WHEATLAND, Mo. (June 18, 2025)—One of the new names on the Arctic Food Equipment USRA Modified scene in 2025 at Lucas Oil Speedway is Troy Gudmonson, a Minnesota native who’s re-located to southwest Missouri.

Gudmonson works for Terry Phillips, one of the biggest names in Missouri racing. The 23-year-old, driving a Bloodline Race Car by Phillips, has put together three top-10 runs in four events this season to rank fourth in track points.

“It’s been going pretty good. Every time I’ve gone out it’s gotten better and better,” Gudmonson said. “I got myself a Bloodline over the winter after having a GRT last year. Every time I go out I keep learning stuff and I kind of keep progressing.”

Gudmonson grew up in Savage, Minn., about 30 minutes south of Minneapolis and started driving quarter midgets at the age of six. He climbed behind the wheel of a Modified for the first time at 14. While he’s a first-generation race-car driver, Gudmonson said the passion for motorsports in his family runs deep.

Both his dad and grandfather have been dirt-track fans for years and Troy’s parents even spent their honeymoon taking in the Knoxville Nationals in Iowa. The streak of attending the Knoxville Nationals is at about 23 years, the same as Troy’s age.

The connection with Phillips was sparked when Phillips posted some used tires for sale on Facebook marketplace. The Gudmonson team bought about 30 of them and picked them at Cedar Lake Speedway when Phillips was racing there.

“That’s when I got my feet wet a little bit, asking (Phillips) what it was like working on race cars full time,” Gudmonson said. “At that time I was about 16 and didn’t know what I wanted to do after high school. Terry told me to contact him after high school. He’s pretty strict on schooling.

“I turned 18 and the summer after graduation he gave me a call and said, ‘Hey, I need a crew guy.’ It kind of went from there.”

Gudmonson moved to Springfield at 18 and worked in Phillips’ shot the summer after he graduated. But after a year and a half, he moved back home.

“Then in May of last year I moved back here and I’m completely relocated now,” Gudmonson said.

Phillips has been like a college professor, teaching Gudmonson various aspects of racing. One especially stands out to the young student.

"That first time around I learned a lot,” Gudmonson said. “But this second time around I’ve learned a lot more about set-up and being able to translate it. You could say that I learn something every day.

“Terry and his whole family treat me like family and that’s something I’m grateful for.”

Gudmonson’s sponsors include Terry Phillips Racing and Bloodline Race Cars, Charlson Body Repair, Hanson Farms and High Side Welding. He also gave a special shout-out to Dan Wheeler and Teresa Duda from Minnesota, who were instrumental early in his Modified career.

“I was really green when I got into Modified racing and (they) helped me tremendously,” Gudmonson said. “All of those people, I consider them like family.”

The Arctic Food Equipment USRA Modifieds will run a special 25-lap, $1,000-to-win feature on Saturday to highlight Pitts Homes and Realty Weekly Racing Series Round 7. The Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods, O’Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars, Hickamo Super Stocks and Hermitage Lumber Late Models also will be in action.

Fans can enjoy a free night at the races while helping out their neighbors in need during the annual Ozarks Food Harvest Food Drive Night at the Races. Usual grandstand admission is $5, but fans will be admitted free by bringing four non-perishable food items to the front gate.

Pit gates and grandstands open at 4 p.m., with hot laps at 6:30 and opening ceremonies at 7.

Dirt track Saturday admission:
General admission (6 and up) - $5
General admission (5 and under) - FREE
General admission FREE with four non-perishable food items
Pit pass - $35

Bicycle donations sought: The biggest night of the racing season for kids is just a couple of weeks away at Lucas Oil Speedway and track officials need assistance in making some dreams come true for the youngsters.

Casey’s Thursday Night Thunder Kids’ Night at the Races is set for July 3rd with a big post-race fireworks display capping the night of racing. But perhaps the biggest highlight will occur during intermission with the annual kids’ bicycle giveaway on the midway.

The speedway is rounding up new bicycles and is asking fans, drivers and sponsors for help in either donating bikes for kids up to age 12 or money that can be used to purchase the bicycles. Youngsters ages 5 through 12 can sign up at the RCR Designs Jr Fan Club table before intermission for a chance to enter a drawing for the new bicycles of various sizes.

For more information about the bicycle giveaway and how to donate, contact the speedway office at (417) 282-5984.

RCR Junior Fan Club: The RCR Junior Fan Club Kids' Pit Tour continues this Saturday. Youngsters can sign up on the midway for the fan club before 5 p.m. and be a part of a drawing to join flagman Chris Loberg on a golf-car tour of the pits to meet drivers.

Ticket or camping questions: For information on admission or camping for any Lucas Oil Speedway event in 2025, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or email her at nmcmillan@lucasoilspeedway.com for more information.

To learn more about the USRA, check out www.usraracing.com and follow our social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube. For exclusive promotions delivered to your inbox, click here to subscribe today.

The United States Racing Association (USRA) was formed in 2002, and currently sanctions eight divisions at some of the finest speedways in America. With the incredible support of dozens of marketing partners, the USRA is able to provide points funds and contingency awards that are second to none in dirt track racing. Thousands of racers compete in the Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series at some of the most elite dirt track facilities in America.

The 12th Annual Summit USRA Nationals happens Sept. 30 through Oct. 4 at the legendary Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., featuring USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and USRA Tuners in their Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series national points finales.

The 6th Annual Summit USRA Southern Nationals returns to the Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, La., from Oct. 16-18, featuring USRA Limited Mods and Sunoco USRA Factory Stocks in their final Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series national points event.

USRA Official Sponsors: American Racer Racing Tires, Beyea Headers, 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 Presenting Sponsors: Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, PBM Performance Products, YouDirt.com.

USRA Contingency Sponsors: AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bryke Racing, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Dynamic Drivelines, Edelbrock, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, Hooker Narness, Hyperco, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, JE Pistons, Keyser Manufacturing, KS Engineering, Landrum Performance Springs, MD3, MSD Performance, Performance Bodies & Parts, QA1, Quarter Master, QuickCar Racing Products, RaceQuip, 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.