3/21/2026
USRA
Duvall wins Whitworth Spring Classic Opener at Humboldt
Humboldt, KS (March 20, 2026) — Opening night of the Whitworth Spring Classic and the 2026 USRA Heartland Modified Tour presented by Real Racing Wheels delivered immediate drama, but in the end it was still “Big Daddy” Joe Duvall standing tall in Victory Lane after a near-flawless performance.
Duvall powered to victory in the 30-lap Pannell Chipping A-Feature, but not without surviving a late-race challenge from 2025 series runner-up Shadren Turner in one of the night’s defining moments.
The No. 91 driver set the tone early, pacing Group A qualifying presented by Deatherage Opticians with a 15.366-second lap. Overall quick time honors went to Brendon Gemmill, who topped Group B with a 15.255.
Duvall carried that speed into the heats, picking up the win in Heat 1 presented by Rick Bebee Heating & Air Conditioning. A strong redraw placed him on the outside of the front row for the feature, and once the green flag waved, he took command.
For much of the race, Turner kept Duvall honest out front after his victory in Heat 2 presented by Smith Equipment Company, settling into second stalking Duvall the entire way.
The race reached its boiling point with seven laps to go.
Turner found momentum off turn two and pulled even with Duvall in a bid for the lead, but just as the two ran side-by-side, an untimely caution flag flew—erasing what could have been the race-winning pass and resetting the field.
On the ensuing restart, Duvall capitalized.
The veteran fired off strong and opened a gap over the field, while Turner suddenly found himself under heavy pressure from a hard-charging pack that included Trevor Hughes, Tyler Davis, and Paden Phillips.
As the white flag waved, the battle for second intensified. A late mistake by Turner shuffled him back in the closing corners, costing him a runner-up finish and ultimately relegating him to a top-five result.
Hughes completed an impressive drive from 14th to finish second, with Davis securing third and Phillips close behind in fourth.
Defending series champion Bobby Williams showcased resilience early in his title defense, advancing from 19th to finish ninth in the A-Main.
The night’s PEM Gears and Drive Train Hard Charger Award went to Chase Sigg, who surged from 24th to 11th in one of the strongest drives of the evening.
Additional winners included Gemmill in Heat 3 presented by Kevko Racing and Phillips in Heat 4 presented by Swift Springs, while Jacob Hodges claimed the Real Racing Wheels B Feature to transfer into the main event.
A stout 34-car field kicked off the 2026 campaign in impressive fashion, setting the stage for what already looks to be a highly competitive season.
But on opening night, even with late-race pressure and a near shake-up at the front, one constant remained.
From qualifying to the checkered flag, “Big Daddy” Joe Duvall found a way to get it done.
USRA Heartland Modified Tour – Whitworth Spring Classic (Opening Night) – March 20, 2026 | Humboldt Speedway (Humboldt, KS) | 34 Entries
Pannell Chipping A-Feature (30 Laps): 1. Joe Duvall; 2. Trevor Hughes; 3. Tyler Davis; 4. Paden Phillips; 5. Shadren Turner; 6. Cole Campbell; 7. Henry Chambers; 8. Gabe Hodges; 9. Bobby Williams; 10. Steve Lavasseur; 11. Chase Sigg; 12. Landon Volkman; 13. Chevy Coleman; 14. Mickey Burrell; 15. Hunter Sandy; 16. Wyatt Gaggero; 17. Jason Pursley; 18. Nick Roberts; 19. Darren Moses; 20. Dustin Hodges; 21. Brendon Gemmill; 22. Dakota Dale; 23. Reece Solander; 24. Curt Drake; 25. Jacob Hodges.
Real Racing Wheels B-Feature (12 Laps): 1. Jacob Hodges; 2. Curt Drake; 3. Jason Pursley; 4. Chase Sigg; 5. Cecil Dymond; 6. Dylan Doty; 7. Dakota Dale; 8. Brody Robe; 9. Kenton Allen; 10. Dean Wille; 11. Dexton Daniels.
Rick Bebee Heating & Air Conditioning Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. Joe Duvall; 2. Wyatt Gaggero; 3. Reece Solander; 4. Darren Moses; 5. Cole Campbell; 6. Jacob Hodges; 7. Dexton Daniels; 8. Dakota Dale.
Smith Equipment Company Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. Shadren Turner; 2. Tyler Davis; 3. Henry Chambers; 4. Landon Volkman; 5. Bobby Williams; 6. Kenton Allen.
Kevko Racing Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. Brendon Gemmill; 2. Gabe Hodges; 3. Steve Lavasseur; 4. Trevor Hughes; 5. Chevy Coleman; 6. Dean Wille; 7. Cecil Dymond; 8. Chase Sigg.
Swift Springs Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. Paden Phillips; 2. Dustin Hodges; 3. Nick Roberts; 4. Hunter Sandy; 5. Mickey Burrell; 6. Curt Drake; 7. Jason Pursley; 8. Dylan Doty.
Deatherage Opticians Qualifying – Group A: 1. Joe Duvall; 2. Tyler Davis; 3. Wyatt Gaggero; 4. Shadren Turner; 5. Reece Solander; 6. Brody Robe; 7. Cole Campbell; 8. Henry Chambers; 9. Dakota Dale; 10. Landon Volkman; 11. Darren Moses; 12. Bobby Williams; 13. Jacob Hodges; 14. Kenton Allen; 15. Dexton Daniels; 16. Kasey Coleman.
Deatherage Opticians Qualifying – Group B: 1. Brendon Gemmill; 2. Paden Phillips; 3. Steve Lavasseur; 4. Hunter Sandy; 5. Trevor Hughes; 6. Dustin Hodges; 7. Gabe Hodges; 8. Nick Roberts; 9. Chase Sigg; 10. Mickey Burrell; 11. Chevy Coleman; 12. Jason Pursley; 13. Dean Wille; 14. Curt Drake; 15. Cecil Dymond; 16. Dylan Doty.
The USRA Heartland Modified Tour Presented by Real Racing Wheels enters year three in 2026, and we would like to recognize and thank our season long partners. Please thank them, with your patronage for their support.
Gold Partners - Central Spray Foam & Cement Lifting, Day Motor Sports, Deatherage Opticians, Dirt Track Specialist, Dylan Scott Entertainment, Hochatown Saloon, Kevko Racing, Midwest Sheet Metal, Mel Hambelton Ford Racing, Pannell Chipping, RacinDirt.com, Real Racing Wheels, Rick Beebe Heating and Air Conditioning, Smith Equipment Company, Swift Springs, VP Racing Fuels Heartland, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products
Silver Partners – American Racer Tires, Buck Monson Photos, Bulletproof Tees and Racewear, Duvall Electric, Integra Shocks, JRT Trucking, Keyser Manufacturing, Midwest Automation, Photos By Boyd, Scotty Dogg's Hideout
Bronze Partners – Bryke Racing, Fast Shafts, Freight Logistics Inc., KS Engineering, Maxima Racing Oil, Milburn Acreages by Tillison Enterprises, PEM Racing, Premier Lubricants, Schoenfeld Headers, Service Plumbing of Wichita, Transmissions Unlimited, Wagdog Spices, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Yeoman Race Engines
2026 Point Funds (ARMS, HMT, NLMS)
- $7,500
- $4,500
- $3,500
- $3,000
- $2,500
- $2,400
- $2,300
- $2,200
- $2,100
- $2,000
80 Percent attendance required to remain point fund eligible
Submitted By: Ryne Staley
