Rodney Sanders passed early leader Kenny Gaddis on the seventh lap and then proceeded to disappear into the distance as the 33-year-old from Happy, Texas, dominated Saturday night’s American Racer USRA Modified Series feature at the Lawton Speedway in Lawton, Oklahoma.
En route to collecting the $2,000 winner’s paycheck, the four-time Summit USMTS National Champion found the low side to be the fast way around the fast 1/4-mile red clay oval.
“We had a good car all night,” sanders said. “We changed a few little things from last night and it seemed to really respond. (The track) was a little bottom dominant and I thought I could roll Kenny on the outside, but then he kind of moved up a little bit and gave me some room on the bottom.”
A caution with 12 laps to go may have given hope to some of the racers chasing Sanders, but nobody could get near his familiar No. 20 MB Customs USRA Modified. In fact, his margin of victory was 7.75 seconds over Gaddis, who was racing down the backstretch when Sanders crossed the finish line on the other side of the racetrack.
Gaddis claimed the runner-up honors by holding off a late charge from Kale Westover. Manuel Williams Jr. and Cole Dennis completed the top five while defending USRA Modified National Champion Tyler Davis, Sean Gaddis, Xavier Ortega, Joe Duvall and James McCreery rounded out the top ten.
With two shows in the books, the 2023 campaign for the American Racer USRA Modified Series presented by Day Motor Sports is just getting started as 21 events remain on the calendar.
The ARMS schedule reveals 23 nights of racing at 15 of the finest dirt ovals in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. Each of the venues will host one or more events with a minimum of $2,000 to win and drivers earning points for the series points fund as well as Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series national points.
Continuing to crush it: Year after year, the USRA continues to attract more racetracks and dirt track racers through fair, logical and cost-effective rules accompanied by an organization that puts the racers, racetracks and their fans first. In the 2022 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series, more than 50 of America’s finest dirt ovals host over 1,000 nights of racing.
USRA competitors can register online at MyRacePass today. Alternatively, you can call (515) 832-6000 to register by phone, or submit a completed USRA License Application by email at office@usraracing.com or fax (515) 832-7958. You can download the application at usraracing.com/downloads.
To learn more, check out usraracing.com for schedules, points, photos, souvenirs, videos and more. Follow our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Click here to get USRA news delivered to your inbox.
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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series
American Racer USRA Modified Series presented by Day Motor Sports
Lawton Speedway, Lawton, Okla.
Saturday, April 15, 2023
Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown.
USRA MODIFIEDS
Star 1 Roofing Heat #1 (8 laps):
1. (4) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
2. (3) 24W Mason Williams, Fouke, Ark.
3. (5) 2G Kenny Gaddis, Diana, Texas
4. (2) 07 Jason Hilliard, Cache, Okla.
5. (8) D25 David Tanner, Wichita Falls, Texas
6. (1) 2X Tyler Webb, Iowa Park, Texas
7. (7) 95 Shawn Johnson, Marlow, Okla.
8. (6) 82 Jimmie Williams, Denison, Texas
TNT Auto Parts Heat #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 24M Manuel Williams II, Fouke, Ark.
2. (2) 7 Sean Gaddis, Diana, Texas
3. (5) 7X Chris Dawson, Lubbock, Texas
4. (4) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
5. (7) 56 Colton Horner, Houston, Texas
6. (3) 9H Aaron Halpain, Hulbert, Okla.
7. (6) 71W Harold Winton Jr., Waurika, Okla.
DNS – 24 Manuel Williams Sr., Fouke, Ark.
Texas Locomotive Solutions Heat #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
2. (2) 15W Kale Westover, Altus, Okla.
3. (5) 11D Cole Dennis, Altus, Okla.
4. (3) 68 Garry Little, Lawton, Okla.
5. (6) 13J James McCreery, Midlothian, Texas
6. (4) 121 Dylan Ballard, Cache, Okla.
7. (7) 7M Danny McCarty, Lawton, Okla.
DNS – 24X Xavier Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
American Racer “A” Feature (30 laps):
1. (4) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
2. (1) 2G Kenny Gaddis, Diana, Texas
3. (7) 15W Kale Westover, Altus, Okla.
4. (2) 24M Manuel Williams II, Fouke, Ark.
5. (3) 11D Cole Dennis, Altus, Okla.
6. (8) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
7. (5) 7 Sean Gaddis, Diana, Texas
8. (22) 24X Xavier Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (13) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
10. (15) 13J James McCreery, Midlothian, Texas
11. (11) 56 Colton Horner, Houston, Texas
12. (17) 9H Aaron Halpain, Hulbert, Okla.
13. (10) D25 David Tanner, Wichita Falls, Texas
14. (18) 121 Dylan Ballard, Cache, Okla.
15. (9) 7X Chris Dawson, Lubbock, Texas
16. (12) 07 Jason Hilliard, Cache, Okla.
17. (20) 71W Harold Winton Jr., Waurika, Okla.
18. (16) 2X Tyler Webb, Iowa Park, Texas
19. (6) 24W Mason Williams, Fouke, Ark.
20. (14) 68 Garry Little, Lawton, Okla.
21. (19) 95 Shawn Johnson, Marlow, Okla.
22. (21) 82 Jimmie Williams, Denison, Texas
23. (24) 7M Danny McCarty, Lawton, Okla.
24. (23) 24 Manuel Williams Sr., Fouke, Ark.
Lap Leaders: K. Gaddis 1-6, Sanders 7-30.
Total Laps Led: Sanders 24, K. Gaddis 6.
Margin of Victory: 7.75 seconds.
Time of Race: 24 minutes, 31.816 seconds (4 cautions).
Entries: 28.
Next Race: April 29, Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Vivian, La.
Points Standings: Sanders 195, Westover 182, Davis 168, S. Gaddis 162, Duvall 155, K. Gaddis 151, Ortega 150, Williams Jr. 149, Horner 148, Tanner 136.