GREENWOOD, Neb. (July 19) -- Rodney Sanders stole the lead from Jason Hughes with two laps to go, and then held off the 2010 USMTS national champion following a green-white-checkered finish to top the first night of the 3rd Annual Silver Dollar Nationals at the I-80 Speedway.
After drawing the outside of the front row to start the 30-lap main event, Hughes took command when the green flag waved with polesitter Johnny Bone Jr. in hot pursuit.
Sanders started fifth and remained there for the first ten laps before finding his rhythm on the high side of the Kosiski family's high-banked 4/10-mile clay oval. He got around Jordan Grabouski for fourth on lap 11, passed Rick Beebe for third one lap later and then shot around the outside of Bone to take over second on the 13th orbit.
Getting around Hughes didn't come so easy, however. Using the bottom and middle of the racetrack, Hughes looked comfortable as he mirrored the same line each lap while Sanders pounded the deep cushion-and occasionally polished the concrete barrier with his right rear tire-as he searched for a way around the leader.
With three laps to go, the 23-year-old from Happy, Texas, suddenly found enough momentum to pull even with Hughes and they crossed beneath the flagstand most to tail. The next time around, Sanders completed the pass to lead lap 28.
Hughes nearly regained the spot as they exited turn 2, but the lapped car of Ryan Ruter forced Hughes to make a quick adjustment and Sanders powered back ahead. As the leaders took the white flag, the race's third caution waved to set up a green-white-checkered finish.
With Sanders and Bone now committed to the low side of the racing surface, Hughes took the long way around in a desperate attempt to take back the lead.
Unable to close the gap the first time around, Hughes found a sweet spot on the final lap and grinded through turns 3-4 to pull even with Sanders as they exited the final corner.
As they crossed the finish line side by side, Sanders beat Hughes to the stripe by a mere 0.084 second to score the victory and pocket the $4,000 top prize. Hughes, meanwhile, settled for a disappointing runner-up finish after leading the first 28 of 30 laps.
Bone recorded his best USMTS finish of the season with a third-place paycheck while Terry Phillips rebounded from an earlier spin to take fourth.
Fourteen-year-old rookie points leader Trevor Hunt finished fifth, with Zack VanderBeek, Beebe, Ken Schrader, Thomas Tillison Jr. and Brad Dierks rounding out the top 10 finishers.
Schrader, who started 22nd on the 25-car grid, earned the Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger Award.
Round 2 of the Silver Dollar Nationals happens Saturday night with $3,000 earmarked for the winner of the USMTS Casey's Cup Series "A" Main. The event will also be the final race in the Arbor Masters Central Region presented by Day Motor Sports.
Despite mechanical troubles Friday night, Jeremy Payne needs only to take the green flag in his heat race to secure the regional points title and the $5,000 that goes with it. Hughes currently sits second in the rankings, followed by Johnny Scott, Kelly Shryock, VanderBeek, Stormy Scott, Tillison, Sanders, Hunt and Austin Siebert. The top 15 in final points-plus any other driver with perfect attendance in the region-will punch their ticket into the Hunt for the USMTS Casey's Cup and a chance to become the 2013 USMTS national champion.
More information about I-80 Speedway and the Silver Dollar Nationals can be found at www.i-80speedway.com.
For those fans unable to attend, the Silver Dollar Nationals will be available live via pay-per-view at DirtonDirt.com. Fans can place their pay-per-view orders now at www.dirtondirt.com/liveEvents.php.
To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online, like the USMTS on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usmts, follow the USMTS on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts or check out the USMTS YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.
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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series - USMTS Casey's Cup Series
Arbor Masters Central Region presented by Day Motor Sports
3rd Annual Silver Dollar Nationals - Night 1 of 2
I-80 Speedway, Greenwood, Neb.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed and money won. The top 12 drivers in passing points accumulated in the heat races are locked into the "A" Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.
BEYEA CUSTOM HEADERS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (2) 56 Chris Spieker, Massena, Iowa.
2. (1) 12 Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, Ark.
3. (3) 85 Thomas Tillison Jr., Wellston, Okla.
4. (7) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (8) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
6. (4) 01 Joey Galloway (R), Manor, Sask., Canada.
7. (9) 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, Minn.
8. (10) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
9. (6) 68 Blain Petersen, Essex, Iowa.
10. (5) 72 Mike Lineberry, Waterloo, Neb.
JRi SHOCKS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (3) 29d Brad Dierks, Clarence, Iowa.
2. (2) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan.
3. (5) 25 Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (4) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
5. (6) 99m Tim Murty, Tama, Iowa.
6. (7) B42 Kevin Betzen, David City, Neb.
7. (9) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.
8. (10) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
9. (8) 36 Jeff Conner (R), Panora, Iowa.
10. (1) 48k Kyle Harpster (R), Omaha, Neb.
EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (4) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
2. (2) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa.
3. (5) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
4. (8) 30 Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice, Neb.
5. (9) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
6. (6) 21 Chris Brown, Spring, Texas.
7. (7) 1 Jake Neal, Omaha, Neb.
8. (1) 87 Darron Fuqua (R), Mayetta, Kan.
9. (3) 70 Jesse Dennis, Prescott, Iowa.
PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (1) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
2. (6) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
3. (8) 99h Trevor Hunt (R), Kearney, Mo.
4. (4) 9 Ken Schrader, Concord, N.C.
5. (2) 31j Jeremy Rasmussen, Bella Vista, Ark.
6. (9) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
7. (7) 00 Masen Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask., Canada.
8. (5) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
9. (3) 13 Parker Brumm, Rockford, Iowa.
REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (2) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
2. (1) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (6) 01 Joey Galloway (R), Manor, Sask., Canada.
4. (9) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
5. (5) 31j Jeremy Rasmussen, Bella Vista, Ark.
6. (7) 10 Mike Steensma, Luverne, Minn., MBCustom/Sput's, $90.
7. (4) 99m Tim Murty, Tama, Iowa, Shaw/Yeoman, $75.
8. (12) 70 Jesse Dennis, Prescott, Iowa.
9. (13) 72 Mike Lineberry, Waterloo, Neb., Harris/Roberts, $75.
10. (11) 68 Blain Petersen, Essex, Iowa, GRT/GMPP, $75.
11. (3) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
12. (8) 1 Jake Neal, Omaha, Neb., Shaw/Mullins, $75.
DNS - 87 Darron Fuqua (R), Mayetta, Kan., Venom/Driskell, $90.
REAL RACING WHEELS "B" MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (1) 85 Thomas Tillison Jr., Wellston, Okla.
2. (4) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
3. (7) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa.
4. (2) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
5. (3) 9 Ken Schrader, Concord, N.C.
6. (6) 21 Chris Brown, Spring, Texas, Hughes/Mullins, $90.
7. (9) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., Hughes/BMS, $90.
8. (8) 00 Masen Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask.
9. (5) B42 Kevin Betzen, David City, Neb., DirtWorks/Jacobs, $75.
10. (11) 48k Kyle Harpster (R), Omaha, Neb., Edge/Charley's, $90.
11. (10) 13 Parker Brumm, Rockford, Iowa, Skyrocket/ASI, $75.
DNS - 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, $90.
DNS - 36 Jeff Conner (R), Panora, Iowa, Skyrocket/RoushYates, $90.
ARBOR MASTERS "A" MAIN (30 laps):
1. (5) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, 30, $4000.
2. (2) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 30, $1550.
3. (1) 12 Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, Ark., TRE/Homegrown, 30, $1000.
4. (13) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 30, $800.
5. (3) 99h Trevor Hunt (R), Kearney, Mo., GRT/Sput's, 30, $950.
6. (11) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Hughes/Sput's, 30, $850.
7. (4) 22b Rick Beebe, Shawnee, Kan., MBCustom/Mullins, 30, $650.
8. (22) 9 Ken Schrader, Concord, N.C., Impressive/Dickens, 30, $700.
9. (14) 85 Thomas Tillison Jr., Wellston, Okla., Hughes/Geddes, 30, $550.
10. (7) 29d Brad Dierks, Clarence, Iowa, Shaw/Sperry, 30, $500.
11. (16) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/ProPower, 30, $550.
12. (9) 31 Corey Dripps, Waterloo, Iowa, Rage/RoushYates, 30, $300.
13. (15) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., GRT/RoushYates, 30, $475.
14. (20) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa, Hughes/Mullins, 30, $375.
15. (24) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/ProPower, 30, $350.
16. (25) 70 Jesse Dennis, Prescott, Iowa, Skyrocket/Midstate, 30, $250.
17. (23) 00 Masen Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask., Canada, GRT/Tim's, 30, $350.
18. (18) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa, Sidebiter/Sput's, 27, $300.
19. (6) 56 Chris Spieker, Massena, Iowa, IROC/PerfMach, 18, $250.
20. (8) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/RoushYates, 17, $400.
21. (10) 25 Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Hughes/Mullins, 16, $400.
22. (12) 30 Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice, Neb., GRT/Hatfield, 15, $300.
23. (19) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo., GRT/Mullins, 12, $400.
24. (21) 31j Jeremy Rasmussen, Bella Vista, Ark., TRE/Donrich, 11, $250.
25. (17) 01 Joey Galloway (R), Manor, Sask., Canada, GRT/Tim's, 5, $450.
(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.
Lap Leaders: Hughes 1-28, Sanders 29-30.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 28, Sanders 2.
Margin of Victory: 0.084 second.
Mesilla Valley Transportation Hard Charger: Schrader (started 22nd, finished 8th).
Next Race: Saturday, July 20, I-80 Speedway, Greenwood, Neb.
Arbor Masters Central Region Points: Payne 989, Hughes 926, J. Scott 869, Shryock 829, VanderBeek 822, S. Scott 803, Tillison 790, Sanders 742, Hunt 685, Siebert 679.
Rookie of the Year Points: Hunt 1570, Galloway 1491, Big Eagle 1201, Conner 606, Adam Penn 546.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: ProPower 285, RoushYates 245, Mullins 244, Geddes 232, Sput's 222.
Tiger Rear Ends Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 307, GRT 279, MBCustom 253, LG2 214, Skyrocket 211.
Contingency Awards:
AERO Race Wheels - Galloway.
American Racer - Payne.
Beyea Custom Headers - Spieker.
BSB Manufacturing - Hunt, Beebe.
Buck Monson Photos - Sanders.
Crane Cams - Sanders.
Dominator Race Products - Payne.
Edelbrock - Bone.
Eibach Springs - Payne.
FK Rod Ends - Ramirez.
Forty9Designs.com - Hilsabeck, Spieker.
Fuel Safe - VanderBeek.
GRT Race Cars - Phillips.
Hooker Harness - J. Scott.
JRi Shocks - Dierks.
KEVKO Oil Pans & Components - Tillison.
Keyser Manufacturing - Dierks.
Marsh Racing Wheels - Rasmussen.
Mesilla Valley Transportation - Schrader.
MSD Ignition - Sanders, Hughes.
PBM Performance Products - Hughes, Sanders.
Power Lift Racing Products - Big Eagle.
Real Racing Wheels - all non-qualifiers.
VP Racing Fuels - Sanders.
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