Clinton repeats as USRA Hobby Stock National Champion

December 14, 2023

In 2021, Dylan Clinton of West Union, Iowa, won the biggest race of his life when he walked away from the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., as the USRA Hobby Stock main event winner of the Summit USRA Nationals.

It just got better from there when Clinton captured the USRA Hobby Stock National Championship in 2022, and then repeated the feat in 2023, joining Dustin Gulbrandson as the only driver to win the title more than once.

During this year’s Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series action, Clinton nailed down victories at the Deer Creek Speedway, Fayette County Speedway, Karl Chevrolet Hamilton County Speedway, Lucas Oil Speedway, Pritchard Family Auto Stores Mason City Motor Speedway, Mississippi Thunder Speedway and Winneshiek Raceway.

Clinton, who turned 30 in September, snagged 20 feature wins in 42 starts this season. His résumé included 36 top-five and 38 top-ten finishes. This season mirrored his 2022 campaign where he won 19 times with 37 top-five and 41 top-ten finishes in 44 starts.

On the strength of 21 victories, Chris Hovden earned runner-up honors after taking the fourth spot one year earlier. Hovden, however, was the winner at the Lucas Oil Speedway during this year’s Summit USRA Nationals.

Meanwhile, seven-time USRA Hobby Stock National Champion Dustin Gulbrandson—the 2020 Summit USRA Nationals winner—wound up third after finishing second behind Clinton in the 2022 standings.

USRA Hobby Stock 2023 National Championship
Final top 20 points standings showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown and points earned.
1. 18K Dylan Clinton, West Union, Iowa, 4530
2. 07 Chris Hovden, Cresco, Iowa, 4511
3. 6 Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D., 4490
4. Z86 Tracy Halouska, Worthing, S.D., 4408
5. 15 Jeremy Crimmins, Fort Dodge, Iowa, 4334
6. 61N Nick Brady, Sioux Falls, S.D., 4206
7. 83 Scott Dobel, Manly, Iowa, 4204
8. 18K Landon Krohn, Rowena, S.D., 4149
9. 22 Steve Larson, Decorah, Iowa, 4114
10. 52 Carter Koop, Rockwell, Iowa, 4105
11. 38S Nick Schwebach, Fountain, Minn., 4084
12. 81 Joshua Ludeking, Decorah, Iowa, 4063
13. 50k Kolby Goepel, Britt, Iowa, 4048
14. 50 Bryce Sommerfeld, Fort Dodge, Iowa, 4029
15. 18 Scott Spilde, Cresco, Iowa, 3944
16. 01G Gavin Bussinger, Granada, Minn., 3816
17. 7D Devin Holthaus, Cresco, Iowa, 3793
18. 47P Parker Anderson, Welcome, Minn., 3784
19. 18Z Zac Smith, Manly, Iowa, 3750
20. 35 Riley Crimmins, Fort Dodge, Iowa, 3730

Past USRA Hobby Stock National Champions
2023 - Dylan Clinton, West Union, Iowa
2022 - Dylan Clinton, West Union, Iowa
2021 - Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2020 - Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2019 - Eric Stanton, Carlisle, Iowa
2018 - Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2017 - Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2016 - Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2015 - Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2014 - Dustin Gulbrandson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2013 - Adam Cline, Decorah, Iowa
2012 - Dillon Anderson, Rudd, Iowa
2011 - Dan Strandberg, Worthington, Minn.
2010 - Shane Klaassen, Little Rock, Iowa
2009 - Chris Hovden, Cresco, Iowa
2008 - Jason McDaniel, Eldon, Iowa
2007 - Mitch Hovden, Decorah, Iowa
2006 - Nathan Wood, Sigourney, Iowa

In addition to a $2,500 national points fund check, Clinton will also earn awards from Summit Racing Equipment, AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Edelbrock, Gunshepherd.com, Hooker Harness, Integra Racing Shocks and Springs, JE Pistons, Keyser Manufacturing, Landrum Performance Springs, Performance Bodies & Parts, QA1, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Sybesma Graphics, Wehrs Machine & Race Products and Wilwood Racing and others.

The United States Racing Association (USRA) and United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) will host a joint awards banquet on Saturday, Jan. 27, inside the 9,792-square-foot Nevada Ballroom at the Harrah's Kansas City Hotel & Casino to celebrate the 2023 racing season for both organizations.

Tickets include a luxurious dinner featuring a plentiful selection of fine food and a succulent dessert bar. A cash bar will also be available. The cost is $65 per person and can be purchased by calling (515) 832-6000 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tickets sales are available through Friday, Dec. 22, at 12 noon, and then resume on Wednesday, Jan. 3, after the holiday break. The deadline to purchase tickets to the awards banquet is Friday, Jan. 12, at 4 p.m.

A limited number or hotel rooms have been reserved for banquet attendees. Call Harrah's at 800-427-7247 or book online and mention the Group Code “S01US24” to receive the special Group Rate.

Harrah's Kansas City Hotel & Casino offers one of the most exciting hotels and casinos in the heart of America, blending small-town charm with big-city amenities with over 390+ luxurious rooms, a collection of gourmet dining experiences and the area's hottest gaming and entertainment. Visit Harrahs.com for more information.

Alternatively, you can book rooms at Ameristar Kansas City, which is located just minutes from Harrah's. Use Group Code “USRA23” and call (816) 414-7000.

For more than two decades, the United States Racing Association has attracted more and more racetracks and dirt track racers each year through fair, logical and cost-effective rules accompanied by an organization that puts the racers, racetracks and their fans first. During the 2023 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series, more than 60 of America's finest dirt ovals hosted more than 1,000 nights of racing.

To learn more about the USRA, check out USRAracing.com. Follow our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. To get USRA news and exclusive promotions delivered to your inbox, click here.

USRA competitors can register for the 2024 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series online at USRAracing.com/Register or call (515) 832-6000 to register by phone. You can also download the application at USRAracing.com/Downloads and then submit your completed form by email at office@usraracing.com or fax at (515) 832-7958.

USRA OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Beyea Headers, Chevrolet Performance, Christie Door Company, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, KS Engineering, KSE Racing Products, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Nitroquest Media, PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain, RacinDirt, Summit Racing Equipment, Sunoco Race Fuels.

USRA PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Allen Autosports Race Cars, ARMI Contractors, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, DAY Motorsports, Duvall Electric, Gunshepherd.com, Innovative AutoGlass & Window Tint, PBM Performance Products, Star 1 Roofing & Construction, Stealth Thru Tubing, Texas Locomotive Solutions, TNT Auto Parts, YouDirt.com.

USRA CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bryke Racing, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Edelbrock, Hooker Harness, Hyperco, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, JE Pistons, K1 RaceGear by Ryan Bowers, Keyser Manufacturing, Landrum Performance Springs, MD3, Medieval Chassis, MSD, Performance Bodies & Parts, QA1, Quarter Master, QuickCar Racing Products, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes.

USRA RACETRACKS: 67 Speedway of Texarkana, 81 Speedway, Alien Motor Speedway, Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Arrowhead Speedway, Bolivar Speedway, Boothill Speedway, Callaway Raceway, Caney Valley Speedway, Cedar Lake Speedway, Crawford County Speedway, Cresco Speedway, Dallas County Speedway, Deer Creek Speedway, Diamond Park Speedway, Eagle Valley Speedway, Electric City Speedway, Elk City Motorsports Park, Fairmont Raceway, Fayette County Speedway, Gondik Law Speedway, Hamilton County Speedway, Harrah's Kansas City Hotel & Casino, Humboldt Speedway, Hunt County Raceway, I-35 Speedway, I-90 Speedway, Lakeside Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track, Lawton Speedway, Legacy Speedway, Longdale Speedway, Lucas Oil Speedway, Mason City Motor Speedway, Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Monett Raceway, Northwest Missouri State Fairgrounds, Ogilvie Raceway, Outlaw Motor Speedway, Rapid Speedway, Red Cedar Speedway, Red Dirt Raceway, Rocket Raceway Park, Route 66 Motor Speedway, RPM Speedway, Sabine Speedway, Salina Highbanks Speedway, Sandia Speedway, Sports Park Raceway, Springfield Raceway, Super Bee Speedway, Thunder Valley Speedway, Tomahawk Speedway, Tri-State Speedway, Tulsa Speedway, US 36 Raceway, Vado Speedway Park, West Texas Raceway, Winneshiek Raceway.