7/21/2024
Rodney Sanders
Rodney Sanders notches USMTS wins at Fairmont and Mason City
The Davenport Deal at Davenport Speedway Up Next
HAPPY, Tex. (04/24/24) – Rodney Sanders collected his 120th and 121st career Summit USMTS victories over the weekend as he triumphed at tracks in Minnesota and Iowa 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.
The Happy, Texas, driver earned $8,000 for the pair of victories while increasing his 2024 win total to 10.
First up on Thursday, Sanders and his No. 20 Modified team were part of a 25-car field at Fairmont (Minnesota) Raceway for the 10th annual USMTS Summer Spectacular. After finishing second in his heat race, Sanders rolled off third in the 25-lap A-Main on the half-mile oval. He took the top spot with a pass of Terry Phillips on the track’s low side on the sixth circuit, then led the rest of the way to score the $3,000 victory by 0.637 seconds over Jim Chisholm. Phillips, Jake Timm and Gary Christian completed the top five.
“Having a good starting position definitely helps tonight.” Sanders said. “I feel like we've been kind of off just a little bit, so we threw some stuff at it tonight and definitely felt like we went the right direction.”
Next up, the Summit USMTS schedule shifted to Mason City, Iowa, for the three-day, 11th annual North Iowa Nationals at Mason City Motor Speedway.
Friday evening’s program brought 24 USMTS Modified drivers to the 1/3-mile track in search of a $5,000 first-place prize. On his way to the checkered flag, Sanders was the star of the show.
He opened the evening with a fourth-place finish in his heat and began the 40-lap feature from the 12th spot. He quickly mounted a charge and grabbed the lead for the first time from Aaron Benson just past halfway. He went on to survive two late caution flags (one of which resulted in a Sanders spin, but after the caution lights were illuminated) that moved him back to the second spot. However, he took the lead from Jake Timm with two laps left.
On the white-flag lap, Sanders bounced off the wall multiple times en route to taking victory for the second night in a row, this one by just 0.176 seconds over Timm. Chisholm rounded out the podium, while Phillips and Tanner Mullens finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
“I didn't even know he (Timm) was there on that restart; I still thought it was still Benson,” Sanders revealed in Victory Fuel Victory Lane. “I wanted to go into (turn) three on the outside and he was there and it kind of spooked me more than anything. I've got to really thank Jake. He raced me super clean; He could've went up and took my line. I really thought he was going to get me there off of (turn) four, there's so much traction down there.”
On the heels of his thrilling win, Sanders was strong again on Saturday in a 23-car program at Mason City. He drove from sixth to third in his heat, putting him fifth to begin the 40-lap A-Main. He picked up one spot and turned in a fourth-place result behind Mullens, Chisholm and Timm. Tyler Davis grabbed the fifth spot.
Sunday’s slated $5,000-to-win USMTS finale at Mason City Motor Speedway was rained out.
With the weekend victories, Sanders has now won four USMTS races in 2024 and 10 feature events on the season overall. He sits third in the USMTS point standings.
Full results from Fairmont and Mason City are at www.USMTS.com.
After taking Sunday night off, Sanders has already kicked off his race-week with a fifth-place finish in The Davenport Deal opener on Monday at Davenport Speedway. Action resumes on Tuesday with another $2,000-to-win preliminary before Wednesday’s finale that pays $20,000 to the winner.
Full event details at www.ONUMDM.com.
Article Credit: Andrew Howe | HoweBoy Photography image