7/26/2025
Midwest Legends Dirt Series
Jones Journey to Beaver Dam Fruitful
Beaver Dam, WI (July 26th, 2025) - With an almost fourteen hour drive behind him, Tanner Jones pulled into Beaver Dam with no experience at the track and little expectations, but did he deliver. Jones showed he was a threat during the Prelude to the 10K night with the Midwest Legends Dirt Series.
Sixty cars found themselves in the pits. Seven states and two countries were represented with many drivers having never touched the track prior. A strong crowd from the Ohio Valley Legend Car Series made the trip, with championship leader Steven Partin headlining that crew. The MLDS wants to thank them for leaving this weekend off their schedule.
Fall River Foundry Qualifying was on track first. Local guy and MLDS points leader Ryan Sullivan picked up the top spot honors with a 17.449-second lap. Eric Blumer was second quickest with a 17.455. Third was 2024 MLDS Champion Jackson Lewis with a 17.487. Ryan Swisshelm and Hayden Schmuhl rounded out the top five.
Eight N&S Towing Heat Races were next. Sullivan, Preston Martin, Lewis, Michael Weber, Schmuhl, Jones, Partin, and Adam Zellmer all took the wind in their respective races and qualified for the feature immediately. The second-place drivers were also locked in, with sixteen cars going directly to the show.
Alphabet soup was next. Heath Ropp and Keith Moline picked up the D-Main wins. Jesse Sines and Moline again took home the C-Mains. Ty Olson, Alex Haese, Levi Moris, and Alex Kukowski locked into the feature from B-Main one, with Davey Pennel, Blumer, Glenn Mitchell, and Talyn Neuman from B two.
A draw between the heat winners resulted in Zellmer and Weber starting from the front. The green flag flew, and Weber got the jump, leading early but quickly coming under pressure, and being passed by Jones, who took over the lead on lap two and didn’t look back. Weber went to second and was under threat from a whole heap of cars behind. The one who stood out was Lewis, who broke through the crowd and began to work on his Legends Direct teammate. He looked for a move on lap seven but went a bit too hard and looped it around. Caution flew and the field caught up to Jones. The restart saw Jones, Weber, and Schmuhl, who broke into the top three break away from the rest of the field. The three would go to battle before calamity struck for Weber, who ran into issues, bringing out the yellow and ending his night early. Two more quick yellows led to a single-file restart and green flew again. Jones was kept honest by Schmuhl for a bit but was able to run away, while Schmuhl had to deal with Zellmer for second. The two came under fire from Pennel, who was up to fourth in the dying moments of the race, but not with enough time.
Tanner Jones saw the checkered flag and $1,000 thanks to Legends.Direct, Shepy’s AutoBody, Bruer Metals, Comfort Inn of Beaver Dam, Spankins Motorsports, and Evans Farm Drainage. Schmuhl made it home in second with Zellmer third. Pennel was fourth with Baiden Heskett, winner with the MLDS at Cedar Lake Speedway earlier in the year, fifth.
Regular MLDS contingencies went to Jones for the win, with Aero Rave Wheels and Rush RaceGear supporting those. Pennel, eighteenth to fourth, picked up the Hard Charger award from Professional Plating and Rush RaceGear.
Special contingencies on the night went to Keith Meyer, $50 richer for being the first driver on the hook courtesy of C&K Racing. Martin ended the night with $100 extra for finishing 7th thanks to Chances Pub and Grill. Blumer grabbed $50 from the Thirsty Beaver for finishing in ninth. Mitchell got $50 from Neuman Trucking for bringing fourteenth home. Swisshelm went home with $75 extra thanks to I-State Truck and KJB Fabrications. Then spots sixteenth through twenty-four got an extra $25 thanks to KJB Fabrication. Dallas Ross got an extra $50 for seventh from HZ17 Racing. Moline and Sons LLC also threw some extra cash to Sines and Payton Jones as the first non-transfer cars from the B-Main, as well as Pennel for the hard charge.
The Legends.Direct 10K Dirt Showdown is next on the cards July 26th. This is for all the marbles so everyone will be bringing their A-game. Make sure to tune in on FloRacing if you can’t make it to Beaver Dam Raceway.
To view the full results or to learn more about the Midwest Legends Dirt Series, visit the series on Facebook or MyRacePass today!!
Article Credit: Zack Krueger
Submitted By: Zack Krueger