JEFFERSON, S.D.—In dramatic fashion in front of a huge crowd of fans, Rodney Sanders scored his ninth United States Modified Touring Series win of the season Saturday night at the Park Jefferson Speedway.

The 73rd triumph of Sanders’ career was his second during the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental, and kept the 26-year-old from Happy, Texas, within striking distance of his third USMTS national championship.

Starting 12th on the grid made for a daunting task for Sanders, and the fact that he had to pass Jesse Sobbing, Jason Hughes, Ricky Thornton Jr., Stormy Scott, Dylan Smith, Ryan Mikkelson, Dereck Ramirez, Cade Dillard, Zack VanderBeek, Mike Jergens and Mike Densberger made the feat even more impressive.

Sobbing, who started the 37-lap main event looking to sweep the night for the Home Pride Motorsports team after Jack Dover won the Nebraska 360 Sprint Series feature moments earlier, looked to have luck on his side after putting a string of bad draws behind him with a front row start.

Last year’s rookie titlist was solid for the first 28 laps, holding off Hughes and Thornton on several occasions as he throttled around the high side of the 4/10-mile clay oval.

But after fighting to keep his lead for several laps, Sobbing finally gave way to Sanders on lap 29.

Sanders cruised the final seven laps to secure the $3,000 winner’s paycheck and keep his hopes alive of a third series crown.

Sobbing kept points leader Hughes as bay to collect runner-up honors while Thornton backed up his second-place run Friday with a fourth-place showing tonight.

Stormy Scott, who has looked sharp the last three nights driving Austin Arneson’s GRT chassis, started seventh and slipped back as far as 12th before surging late to grab the fifth spot.

Fourteenth-starting Jett Big Eagle was sixth, Dylan Smith rebounded from a ninth-lap spin to take seventh, Johnny Scott earned the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award by racing from 20th to eighth, Ryan Mikkelson nabbed ninth and Dereck Ramirez completed the top 10.

On Sunday night, the Casino Speedway hosts the Sandy Benson Memorial presented by Riddle's Jewelry and Jurgens Printing featuring a full night of special promotions to honor the “Chairman of the Board” of the 63-year-old speedplant on the shores of beautiful Lake Kampeska in Watertown, S.D.

It will be the first time back at the semi-banked 3/8-mile dirt oval for the USMTS since 2011. Former winners here include Tommy Myer, Scott Ward, Al Hejna, Zack VanderBeek, Kelly Shryock and Jon Tesch—a multi-time track champion and only driver with two USMTS wins in his hometown.

The pits open at 3 p.m., and the spectator gates open at 5 with Happy Hour from 5-6:30. A candy toss for the kids takes place at 6 and the green flag flies at 6:30. Midwest Modifieds and Street Stocks will also be in action.

Admission is $20 for adults, kids ages 8-13 get in for $5 and children ages 7 and under get in for free with a paid adult. Pit passes will be $35. Race fans can get $2-off coupons at Casey's General Stores in Milbank, Webster and all three Watertown locations. Visit www.caseys.com to find the store nearest you.

Mike Jergens and his Snickers-sponsored USMTS Modified will be at the Casey's General Store located at 405 10th St. SW in Watertown from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Casino Speedway is located 4.0 miles northwest of US 212 on SR 20, then 0.7 mile south on Stokes-Thomas Lake Rd. (next to the city park). For more information, check out www.casinospeedway.com.

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.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental – Event #11 of 17
Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, S.D.
Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed and money won.

MSD HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (2) 20rt Ricky Thornton Jr. (R), Chandler, Ariz.
2. (4) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
3. (6) 15* Ryan Mikkelson (R), Jamestown, N.D.
4. (1) 88 Sean Barragan, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa.
5. (3) 48 Brent Dutenhoffer, Watertown, S.D.
6. (7) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
7. (5) 56 Terry Berg Jr., Sioux City, Iowa.
8. (8) 7s Bob Fleshman, Merrill, Iowa.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (2) 95 Dylan Smith, Osceola, Neb.
2. (1) 37 Mike Jergens (R), Plover, Iowa.
3. (3) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
4. (5) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
5. (8) 99 Jett Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask., Canada.
6. (7) 91 Scott Drake, Joplin, Mo.
7. (6) 48 Bobby Moore, Sioux City, Iowa.
8. (4) 23 Adam Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa.
2. (4) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
3. (5) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
4. (8) 81 Mike Densberger (R), Lincoln, Neb.
5. (3) 00 Masen Big Eagle, Manor, Sask., Canada.
6. (7) X Chris Moore, Madison, S.D.
7. (6) 21 Jacob Bleess (R), Chatfield, Minn.
8. (2) 44x Jason Schneiders, N. Sioux City, S.D.

ALPINESTARS HEAT RACE #4 (7 laps):
1. (2) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
2. (3) 10 Stormy Scott, Arroyo Hondo, N.M.
3. (4) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
4. (6) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (7) 07 Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
6. (5) M80 Jim Mathieson, Sioux City, Iowa.
7. (1) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (10 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (1) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
2. (4) 48 Brent Dutenhoffer, Watertown, S.D.
3. (2) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
4. (8) 21 Jacob Bleess (R), Chatfield, Minn.
5. (5) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
6. (3) 88 Sean Barragan, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, BMS/GMPP, $75.
7. (10) 44x Jason Schneiders, N. Sioux City, S.D., Razor/Essig, $75.
8. (7) 56 Terry Berg Jr., Sioux City, Iowa., B&B/GMPP, $75.
9. (6) X Chris Moore, Madison, S.D., Fegers/Vetter, $75.
10. (9) 7s Bob Fleshman, Merrill, Iowa, Shaw/Essig, $75.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (10 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (2) 99 Jett Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask., Canada.
2. (3) 07 Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
3. (4) 00 Masen Big Eagle, Manor, Sask., Canada.
4. (1) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (5) 91 Scott Drake, Joplin, Mo.
6. (7) 48 Bobby Moore, Sioux City, Iowa., GRT/GMPP, $75.
7. (6) M80 Jim Mathieson, Sioux City, Iowa, Skyrocket/GMPP, $75.
8. (8) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill.
9. (9) 23 Adam Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan.

CASEY'S GENERAL STORES "A" MAIN (37 laps):
1. (12) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Hatfield, 37, $3000.
2. (2) 99 Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa, Harris/GMPP, 37, $1700.
3. (1) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 37, $1200.
4. (8) 20rt Ricky Thornton Jr. (R), Chandler, Ariz., MBCustom/Dakota, 37, $1000.
5. (7) 10 Stormy Scott, Arroyo Hondo, N.M., GRT/Durham, 37, $900.
6. (14) 99 Jett Big Eagle (R), Manor, Sask., Canada, MBCustom/Baxter, 37, $800.
7. (6) 95 Dylan Smith, Osceola, Neb., Jet/Speedway, 37, $600.
8. (20) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., Lethal/Durham, 37, $650.
9. (4) 15* Ryan Mikkelson (R), Jamestown, N.D., GRT/Dakota, 37, $600.
10. (5) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., LG2/Cornett, 37, $550.
11. (23) 6 Brock Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., GRT/Mullins, 37, $500.
12. (10) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., MBCustom/ASI, 37, $450.
13. (16) 07 Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls, Wis., MBCustom/Tim’s, 37, $425.
14. (19) 21 Jacob Bleess (R), Chatfield, Minn., MBCustom/BK, 37, $400.
15. (17) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/Hatfield, 37, $400.
16. (22) 91 Scott Drake, Joplin, Mo., MBCustom/BMS, 37, $350.
17. (21) 4 Cody Bauman (R), Eureka, Ill., GRT/GMPP, 37, $325.
18. (3) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, LG2/Sput’s, 32, $400.
19. (18) 00 Masen Big Eagle, Manor, Sask., Canada, GRT/Yeoman, 26, $300.
20. (15) 48 Brent Dutenhoffer, Watertown, S.D., Lethal/Sput’s, 22, $250.
21. (9) 37 Mike Jergens (R), Plover, Iowa, Harris/KSE, 21, $300.
22. (13) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa, Hilsabeck/Mullins, 18, $300.
23. (24) 23 Adam Kates (R), Tonganoxie, Kan., LG2/Speedway, 17, $300.
24. (11) 81 Mike Densberger (R), Lincoln, Neb., Jet/Speedway, 2, $300.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leaders: Sobbing 1-28, Sanders 29-37.
Total Laps Led: Sobbing 28, Sanders 9.
Margin of Victory: 1.954 seconds.
Time of Race: 29 minutes, 1.533 seconds (5 cautions).
Provisional Starters: B. Bauman, Kates.
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger: J. Scott (started 20th, finished 8th).
Entries: 31.
Next Race: Sunday, Aug. 28, Casino Speedway, Watertown, S.D.
USMTS Casey’s Cup Points: Hughes 1577, Dillard 1538, Sanders 1510, Sobbing 1502, VanderBeek 1440, J. Scott 1361, Duvall 1287, Ramirez 1253, S. Scott 1241, B. Bauman 1211.
Grant Junghans Rookie of the Year Points: B. Bauman 1512, C. Bauman 1485, Jergens 1473, J. Big Eagle 1395, Densberger 1345.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Mullins 406, Sput’s 280, ASI 280, Durham 279, GMPP 265.
Manufacturers Championship Points: Hughes 411, MBCustoms 404, LG2 322, Harris 294, GRT 271.

Contingency Awards:
Allstar Performance – J. Scott.
American Racer – Mathieson.
Bell Helmets – C. Bauman.
Beyea Custom Headers – S. Scott.
BSB Manufacturing – Jergens.
Day Motor Sports – Kates, Densberger.
Deatherage Opticians – Moore.
Edelbrock – Sobbing.
Eibach Springs – Dillard.
Fast Shafts – Smith.
FK Rod Ends – Duvall.
Forty9Designs.com – Bleess, M. Big Eagle.
Fuel Safe – J. Big Eagle.
GRT Race Cars – Moore.
Hooker Harness – Crapser.
Integra Shocks & Springs – VanderBeek.
Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service – Drake.
Kevko Oil Pans & Components – Mikkelson.
Keyser Manufacturing – Ramirez.
KSE Racing Products – J. Scott.
Midwest Sheet Metal – VanderBeek.
MSD – Thornton, Sanders.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Drake.
PBM Performance Products – Hughes.
QA1 – Mathieson.
Real Racing Wheels – all non-qualifiers.
Sybesma Graphics – Thornton.
VP Racing Fuels – Sanders.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – B. Bauman.
Wilwood Engineering – Smith.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: Alpinestars, American Racer Racing Tires, Argo Manufacturing, Casey’s General Stores, Chix Gear Racewear, COMP Cams, CP-Carrillo, Day Motor Sports, Deatherage Opticians, Fast Shafts, Intercomp, Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service, Kevko Oil Pans & Components, KSE Racing Products, Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment, Malvern Trust & Savings Bank, MSD, RacerWebsite.com, RacinDirt.com, RealTruck.com, S&S Fishing & Rental, The Joie of Seating, VP Racing Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: AMP Energy Drink, Arizona Sport Shirts, ASi Racewear, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Duvall Electric, ElbowsUp.com, Erson Cams, I-29 Trailer Sales, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Oreo, Production Jars, Rivers Edge Scrap Management, Snickers, Sour Patch Kids, YouDirt.com.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bell Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, BSB Manufacturing, Driven Racing Oil, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Fuel Safe Racing Cells, Genesis Racing Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Holley Performance Products, Hooker Custom Harness, Integra Shocks & Springs, Keyser Manufacturing, Midwest Sheet Metal, Out-Pace Racing Products, PBM Performance Products, QA1 Precision Products, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Sybesma Graphics, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Engineering.