By Ben Deatherage
HARLAN, Iowa (Dec. 16, 2025) — In western Iowa, towns like Harlan are built on expectation. Work comes early, excuses are short, and pride is measured by effort more than words. For Nathan Mumm, that mindset shaped everything—from football fields and farm ground to armored vehicles overseas, and eventually back to the dirt tracks he once watched from the fence.
In 2025, that long road led to a breakthrough. Mumm captured his first career track championship, earning the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock title at Crawford County Speedway in Denison. It was a milestone years in the making, built not on shortcuts, but on patience, persistence, and belief.
“It’s my first-ever track championship,” Mumm said. “Two years ago, I decided to run for points at Denison, and it’s been one of my favorite tracks since I started. I got third last year, and this year, through speed and consistency, we were able to get it done.”
Finding the Right Lane
Mumm’s success didn’t come quickly. For nearly a decade, he competed in a Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod, racing weekly against some of the toughest drivers in the region.
“I didn’t have any wins in the SportMod, but I was close,” Mumm said. “In this area, you’re racing the best every single night. Guys like Jake Sachau are at almost every track, and you’re lining up against drivers like Doug Smith and Cody Olson, along with hometown standouts like Mike Nichols during his SportMod years. At places like Shelby County and Crawford County, you’re racing national-championship-level competition, and it’s tough to break through.”
Eventually, the decision became clear.
“I decided it was time to move into the Hobby Stocks,” he said. “That’s where things really started to click.”
The move brought confidence, consistency, and finally the results that had eluded him for years.
Roots in Harlan
Mumm’s racing dream started long before he ever climbed into a race car. His family grew up in Harlan without much money, but they found a way to be around the track.
“My mom cleaned the racetrack so we could get in for free,” Mumm said. “My best friend Matt Miller—who’s now my crew chief—and I stood at the top of turn four watching races when we were kids. I just always wanted to race. It was always on my mind.”
As a kid, Mumm raced four-wheelers, winning races and hauling home oversized trophies. In high school, he became an All-State athlete in multiple sports, including football, competing in a program where expectations were never low.
“Harlan is a powerhouse when it comes to high school football,” Mumm said. “Anything I do, I try to do it at the highest level.”
After high school, Mumm entered a college-first program through the United States Army, completing two years of community college before leaving for active duty. Racing would have to wait.
“Right as I was done with school, 9-11 happened,” he said.
When he eventually returned home, he resumed chasing that dream. After years of racing four-wheelers, Mumm climbed into his first race car in 2013, purchasing a SportMod shortly after completing his military service.
War, Brotherhood, and Coming Home
Mumm served with the 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division—known as the Ivy Division—stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. He deployed to Iraq as a tanker, operating in some of the most dangerous areas of the conflict.
He spent much of his deployment operating out of the Baqubah region, where armored crews were tasked with securing key routes and infrastructure.
“The tank I was in got blown up,” Mumm said. “I didn’t get hurt, but some of the guys with me did. After that, wherever the Army needed people, that’s where you went.”
When his tank crew was no longer mission-capable, Mumm was selected for a Brigade Raid Team, placing him on helicopter-borne missions alongside special operations forces.
“It’s not something you’d expect a tanker to do,” he said. “But it took trust. You had to earn that spot. We guarded palaces, ran high-level missions, and went after people from the deck of cards. When you’re told that’s the target — it flips a switch. There’s nothing like protecting your brothers or being part of missions where everything matters.”
The experiences left a lasting imprint.
“The hardest part about the military is losing your emotions,” Mumm said. “The civilian world is emotional, and crossing back into that can be tough. I deal with PTSD from my time overseas. Some missions don’t go perfect, even when you want them to.”
Racing eventually became part of the path forward.
Nathan Mumm (lower right) is pictured with fellow soldiers during his deployment to Iraq, where he served with an armored unit and later took part in helicopter-borne missions as part of a Brigade Raid Team. (Courtesy Photo)
Racing as Therapy
Through Battle Scarred Motorsports, an organization that uses motorsports as therapy for veterans, Mumm found that the racetrack offered more than competition.
“When you get out of the car, it’s like decompressing,” he said. “It’s a release. I work four days a week, take Fridays off for my appointments, then go racing Friday night. That adrenaline therapy helps.”
Away from the track, Mumm stays busy. He plays slow-pitch softball, helps maintain a small farm, builds race cars, works on construction projects, and competes in pool and poker tournaments—where he’s crossed paths more than once with fellow Harlan standout Mike Nichols. He’s also a former Harlan 8-Ball champion.
The No. 3M on his Hobby Stock carries personal meaning—a nod to the three letters ‘M’ in his last name—and to Harlan’s racing history.
“Tiny Lund is from my hometown,” Mumm said. “I live about a mile from his old farm. My grandma grew up across the road from where he lived.”
From left to right, Dakota Eccles, Nathan Mumm, Chase Miller, and Matt Miller celebrate in victory lane during the 2025 season at Crawford County Speedway. (Courtesy Photo)
Gratitude and Perspective
As the season closed, Mumm was quick to recognize the people who helped him reach this point.
“I want to thank Matt Miller, Jason Tetzlaff, Kris Chadwick and Nick Deal,” Mumm said. “They’ve helped me figure this out and handle myself at the track, and I appreciate them taking the time when everyone’s busy. I also want to thank all of my sponsors who make this possible, including BB Town Small Equipment, Mustang Express, Triple M Diesel, Chadwick Towing, Swanson Automotive, Lytle Inc., Curtis Mumm Inc., Richard Hanson, Pizza Ranch, Mary’s Little Lambs Daycare, Tetzy Fab, Triple M Farms, Finishline Race Products, and Wyman Automotive of Griswold. Very importantly, I want to thank Brian Littleton and Race Logic Chassis School for the knowledge and support they provide.”
Mumm also expressed his appreciation to Shelby County Speedway and Crawford County Speedway for providing places to race and grow as a driver. He also offered a heartfelt remembrance of Troy. “RIP Troy — miss ya,” he said.
Above all, Mumm credits his family.
“My mom Kathy, my girlfriend Kristin, my daughter Hailey, and my whole family for dealing with me and traveling to the races,” he said.
The Crawford County Speedway championship represents more than a racing accomplishment for Nathan Mumm. It stands as proof that perseverance still matters — whether on a football field, inside a tank halfway around the world, or under the lights of a dirt track back home.
From left to right, Dakota Eccles and his wife, Nikki, Nathan Mumm and his girlfriend, Kristin, and Matt Miller and his wife, Chelsea, pose on the red carpet during the IMCA National Awards Banquet. (Photo by Pixel Boss Creations)
Attending the IMCA National Awards Banquet marked a full-circle moment — a journey that spanned from armored vehicles and helicopters in Iraq to standing in a room celebrating racing accomplishments alongside family, friends, and fellow competitors.
In Harlan, that kind of victory means something.
