Photo: Todd Boyd

Tanner Mullens kept the lucky rabbit foot in his pocket, and displayed the same speed he has shown over the last couple of months, to win the Keyser Manufacturing Larry Phillips Memorial Presented by Schoenfeld Headers and Wehrs Machine & Racing Products at Monett Motor Speedway.

He began the night qualifying eighth fastest in his group. From the outside of the second row, Mullens was able to grab the heat race win. He was the final driver to redraw at intermission, among the heat race winners. The other three racers left him the pole.

Tanner set a blistering fast pace, again. Gary Christian challenged early, but Mullens walked away with a total of $15,150 for his Wehrs Machine A Feature effort. This includes $7575 in winner's share purse money and $7,575 in lap leader money as well. His two day haul, including the Bret Givens Construction Preliminary night win is $17,225.

“I was worried about tearing up tires and then Gary slid me there and I got back by and he slid me again and he spun out,” said Mullens of the battle with Christian. “He's gonna be tough to beat I think.”

Tanner and his family have become close with Terry Phillips, traveling together between USMTS stops. This win meant a lot to him.

“It's special to us, TP is family to me,” Mullens further elaborated “To win it is pretty cool.”

Mullens also acknowledged the event partners and thanked the lap sponsors for their support. He said the custom Wehrs Machine trophy will be “front and center” in his race shop once they get home.

There was a lot happening behind Mullens, including the series points leader Brandon Givens making moves to the front. He passed 12 cars en route to the night's runner up finish, the result ties his best run of the year and extends his points lead.

Rodney Sanders hung near the front all weekend and completed the podium finishers with a third place effort. Terry Phillips and Mark Smith rounded out the balance of the top five.

The night's hard charger was Dustin Hodges, he moved up 18 spots to run sixth. Seven total competitors went forward 10 or more positions in the main event. Jesse Stovall had the speedway in great shape all weekend.

Gary Christian was the Deatherage Opticians Fast Qualifier with a best lap of 17.080 seconds. Heat races went to Christian, Jason Hughes, Rodney Sanders and Tanner Mullens.

HMT competitors will be right back at it next weekend. Thursday the show rolls into Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, for their annual Fireworks extravaganza. Friday and Saturday a new series track awaits, in Central Missouri Speedway in Warrensburg, Missouri. Long known for outstanding Modified racing, it's been several years since they have been on the card there.

Wehrs Machine & Racing Products A Feature (30 Laps): 1. Tanner Mullens 2. Brandon Givens 3. Rodney Sanders 4. Terry Phillips 5. Mark Smith 6. Dustin Hodges 7. Trevor Hughes 8. Bobby Williams 9. Tyler Wolff 10. Shadren Turner 11. Jason Hughes 12. Paden Phillips 13. Dakota Dale 14. Jason Pursley 15. Troy Gudmonson 16. Dean Wille 17. Tad Davis 18. Treyton Gann 19. Colton Eck 20. Brent Holman 21. Troy Gemmill 22. Keith Hammett 23. Henry Chambers 24. Gary Christian 25. Chase Sigg 26. Cole Anderson 27. Darron Fuqua 28. Wyatt Gaggero

Real Racing Wheels B Feature (15 Laps): 1. Cole Anderson 2. Bobby Williams 3. Troy Gemmill 4. Dustin Hodges 5. Dean Wille 6. Jason Pursley 7. Jarret Dotson 8. Weston Holman 9. Chevy Coleman 10. Dayton Pursley 11. Chase Sigg 12. Mickey Burrell 13. Dakota Dale 14. Tyler Barker 15. Craig Yeoman 16. Willie Gammill 17. Drake Findley 18. Jason Sivils

S&S Fishing and Rental Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. Gary Christian 2. Tyler Wolff 3. Paden Phillips 4. Treyton Gann 5. Henry Chamber 6. Troy Gemmill 7. Dean Wille 8. Mickey Burrell 9. Weston Holman 10. Willie Gammill

Rick Beebe Heating & Air Conditioning Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. Jason Hughes 2. Darron Fuqua 3. Troy Gudmonson 4. Mark Smith 5. Tad Davis 6. Bobby Williams 7. Chevy Coleman 8. Jason Pursley 9. Chase Sigg

Kevko Racing Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. Rodney Sanders 2. Terry Phillips 3. Trevor Hughes 4. Brandon Givens 5. Wyatt Gaggero 6. Cole Anderson 7. Dakota Dale 8. Dayton Pursley 9. Jarret Dotson 10. Craig Yeoman

Bryke Racing Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. Tanner Mullens 2. Shadren Turner 3. Brent Holman 4. Keith Hammett 5. Colton Eck 6. Drake Findley 7. Tyler Barker 8. Dustin Hodges 9. Jason Sivils

Gold Partners - Central Spray Foam & Cement Lifting, Day Motor Sports, Deatherage Opticians, Dylan Scott Entertainment, Hochatown Saloon, Kevko Racing, Midwest Sheet Metal, RacinDirt.com, Real Racing Wheels, Rick Beebe Heating and Air Conditioning, S&S Fishing and Rental, VP Racing Fuels Heartland, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products

Silver Partners - American Racer Tires, Bryke Racing, Buck Monson Photos, Duvall Electric, Fast Shafts, Integra Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, Outlaw Kids Racing Tours, Photos By Boyd, Scotty Dogg’s Hideout, Swift Springs, Victory Vault

Bronze Partners - Freight Logistics Inc., Mars Race Cars, Milburn Acreages by Tillison Enterprises, Service Plumbing of Wichita, Transmissions Unlimited, Yeoman Race Engines, Zac's Sales and Service

2025 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*