This Saturday night, May 18, the Heartland Modified Tour presented by Real Racing Wheels treks into Kansas to J.R. and Kati Sartain's 81 Speedway in Park City with $2,000 on the line for the winner of the Dalice Franz Memorial and fifth stop on the inaugural HMT schedule.

The 81 Speedway has long been known as a place for some of the top events in dirt racing, bringing in series and racers from all across the country. The Sartain family purchased the track in 2019 and are in their fifth season at the helm.

“For us the biggest thrill we get is when racers, crews and fans just tell us what a great time they have at our place,” said J.R. Sartain. “We also own Humboldt Speedway and put a lot of effort into improving both tracks and just motorsports in general.”

Sartain oversees multiple businesses day to day and notes that racing is unique and track ownership isn't for the faint of heart.

“It's like running a lot of different businesses all into one. We have all kinds of different customers and services. The racers and fans both need to be happy at the same time. The concession is a totally separate but connected deal, as is our merchandise. All of it has to flow together to keep the complex business rolling.”

Behind the scenes, over the winter, Sartain was an instrumental voice in bringing the HMT to fruition. He took the leap right out of the gate and booked five shows at his tracks, helped with structure and planning, consulted on operations, called potential marketing partners and spoke with other track owners about the plans for the tour. With promoter John Allen beside him, the two have been invaluable and unwavering in their support.

“To say J.R. and John went above and beyond doesn't do justice to the sheer amount of effort they put in to help us,” said Series Director Erick Chesterman. “They are pillars in our sport and likely we never get going if not for their nudge in the right direction. We are so appreciative of the Sartain family and John Allen.”

Sartain left with this comment about the tour: “It is an easy decision to bring in a series like this when the people behind it share the same passion and vision for Modified racing, now and into the future.”

Heading into the weekend, Fayetteville, Ark., pilot Tyler Wolff leads the series standings. He's yet to win a feature but has been the most consistent finisher thus far. Tanner Mullens is sitting in second place and Darron Fuqua is holding down third.

Also in action Saturday are USRA B-Mods along with Super Stocks and Stock Cars. Newton residents will be admitted free with a photo ID. Cars are slated to hit the 81 Speedway at 6 p.m. for hot laps.

Initially the series was scheduled to race Friday at Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, Okla., but it has been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

Saturday’s event will be carried live on RacinDirt for those unable to make it to either track this weekend.

Gold Partners - ARMI Contractors, Day Motor Sports, Hochatown Saloon, Kenny's Tile, Midwest Sheet Metal, RacinDirt.com, Real Racing Wheels, S&S Fishing & Rental, VP Racing Fuels Heartland, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products.

Silver Partners - American Racer Tires, Central Spray Foam & Cement Lifting, Duvall Electric, Fast Shafts, Freight Logistics, Integra Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, Milburn Property LLC, One4 Motorsports, Rick Beebe Heating & Air Conditioning.

Bronze Partners - Charlie Williams Painting, Fowler Locomotive Sales, Lassiter Construction, Transmissions Unlimited.

2024 HMT Point Fund: 1. $7500, 2. $4500, 3. $3500, 4. $3000, 5. $2500, 6. $2400, 7. $2300, 8. $2200, 9. $2100, 10. $2000.
80 percent attendance required to remain point fund eligible

For more than two decades, the United States Racing Association has attracted more and more racetracks and dirt track racers each year through fair, logical and cost-effective rules accompanied by an organization that puts the racers, racetracks and their fans first. During the 2023 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series, more than 60 of America's finest dirt ovals hosted more than 1,000 nights of racing.

To learn more about the USRA, check out USRAracing.com. Follow our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. To get USRA news and exclusive promotions delivered to your inbox, click here.

USRA competitors can register and purchase a license for the 2024 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series online at USRAracing.com/Register or call (515) 832-6000 to register by phone. You can also download the application at USRAracing.com/Downloads and then submit your completed form by email at office@usraracing.com or fax at (515) 832-7958.

USRA OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Beyea Headers, Chevrolet Performance, Christie Door Company, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, KSE Racing Products, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Nitroquest Media, PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain, RacinDirt, Summit Racing Equipment, Sunoco Race Fuels.

USRA PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: ARMI Contractors, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, PBM Performance Products, YouDirt.com.

USRA CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bryke Racing, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Deatherage Racing Opticians, Edelbrock, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, Gunshepherd.com, Hyperco, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, JE Pistons, Keyser Manufacturing, Landrum Performance Springs, MD3, MSD Performance, Performance Bodies & Parts, QA1, Quarter Master, QuickCar Racing Products, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt, Sweet Manufacturing, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Total Power, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes Day Motor Sports, KS Engineering.

USRA RACETRACKS: 81 Speedway, Alien Motor Speedway, Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Arrowhead Speedway, Boothill Speedway, Caney Valley Speedway, Cedar Lake Speedway, Centerville Super Speedway, Chateau Speedway, Crawford County Speedway, Creek County Speedway, Cresco Speedway, Deer Creek Speedway, Diamond Park Speedway, Eagle Valley Speedway, Elk City Motorsports Park, Fairmont Raceway, Fayette County Speedway, Hamilton County Speedway, Humboldt Speedway, Hunt County Raceway, I-35 Speedway, I-90 Speedway, Lakeside Speedway, Lawton Speedway, Legacy Speedway, Longdale Speedway, Lucas Oil Speedway, Mason City Motor Speedway, Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Monett Motor Speedway, Proctor Speedway, Rapid Speedway, Rocket Raceway Park, Route 66 Motor Speedway, Sabine Speedway, Sandia Speedway, Sports Park Raceway, Super Bee Speedway, Texarkana 67 Speedway, Tri-State Speedway, Tulsa Speedway, Vado Speedway Park, Winneshiek Raceway.