Sanders looks to extend Silver Dollar Nationals domination

GREENWOOD, Neb. (July 21) -- The I-80 Speedway is a favorite palace of speed for hundreds of dirt track racers, but perhaps no driver is fonder of the Eastern Nebraska dirt oval like Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas.

This weekend at the 6th Annual Silver Dollar Nationals, the two-time USMTS national champ will be looking for his seventh straight feature win at the bucket-list event.

It doesn't seem to matter where Sanders starts in a Silver Dollar Nationals main event. Last year he started on the pole Friday and drove away from the field. On Saturday, however, he started 13th but, nevertheless, had the lead in 15 laps and drove away from the field again.

In 2014, he started eighth on Friday and won and 12th on Saturday and won. He also swept both ends of the race in 2013.

This year will be different, however, as the USMTS Modifieds will utilize the same qualifying format as the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series with two rounds of heat races Friday and a $5,000-to-win feature on Saturday.

But the question still remains: Can anybody stop 'The Sandman' at the Silver Dollar Nationals?

The most likely contender is defending USMTS national champ Jason Hughes of Watts, Okla. Ranked second behind Kelly Shryock on the series' all-time win list, the current MSD Central Region points leader will look to end Sanders' streak and notch his 144th career win in the process.

Hughes has tasted success at the I-80 Speedway before, winning a USMTS 'Hunt' race in 2013 and topping the first night of the 2nd Annual Silver Dollar Nationals in 2012. Terry Phillips went on to win Saturday's race.

Other past USMTS winners at the Greenwood, Neb., facility include Shryock and Jeremy Payne, who took the checkers in the inaugural Silver Dollar Nationals. Tommy Myer won here in the first-ever USMTS race on June 7, 2005.

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will co-sanction the $40,000-to-win late model event with the Lucas Oil MLRA while the modified portion of the show is sanctioned by the United States Model Touring Series (USMTS) and pays $5,000 to Saturday's winner at the 6th Annual Silver Dollar Nationals.

Things kick off on Thursday, July 21, with the Bobby Parker Memorial for the Nebraska 360 Sprint Car Series plus the MalvernBank.com SLMR Series and B-Mods. This night will also be open practice for the Lucas Oil Late Models and USMTS Modifieds. Tickets are just $15 and racing starts at 7:15 p.m.

Then on Friday, July 22, it's qualifying time for both the Lucas Oil Late Models and USMTS Modifieds with double qualifying heats, dashes and the USMTS "Chase" Race. USMTS drivers will run two heat races from two different starting spots with the top 10 qualifiers running a 10-lap Dash on Saturday.

The USMTS "Chase" will feature 13 series competitors and three I-80 Speedway regulars. USMTS drivers include two-time USMTS national champs Jason Hughes and Rodney Sanders, Jesse Sobbing, Cade Dillard, Stormy Scott, Dereck Ramirez, Zack VanderBeek, Joe Duvall, Cory Crapser, Jacob Bleess, Brock Bauman, Daniel Hilsabeck and Mike Jergens. As the top three in current track points, Jared Hoefelman, Clint Homan and Justin Gregg will look to defend their home turf.

The "Chase" will be 24 laps with three 8-lap segments. The USMTS "Chase" will pay $1,000 to win and every driver in the race (lined up by draw) will be guaranteed at least $200. Action kicks off at 7:30 Friday. Grandstand admission is $32.

Finally, on Saturday, July 23, the big money goes on the line with the USMTS Casey's Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental drivers racing for $5,000 to win and the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series going for $40,000 to win their 80-lap finale. The USMTS Dash winner will earn $800 and will draw a pill of either 1 or 10 to set the starting line-up for the 40-lap, $5,000-to-win, $500-to-start main event. Saturday's action starts at 7:30 p.m. Grandstand admission is $35.

Two provisionals will be awarded on Saturday to the top two drivers in MSD Central Region points that fail to qualify for Saturday's "A" Main. Driver must have perfect attendance in the MSD Central Region to be eligible.

The USMTS early entry is $140 for licensed drivers, $150 for non-licensed drivers. Entry fee is $200 for all drivers on race day.

DASH PAYOUT: 1. $800, 2. $600, 3. $500, 4. $400, 5. $300, 6. $250, 7. $200, 8-10. $150.
"CHASE" PAYOUT: 1. $1000, 2. $700, 3. $600, 4. $500, 5. $450, 6. $400, 7. $350, 8. $300, 9-12. $250, 13-16. $200.
"A" MAIN PAYOUT: 1. $5000, 2. $3000, 3. $2000, 4. $1600, 5. $1350, 6. $1200, 7. $1000, 8. $900, 9. $800, 10. $775, 11. $750, 12. $725, 13. $700, 14. $675, 15. $650, 16. $625, 17. $600, 18. $575, 19. $550, 20-24. $500.

This will be the final event in MSD Central Region presented by Day Motor Sports. The top 15 in final regional points-along with any other drivers with perfect attendance in the region-will punch their ticket to compete for the USMTS National Championship in the Hunt for the USMTS Casey's Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental.

The I-80 Speedway is located one block north of Interstate 80 Exit 420, halfway between Omaha and Lincoln. The Physical Address is 13909 - 238th Street, Greenwood, NE. For more information, visit www.i-80speedway.com or call (402)-342-3453. You can also follow I-80 Speedway on Facebook and Twitter.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usmts, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts and Instagram at www.instagram.com/usmts or subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.

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