1/14/2024
Rodney Sanders
Pair of top-10 finishes for Sanders in second week at Vado
When the 18th annual Rio Grande Waste Services Wild West Shootout got back underway on Wednesday, Rodney Sanders embarked on a busy slate of racing in both the Super Late Model and Modified classes.
He elected to focus solely on the Brian Daugherty-owned, Jim’s Automotive No. 73 Super Late Model at the 3/8-mile Vado (N.M.) Speedway Park on Wednesday, representing one of 39 drivers in the division. A runner-up finish in his heat race put Sanders eighth on the grid for the night’s 30-lap, $11,000-to-win feature. He crossed under the checkered flag in the 10th position.
After a day off on Thursday, three consecutive nights of racing kicked off on Friday to conclude the six-race series. Sanders again only participated in the Super Late Model class on Friday evening. With 43 cars seeking the $11,000 winner’s check, Sanders came home eighth in his heat and sixth in his B-Main, two positions shy of a transfer into the 30-lap main event.
The next day, Sanders returned to action in both the Super Late Model and Modified ranks.
Forty-three Super drivers once again sought the $11,000 top prize on Saturday. Sanders took a fifth-place result in his heat, then went on to win his B-Main to roll off 18th in the 40-lap feature race. He climbed six positions to finish 12th.
Meanwhile, Sanders’ Wichita Tank Racing No. 20 Modified was part of a stout field of 57 cars in the pits for the Saturday action. After a sixth-place showing in his heat race, Sanders won his B-Main and drove from 17th to 11th in the 25-lap, $2,000-to-win main event.
Finally, the Wild West Shootout’s Sunday conclusion brought 37 Super Late Models and 44 Modifieds to the track, with Sanders participating in both programs.
After being unable to take part in his Super Late Model heat race, Sanders finished sixth in his B-Main, coming up two spots short of a transfer into the 50-lap, $26,000-to-win finale.
He fared better in the Modified, grabbing a third-place result in his heat to start him sixth in the 25-lap A-Main. He picked up one position to finish fifth in the race, chasing Cade Dillard, Gary Christian, Dan Ebert and Tyler Wolff across the line.
Full results are at www.wildwestshootout.net.
Article Credit: Mike Ruefer image
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