O'Neil steals spotlight in Amarillo Ambush opener

October 4, 2024

For the first time in five seasons, the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt returned to the Route 66 Motor Speedway in Amarillo, Texas, on Friday with new owners running venue but the same incredible on-track action that fans and racers have come to know.

It was a handful of familiar faces racing at the front of the field during the 40-lap main event at the popular 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval in Amarillo, Texas, with Tyler Wolff of Fayetteville, Ark., pacing the opening lap of opening night for the 11th Annual Amarillo Ambush.

In a twist, all USMTS Modifieds removed their roofs for the two-day topless event in the ARMI Contractors USMTS South Region presented by Gene Nicholas, LLC.

As many have seen in both the USMTS and USRA Modifieds in 2024, Tyler Wolff was fast out of the gate and led the first 11 laps before Tucson’s Jake O’Neil took the lead away with USMTS national points leader Jim Chisholm of Osage, Iowa, also in a three-way tussle for first place.

It was also a familiar story being told at the front of the field with O’Neil and Chisholm battling for the second half of the race for a first-place prize of $5,000. In the end, O’Neil reached the finish line first.

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“I knew I had to go hard early,” O’Neil said after exiting his roofless rocket in Victory Fuel Victory Lane. “Tyler is super-fast and Jim, obviously he’s the fastest car in the country, and I knew I had to get in front of them as quick as I could.

“I was worried about tires and the cushion was treacherous up there, but I knew I had to get in front on them restarts. It makes a big difference.”

Joining O’Neil and Chisholm on the Featherlite Trailers Top-3 podium was Jake Timm of Winona, Minn. Between them, the trio have won exactly half of the 30 USMTS main events completed this year.

Initial polesitter Lance Mari of El Centro, Calif., wound up fourth at the checkered flag while Amarillo’s Sammy McNabb—the track’s USRA Modified points leader—rounded out the top five.

Rodney Sanders of nearby Happy, Texas, was unable to secure his fourth USMTS win at his home track and was scored sixth in the final rundown with Mark Smith, Wolff, 19th-starting Jason Hughes and Jake Gallardo completing the top ten.

After earning the final transfer spot in the first of two Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains, Terry Phillips rolled off 23rd on the 27-car feature grid and climbed 11 positions to finish 12th and earn the FK Rod Ends Hard Charger Award.

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The 11th Annual Amarillo Ambush continues Saturday with another $5,000-to-win finale and $800 to start the Summit Racing Equipment “A” Main. USRA Limited Mods and USRA Factory Stocks will take on the track’s Street Stocks once again too.

The pits open at 3:30 p.m., grandstands open at 5:30, the pit meeting happens at 6, hot laps begin at 6:30 and racing gets underway at 7.

Adult general admission spectator tickets are $25 while current and retired members of the military, seniors (65+) and kids ages 5-13 are just $10. Children 5 and under are admitted into the grandstands free of charge. Pit passes are $45 on Saturday.

The Route 66 Motor Speedway is located 1.5 miles south of I-40 at exit 75 on Lakeside Dr. in Amarillo. For more information, check out route66motorspeedway.net.

Check out USMTS.com for schedules, points, photos, souvenirs, videos and more. Follow our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube. Don't forget to subscribe for free to get USMTS news delivered to your inbox plus Members Only benefits.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt
ARMI Contractors USMTS South Region presented by Gene Nicholas, LLC
11th Annual USMTS Amarillo Ambush - Night 1 of 2
Route 66 Motor Speedway, Amarillo, Texas
Friday, Oct. 4, 2024

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown. Heat race lineups are determined via group qualifying. The top 12 in heat race passing points advance to the Summit Racing Equipment “A” Main.

SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps):
1. (2) 0 Jake O'Neil, Tucson, Ariz.
2. (1) D25 David Tanner, Wichita Falls, Texas
3. (3) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
4. (6) 1T Cameron Thomas, Amarillo, Texas
5. (10) 77 Ronnie Yanacsek, Amarillo, Texas
6. (7) 7 A.J. Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas
7. (11) 15W Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn.
8. (9) 11G Cameron Gillmore, Amarillo, Texas
9. (5) 18K Brayden Kongdara, Amarillo, Texas
10. (8) 80 David Yanacsek, Amarillo, Texas
11. (4) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. (2) 19SB Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif.
2. (4) 4W Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark.
3. (3) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
4. (8) 12C Leland Cruz, Amarillo, Texas
5. (5) 21 Derek Scott, Canyon, Texas
6. (6) 01 Jacob Hobscheidt, Plattsmouth, Neb.
7. (9) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
8. (10) 22S Jeremy Gossett, Amarillo, Texas
9. (7) 117 Toby Herring, Hobbs, N.M.
10. (1) 55G Braden Gress, Amarillo, Texas

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. (2) 24 Rick Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (4) 22M Sammy McNabb, Amarillo, Texas
3. (1) 18JR Ricardo Olague Jr., El Paso, Texas
4. (6) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas
5. (3) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
6. (5) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
7. (7) 60 Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn.
8. (9) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
9. (8) 9 Danton Odell, Canyon, Texas
10. (10) 37 Coty Tanquary, Lubbock, Texas

WIELAND METAL SERVICES HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. (1) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
2. (2) 8N Nick Rivera, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (4) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (6) 9R Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (8) 15 Kale Westover, Altus, Okla.
6. (3) 17M Roy Don Mason, Hobbs, N.M.
7. (5) 2 Dustin Grajczyk, Amarillo, Texas
8. (10) 81 Neal DeBord, Amarillo, Texas
9. (9) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
10. (7) 06 Chad Taylor, Liberal, Kan.

VP RACING HEAT RACE #5 (10 laps):
1. (2) 49 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
2. (3) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M.
3. (9) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
4. (6) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (5) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas
6. (8) 2X Gene Weaver, Amarillo, Texas
7. (4) 18 Bobby Mayfield, Elk City, Okla.
8. (10) 100% Braden Howell, Amarillo, Texas
9. (1) 1 Ryan Reeves, Lubbock, Texas
10. (7) 11D Cole Dennis, Altus, Okla.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (2) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
2. (9) 01 Jacob Hobscheidt, Plattsmouth, Neb.
3. (1) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (20) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
5. (8) 15W Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn.
6. (15) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
7. (10) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
8. (11) 60 Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn.
9. (3) 1T Cameron Thomas, Amarillo, Texas
10. (16) 117 Toby Herring, Hobbs, N.M.
11. (6) 21 Derek Scott, Canyon, Texas
12. (5) 18JR Ricardo Olague Jr., El Paso, Texas
13. (4) 9R Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
14. (17) 37 Coty Tanquary, Lubbock, Texas
15. (18) 80 David Yanacsek, Amarillo, Texas
16. (13) 2 Dustin Grajczyk, Amarillo, Texas
17. (14) 11G Cameron Gillmore, Amarillo, Texas
18. (19) 11D Cole Dennis, Altus, Okla.
19. (12) 81 Neal DeBord, Amarillo, Texas
20. (7) 2X Gene Weaver, Amarillo, Texas

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (4) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (1) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
3. (7) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
4. (5) 15 Kale Westover, Altus, Okla.
5. (3) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas
6. (9) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
7. (14) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
8. (8) 7 A.J. Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas
9. (6) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas
10. (15) 18K Brayden Kongdara, Amarillo, Texas
11. (2) 77 Ronnie Yanacsek, Amarillo, Texas
12. (13) 18 Bobby Mayfield, Elk City, Okla.
13. (12) 100% Braden Howell, Amarillo, Texas
14. (10) 17M Roy Don Mason, Hobbs, N.M.
15. (16) 06 Chad Taylor, Liberal, Kan.
16. (11) 22S Jeremy Gossett, Amarillo, Texas
DNS - 9 Danton Odell, Canyon, Texas
DNS - 1 Ryan Reeves, Lubbock, Texas
DNS - 55G Braden Gress, Amarillo, Texas

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (6) 0 Jake O'Neil, Tucson, Ariz.
2. (5) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
3. (4) 49 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
4. (1) 19SB Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif.
5. (7) 22M Sammy McNabb, Amarillo, Texas
6. (13) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
7. (8) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
8. (2) 4W Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark.
9. (19) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
10. (14) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
11. (18) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
12. (23) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
13. (16) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
14. (15) 01 Jacob Hobscheidt, Plattsmouth, Neb.
15. (21) 15W Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn.
16. (26) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
17. (24) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
18. (27) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
19. (9) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M.
20. (25) 60 Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn.
21. (11) D25 David Tanner, Wichita Falls, Texas
22. (12) 12C Leland Cruz, Amarillo, Texas
23. (22) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas
24. (10) 8N Nick Rivera, Las Cruces, N.M.
25. (20) 15 Kale Westover, Altus, Okla.
26. (17) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
27. (3) 24 Rick Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.

Lap Leaders: Wolff 1-11, O’Neil 12-40.
Total Laps Led: O’Neil 29, Wolff 11.
Margin of Victory: 0.712 second.
Time of Race: 19 minutes, 47.365 seconds (3 cautions).
Provisional Starters: Ebert, Davis, Hoff.
FK Rod Ends Hard Charger: Phillips (started 23rd, finished 12th).
Entries: 51.
Next Race: Saturday, Oct. 5, route 66 Motor Speedway.
Summit USMTS National Championship Points: Chisholm 2603, Timm 2563, Sanders 2435, Phillips 2352, Ebert 2250, Mullens 2167, Hughes 2141, Davis 2077, Williamson 2004, Christian 1986.
ARMI Contractors USMTS South Region Points: Timm 594, Ebert 565, Chisholm 551, Hughes 545, Phillips 526.
Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Points: Hobscheidt 1924, Gabe Hodges 1632, Steven Glenn 927, Joe Chisholm 739, D.J. Shannon 409.
FK Rod Ends USMTS Hard Charger Points: Sanders 151, Timm 141, Chisholm 122, Ebert 98, Phillips 98.
Miller Welders USMTS Manufacturers Championship Points: Skyrocket 209, MBCustoms 204, Rage 196, Mullens 182, Bloodline 144.
Callies/JE Pistons USMTS Engine Builder of the Year Points: KSE 244, Mullins 212, OFI 201, Durham 176, Hatfield 175.

Contingency Awards:
Aero Race Wheels – Gress.
American Racer – Westover.
Bear Graphix – Cruz.
Beyea Custom Headers – Mari.
Bryke Racing – Williamson.
BSB Manufacturing – Tanner.
Champ Pans – McNabb.
Danny Crane Racing Engines – Sanders.
Deatherage Opticians – Weaver.
Edelbrock – Ortega.
Fast Shafts – Mari.
Featherlite Trailers – O’Neil, Chisholm, Timm.
FK Rod Ends – Phillips.
Gorsuch Performance Solutions – O’Neil.
Hooker Harness – Phillips.
Hyperco – Gress.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Hoff.
Keyser Manufacturing – J. Gallardo.
KSE Racing Products – Hughes.
MD3 – O’Neil.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Ebert.
Mel Hambelton Racing – Houston, Sharpensteen.
MSD Performance – Mari.
Penske Racing Shocks – Christian.
PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain – Wolff.
QA1 – Chisholm.
Quarter Master – Hughes.
RacerWebsite.com – Williamson.
Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt – M. Smith.
Simpson Race Products – O’Neil.
Summit Racing Equipment – Howell, Mayfield, Sharpensteen, M. Smith, N. Smith.
Sweet Manufacturing – Davis.
Swift Springs – Hughes, McNabb, O’Neil.
Sybesma Graphics – Mari.
Total Power – Mullens.
Victory Fuel – O’Neil.
VP Racing – O’Neil.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Weaver.
Wilwood Disc Brakes – M. Smith.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Beyea Headers, Callies Performance Products, Chevrolet Performance, Fast Shafts, Featherlite Trailers, FK Rod Ends, KSE Racing Products, Malvern Bank, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Nitroquest Media, PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain, RacinDirt, Summit Racing Equipment, TicketSmarter, VP Racing - Heartland, Wieland.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: ARMI Contractors, Boomtest Well Service, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Collins Brothers Towing, Gene Nicholas, LLC, Hacienda Mechanical, Hochatown Saloon, Mel Hambelton Ford, Miller Welders, PBM Performance Products, Rancho Milagro Racing, Salty's BBQ & Catering, Shop Quik Stores, STAKT Products, YouDirt.com.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bear Graphix, Bryke Racing, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Danny Crane Racing Engines, Deatherage Racing Opticians, Edelbrock, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, Gunshepherd.com, Hooker Harness, Hyperco, Integra Racing Shocks and Springs, JE Pistons, Keyser Manufacturing, MD3, Mel Hambelton Racing, MSD Performance, Penske Racing Shocks, Performance Bodies & Parts, QA1, Quarter Master, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt, Simpson Performance Products, Sweet Manufacturing, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Total Power, Victory Fuel, Victory Vault, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Racing.