SPRING VALLEY, Minn.—This isn’t new territory to Jason Hughes or Rodney Sanders.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t nerves involved.

With so much money, pride and a national championship—as well as a five- or six-figure payday—at stake, all eyes will be on Hughes’ No. 12 car and Sanders’ No. 20 during the opening night of the 17th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Thursday at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn.

Those two drivers are separated by just four points as they prepare for the final race in the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental. They’re the only drivers still with a chance to win the national title; they have eliminated the other 37 drivers over the course of The Hunt.

Sanders has held that title for the past two seasons, wrapping up his first two USMTS national championships at the Jamboree in 2013 and 2014.

This time around it’s Hughes—the 2010 USMTS national champion and four-time winner of the Jamboree—in the driver’s seat. The veteran driver from Watts, Okla., enters Thursday’s race with a four-point lead over Sanders, the 25-year-old from Happy, Texas.

A second USMTS national title would be an impressive accomplishment for Hughes, who was in 15th place in the points standings, with 28 points, at the start of The Hunt. He was 82 back of then-leader Jesse Sobbing and 62 back of Sanders.

For Sanders, a third consecutive championship would also mean a six-figure payout. He won three of the four USMTS regional points championships during the regular season, which ended in July, prior to the beginning of The Hunt. If he wins the national title, on top of the three regional titles, he’ll earn $100,000 bonus.

Hughes, who competed in a limited schedule during the season, is racing for a $20,000 paycheck in claiming his second USMTS crown.

Jamboree rolls on after Hunt ends

The USMTS crowns a new national champion on Thursday, but there are still two more nights of racing—and tens of thousands of dollars in prize money—up for grabs, as well as the prestigious title of Featherlite Fall Jamboree champion.

The event has been won by a who’s-who of dirt modified racing over its 16-year history, including Sanders and Hughes, as well as local favorites Mark Noble of Blooming Prairie (2002) and Rochester’s Tim Donlinger (2008).

Ron Jones was the champion of the inaugural event in 1999. Johnny Saathoff, Willy Kraft, Dan Daniels, Kelly Shryock, Chad Kinder, Dean Mahlstedt, Terry Phillips and Joey Jensen also adorn the winners list.

There will be three complete shows this week, with the winner of Thursday and Friday’s main events earning $5,000 each. Saturday’s feature race will be worth $10,000 to win. In addition, a $2,000-to-win non-qualifiers feature will also be held for the top 30 drivers who failed to qualify for the main event on Saturday.

Fans will continue to witness a complete program all three nights. Thursday’s lid-lifter will serve as the final points race for the USMTS while Friday and Saturday’s shows will be sanctioned by the United States Racing Association with valuable USRA national points on the line. The Holley Iron Man Series featuring USRA B-Mods will share the spotlight all three nights.

Fan may purchase tickets online at www.deercreekspeedway.com or by calling toll-free 877-DCS-RACE. For fans unable to attend in person, the entire event will be broadcast live via pay-per-view. Visit www.racindirt.com for ordering information.

The Deer Creek Speedway is a high-banked 3/8-mile clay oval which sits on 60 acres with one of America’s most popular state-of-the-art racing complexes and an adjoining campground. For track or campground info, call 507-346-2342 or email info@deercreekspeedway.com.

To learn more about the USRA, visit www.usraracing.com or call 515-832-6000. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usraracing, follow us at www.twitter.com/usraracing on Twitter and check out our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usratv.

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 or subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Casey’s General Stores, Chix Gear Racewear, COMP Cams, Day Motor Sports, Deatherage Opticians, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Fast Shafts, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, Malvern Trust & Savings Bank, MSD, Nitroquest Media Group, RACEceiver, RacinDirt.com, S&S Fishing & Rental, VP Racing Fuels.

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