Story By: JEREMY PETERS / RODNEY SANDERS RACING – HAPPY, TX – With the Summit USMTS schedule in the midst of a two-week break, Rodney Sanders competed on the USRA Heartland Modified Tour (HMT) from Friday through Sunday and picked up his 11th win of the 2024 season on Saturday evening.
The driver of the Wichita Tank Racing / Paulson Rock Products / Stussy Construction No. 20 MB Customs Race Car / Hatfield Racing Engine Modified outran fellow United States Modified Touring Series competitor Tanner Mullens at Nevada Speedway to secure the $2,000 payday.
“For as little as this was, it was probably about as good as it could get,” Sanders said. “You could run the very top or the very bottom. Hats off to the track crew. I thought it raced pretty good. Jason Hughes had a pretty good car too. The lapped traffic certainly helped us get by him. It feels good to get back going.”
Sanders’ HMT Show-Me State swing opened on Friday at Electric City Speedway in Butler. The event brought 25 USRA Modifieds to the 1/3-mile oval for a $2,000-to-win program. Sanders steered to third in his heat and started eighth in the 30-lap main event. He picked up four spots in the race and came home fourth behind Randal Schiffelbein Jr., Wolff and Chad Wheeler. Paden Phillips completed the top five.
At Nevada Speedway on Saturday, Sanders drove his No. 20 Modified to a win in his heat race, putting him fifth on the grid to start the 30-lap A-Main. He grabbed the lead in the feature with just five laps to go, having steadily gained on leader Jason Hughes who was mired in lapped traffic. A late caution brought out by Hughes set up a green-white-checkered finish, but Sanders would not be denied as he took the $2,000 triumph over Tanner Mullens, Gary Christian, Tyler Wolff and Dakota Dale.
The win was the 11th overall for Sanders in 2024.
After Sanders’ Saturday win, the USRA triple concluded in Monett on Sunday evening with the Larry Phillips Memorial at Monett Motor Speedway. A winner’s share of $7,575 brought 43 USRA Modifieds to the 3/8-mile track to honor the Missouri legend.
Sanders had another strong evening with a special format in place. He set the quickest time in his qualifying group, won his heat and took the checkered flag in his pole dash to start first in the 40-lap main event. He showed the way for all but one of the A-Main’s first 37 circuits, but relinquished the lead to Wolff when he slipped in turn four. Sanders went on to finish in the runner-up spot, 0.698 seconds behind Wolff. Terry Phillps rounded out the podium, while Jason Hughes and Gary Christian finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Full weekend results are at www.HeartlandModifiedTour.com.
Sanders is now preparing for a visit to Mississippi Thunder Speedway on Friday for the $2,000-to-win program, but his plans are tentative for Saturday. Once decided, they will be posted on his website.