3/1/2020
Rodney Sanders
Rodney Sanders Enjoys Two-Win Weekend in USMTS Lid-Lifter
Rodney Sanders kicked off the 2020 United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) Championship chase with a pair of victories in his home-state. (Tyler Rinken photos)
Sanders won the tour’s season opener I-37 Speedway (Pleasanton, Tex.) on Friday night. The driver of the Wichita Tank Racing No. 20 Kenny’s Tile/ ARMI Contractors/ MB Customs/ Hatfield Racing Engine Modified was back in Victory Lane on Sunday at Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Tex.
“It’s nice to come out with two wins to start the USMTS season,” Sanders said. “It’s cool to get our 99th victory too. Back when we starting running with the USMTS I just wanted to win a single race, to win this many is something I’m proud to have accomplished.”
Kicking off his title defense, Sanders passed four cars in his heat race to pick up the eight-lap victory on Friday night. Starting the feature in third, Rodney pulled ahead of Calvin Iverson for the lead on lap 14 and dominated the remaining 26 circuits to capture his fifth win of the season and a $3,000 payday. Iverson, Hunter Marriott, Jason Hughes, and Tyler Wolff rounded out the Top-5 finishers.
The following night at South Texas Speedway (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Rodney posted a 4th place finish in his heat, transferring him into the B-Main. Coming in 2nd behind Zane Ferrell, Sanders locked into the 16th-starting position for the $3,000-to-win A-Main. Breaking into the Top-10, Rodney improved six spots in the 40-lapper to place 10th.
On Sunday afternoon Sanders followed the USMTS to Cotton Bowl Speedway. Dropping one spot in his heat race, Rodney recorded a runner-up finish behind Dereck Ramirez which positioned him third on the starting grid for the main event.
Overtaking Tyler Davis for the lead on the fifth lap, Sanders held off fellow USMTS challenger Dereck Ramirez over the next 35 circuits to register his sixth win of the season and 99th career USMTS victory. Earning a $3,000 payday, Rodney Sanders topped Ramirez, Jason Hughes, Hunter Marriott, and Zack VanderBeek at the line.
Rodney jumped out to an early lead in the USMTS National Championship point standings. For more results from the weekend’s events, please visit www.USMTS.com.
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