2020 American Racer USRA Stock Car National Champion Mitch Hovden

February 22, 2021
2020 American Racer USRA Stock Car National Champion Mitch Hovden

USRA Director of Track Operations Bryce Hall, in conjunction with RacinDirt.com, recently spoke with 2020 American Racer USRA Stock Car National Champion Mitch Hovden to discuss this past year in the Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series and what lies ahead for the 33-year-old from Decorah, Iowa.

Hovden garnered an eighth national championship trophy from the USRA after snaring his seventh in the last ten seasons in the American Racer USRA Stock Cars presented by Medieval Chassis. Hovden, who claimed the last two crowns as well as back-to-back titles in 2015-2016 and 2011-2012, won track championships at the Fayette County Speedway in West Union, Iowa, and his hometown Upper Iowa Speedway.

He scored seven feature wins in ten starts at the Upper Iowa Speedway and five more of his 14 total wins happens at the Fayette County Speedway. He also picked up a Christie Door Company Iron Man Challenge win at the Deer Creek Speedway and topped it off with a win during the Summit USRA Nationals at the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa.

Perhaps the most amazing statistic for Hovden was his 29 top-five finishes in 31 starts. In the last two seasons he has taken the green flag in 71 main events and was one of the first five races to see the checkered flag in all but five of those.

Hovden is the most decorated driver in USRA history with 11 titles in all. Along with his seventh American Racer USRA Stock Car crown, he also captured the Christie Door Company Iron Man Challenge championship in 2020 to go along with his 2013 and 2014 titles. His first USRA national championship came in 2007 in the Mensink Racing Products USRA Hobby Stock class.

Hovden's efforts are worth $2,000 with as much as $1,200 heading his way for his two track championships and even more for his Iron Man title and PBM Performance Products Northern Region.

Final 2020 American Racer USRA Stock Car national points:

1. Mitch Hovden, Decorah, Iowa ... 4445

2. Doug Keller, Easton, Mo. ... 4340

3. Kyle Falck, Decorah, Iowa ... 4255

4. Dillon Anderson, Decorah, Iowa ... 4087

5. Kevin Donlan, Decorah, Iowa ... 4081

6. Jeff Dixon, Jamesport, Mo. ... 4005

7. Bill Crimmins, Fort Dodge, Iowa ... 3998

8. Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids, Iowa ... 3938

9. Jason Josselyn, Alamogordo, N.M. ... 3896

10. Patrick Graham, Ankeny, Iowa ... 3885

11. Jesse Brown, Nashua, Iowa ... 3860

12. Lynn Panos, Calmar, Iowa ... 3851

13. Reid Keller, Webster City, Iowa ... 3847

14. Todd Staley, Webster City, Iowa ... 3821

15. Troy Hansmeier, Waukon, Iowa ... 3656

16. Blake Adams, McIntire, Iowa ... 3626

17. Rich Gregoire, Russell, Minn. ... 3452

18. Dylan Suhr, Waterloo, Iowa ... 3425

19. Austin Bouzek, Trenton, Mo. ... 3413

20. Brayden Gjere, Mabel, Minn. ... 3411

American Racer USRA Stock Car national champions include Mitch Hovden (2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2012 and 2011), Elijah Zevenbergen (2017), Justin Lasiter (2014), Donavon Flores (2013), Rich Gregoire (2010), Tory Reicks (2009), Tom Schmitt (2008 and 2007) and Scotty Pratt (2006).

Launched in 2010 as a series for Stock Cars, the USRA B-Mod division was added to the Iron Man Challenge lineup in 2011. Between the two classes, 14 different champions have emerged from 21 title chases but no new names were added to the list in 2020 as brothers Mitch and Dan Hovden emerged as the champions. The brothers are both previous series champs.

This was Mitch’s third title in the American Racer USRA Stock Cars after winning it in 2013 and 2014 also. He garnered three main event wins in 14 starts and seized the points lead from Pat Graham with a late-season charge.

Final 2020 Christie Door Company Iron Man Challenge American Racer USRA Stock Car points:

1. Mitch Hovden, Decorah, Iowa ... 1143

2. Pat Graham, Ankeny, Iowa ... 1050

3. Dillon Anderson, Decorah, Iowa ... 1010

4. Kevin Donlan, Decorah, Iowa ... 971

5. Troy Hansmeier, Waukon, Iowa ... 925

6. Jesse Brown, Nashua, Iowa ... 924

7. Lynn Panos, Calmar, Iowa ... 918

8. Todd Staley, Webster City, Iowa ... 895

9. Doug Keller, Easton, Mo. ... 859

10. Kyle Falck, Decorah, Iowa ... 31

Christie Door Company Iron Man Challenge American Racer USRA Stock Car champions include Mitch Hovden (2020, 2014 and 2013), Dillon Anderson (2018), Derek Green (2017), Kyle Falck (2016), Tom Schmitt (2015 and 2012), Mike Van Genderen (2011) and Nathan Wood (2010).

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USRA OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Beyea Headers, Chevrolet Performance, Christie Door Company, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, K1 RaceGear by Ryan Bowers, KS Engineering, KSE Racing Products, Mesilla Valley Transportation, MSD, MyRacePass, Nitroquest Media, PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain, RacinDirt.com, Summit Racing Equipment, Sunoco Race Fuels.

USRA PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Day Motor Sports, Dealer Reconditioning Services, Forty9 Designs, Four Seven Designs Salon & Boutique, Hi-Tek Paving, Mensink Racing Products, PBM Performance Products, S&S Fishing & Rental, Texas Star Concrete Services, Traeger Wood Pellet Grills by Elliott Motorsports, YouDirt.com.

USRA CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bryke Racing, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Edelbrock, Hooker Harness, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, Jerovetz Motorsports Racing Parts, Keyser Manufacturing, Landrum Performance Springs, Medieval Chassis, QA1, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, Sybesma Graphics, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes.

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