Daniel Thompson (17L) is ranked third while his twin brother David Thompson (33T) is the in USRA Tuner national points leader coming into this weekend's Summit USRA Nationals powered by MyRacePass.

What has become a familiar face to race fans at dirt tracks throughout the Lone Star State may actually be two faces—those of Mesquite, Texas, racers Daniel and David Thompson.

The 31-year-old identical twins compete in the fast-growing USRA Tuner division and they will join dozens of their fellow competitors this weekend at the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, for the 8th Annual Summit USRA Nationals powered by MyRacePass.

“We’ve had so much fun and we’ve really been on a rail this year,” said David Thompson, who leads the summit USRA Weekly Racing Series national points for the USRA Tuners. “It’s great to try out new places and meet new people. We can’t wait to see Lucas Oil (Speedway).”

Although Daniel Thompson came into the world about 20 minutes ahead of David, it’s the younger brother who holds the top spot in the points standings.

David, who drives the No. 33T, has a narrow 20-point advantage over Daniel who sits third behind the meat in this Tuner sandwich—Jett Hefti of Kemp, Texas. Hefti rides second in the standings, just six markers ahead of Daniel and 14 behind David.

At about half their age, Hefti has joined the Thompson brothers in burning more fossil fuel across the South than most competitors.

While David has competed in 49 events so far this year—the most among any driver in any USRA-sanctioned division—Hefti and Daniel Thompson each have 47 starts. That’s tied for second most in USRA action with USRA B-Mod standout Tyler Kidwell of Chanute, Kansas.

While the Thompsons and Hefti are fierce competitors on the track, they’ve developed a good relationship when the helmets are off.

“Jett’s a really good driver and we’ve had some great battles with him,” Daniel Thompson said. “We race hard but we help each other out when we need help with parts or something on the car.”

The Thompsons and Hefti have solid pedigrees with parents, uncles and other family and friends having experience behind the wheel of a dirt track car.

They’ll all have their hands full this weekend with USRA Tuner racers from ten different states registered for this weekend’s mega-event.

Due to a huge entry list of more than 300 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series competitors, starting time has been moved up to 6 p.m. each night. A complete show of qualifying heat races and main events will be held each night. Competitors earn points on Thursday and Friday to help determine lineups for Saturday’s main events.

Lots of off-track activity also is scheduled throughout the week, beginning with Wednesday's Test and Tune. Karaoke with a DJ will be held starting at 10:05 p.m. on the drag boat midway, with a beer tent open. The entertainment and beer tent also will be available following racing on Thursday. On Friday after the races, musician Joe Inman will perform on the drag boat midway.

Some special activities have been scheduled during the day for drivers and crew members, beginning on Thursday morning with a Kickball Tournament. Signup starts at 9 a.m. with a $100 entry fee for 9-10 players per team with room for up to 16 teams. The tournament will be held in the grass area by the pit shack.

On Friday, a Dodgeball Tournament is schedule for 10 a.m. by the pit shack. Sign-up starts at 9 with a $50 entry free for six players per team and a maximum of 16 teams.

A Cornhole Tournament is set for Saturday at 10 a.m. on the midway by the USMTS trailer. Sign-up starts at 9 for a maximum of 64 teams with a $50 entry fee. The top five finishers will be paid.

With 100 bonus points for all competitors in the Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series national points battle, along with the huge car counts and opportunities for deep-field runs, most of the top racers in each of the USRA’s five national divisions will be at the Lucas Oil Speedway blockbuster.

Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series national points standings as of October 5 (top ten in each division featured at the Summit USRA Nationals):

USRA Modifieds
1. 8 Dillon McCowan, Urbana, Mo. ... 4236
2. 88XXX Clyde Dunn Jr., Rockwall, Texas ... 4164
3. 99 Josh Angst, Winona, Minn. ... 4163
4. 89 Tyler Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo. ... 4153
5. 19 Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, Minn. ... 4119
6. 71 Jason Cummins, New Richland, Minn. ... 4107
7. 97 Houston Johnson, Kansas City, Mo. ... 4060
8. 07 Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls, Wis. ... 4045
9. 15W Kale Westover, Blair, Okla. ... 4030
10. 47 Jack Sartain, Terrell, Texas ... 3976

Medieval USRA Stock Cars
1. 15 Mitch Hovden, Decorah, Iowa ... 4372
2. 54 David Hendrix, Waynesville, Mo. ... 4142
3. 71 Gary Kerr Jr., Odessa, Texas ... 4102
4. 33 Kevin Donlan, Decorah, Iowa ... 4100
5. 21 Myles Michehl, Fort Dodge, Iowa ... 4032
6. 7 Doug Keller, Easton, Mo. ... 3957
7. 23 Brayden Gjere, Mabel, Minn. ... 3938
8. 43 Calvin Lange, Humboldt, Iowa ... 3805
9. 29 Brady Link, Waukon, Iowa ... 3802
10. 35 Bill Crimmins, Fort Dodge, Iowa ... 3788

USRA B-Mods
1. 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa ... 4518
2. 16D Dan Hovden, Decorah, Iowa ... 4422
3. 22C Cole Campbell, Mexico, Mo. ... 4415
4. 65 Kris Jackson, Lebanon, Mo. ... 4392
5. 54 Tyler Kidwell, Chanute, Kan. ... 4329
6. 18 J.C. Morton, Springfield, Mo. ... 4311
7. 17 Jeremy Chambers, Baldwin City, Kan. ... 4265
8. 56 Ty Griffith, Webster City, Iowa ... 4224
9. 21 Jackie Dalton, Carthage, Mo. ... 4207
10. 69ER Tyler Cadwallader, Amazonia, Mo. ... 4203

Mensink Racing Products USRA Hobby Stocks
1. 6 Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D. ... 4443
2. X Tyler Schlumbohm, Sioux Falls, S.D. ... 4334
3. 18K Dylan Clinton, Edgewood, Iowa ... 4292
4. 81 Joshua Ludeking, Decorah, Iowa ... 4290
5. 26 Matthew Machen, Roswell, N.M. ... 4196
6. 8 Levi Vander Weide, Sioux Falls, S.D. ... 4176
7. 15 Jeremy Crimmins, Fort Dodge, Iowa ... 4162
8. 22 Steve Larson, Decorah, Iowa ... 4104
9. 86 Tracy Halouska, Worthing, S.D. ... 4070
10. 27H Austin Hoeft, Charles City, Iowa ... 4042

USRA Tuners
1. 33T David Thompson, Mesquite, Texas ... 4254
2. 11 Jett Hefti, Kemp, Texas ... 4240
3. 17T Daniel Thompson, Mesquite, Texas ... 4234
4. 35 Brad Stahl, Castalia, Iowa ... 4117
5. 7V Brandon Vink, Humboldt, Kan. ... 4113
6. 33B Bondy Cannon, Mineral Wells, Texas ... 4086
7. 43 Jade Lange, Humboldt, Iowa ... 4018
8. 6H Hunter Krugle, Wichita Falls, Texas ... 3918
9. 17H Clint Haigler, Humboldt, Kan. ... 3879
10. 613X Joseph Smith, Mesquite, Texas ... 3762

Visit USRAracing.com for complete point standings, photos and archived stories.

Summit USRA Nationals schedule and ticket info:

Wednesday, October 6
Pit gate opens – 10 a.m.
Pre-tech begins – 12 p.m. (all cars must pre-tech) Test ‘n’ tune – 6-10 p.m.
Spectator admission to main grandstands – FREE
Pit pass – $25
4-day pit pass – $135

Thursday, October 7
Pre-tech begins – 12 p.m. (all cars must pre-tech)
​Gates open – 4 p.m.
Racing begins – 6 p.m.
Adult admission (16 & over) – $20
Seniors (62 & over)/military – $17
Youth (ages 6-15) – $5
Kids (5 & under) – FREE
Family pass (two adults + up to three youths) – $45
Pit pass – $35
Adult 3-day general admission – $65
Senior/military 3-day general admission – $56
Youth 3-day general admission – $20
3-day pit pass – $110

Friday, October 8
Gates open – 4 p.m.
Racing begins – 6 p.m.
Adult admission (16 & over) – $20
Seniors (62 & over)/military – $17
Youth (ages 6-15) – $5
Kids (5 & under) – FREE
Family pass (two adults + up to three youth) – $45
Pit pass – $35
Adult 2-day general admission – $45
Senior/military 2-day general admission – $39
Youth 2-day general admission – $15
2-day pit pass – $75

Saturday, October 9
Gates open – 4 p.m.
Racing begins – 6 p.m.
Adult admission (16 & over) – $25
Seniors (62 & over)/military – $22
Youth (ages 6-15) – $10
Kids (5 & under) – FREE
Family Pass (two adults + up to three youth) – $60
Pit pass – $40

Entry fees from now through October 5 are $150 for Modifieds, $100 for Stock Cars and B-Mods, $75 for Hobby Stocks and $40 for Tuners. Beginning October 6 (practice night) and through the rest of the event at the gate, entry fees increase to $200 for Modifieds, $150 for Stock Cars and B-Mods, $100 for Hobby Stocks and $50 for Tuners.

Tickets, for single days and multi-day passes, may be purchased at the gate or online.

If you can't be there in person, RacinDirt has you covered with live coverage of every lap of every race in every division. Check out RacinDirt.TV or download the RacinDirt app for your phone, computer or television. Available on iTunes, AndroidTV, ROKU, fireTV, AppleTV and Google Play Store.

Drivers, click here and get yourself registered for this year's blockbuster Summit USRA Nationals powered by MyRacePass at the Lucas Oil Speedway.

Most camping spots are sold out. Admissions director Nichole McMillan said only primitive dry camping remains, on a first-come, first-served basis for $10 per night, per tent/camper. Those areas are in the timber on the east side of the campground and north of the camp shack located east of Speedway Drive. People will need to check in at the camp shack before dropping campers in the spots they have chosen.

There are a few suites available Thursday and Friday, but as a whole suite holding 18-27 people. Contact McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or via email at nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com for pricing and availability, plus ticket information for any event during the 2021 Lucas Oil Speedway season. Fans also can use the online ticketing system.

Complete Lucas Oil Speedway event information, archived race recaps, previews and driver features, along with ticket information and schedules can be found by visiting LucasOilSpeedway.com.

In addition, fans can get social with Lucas Oil Speedway on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Lucas Oil Speedway is located at Highways 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Missouri. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is also available. With its entrance located just outside the pit gate this sprawling scenic camping facility will continue to enhance the racing experience at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks.

About Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Speedway is considered by fans, drivers and industry insiders to be one of the top five racing facilities in the nation. Located in Wheatland, Missouri, approximately an hour from Springfield, and just an hour and a half from the Kansas City metro area, the "Diamond of Dirt Tracks" lives up to its title.

Twenty-one VIP luxury suites, HD Jumbo-Tron screen, stadium-style Musco Sports Lighting, a Bose sound system, go-kart slick track, The Diamond Bar, Track Treasures Gift Shop, the best track food in the country and paved pits are a few of the spectacular amenities setting Lucas Oil Speedway apart.

This year marks the ninth season for the liquid quarter-mile drag racing lake, "Lake Lucas." New for 2017 was all-purpose built off-road facility featuring the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series as well as a host of other regional events.

Lucas Oil Speedway's dirt oval track plays host to some of the largest and most popular dirt track racing events in the world with national and regional touring series appearing frequently. In addition to the special events, the Lucas Oil Speedway hosts the Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series on Saturdays featuring USRA Modifieds, Medieval USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods plus ULMA Late Models.

Visit usraracing.com for schedules, points, photos, souvenirs, videos and more. Follow our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Click here to get USRA news delivered to your inbox.

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