Sanders sails to 124th USMTS win at Deer Creek Speedway

NewsMay 24, 2025

Sanders sails to 124th USMTS win at Deer Creek Speedway

SPRING VALLEY, Minn. (May 24, 2025)—Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas, roared to victory Saturday night in the 21st Annual LRS Waste Services Southern Minnesota Spring Challenge at the Deer Creek Speedway.

The $5,000 win marked his third triumph in the last four races for the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt. It was his 124th career USMTS victory and tied him with Jason Hughes for the most wins (14) at the storied hi-banked clay oval.

Starting second in the 40-lap main event, Sanders kept pace with polesitter Mark Smith of Anthony, N.M., through the opening 10 laps as lapped traffic began to play a pivotal role. Meanwhile, Parker Hale of Grand Meadow battled fiercely with Lucas Schott of Chatfield for third, eventually pulling away.

On lap 15, Sanders made a daring move to the low side of Smith, resulting in contact that sent Smith into the back-stretch wall and eventually spinning in turn 4, triggering the race's second G-Style Transport Caution Flag.

“He [Smith] fired off really good,” Sanders said. “They're really good friends and help us out a lot. I hate that for him.”

After the restart, Sanders, driving his No. 20 MB Customs chassis powered by a Hatfield Racing Engines powerplant, surged ahead of Hale and never relinquished the lead, navigating lapped traffic with precision to win by 2.045 seconds.

Hale secured a career-best second-place finish, followed by 2020 USMTS national champ Dustin Sorensen of Rochester in third. Defending USMTS national champion Jim Chisholm of Osage, Iowa, took fourth, while Schott rounded out the top five.

Friday's winner, Kyle Strickler of Mooresville, N.C., finished sixth, and Gary Christian of Broken Bow, Okla., claimed seventh. Joe Chisholm, Jim's younger brother, finished eighth. Brandon Davis of Hayfield earned ninth and the FK Rod Ends Hard Charger Award for advancing from 15th to 9th. Jake Timm of Winona completed the top 10.

“It's really cool that my son and my dad are here,” Sanders added. “This is a big family sport, and it's really cool when you can have all your loved ones here.”

The win, before a packed crowd and 50 entries, further solidified Sanders' lead in the standings with 888 points, followed closely by Jim Chisholm (866), Tanner Mullens of Wichita, Kan. (800), and Strickler (781). Joe Chisholm (760), Williamson (745), Phillips (721), Hughes (668), Brown (662), Christian (642) round out the top 10.

With 10 races in the books, the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt wrap up the Memorial Day Weekend on Sunday with the Jerry Hejna at the Pritchard Family Auto Stores Mason City Motor Speedway at the North Iowa Fair.

Presented by Rookies Rockin' Sports Bar, Sevens Restaurant & Steakhouse and TAP'd Tap House & Cocktail Lounge, the event will also host USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Outlaw Mini-Mods with a 5:30 p.m. start time.

Check out www.masoncitymotorspeedway.com for more information, and see all the action streaming live on www.racindirt.com if you can't be there in person.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt
22nd Annual LRS Waste Services Southern Minnesota Spring Challenge
Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, Minn.
Saturday, May 24, 2025

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown. Heat race lineups are determined via group qualifying. The top 12 in heat race passing points advance to the Summit Racing Equipment “A” Main.

HODGES FARMS & DREDGING QUALIFYING GROUP #1:
1. (15) 21X Jacob Bleess, Chatfield, Minn., 15.436
2. (11) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa, 15.465
3. (19) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan., 15.547
4. (23) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn., 15.634
5. (14) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa, 15.676
6. (4) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M., 15.701
7. (16) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan., 15.738
8. (10) 80XX Jason Langford, Palestine, Texas, 15.752
9. (21) 15W Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn., 15.755
10. (12) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., 15.764
11. (1) 96 Taton Hansen, Spicer, Minn., 15.792
12. (9) 49 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn., 15.829
13. (24) 27X Calvin Iverson, Eleva, Wis., 15.843
14. (25) 90 Ryan Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn., 15.860
15. (18) 97 Cole Anderson, Le Center, Minn., 15.871
16. (2) 19SB Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif., 15.883
17. (17) 29H Joe Horgdal, Mantorville, Minn., 15.961
18. (5) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla., 15.964
19. (7) 23B Brett Bumgardner, Hawkeye, Iowa, 16.025
20. (20) 87H Harley Dais, Winona, Minn., 16.060
21. (3) 97JR Landon Volkman, Rushford, Minn., 16.133
22. (8) 99L Steve Lavasseur, River Falls, Wis., 16.180
23. (6) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa, 16.185
24. (13) 24 Xavier Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M., 16.425
25. (22) 23 Darwin Karau, Kasson, Minn., 16.926

HODGES FARMS & DREDGING QUALIFYING GROUP #2:
1. (10) 50III Brandon Davis, Hayfield, Minn., 15.491
2. (24) 19 Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, Minn., 15.502
3. (8) 20Q Cole Queensland, Grand Meadow, Minn., 15.514
4. (22) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C., 15.603
5. (13) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan., 15.628
6. (23) 12 Nick Murgic, Rosemount, Minn., 15.696
7. (25) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, 15.733
8. (2) 28 Parker Hale, Grand Meadow, Minn., 15.734
9. (18) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla., 15.737
10. (5) 11X Tom Berry Jr., Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.778
11. (12) 99A Josh Angst, Winona, Minn., 15.789
12. (14) 56 Shadren Turner, St. Joseph, Mo., 15.803
13. (3) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M., 15.897
14. (15) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa, 15.903
15. (1) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn., 15.938
16. (16) 24S Charlie Steinberg, Kasson, Minn., 15.982
17. (4) 1B Bobby Williams, Hermitage, Mo., 16.014
18. (21) 3 Dustin Wiederhoeft, Fairmont, Minn., 16.042
19. (6) 43 Zach Brom, Winona, Minn., 16.044
20. (17) 99 Jason Grimes, Jamestown, N.D., 16.080
21. (20) 33 Joe Ludemann, Grand Meadow, Minn., 16.179
22. (7) 16B Kaylin Lopez, Chowchilla, Calif., 16.213
23. (19) 14 Caden Neisius, Hastings, Minn., 16.424
24. (11) 4A Joel Alberts, Mantorville, Minn., 16.483
25. (9) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D., 16.514

SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (2) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
2. (1) 15W Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn.
3. (4) 49 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
4. (3) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
5. (5) 97 Cole Anderson, Le Center, Minn.
6. (6) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
7. (7) 97JR Landon Volkman, Rushford, Minn.
8. (8) 24 Xavier Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (2) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
2. (1) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan.
3. (3) 21X Jacob Bleess, Chatfield, Minn.
4. (5) 27X Calvin Iverson, Eleva, Wis.
5. (8) 99L Steve Lavasseur, River Falls, Wis.
6. (6) 19SB Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif.
7. (4) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
8. (9) 23 Darwin Karau, Kasson, Minn.
9. (7) 23B Brett Bumgardner, Hawkeye, Iowa

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
2. (3) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
3. (1) 80XX Jason Langford, Palestine, Texas
4. (5) 90 Ryan Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn.
5. (4) 96 Taton Hansen, Spicer, Minn.
6. (7) 87H Harley Dais, Winona, Minn.
7. (6) 29H Joe Horgdal, Mantorville, Minn.
8. (8) 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa

WEILAND HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (1) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
2. (2) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C.
3. (3) 50III Brandon Davis, Hayfield, Minn.
4. (7) 43 Zach Brom, Winona, Minn.
5. (4) 11X Tom Berry Jr., Marshalltown, Iowa
6. (8) 16B Kaylin Lopez, Chowchilla, Calif.
7. (5) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M.
8. (9) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
9. (6) 24S Charlie Steinberg, Kasson, Minn.

MESILLA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (1) 28 Parker Hale, Grand Meadow, Minn.
2. (3) 19 Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.
3. (5) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
4. (4) 99A Josh Angst, Winona, Minn.
5. (2) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
6. (6) 1B Bobby Williams, Hermitage, Mo.
7. (8) 14 Caden Neisius, Hastings, Minn.
8. (7) 99 Jason Grimes, Jamestown, N.D.

RACINDIRT HEAT RACE #6 (8 laps):
1. (1) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
2. (2) 12 Nick Murgic, Rosemount, Minn.
3. (4) 56 Shadren Turner, St. Joseph, Mo.
4. (6) 3 Dustin Wiederhoeft, Fairmont, Minn.
5. (3) 20Q Cole Queensland, Grand Meadow, Minn.
6. (7) 33 Joe Ludemann, Grand Meadow, Minn.
7. (8) 4A Joel Alberts, Mantorville, Minn.
8. (5) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (1) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
2. (2) 50III Brandon Davis, Hayfield, Minn.
3. (5) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
4. (9) 11X Tom Berry Jr., Marshalltown, Iowa
5. (3) 56 Shadren Turner, St. Joseph, Mo.
6. (7) 99A Josh Angst, Winona, Minn.
7. (12) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
8. (8) 97 Cole Anderson, Le Center, Minn.
9. (14) 97JR Landon Volkman, Rushford, Minn.
10. (4) 3 Dustin Wiederhoeft, Fairmont, Minn.
11. (18) 99 Jason Grimes, Jamestown, N.D.
12. (6) 90 Ryan Wetzstein, West Concord, Minn.
13. (16) 23 Darwin Karau, Kasson, Minn.
14. (10) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
15. (19) 23B Brett Bumgardner, Hawkeye, Iowa
16. (15) 88 Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M.
17. (13) 14 Caden Neisius, Hastings, Minn.
DNS - 33 Joe Ludemann, Grand Meadow, Minn.
DNS - 7 Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (1) 21X Jacob Bleess, Chatfield, Minn.
2. (2) 49 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
3. (3) 43 Zach Brom, Winona, Minn.
4. (4) 80XX Jason Langford, Palestine, Texas
5. (11) 19SB Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif.
6. (8) 96 Taton Hansen, Spicer, Minn.
7. (5) 27X Calvin Iverson, Eleva, Wis.
8. (10) 87H Harley Dais, Winona, Minn.
9. (9) 16B Kaylin Lopez, Chowchilla, Calif.
10. (15) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
11. (14) 29H Joe Horgdal, Mantorville, Minn.
12. (6) 99L Steve Lavasseur, River Falls, Wis.
13. (17) 24 Xavier Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
14. (12) 1B Bobby Williams, Hermitage, Mo.
15. (7) 20Q Cole Queensland, Grand Meadow, Minn.
16. (18) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
17. (13) 4A Joel Alberts, Mantorville, Minn.
18. (16) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
19. (19) 24S Charlie Steinberg, Kasson, Minn.

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (2) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
2. (6) 28 Parker Hale, Grand Meadow, Minn.
3. (7) 19 Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.
4. (3) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
5. (4) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
6. (9) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C.
7. (8) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
8. (13) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
9. (15) 50III Brandon Davis, Hayfield, Minn.
10. (16) 49 Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
11. (12) 15W Alex Williamson, Rushford, Minn.
12. (17) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
13. (5) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
14. (1) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
15. (23) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
16. (10) 12 Nick Murgic, Rosemount, Minn.
17. (14) 21X Jacob Bleess, Chatfield, Minn.
18. (11) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan.
19. (24) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
20. (20) 80XX Jason Langford, Palestine, Texas
21. (28) 99L Steve Lavasseur, River Falls, Wis.
22. (25) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
23. (22) 19SB Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif.
24. (18) 43 Zach Brom, Winona, Minn.
25. (27) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
26. (19) 11X Tom Berry Jr., Marshalltown, Iowa
27. (21) 56 Shadren Turner, St. Joseph, Mo.
28. (26) 20Q Cole Queensland, Grand Meadow, Minn.

Lap Leaders: M. Smith 1-16, Sanders 17-40.
Total Laps Led: Sanders 24, M. Smith 16.
Margin of Victory: 2.045 seconds.
Time of Race: 21 minutes, 49.851 seconds ( cautions).
Provisional Starters: Phillips, Hoff, Queensland (track), Girolamo (promoter).
Emergency Provisionals: Hughes, Lavasseur.
FK Rod Ends Hard Charger: B. Davis (started 15th, finished 9th).
Entries: 50.
Next Race: Sunday, May 25, Pritchard Family Auto Stores Mason City Motor Speedway, Mason City, Iowa.
Summit USMTS National Championship Points: Sanders 888, Jim Chisholm 866, Mullens 800, Strickler 781, Joe Chisholm 760, Williamson 745, Phillips 721, Hughes 668, Brown 662, Christian 642.
Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Points: Joe Chisholm 686, Hughes 596, Solander 483, Girolamo 428, Langford 417.
FK Rod Ends USMTS Hard Charger Points: Williamson 44, Sanders 42, Phillips 35, Jim Chisholm 33, Mullens 30.
Miller Welders USMTS Manufacturers Championship Points: MBCustoms 82, Skyrocket 80, CDR 75, Mullens 57, SSR 48.
JE Pistons USMTS Engine Builder of the Year Points: KSE 87, Hatfield 78, Mullins 64, ECE 63, Stoen 57.

Contingency Awards:
Aero Race Wheels – Steinberg.
American Racer – Girolamo.
Bear Graphix – Hughes.
Beyea Custom Headers – Jim Chisholm.
Bryke Racing – Phillips.
BSB Manufacturing – Langford.
Champ Pans – Schott.
Danny Crane Racing Engines – Strickler.
Dynamic Drivelines – M. Smith.
Edelbrock – M. Smith.
Fast Shafts – Brown.
Featherlite Trailers – Sanders, Hale, Sorensen.
FK Rod Ends – B. Davis.
Gorsuch Performance Solutions – Sanders.
Harris Auto Racing – Lavasseur.
Hodges Farms & Dredging – Bleess.
Hooker Harness – Mullens.
Hyperco – Hoff.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Solander.
Keyser Manufacturing – Timm.
KSE Racing Products – B. Davis.
MD3 – Sanders.
MSD Performance – Jim Chisholm.
Penske Racing Shocks – Brown.
PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain – Christian.
QA1 – Bleess.
Quarter Master – B. Davis.
RaceQuip – Mari.
RacerWebsite – Wetzstein.
Real Racing Wheels – Turner.
Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt – Lavasseur.
Simpson Race Products – Schott.
Sweet Manufacturing – Murgic.
Swift Springs –Hale, Mari, Sanders.
Sybesma Graphics – M. Smith.
Total Power – Williamson.
VP Racing – Sanders.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Neisius.
Wilwood Disc Brakes – Christian.

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