6/16/2024
Rodney Sanders
Sanders masters Cedar Lake for $5,000 win
Rodney Sanders grabbed a Friday night prelim win during the 25th annual USMTS Masters at Cedar Lake Speedway, finding redemption after nearly claiming the Thursday opener.
On Thursday evening, Sanders was among 44 Summit USMTS competitors at the 3/8-mile speed plant in New Richmond, Wisconsin, for the first night of a planned three-day show. He won his heat race and started second in the 35-lap, $3,000-to-win A-Main. Sanders paced the field around the high side of the track for the first 13 circuits and was in contention until he hit the wall in the first turn with 18 laps to go. As a result, he suffered damage and was relegated to a 15th-place result.
The next night though, “The Rocket” would not be denied as the field increased to 48 competitors.
Sanders charged from sixth to win his heat race and rolled off from the pole in the 40-lap feature. He clung to the bottom groove and led the first 37 laps before Jake O’Neil took over the top spot with three circuits remaining. However, Sanders got back by O’Neil on the low side in Turns 3 and 4 and took the $5,000 win by just 0.263 seconds. Jim Chisholm, Dan Ebert and Lucas Schott completed the top five.
The win was Sanders’ record-extending 119th career USMTS triumph and his eighth feature victory overall this season.
Saturday’s $12,000-to-win Masters finale at Cedar Lake was rained out, as was Sunday’s slated $5,000-to-win USMTS show at Granite City Motor Park in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota.
Through the Cedar Lake events, Sanders sits third in the USMTS point standings.
Full results from Cedar Lake Speedway are at www.usmts.com.
Article Credit: 8:28 Media image
Article Media
