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Johnson looks to continue dream Modified season at USRA Nationals this week at Lucas Oil Speedway

WHEATLAND, MO. (Sept. 30, 2025) - Way back in March, Houston Johnson set a goal to pursue his first USRA National Championship in the Modified division. What a year it’s been, with that title seemingly a mere formality away as this week’s 12th annual Summit USRA Nationals get ready to fire up at Lucas Oil Speedway.

Johnson, a 26-year-old second generation racer from Kansas City, has 20 Modified feature wins in 43 starts in 2025 and 26 wins overall including a Late Model. Entering the Wednesday opener to the four-night marathon at Wheatland, he holds a 547-point USRA lead.

“Technically, Brandon Davis could jump me if he wins all four nights and starts like 19th or 20th in a couple of them,” Johnson said. “If anybody could do it, it’s him.”

So while Johnson will hold off on popping the proverbial cork until it’s official, the journey to the brink of a championship has been nothing short of a dream season in a Bloodline Race Car he purchased slightly used from Brandon Givens.

“I took the car down to Terry (Phillips) and he helped me out and he’s always just a phone call away if I have a question,” Johnson said of Philips, the long-time racer and Bloodlines chassis founder based in Springfield. "He is a wealth of knowledge."

Johnson has dominated the competition this season at his home track, I-35 Speedway in Winston where he has 16 feature wins. He feels good about his chances coming to Wheatland, where he won a preliminary-night feature at last year’s USRA Nationals and ran a solid sixth in a July 3rd appearance this season with the Heartland Modified Tour.

Dedication and consistency have gone hand-in-hand after Johnson set his goal. Shortly after he and wife Cassidy found out they would become first-time parents this November.

“Last year I ran quite a bit at Humboldt and began branching out during the year,” Johnson said of how 2024 became a building block season. “By end of the year, I thought if I had pushed for it earlier in the season … I didn’t win enough but I could have been top three. I think I ended up fifth.

"When my wife and I found out in March that we were expecting our first child in November, I knew this was the last year that I could fully dive at it before some other priorities come up. By far it’s been my best season. I’m a very routine-oriented person. On Friday nights, Tulsa was closest place to race Modifieds most of the year. It was unfortunate that I would drive by Lakeside and Humboldt and places that used to have A Mods.

"But I put in the effort to go down there, then get up early and re-prepare the car for Saturday. Then get it washed up and cleaned up on Sunday, go to work Monday through Friday, get home from work and work on it. For me I’ve always put in the effort. People don’t always see the effort behind the scenes. You can’t have DNFs and luck is a big part of it, but preparation has been one of the biggest things and making sure I’m not missing stuff that would cost you … keeping up on maintenance and parts.”

Johnson began racing at 14, but was a fan of the sport from the time his parents purchased I-35 Speedway when he was in grade school. His dad, Mike, had raced for several years prior to that.

Houston Johnson said he drove a Grand National at 14 and got into a Modified a few years later. He admitted to getting discouraged by his results and was about ready to give it up and seek another class before winning on opening night in 2021, his first Modified feature triumph.

“I went on to win the championship that year. It’s kind off weird how stuff clicks,” Johnson said. “I got better at watching film, watching race videos. I’m a race fan first. I love watching racing. USMTS, Lucas Oil Late Models, you can learn from watching the guys that run those things.”

Now Johnson is one to verge to claim a USRA National Championship while hoping to visit victory lane this week.

Johsnon’s crew members include Trevor Brownlee and Tony Kromeich. Sponsors are Carpenter’s Classics, Molle Auto Group, KS Engineering, Trenton Coca-Cola Bottling, Shane Roach Concrete, Premier Lubricants, Precision Performance Racing Suspensions, TB Designs and Tire Demon by Lovetap - Randy Ainsworth.

USRA Nationals action kicks off Tuesday night with an open practice session on from 6-9 p.m. Spectator admission will be free in the grandstands with pit passes $30 ($15 for kids 6-10). Five-day pit passes are $170 and ($80 for ages 6-10).

Everyone purchasing pit passes can save time upon arrival by signing the waiver online at https://lucasoilspeedway.speedwaiver.com/uokhv.

The remaining USRA Nationals schedule will find Modifieds, B-Mods, Stock Cars qualifying and Hobby Stock practice on Wednesday; Modifieds, B-Mods, Stock Cars, Hobby Stock qualifying and Tuner practice Thursday; Modifieds, B-Mods, Stock Cars, Tuners and Hobby Stock qualifying Friday; Modifieds, B-Mods, Stock Cars, Tuners, Hobby Stocks with last-chance races and final-night features on Saturday.

Wednesday admission:

Advance Discount Tickets online only (13 and up) - $17

Adults (13 and up) - $20

Senior (62 and up)/Military - $17

Youth (6-12) - $5

Kids (5 and under) - FREE

Pits - $40

Kids 6-10 - $20

4-Day Adults - $145 (Save $20)

4-Day Kids - $70 (Save $15)

Thursday admission:

Advance Discount Tickets online only (13 and up) - $22

Adults (13 and up) - $25

Senior (62 and up) / Military - $22

Youth (6-12) - $10

Kids (5 and under) - FREE

Pit Pass - $40

Kids Pit Pass (6-10) - $20

3-Day Pit Pass - $110

3-Day Kids Pit Pass - $60

Friday admission:

Advance Discount Tickets online only (13 and up) - $22

Adults (13 and up) - $25

Senior (62 and up)/Military - $22

Youth (6-12) - $10

Kids (5 and under) - FREE

Pit Pass - $40

Kids Pit Pass (6-10) - $20

2-Day Pit Pass - $75

2-Day Kids Pit Pass - $40

Saturday admission:

Advance Discount Tickets online only (13 and up) - $27

Adults (13 and up) - $30

Senior (62 and up) / Military - $27

Youth (6-12) - $10

Kids (5 and under) - FREE

Pit Pass - $40

Kids Pit Pass (6-10) - $20

For information on admission or camping for any Lucas Oil Speedway event in 2025, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-6119 or (417) 295-6043 or email her at nmcmillan@lucasoilspeedway.com for more information.

CONTACT:
Casey Shuman
Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager
Office: (417) 282-5984
Email: CShuman@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 and everything about the Show-Me 100 event, visit www.LucasOilSpeedway.com for all the information and detailed directions to the speedway or call the Track Hotline at (417) 282-5984.

In addition, fans can get social with Lucas Oil Speedway by following @LucasSpeedway on X, clicking "Like" at www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway

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.

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, 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 a few of the spectacular amenities setting the Diamond of Dirt apart. This year marks the 12th season for the Liquid Quarter Mile Drag Racing Lake, "Lake Lucas." New for 2017 was all-purpose built Off Road facility featuring a host of regional events.

Lucas Oil Speedway's dirt oval track 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, United States Modified Touring Series and the High Limit Sprint Racing Series, POWRi Sprint Cars and POWRi WAR Sprints.

In addition to the special events, the Lucas Oil Speedway Weekly Racing Series features the Late Models, USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods and Super Stocks.

2025 Official Lucas Oil Speedway Marketing Partners

Bill Roberts Chevrolet

"The Official Truck" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Dixie Chopper

"The Official Mowers of Lucas Oil Speedway"

Iconic Apparel

"The Official Merchandise Provider of Lucas Oil Speedway"

Lucas Oil Products

"The Official Oil" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper

"The Official Soft Drink" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Rugged Radios

"The Official 2-Way Communications Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Summit Racing Equipment

"The Official Sponsor" of Lucas Oil Speedway

Sunoco Race Fuels

"The Official Fuel" of Lucas Oil Speedway

2025 Lucas Oil Speedway Supporters Include:

AM Pyrotechnics, Alliance Sport Marketing, Arctic Food Equipment, Berry Tractor and Equipment Co., Big Adventure RV, Bill Roberts Chevrolet, Bolivar Auto Sales & Detailing, Bolivar Farmers Exchange-MFA, Boubin Tire/American Racer, Bridal Cave, BWI Sanitation, Candlelight Creations-Dick's Wild Root Horseradish, Casey's, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, City Magnet, Clear Creek Golf Cars, Clearlight Inn, Dixie Chopper, Eibach Springs, Encounter Ministry Inc., FSE Fire Systems, Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange, Foley Equipment-Cat Rental Store, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Henry's Towing Service, Heritage Tractor, Hermitage Lumber, HICKAMO Country Store, Hobbytime Motorsports, Iconic Apparel, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps, In the Garden of Eden, Kluhsman Racing Components, Kona Ice, Lucas Cattle Company, MD3, Midwest Sheet Metal, Miller Welding, Missouri Division of Tourism, MyRacePass, Nutrien Ag Solutions, OakStar Bank, O'Bannon Bank, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Outerwears Performance Products, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper, Ozarks Community Health Center, PEM, Pitts Homes, Pitts Realty, Pitts Cattle, RACEceiver, RacinDirt.com, RCR Designs, Real Racing Wheels, Rod End Supply, Rugged Radios, Ryan E. Murphy Law Firm LLC, SBU Athletics, Safety Kleen, Scott Furniture, Sidetrack RV Park, SMSI, Southwest Electric Cooperative, State Tech, Summit Racing Equipment, Sunoco Race Fuels, Super 8 Bolivar Mo., US Army Corps of Engineers-Pomme de Terre, Vietti Marketing Group, WacoBill.com, Wheatland Motel, White's Marine Center, Wieland, Woods Supermarkets.

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