Mullens captures NCRA Modified Hutch Nationals trophy

[rebelracewriter]

Mullens Captures NCRA Modified Hutch Nationals Trophy

 

Hutchinson, Kansas – July 14, 2012 - Mullens, a name synonymous with modified racing at the Hutchinson Grand Nationals, was rekindled on Saturday night as Tanner laid claim to his first career Hutch Nationals championship as the National Championship Racing Association of Park City, Kansas presented by Precise Racing Products modified division wrapped up two nights at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas.

 

Mullens, who won both qualifying heat races held on Friday night, started on the pole for the twenty lap feature finale and out ran outside front row starter Marc Hurd into turn one to take the lead. Third starting Dan Powers got passed Hurd for the runner up position with the leader opening up a five car length lead.

 

Seventh starting Ryan McAninch started making his move towards the front on lap three and would relegate Hurd back to the fourth position while Mullens continued to set the pace, opening up to a ten car length lead.

 

The first caution of the feature fell on lap eight when current series point leader Tyler Davis spun in turn two.

 

After the restart Mullens again throttled his Mullens powered Hughes chassis out ahead the rest of the field while behind him, McAninch and fifth starting Brian Franz would move past Powers into the second and third positions respectively.

 

After a pair of cautions on lap eleven and thirteen slowed the pace, racing action resume and go non-stop the rest distance with Mullens now opening up a comfortable ten car length lead over McAninch with five laps to go, a lead in which he would never relinquish. He would go on to lay claim as the fifteenth modified series Hutchinson Grand Nationals champion and pick up $2000 for his victory. Tanner’s father, Buddy, won the non-sanctioned modified portion of the Hutch Nationals six times in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

 

McAninch would hold on to the runner up position while defending Nationals champion Franz came home third. Hurd would get around Powers late to rebound for a fourth place finish.

 

The first set of qualifying heat races on Friday night were won by Powers, Hurd, Mullens and Dustin Belcher with the second set of qualifying heat races won by Hurd, Davis, Mullens and McAninch. Saturday night’s six lap last chance “B” feature was won by Ross Shipman.

 

The next event for the NCRA modified division will be the much anticipated scheduled events at two new venues for the tour. It all kicks off on Friday night, August 17th, at Elk City Speedway in Elk City, Oklahoma. They then head West on I-40 to owner/promoter Bill Worthen’s beautiful Route 66 Motor Speedway in Amarillo, Texas. It will be the tour’s first ever venture into the Lone Star State.

 

Kansas State Fairgrounds/Hutchinson, Kansas

 

NCRA Modified

 

07/13/12

 

30 Cars

 

Heat Races #1:

 

1st Heat: 1) Dan Powers (Wichita, Ks), 2) Ross Shipman (Belle Plaine, Ks), 3) Justin Moler (Wichita, Ks), 4) Jim Johnson (Derby, Ks), 5) Clint Smith (Hutchinson, Ks), 6) Bill Siemers (Mulvane, Ks), 7) Tommy Miller (Hutchinson, Ks), 8) Kirby Robe (Colwich, Ks)

 

2nd Heat: 1) Marc Hurd (Wichita, Ks), 2) Kirk Coleman (Wichita, Ks), 3) Tyler Davis (Derby, Ks), 4) Jase Wedel (Wichita, Ks), 5) Don Hodge (Wichita, Ks), 6) Kevin Newell (Wichita, Ks), 7) Jimmy Brozek (Stafford, Ks)

 

3rd Heat: 1) Tanner Mullens (Wichita, Ks), 2) Jon Thompson (Superior, Ne), 3) Craig Miller (Hutchinson, Ks), 4) Josh Lanterman (Wichita, Ks), 5) Seth Beard (Wichita, Ks), 6) Gary Kilbourn (Hutchinson, Ks), 7) Shawn Langhover Jr. (Haysville, Ks)

 

4th Heat: 1) Dustin Belcher (Wichita, Ks), 2) Ryan McAninch (Wichita, Ks), 3) Brian Franz (Halstead, Ks), 4) Jimmie Hobbs (Bentley, KS), 5) Scott Miller (Hutchinson, Ks), 6) Shane Campbell (Wichita, Ks), 7) J.R. Sandlian (Wichita, Ks)

 

Heat Races # 2:

 

1st Heat: 1) Marc Hurd (Wichita, Ks), 2) Dan Powers (Wichita, Ks), 3) Jon Thompson (Superior, Ne), 4) Ross Shipman (Belle Plaine, Ks), 5) Josh Lanterman (Wichita, Ks), 6) Don Hodge (Wichita, Ks), 7) Kevin Newell (Wichita, Ks), 8) Tommy Miller (Hutchinson, Ks)

 

2nd Heat: 1) Tyler Davis (Derby, Ks), 2) Dustin Belcher (Wichita, Ks), 3) Jim Johnson (Derby, Ks), 4) Shane Campbell (Wichita, Ks), 5) Seth Beard (Wichita, Ks), 6) Shawn Langhover Jr. (Haysville, Ks), 7) J.R. Sandlian (Wichita, Ks)

 

3rd Heat: 1) Tanner Mullens (Wichita, Ks), 2) Brian Franz (Halstead, Ks), 3) Kirk Coleman (Wichita, Ks), 4) Craig Miller (Hutchinson, Ks), 5) Justin Moler (Wichita, Ks), 6) Clint Smith (Hutchinson, Ks), 7) Jimmy Brozek (Stafford, Ks)

 

4th Heat: 1) Ryan McAninch (Wichita, Ks), 2) Jimmie Hobbs (Bentley, KS), 3) Gary Kilbourn (Hutchinson, Ks), 4) Scott Miller (Hutchinson, Ks), 5) Jase Wedel (Wichita, Ks), 6) Bill Siemers (Mulvane, Ks), 7) Kirby Robe (Colwich, Ks)

 

07/14/12

 

28 Cars

 

B Feature: 1) Ross Shipman 2) Scott Miller 3) Jimmy Hobbs 4) Craig Miller 5) Justin Moler 6) Gary Kilbourn 7) Josh Lanterman 8) Jase Wedel 9) Straun Taylor 10) Kevin Newell 11) Seth Beard 12) Shawn Langhover, Jr. 13) Dan Hodge 14) Shane Campbell 15) Chet Smith 16) Bill Siemers 17) Tommy Brozek 18) Kirby Robe

 

A Feature: 1) Tanner Mullens 2) Ryan McAninch 3) Brian Franz 4) Marc Hurd 5) Dan Powers 6) Jon Thompson 7) Ross Shipman 8) Jase Wedel 9) Josh Lanterman 10) Jim Johnson 11) Straun Taylor 12) Justin Moler 13) Kevin Newell 14) Kirk Coleman 15) Scott Miller 16) Dustin Belcher 17) Tyler Davis 18) Craig Miller 19) Jimmy Hobbs 20) Gary Kilbourn