4/21/2024
Rodney Sanders
Sanders wins thrilling USMTS Juggernaut at Tri-State, takes Mason City opener
As if a last-lap victory on Saturday with the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) wasn't enough, Rodney Sanders made a quick stop at Mason City Motor Speedway on Sunday and racked up his third victory of the season aboard his Wichita Tank Racing / Paulson Rock Products / Stussy Construction No. 20 Texas Locomotive Solutions / Kenny’s Tile / ARMI Contractors / MB Customs Race Car / Hatfield Racing Engine Modified.
His two-win weekend was highlighted by a thrilling victory in the USMTS Juggernaut on Saturday at the mighty Tri-State Speedway.
“I knew we had a good car all along and I just got caught up with some cars, but Tyler got up there quick,” Sanders said. “If I’m going to beat anybody at the line, I hate it to be him. We’re really good friends and them guys help me out a lot.”
On Saturday, 41 Modifieds were on hand at Tri-State Speedway, where a $5,000 first-place prize was up for grabs in the ninth annual USMTS Juggernaut on the 3/8-mile track. Sanders finished fourth in his heat race and won his B-Main, putting him 14th on the grid to start the 40-lap main event.
He steadily marched forward throughout the feature and was involved in a three-way battle for the lead with Tyler Wolff and Jake Timm as the laps wound down. Sanders was on the high side of the track on the final circuit and held the outside line as the cars drove out of Turn Four. He nosed ahead of Wolff at the start-finish line and scored the $5,000 victory by just 0.130 seconds after leading a single lap. Timm took the third position, with Dan Ebert fourth and Jacob Hobscheidt fifth.
The victory was Sanders’ second feature triumph overall in 2024.
The weekend USMTS slate opened on Friday with the Spring Salute, bringing 40 cars to Colcord, Oklahoma’s Arrowhead Speedway. Sanders finished third in his heat and won his consolation race to start 13th in the 40-lap feature paying $5,000 to the victor. He had worked his way into the top five near the race’s midpoint when he suffered a flat tire. Still, he was able to rebound to a 16th-place finish.
After the events in the Sooner State, Sanders sits sixth in the USMTS point standings.
On Sunday evening, Sanders wrapped up his weekend with a trip to Mason City Motor Speedway to compete in the USRA Modified division at the 1/3-mile track. Twenty Modified drivers were on hand for the facility’s 2024 season opener. Sanders won his heat and lined up fifth to start the 25-lap, $1,500-to-win A-Main. He took the lead on Lap 10 and led the rest of the way to take his second win in as many nights and third on the season.
Sanders claimed the Mason City victory by 2.714 seconds over runner-up Alex Williamson. Joe Chisholm, Kyle Brown and Kelly Shryock rounded out the top five.
Full weekend results are at www.USMTS.com and www.MasonCityMotorSpeedway.com.
With the rescheduled USMTS Featherlite Fall Jamboree set for this upcoming weekend already rained out, Sanders is currently evaluating possible options. As any dates are finalized they’ll be added to his schedule at www.RodneySandersRacing.net.
Article Credit: Tyler Rinken image
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