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July 31, 2023
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The next installment of scorched dirt featuring the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt happens this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, August 3-5, with a tripleheader at three fan-favorite facilities in Kansas and Missouri.
The series returns to the I-70 Speedway in Odessa. Mo., on Thursday and then moves to the Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., for the 7th Annual Grant Junghans Memorial. The weekend wraps up Saturday at the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo.
The Grant Junghans Memorial presented by Shop Quik Convenience Stores takes place Friday, Aug. 4, at the legendary Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. The one-night stand will see the winner walk away with $12,002 and every main event starter earning no less than $1,302.
As it has since the beginning, the mega-event will raise money for the Grant Junghans Memorial Fund which supports research and funding for childhood cancer in honor of the late racer from Manhattan, Kan.
A favorite among fans and fellow competitors, Grant Junghans was first diagnosed with cancer in February of 2010 when he was just 21 years old. Despite on-again off-again chemotherapy treatments and numerous surgeries, he never lost his sense of humor, fighting spirit or natural-born tendency to be kind to others.
The racing world lost one of its finest ambassadors when he passed away in March 2016, and the Grant Junghans Memorial event is an opportunity for his family, friends, fans and fellow competitors to remember the good times and racing memories shared in his 27 years with us.
He was the 2009 USMTS Rookie of the Year, and that award has since been renamed in his honor. His younger brother, Chase Junghans, is a former USMTS racer who is now a regular with the World of Outlaws Late Models.
Grant Junghans (second from left) talks with Rodney Sanders (orange uniform) while Shane Hebert (black uniform) and Morgan Bagley (green uniform) are also present during the redraw and driver's meet 'n' greet with fans in Amarillo, Texas. (Chad Ebel Photo)
Fittingly, the last two winners are also former Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Award winners.
Tanner Mullens is the defending race winner while the 2021 event was rained out. Ricky Thornton Jr. won the previous race on Oct. 30, 2020.
Jacob Bleess celebrated his 23rd birthday on Nov. 17, 2019—one day after his win at the 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan., and the same day that Junghans was born. It would have been his 31st birthday.
Jake O'Neil won in 2018, Rodney Sanders in 2017 and Lucas Schott captured the inaugural title in 2016. Except for the 2019 race at 81 Speedway, the others have taken place at the Lakeside Speedway.
Also running will be USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods racing for $1,002 to win and Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series national points for both classes.
Check out the Fast Facts for complete details about the 7th Annual USMTS Grant Junghans Memorial presented by Shop Quik.
The Lakeside Speedway is a high-banked 4/10-mile clay oval located 1 mile west of I-435 (exit 18) on SR 5 (northwest of Kansas City) to 5615 Wolcott Dr, Kansas City, KS 66109.
For more information, call (913) 299-9206 or check out lakesidespeedway.net and follow Lakeside Speedway on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
For its Silver Anniversary season, the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt currently features 45 nights of racing at 15 of America's premier dirt track racing venues in nine states. The winners of those events are set to earn more than $300,000 with nearly $2 million in purses and prize money earmarked for the 2023 campaign.
Watch every USMTS event online live and on-demand from anywhere on any device with RacinDirt. Download the app at Roku, Amazon Fire, iOS, Apple TV or on Google Play.
Visit usmts.com for schedules, points, photos, souvenirs, videos and more. Follow our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Click here to get USMTS news delivered to your inbox.
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The cotton short sleeve t-shirt comes in sizes Small-3XL for $20 and the hoodies come in sizes Large-2XL for $35 (hoodies wear about one size smaller).
To order, email info@grantjunghans.com or send a check or money order to:
SHOP QUIK RACING
615 S 4TH ST
MANHATTAN KS 66502
Send an extra $5 for shipping and a note saying what sizes you are wanting.
