6/22/2024
Rodney Sanders
Sanders charges to 4th in Ed Gressel Memorial finale
The Summit USMTS schedule took Rodney Sanders and his ARMI Contractors No. 20 Modified team to Park City, Kansas, over the weekend for the second annual Ed Gressel Memorial at 81 Speedway.
Friday evening saw 35 USMTS teams descend on the 3/8-mile speed plant for the $5,000-to-win opener. Sanders kicked off the event with a fourth-place result in his heat race and a third-place effort in his B-Main, starting him 17th in the feature. He was caught up in a multi-car crash with six circuits remaining in the 35-lapper and finished 14th.
Sanders’ luck drastically improved the following night as 40 USMTS competitors sought a $10,000 first-place prize in the event finale. After a 10th-place result in his heat, Sanders climbed from 14th to take the fifth and final transfer spot in his B-Feature. He continued to march forward in the 40-lap main event, advancing from 21st to 4th to earn the FK Rod Ends Hard Charger Award. Sanders took the checkered flag behind Jack O’Neil, Jake Timm and Mark Smith. Tanner Mullens rounded out the top five.
Following the Ed Gressel Memorial, Sanders holds the third position in the USMTS point standings.
Prior to the 81 Speedway events, a pair of USMTS programs slated for Nebraska’s Off Road Speedway and Beatrice Speedway fell victim to Mother Nature on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
Full weekend results are at www.usmts.com.
Article Credit: Todd Boyd image
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