gary Christian, setting the stage for one of the most competitive features of the season.

When the green flag waved for the 40-lap finale, it quickly became evident that Jim Chisholm intended to make it two consecutive victories after his win the previous night. The Osage, Iowa driver controlled the early stages of the event, leading 25 of the 40 laps and appearing to have another USMTS triumph well within reach.

Stearns, however, had other plans.

Working methodically through traffic, Stearns found himself locked in a fierce battle with Joseph Thomas and Gary Christian as the race entered its second half. Three Aero Race Wheels Cautions erased Chisholm’s advantage and repeatedly bunched the field back together, giving Stearns multiple opportunities to challenge for the lead.

Each restart brought the South Dakota native closer.

With patience, Stearns finally powered past Chisholm to take over the top spot before driving away to the checkered flag, sending the Casino Speedway crowd into celebration as he captured his long-awaited first USMTS victory.

“We won a USRA Race at Tucson in 2014 I believe and that was kind of the feather in our cap for our career. But this is definitely a career defining win for us as these guys are the best in the business” said Stearns in victory lane.

For Stearns, the win was more than just another trophy—it marked a milestone moment against one of the toughest touring fields in dirt Modified racing.

Chisholm settled for a strong runner-up finish after leading the majority of the event and once again proving he will be a contender every night on the tour.

Behind the lead duo, Gary Christian spent much of the race applying relentless pressure to Joseph Thomas in an entertaining battle for a podium position. Despite several attempts, Christian was never quite able to complete the pass and crossed the finish line in third.

Thomas, who started from the Sybesma Graphics Pole Position, fought hard throughout the evening against both Chisholm and Christian before recording an impressive fourth-place finish.

Rounding out the top five was North Dakota veteran Travis Saurer, who advanced from the eighth starting position to continue his consistent run through the five-day swing.

Several drivers also turned in impressive performances deeper in the field.

Young Wisconsin standout Blake Adams continued to impress, charging from the tenth starting position to finish sixth against the talented field.

The night’s biggest mover belonged to Kyle Brown, who earned FK Rod Ends Hard Charger of the Race honors after advancing from 16th to finish seventh.

Six-time USMTS National Champion Rodney Sanders quietly put together another solid points night, climbing from 13th on the starting grid to record an eighth-place finish.

The victory by Stearns adds another first-time winner to the growing list of drivers who have reached victory lane with the Summit Racing Equipment USMTS presented by RacinDirt.com, proving once again that every night on tour offers an opportunity for history to be made.

With Casino Speedway now complete, the series turns its attention to one of the most anticipated events of the summer.

The tour heads east to Princeton Speedway in Princeton, Minnesota, for Mod Wars Night #1, where the winner’s check increases to $5,000. The fast 3/8-mile oval has traditionally produced outstanding racing and is expected to welcome another outstanding field of competitors as the five-day swing reaches its midway point.

Fans are encouraged to follow the USMTS Facebook page, Princeton Speedway Facebook page, and the USMTS website for race day schedules, event information, driver updates, and additional announcements leading into Friday night’s showdown.

As the championship battle continues to tighten and momentum continues to shift, the Summit Racing Equipment United States Modified Touring Series presented by RacinDirt.com is setting the stage for an unforgettable weekend of racing across Minnesota.

Hodges Farms & Dredging Qualifying Group A Fast Time: – Brandon Davis 14.503

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #1: (8 Laps)

1. 21X-Travis Saurer[1];
2. 50III-Brandon Davis[2];
3. 10M-Talan Willis[3];
4. 21K-Kyle Brown[4];
5. 75-Terry Phillips[7];
6. 8-Andy Brooker[5];
7. 88XXX-Randy Klein[6]

Fast Shafts Heat Race #2: (8 Laps)

1. 6T-Joseph Thomas[4];
2. 7G-Gabe Hodges[2];
3. 7-Bryce Borgen[3];
4. 40D-Blake Adams[6];
5. 55H-AJ Hoff[5];
6. 5-Reece Solander[7];
7. 3-Arne Anderson[1]

Edelbrock Heat Race #3: (8 Laps)

1. 99L-Steve Lavasseur[1];
2. 24C-Jim Chisholm[4];
3. 24-Mike Stearns[2];
4. 65-Tyler Davis[3];
5. 20-Rodney Sanders[7];
6. 36G-Garrett Gross[6];
7. 10B-Brandon Givens[5]

Wieland Metal Services Heat Race #4: (8 Laps)

1. 58X-Gary Christian[2];
2. 02-Tanner Mullens[4];
3. 91-Joe Duvall[1];
4. 1TPO-Tyler Peterson[6];
5. 32-Jesse Young[3];
6. 85-Jayson Good[5];
7. 57-Duke Erickson[7]

Real Racing Wheels B-Main #1: (10 Laps)

1. 65-Tyler Davis[1];
2. 7-Bryce Borgen[4];
3. 5-Reece Solander[2];
4. 85-Jayson Good[6];
5. 55H-AJ Hoff[3];
6. 32-Jesse Young[5];
7. 88XXX-Randy Klein[8];
8. 36G-Garrett Gross[7];
9. 10B-Brandon Givens[10];
10. 57-Duke Erickson[11];
11. 3-Arne Anderson[12];
12. 8-Andy Brooker[9]

Summit Racing Equipment A-Main: (40 Laps)

1. 24-Mike Stearns[7];
2. 24C-Jim Chisholm[2];
3. 58X-Gary Christian[3];
4. 6T-Joseph Thomas[1];
5. 21X-Travis Saurer[8];
6. 40D-Blake Adams[10];
7. 21K-Kyle Brown[16];
8. 20-Rodney Sanders[13];
9. 10M-Talan Willis[11];
10. 02-Tanner Mullens[4];
11. 75-Terry Phillips[12];
12. 65-Tyler Davis[17];
13. 85-Jayson Good[20];
14. 5-Reece Solander[19];
15. 1TPO-Tyler Peterson[14];
16. 91-Joe Duvall[15];
17. 55H-AJ Hoff[21];
18. 10B-Brandon Givens[23];
19. 99L-Steve Lavasseur[9];
20. 88XXX-Randy Klein[24];
21. 7G-Gabe Hodges[6];
22. 7-Bryce Borgen[18];
23. 50III-Brandon Davis[5];
24. 32-Jesse Young[22]

Lap Leader: Chisholm 1-25, Stearns 26-40
Total Laps Led: Chisholm 25, Stearns 15
Margin of Victory: 0.791 seconds.
Time of Race: 23 minutes, .46 seconds (3 cautions).
Provisional Starters: Givens, Klein
Emergency Provisionals:
FK Rod Ends Hard Charger: Kyle Brown (started 16th, finished 7th).
Entries: 28.
Next Race: July 17, 2026, Princeton, Minnesota, Princeton Speedway
Summit USMTS National Championship Points: Mullens 1449, Chisholm 1428, Davis 1396, Sanders 1376, Solander 1251, Phillips 1189, Christian 1183, Brown 1183, Hodges 1161, Duvall 1067
Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Points: Hodges 1161, Dais 667, Stevens 614
FK Rod Ends USMTS Hard Charger Points: Davis 76, Brown 72, Phillips 61, Givens 54, Chisholm 52
Miller Welders USMTS Manufacturers Championship Points: Skyrocket 140, Mullens 125, MBCustoms 116, Tri-Built 112, CDR 92, Harris 71, Rage 66
JE Pistons USMTS Engine Builder of the Year Points: KSE 135, ECE 114, Hatfield 98, Schroer 79, Mullins 65, Midstate 63, Crane 60, Durham 57

Contingency Awards:
Aero Race Wheels- Adams
American Racer- Sanders
Bear Graphix- Sanders
Beyea Custom Headers- Thomas
Brinn Inc.- Borgen
Bryke Racing- Peterson
Champ Pans- Saurer
Danny Crane Racing Engines- Adams
Driven Racing Oil- Stearns
Dynamic Drivelines- B. Davis
Edelbrock- Lavasseur
Fast Shafts- Thomas
Featherlite Trailers- Stearns, Chisholm, Christian
FK Rod Ends- Brown
Gorsuch Performance Solutions- Stearns
Harris Auto Racing- Hodges
Hodges Farms & Dredging- B. Davis
Hooker Harness- T. Davis
Hyperco- Brown
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs- Givens
JE Pistons- B. Davis
Keyser Manufacturing- Mullens
KSE Racing Products- Brown
Longacre Racing Products- Stearns, Chisholm, Christian, Thomas
MD3- Chisholm
MSD Performance- Thomas
Penske Racing Shocks- Good
PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain- Saurer
QA1- B. Davis
Quarter Master- Willis
Real Racing Wheels- Klein
Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt- Thomas, Stearns
Simpson Race Products-
Sweet Manufacturing- Saurer
Swift Springs- Stearns
Sybesma Graphics- Thomas
Total Power- Phillips
VP Racing Fuels- Stearns
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products- Anderson
Wilwood Disc Brakes- Brown

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

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