6/20/2020
Rodney Sanders
Late-race charge at Rapid Speedway leads to 12th win of 2020
Make it a dozen. Rodney Sanders drove his Wichita Tank Racing No. 20 Kenny’s Tile/ ARMI Contractors/ MB Customs/ Hatfield Racing Engine Modified to his 12th overall win of the season on Friday night.
The victory came at Rapid Speedway (Rock Rapids, Iowa) during the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) Iowa Speedweek. In addition to his win, Sanders never finished outside the Top-5 during the five-day stint in The Hawkeye State.
“I was hoping for more than just one win this week,” Sanders said. “Even at that, we had a great week and I’m really proud of our team and what we’ve accomplished so far this year. Hopefully we can continue clicking off these wins and Top-5 runs. That consistency is what we need to win our fourth USMTS championship.”
On Tuesday afternoon Sanders kicked off the action-packed week with the USMTS at Stuart (Iowa) Speedway. Improving four spots in his heat, Sanders posted a third-place finish which locked him into the fifth-starting position for the $2,500-to-win A-Main. (Tyler Rinken photo)
After leading 16 laps during the middle stages of the 40-lapper, Rodney slipped back to a fifth-place finish when the checkered flag flew, trailing Dereck Ramirez, Tanner Mullens, Kyle Brown, and Jason Hughes across the line.
The following night at Cedar County Raceway (Tipton, Iowa), Rodney secured his spot into the main event with a third-place finish in his heat. With $2,500 on the line, Sanders gained two positions to place fourth behind Tanner Mullens, Zack VanderBeek, and Jason Hughes with Jacob Bleess coming in fifth.
In a field of 21 cars at Mason City (Iowa) Motor Speedway on Thursday for the Mayhem in Mason City, Sanders notched a third place finish in his heat, which positioned him seventh on the starting grid for the main event.
Unable to close the distance between him and Dereck Ramirez late in the 40-lapper, Rodney registered a runner-up finish behind Ramirez. Tanner Mullens, Jason Cummins, and Kyle Brown rounded out the Top-5.
On Friday afternoon at Rapid Speedway for the 12th Annual Rapid Rumble, Rodney locked his spot into the main event with a third place finish in his heat. (Joel Vis photo)
Starting the feature in eighth, Sanders slowly made his charge to the front as he closed in on race-leader Jason Hughes in the closing laps. Overtaking Hughes on lap 31, Rodney led the final four circuits to capture the win over Hughes, Dereck Ramirez, Hunter Marriott, and Tanner Mullens. He earned a $3,000 payday for his efforts.
Closing out the busy USMTS week on Saturday, Sanders stopped at Hamilton County Speedway (Webster City, Iowa) to compete in a field of 26 cars for the Webster City Wrangle.
Posting a runner-up finish in his heat behind Tyler Davis, Rodney earned the eighth-starting position for the finale. Breaking into the Top-5, Sanders charged forward four spots to place fourth behind Zack VanderBeek, Jason Hughes, and Tyler Davis with Terry Phillips completing the Top-5.
Rodney remains ahead of Dereck Ramirez in the latest USMTS National Championship point standings. For more results from these events, please visit www.USMTS.com.
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