HomeOpen Wheel Modified NewsSanders shines in USMTS Winter Speedweeks finale

Sanders shines in USMTS Winter Speedweeks finale

Published on

- Advertisement -
Rodney Sanders
Rodney Sanders

ARDMORE, Okla. (March 5) — Twenty-four hours after winning Friday’s feature race, Rodney Sanders was back in victory lane Saturday after winning the 50-lap main event at the Southern Oklahoma Speedway to put the wraps on USMTS Winter Speedweeks.
The 2013 and 2014 USMTS national champ from Happy, Texas, used every bit of the wide 3/8-mile clay oval in Ardmore, Okla., en route to snaring his third United States Modified Touring Series win of the 2016 campaign and 67th of his career.

Saturday’s nightcap turned out to be the best of the weekend, and it was a bona fide barnburner for the first 38 laps before Jason Hughes made a failed attempt to overtake the leader.

For the final 12 laps, Sanders put the race on snooze control.

Most USMTS fans and competitors agree that it’s merely a matter of time before newcomer Kyle Strickler notches his first USMTS win, and early on it appeared that might just happen Saturday night.

The Mooresville, N.C., racer shot to the lead ahead of polesitter Cade Dillard to start the race while Sanders quickly moved by three cars to claim third on the second go-around.

With the leaders churning away at the cushion on the high side, Sanders dug in on the low side of the racing surface and battled side by side with Dillard and Strickler for several laps, eventually edging ahead at the stripe to lead the tenth circuit.

But Strickler held his ground and regained the top spot one lap later. Soon thereafter, Sanders tucked in behind Strickler around the top side. But entering heavy lapped traffic on lap 18, Sanders went low and pulled ahead to lead the 19th lap.

Battling three-wide with Strickler and Johnny Scott, Stormy Scott suffered a flat right rear tire to bring out the race’s first yellow flag with 30 laps complete.

The restart saw Hughes, who was sixth one lap earlier, shoot around the outside and power into the second spot behind Sanders.

Sanders and Hughes raced nose to tail for the next six laps with Dillard, Johnny Scott and Ryan Gustin all lurking close behind.

As the lead duo exited turn four to complete lap 37, Sanders bobbled and slowed momentarily and Hughes got a run on the leader. Using his momentum, Hughes dove to the inside in the first turn and slid up the track in turn 2 to take away Sanders’s line.

But the slide went too far and Hughes pounded the outer concrete wall on the exit of the second turn, climbing both right side tires onto the slabs while sparks showered behind him from beneath his machine.

Although he was able to gather it up and continue forward, Sanders was gone. And nobody got anywhere close to the 26-year-old from Happy, Texas, as he crossed beneath the checkered flag with more than four seconds to spare over the field.

“That top side was just about riding off the track,” Sanders said in victory lane. “You really had to almost stop to get in there and hit the line.

With the win, Sanders pocketed $4,000 for his efforts while Hughes settled for the runner-up paycheck.

“(Hughes) slid me there once and I really thought I was going to get into the back of him,” Sanders admitted. “But it looked like he jumped the wall and let us get by.”

Dillard held off Johnny Scott for third while Gustin came home in the fifth spot. Dereck Ramirez, Jesse Sobbing, Casey Arneson, Lucas Schott and Thomas Tillison Jr. rounded out the top 10.

Sobbing was impressive racing from 26th on the starting grid to claim the seventh position. But provisional starters are not eligible for the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award so that wound up in the hands of Ramirez.

He passed one more car than his teammate for the weekend, multi-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champ Jimmy Owens. After starting 20th, Owens was up to seventh when a three-car tangle sent him to the back of the pack before rebounding to finish 11th.

With USMTS Winter Speedweeks and the first dozen dates in the Production Jars Southern Region in the books, attention turns to the season-opening trio of races to launch the MSD Central Region presented by Day Motor Sports.

Two straight nights are planned at the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan., for the 11th Annual Spring Fling @ The Bullring on Friday and Saturday, March 18-19. Then on Sunday, March 20, it’s the 8th Annual Missouri Meltdown at the I-35 Speedway in Winston, Mo.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usmts, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts and Instagram at www.instagram.com/usmts or subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
USMTS Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental – Production Jars Southern Region presented by Day Motor Sports
USMTS Winter Speedweeks Round #4 – Night 3 of 3
Southern Oklahoma Speedway, Ardmore, Okla.
Saturday, March 5, 2016

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed and money won. The top 12 drivers in passing points accumulated in the heat races were locked into the “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

MSD HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (8) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
2. (2) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas.
3. (9) 89 Jeremy Gossett, Amarillo, Texas.
4. (5) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
5. (3) 74 Jasen Hammond, Graham, Texas.
6. (7) 11 Dustin Allen (R), Enid, Okla.
7. (6) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
8. (4) 123 Logan Robertson (R), Shamrock, Texas.
9. (10) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
10. (1) 5 Todd Shute (R), Des Moines, Iowa.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (6) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
2. (1) 7D Scott Drake, Joplin, Mo.
3. (5) 121 Bobby Ruffin, Crandall, Texas.
4. (7) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
5. (10) J41 Monte Bolton, Wolfforth, Texas.
6. (9) 1M Matt Martin (R), Enid, Okla.
7. (3) 2 Daniel Tarkington (R), Checotah, Okla.
8. (8) FN121 Daniel Abrams, Mounds, Okla.
9. (2) 14 Travis Bragg (R), Duncan, Okla.
10. (4) 69 Jason Martin, Enid, Okla.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) 2 Casey Arneson, Fargo, N.D.
2. (2) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
3. (10) 2s Stormy Scott, Arroyo Hondo, N.M.
4. (8) 5T Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
5. (9) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
6. (3) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa.
7. (4) 38 Ronnie Gould III, Seminole, Okla.
8. (6) 10 Austin Arneson, Fargo, N.D.
9. (7) 35G Barry Gifford (R), Ponca City, Okla.
10. (5) 12G Jeremy Green, Enid, Okla.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (2) 14T Triston Dycus, Waxahachie, Texas.
2. (7) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (3) 4M Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas.
4. (5) 37 Mike Jergens, Plover, Iowa.
5. (4) 55h Buddy Honaker (R), Davis, Okla.
6. (9) 8 Steve Miller, Rosanky, Texas.
7. (1) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
8. (6) 3 Steven Lewallen (R), Dardanelle, Ark.
9. (8) B29 Blonde Bomber Mitchell, Pea Ridge, Ark.
10. (10) H24 William Heath, Kaiser, Mo.

YOUDIRT.COM HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (4) 52 Jason Thoennes, Garfield, Minn.
2. (6) 8 Kyle Strickler (R), Mooresville, N.C.
3. (8) 4w Tyler Wolff (R), Fayetteville, Ark.
4. (1) 21 Austin Bonner, Elk City, Okla.
5. (7) 34 Mickey Lassiter (R), Piedmont, Okla.
6. (5) 9 Kevin Rutherford (R), Flower Mound, Texas.
7. (3) 34n C.A. Nix, Lawton, Okla.
8. (2) 21T Lance Town, Wellsville, Kan.
9. (9) fn11 Edward Geneva, Mounds, Okla.

RACINDIRT.COM HEAT RACE #6 (8 laps):
1. (3) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
2. (1) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas.
3. (9) 85 Thomas Tillison Jr., Wellston, Okla.
4. (2) 68 Brandon Watson (R), Denison, Texas.
5. (5) 4R Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
6. (6) 303 Chase Jupe, Waco, Texas.
7. (7) A1 Phil Dixon, Crosby, Texas.
8. (8) d25 David Tanner (R), Wichita Falls, Texas.
9. (4) 5 Jackie Watterson, Sulphur, Okla.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (4) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
2. (3) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
3. (2) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas.
4. (15) 5 Todd Shute (R), Des Moines, Iowa.
5. (8) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa.
6. (1) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, $100.
7. (13) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
8. (9) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., GRT/Mullins, $100.
9. (10) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., GRT/Mullins, $100.
10. (7) 55h Buddy Honaker (R), Davis, Okla., Hughes/Wells, $100.
11. (6) 1M Matt Martin (R), Enid, Okla., Total/Boyd’s, $100.
12. (5) 21 Austin Bonner, Elk City, Okla., Shaw/Geddes, $80.
13. (11) 123 Logan Robertson (R), Shamrock, Texas, Hughes/PPE, $100.
14. (12) 3 Steven Lewallen (R), Dardanelle, Ark., Hoffman/Cabot, $100.
15. (14) B29 Blonde Bomber Mitchell, Pea Ridge, Ark., Hughes/BMS, $100.
16. (16) H24 William Heath, Kaiser, Mo., Shaw/, $80.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (4) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
2. (3) 4M Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas.
3. (7) 4R Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
4. (6) 8 Steve Miller, Rosanky, Texas.
5. (2) 121 Bobby Ruffin, Crandall, Texas, LG2/M&M, $100.
6. (5) 68 Brandon Watson (R), Denison, Texas, GRT/Wornhor, $100.
7. (12) 21T Lance Town, Wellsville, Kan., Phoenix/Driskell, $100.
8. (13) 14 Travis Bragg (R), Duncan, Okla., Taylor/Victory, $100.
9. (9) 2 Daniel Tarkington (R), Checotah, Okla., TRE/BMS, $100.
10. (15) 69 Jason Martin, Enid, Okla., ITD/Northside, $80.
11. (8) 9 Kevin Rutherford (R), Flower Mound, Texas, Shaw/Wes’s, $100.
12. (10) 34n C.A. Nix, Lawton, Okla., Hughes/Sput’s, $100.
13. (1) 7D Scott Drake, Joplin, Mo., MBCustom/GMPP, $400.
14. (14) fn11 Edward Geneva, Mounds, Okla., $80.
15. (11) FN121 Daniel Abrams, Mounds, Okla., DirtWorks/DAR, $80.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (1) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
2. (4) 37 Mike Jergens, Plover, Iowa.
3. (11) 10 Austin Arneson, Fargo, N.D.
4. (10) A1 Phil Dixon, Crosby, Texas.
5. (2) 5T Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla., MBCustom/Geddes, $100.
6. (5) 34 Mickey Lassiter (R), Piedmont, Okla., GRT/Sput’s, $100.
7. (13) 35G Barry Gifford (R), Ponca City, Okla., Shaw/Yeoman, $100.
8. (8) 303 Chase Jupe, Waco, Texas, GRT/Mullins, $100.
9. (6) 74 Jasen Hammond, Graham, Texas, MBCustom/Schwanke, $80.
10. (9) 38 Ronnie Gould III, Seminole, Okla., MBCustom/Mullins, $100.
11. (12) d25 David Tanner (R), Wichita Falls, Texas, $100.
12. (7) 11 Dustin Allen (R), Enid, Okla., GRT/Dunsworth, $100.
13. (15) 12G Jeremy Green, Enid, Okla., Ramirez/Northside, $100.
14. (14) 5 Jackie Watterson, Sulphur, Okla., Shaw/Outlaw, $80.
15. (3) J41 Monte Bolton, Wolfforth, Texas, LG2/Sput’s, $100.

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES “A” MAIN (50 laps):
1. (6) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, 50, $4000.
2. (7) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 50, $2700.
3. (1) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., MBCustom/ASI, 50, $1800.
4. (5) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Lethal/Durham, 50, $1200.
5. (13) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 50, $900.
6. (16) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., LG2/Cornett, 50, $800.
7. (26) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa, Harris/GMPP, 50, $700.
8. (11) 2 Casey Arneson, Fargo, N.D., GRT/Durham, 50, $650.
9. (14) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn., MBCustom/Sput’s, 50, $600.
10. (10) 85 Thomas Tillison Jr., Wellston, Okla., Hughes/Geddes, 50, $550.
11. (20) 4R Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn., LG2/ProPower, 50, $325.
12. (21) 10 Austin Arneson, Fargo, N.D., GRT/Durham, 50, $450.
13. (25) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, LG2/Sput’s, 50, $425.
14. (19) 88xxx Clyde Dunn Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas, MBCustom/Mullins, 50, $400.
15. (9) 89 Jeremy Gossett, Amarillo, Texas, MBCustom/Carroll’s, 50, $300.
16. (12) 4w Tyler Wolff (R), Fayetteville, Ark., MBCustom/Hatfield, 49, $350.
17. (15) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/Wornhor, 49, $400.
18. (24) A1 Phil Dixon, Crosby, Texas, Fast1/CB, 49, $350.
19. (17) 4M Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas, Rocket/LRE, 49, $400.
20. (2) 8 Kyle Strickler (R), Mooresville, N.C., Harris/VED, 44, $350.
21. (18) 37 Mike Jergens, Plover, Iowa, Harris/GMPP, 41, $350.
22. (23) 8 Steve Miller, Rosanky, Texas, Rocket/TRD, 36, $350.
23. (4) 2s Stormy Scott, Arroyo Hondo, N.M., Lethal/Mullins, 30, $350.
24. (22) 5 Todd Shute (R), Des Moines, Iowa, Victory/GMPP, 22, $350.
25. (3) 52 Jason Thoennes, Garfield, Minn., MasterSbilt/Mullins, 21, $350.
26. (8) 14T Triston Dycus, Waxahachie, Texas, GRT/Wells, 19, $350.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leaders: Strickler 1-9, Sanders 10, Strickler 11-18, Sanders 19-50.
Total Laps Led: Sanders 33, Strickler 17.
Margin of Victory: 4.274 seconds.
Time of Race: 24 minutes, 28.22 seconds (2 cautions).
Provisional Starters: VanderBeek, Sobbing.
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: Ramirez (started 16th, finished 6th).
Sybesma Graphics Pole Award: Hughes.
Entries: 58.
Next Race: Friday-Saturday, March 18-19, Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, Kan.
Production Jars Southern Region Points: Hughes 1080, Gustin 1039, Dillard 996, VanderBeek 974, Sobbing 823, A. Arneson 811, Sanders 765, Drake 742, C. Arneson 737, Duvall 736.
Rookie of the Year Points: Wolff 665, B. Bauman 628, C. Bauman 560, Strickler 553, Jupe 508.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 110, Geddes 95, Sput’s 79, Durham 79, GMPP 55.
Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 105, MBCustoms 103, LG2 93, GRT 74, Harris 68.

Contingency Awards:
Allstar Performance – C. Arneson.
American Racer – Dunn.
Bell Helmets – Duvall.
Beyea Custom Headers – Gustin.
BSB Manufacturing – Jergens.
Day Motor Sports – S. Scott, Shute.
Deatherage Opticians – Tarkington.
Edelbrock – C. Arneson.
Eibach Springs – A. Arneson.
Fast Shafts – Hughes.
FK Rod Ends – Gossett.
Forty9Designs.com – Dunn, Malchus.
Fuel Safe – Ramirez.
GRT Race Cars – B. Bauman.
Hooker Harness – VanderBeek.
Integra Shocks & Springs – Dixon.
Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service – Wolff.
Kevko Oil Pans & Components – Schott.
Keyser Manufacturing – Tillison.
KSE Racing Products – Ramirez.
Midwest Sheet Metal – VanderBeek.
MSD – Shute, Sanders.
PBM Performance Products – Dycus, Sanders.
QA1 – J. Scott.
Real Racing Wheels – non-qualifiers.
Sybesma Graphics – Hughes.
VP Racing Fuels – Sanders.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Owens.
Wilwood Engineering – Sobbing.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Argo Manufacturing, Casey’s General Stores, Chix Gear Racewear, COMP Cams, CP-Carrillo, Day Motor Sports, Deatherage Opticians, Fast Shafts, Intercomp, Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service, Kevko Oil Pans & Components, KSE Racing Products, Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment, Malvern Trust & Savings Bank, MSD, RacerWebsite.com, RacinDirt.com, RealTruck.com, S&S Fishing & Rental, The Joie of Seating, VP Racing Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: AMP Energy Drink, Arizona Sport Shirts, ASi Racewear, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Duvall Electric, ElbowsUp.com, Erson Cams, I-29 Trailer Sales, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Oreo, Production Jars, Rivers Edge Scrap Management, Snickers, Sour Patch Kids, YouDirt.com.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bell Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, BSB Manufacturing, Driven Racing Oil, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Fuel Safe Racing Cells, Genesis Racing Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Holley Performance Products, Hooker Custom Harness, Integra Shocks & Springs, Keyser Manufacturing, Midwest Sheet Metal, PBM Performance Products, QA1 Precision Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Sybesma Graphics, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Engineering.

##
Contact Info:

Jeff Nun

- Advertisement -

Recent articles

Highland Speedway Results – 3/23/24

16 entries DIRTCAR UMP MODIFIEDS A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 14-Rick Conoyer;...

Thomas Meseraull Makes History With First Xtreme Outlaw Midget Win

Open-wheel veteran looks to win again with Tim Engler at US36...

Cannon McIntosh Returns to Form with Xtreme Outlaw Midgets at Keith Kunz Motorsports

Reunited with Keith Kunz Motorsports, Cannon McIntosh Has Returned to Form...

Chris Simpson Seeking A Fast Start To 2024 With Lucas Oil MLRA

Wheatland, Missouri (March 22, 2024) – Leaving the Lucas Oil Speedway...

Dale Howard wins UCSC Winter Heat Series Finale at Clayhill

ATWOOD, TN  –March 23, 2024 - Dale Howard of Byhalia, MS...

Howard Moore Opens ’24 in Victory Lane at Farmington Empire Speedway

WoO at Arrowhead Speedway Up Next MEMPHIS, Tenn. (03/27/24) – Howard Moore...

POWRi 410 Wing & Non-Wing Sprints to Headline 2024 Hockett/McMillin Memorial

Belleville, IL. (3/22/2024) Ushering in a new era of excitement and...

RELATED ARTICLES

King of America XIII reigns April 4-6 at Humboldt Speedway

RacinDirt USMTS King of America XIII takes place Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 4-6,...

Rodney Sanders Bests Winter Meltdown Finale at Vado

Humboldt Speedway’s King of America XIII Up NextHAPPY, Tex. (03/19/24) – Rodney Sanders made his...

Southern Raceway’s Clash on the Coast Results – 3/2/24

35 entries IMCA STOCK CAR A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 99-Dallon Murty; 2. 7R-Hunter Rasdon;...

Ebert flawless in Rocket Raceway Park route

An electrifying finale to the 14th Annual USMTS Texas Spring Nationals took place Saturday...