King of America XV kicks off Lucas Oil Speedway season this week

March 23, 2026 | by Lyndal Scranton

WHEATLAND, Mo. (March 23, 2026)—Lucas Oil Speedway kicks off its 20th season in a big way this week. The three-night King of America XV is set for Thursday through Saturday as the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt drivers battle for more than $150,000 in total prize money.

Led by defending USMTS national champion Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas, who won his unprecedented sixth title a year ago, the premier outlaw Modified series will kick off its season in Wheatland.

A practice session is set for Wednesday from 6:30-9:30 p.m., giving teams an opportunity to dial in for the multi-night major. Racing action kicks off Thursday and Friday with full programs featuring group qualifying, draft-style heat races, B-mains and 30-lap feature events for the USMTS Modifieds.

Each night will pay $3,000 to win and $300 to start the feature.

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Drivers will accumulate points from qualifying, heat races and passing points across the two preliminary nights. The top nine drivers will take their best of the two and will be locked directly into Saturday night’s three-wide start championship finale, which will pay $15,000 to win and $1,500 to start.

Also on Saturday night, drivers who do not qualify for the main event will compete in a $1,000-to-win, $250-to-start non-qualifier race.

Grandstand gates open at 4 p.m. each day with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7.

Cade Dillard is the defending King of America champ after Dillard and Jim Chisholm posted preliminary night victories a year ago.

Joining the USMTS Modifieds will be the KSE Iron Man USRA Stock Car and USRA B-Mod Series competing Thursday and Friday for $1,000 to win and $100 to start. The top eight drivers in points will take their best night and will lock into Saturday’s championship features, which will pay $3,000 to win and $400 to start for both.

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King of America Admission

Wednesday (Practice):
Pit Pass – $33 • Kids (5 & Under) – $22.25
4-Day Pit Pass – $164 • Kids (6-10) – $91

Thursday:
Adults (17+) – $27.50
Military & Seniors (62+) – $22.25
Juniors (11-16) – $12
Kids (10 & Under) – FREE
Pit Pass (12+) – $49 • Kids (5-11) – $27.50
3-Day Pit Pass (12+) – $133 • Kids (5-11) – $70

Friday:
Adults (17+) – $27.50
Military & Seniors (62+) – $22.25
Juniors (11-16) – $12
Kids (10 & Under) – FREE
Pit Pass (12+) – $49 • Kids (5-11) – $27.50
2-Day Pit Pass (12+) – $91 • Kids (5-11) – $49

Saturday:
Adults (17+) – $38.50
Military & Seniors (62+) – $33
Juniors (11-16) – $12
Kids (10 & Under) – FREE
Pit Pass (12+) – $49 • Kids (5-11) – $27.50

Camping:
Dry Camping – $20/night up to 6 people ($5 additional per night/person)
Reserve Dry – $30/night up to 6 people ($5 additional per night/person)
Reserved Electric & Water – $50/night up to 6 people ($5 additional per night/person)
Daily Rates (limited availability)

For further event information, including more info on tickets and camping, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or email nmcmillan@lucasoilspeedway.com.

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

For ticket and camping information visit lucasoilspeedway.com for all the information and detailed directions to the speedway or call the track hotline at (417) 282-5984.

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. Follow on social media on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

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About Lucas Oil Speedway

Lucas Oil Speedway is considered by fans, drivers and industry insiders to be one of the top racing facilities in the nation. Located in Wheatland, Mo., 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, an 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 just a few of the spectacular amenities setting the Diamond of Dirt apart.

Lucas Oil Speedway plays host to some of the largest and most-popular events in the Midwest with national and regional touring series appearing frequently ,including the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Summit USMTS Modified Series, High Limit Sprint Car Racing and POWRi Sprint Cars.

In addition to the special events, the Lucas Oil Speedway presents the Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series on Saturdays featuring USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods, along with Late Models and Super Stocks.

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The Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt is the ultimate proving ground where only the fiercest, most skilled dirt slingers in North America dare to tread. This is where legends are forged, battles are won and the roar of engines drowns out the weak.

Check out usmts.com to learn more, and follow our social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube. Subscribe for free to get news delivered to your inbox plus members-only benefits.

With live and on-demand coverage of every USMTS event plus exclusive interviews, instant replays, multiple camera angles and more, subscribe to RacinDirt for live streaming on all of your devices.

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

USMTS PRESENTING SPONSORS: Boomtest Well Service, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Callies Performance Products, Collins Brothers Towing, G-Style Transport, LLC., Hochatown Saloon, Hodges Farms & Dredging, Mel Hambelton Ford, PBM Performance Products, STAKT Products, YouDirt.com.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bear Graphix, Brinn Inc., Bryke Racing, Champ Pans, Danny Crane Racing Engines, Driven Racing Oil, Dynamic Drivelines, Edelbrock, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, Harris Auto Racing, Hooker Harness, Hyperco, Integra Racing Shocks and Springs, JE Pistons, Keyser Manufacturing, MD3, Mel Hambelton Racing, Penske Racing Shocks, QA1, Quarter Master, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt, Sweet Manufacturing, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Total Power, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Racing.

Drivers: RacerWebsite has been designing and operating websites for racers more than 25 years. All websites are responsive and you can update right from victory lane. They look great on any device, plus they're easy to update, that means you look great even if your sheet metal doesn't. Check out RacerWebsite.com

Track Operators: Nitroquest the leader in producing websites for race track owners that reach the audience you need to put butts in the seats, impress sponsors and let racers know you're serious about winning. Email info@nitroquest.com for more details.