Sanders surges to victory at Creek County Speedway

NewsJuly 31, 2025 by Jeff Nun

Sanders surges to victory at Creek County Speedway

KELLYVILLE, Okla. (July 31, 2025)—On a thrilling Thursday night, Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas, powered to the win in the Sooner Showdown presented by Duvall Electric, part of the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt, at Creek County Speedway.

The 40-lap main event saw intense battles and a dramatic finish, with Sanders claiming his sixth victory of the year, and 158th of his career.

Starting third, ‘The Rocket' took the lead on lap 14 from pole-sitter Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., and held on through the final 27 laps to secure the win with a margin of victory of 1.553 seconds.

Phillips fought back valiantly, edging out Jim Chisholm of Osage, Iowa, by a bumper at the checkered flag to claim second place. Chisholm settled for third, while Tanner Mullens of Wichita, Kan., charged from 19th to finish fourth, earning the FK Rod Ends Hard Charger Award.

Gary Christian of Broken Bow, Okla., rounded out the top five. The rest of the top 10 included Tyler Davis (Haysville, Kan.) in sixth, Kyle Brown (Madrid, Iowa) in seventh, Joe Chisholm (Osage, Iowa) in eighth, Kyle Strickler (Mooresville, N.C.) in ninth, and Trevor Hughes (Westville, Okla.) in 10th.

The race, which featured 34 entries and 10 cautions in the feature, showcased fierce competition from the outset. Phillips led the first 13 laps with Joe Chisholm giving the hall-of-famer to rest before Sanders made his move, capitalizing on a strong run through the middle of the race.

On the dirt this Friday and Saturday at the Lucas Oil Speedway it's the 16th annual USMTS Slick Mist Show-Me Shootout presented by Foley Equipment, bringing the stars of the Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt for back-to-back nights of racing.

The USMTS Show-Me Shootout has become one of the highlight events of the schedule over the years, expanding to a two-day event in 2024 when Jim Chisholm of Osage, Iowa, swept both features. Chisholm, the reigning series champion, returns and is giving chase to five-time USMTS king Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas.

For more information, visit www.usmts.com.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
Summit USMTS National Championship presented by RacinDirt
3rd Annual Sooner Showdown presented by Duvall Electric
Creek County Speedway, Kellyville, Okla.
Thursday, July 31, 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. (7) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., 14.855
2. (17) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, 14.901
3. (12) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa, 15.001
4. (10) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla., 15.017
5. (14) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C., 15.031
6. (13) 7 Treyton Gann, Ponca City, Okla., 15.054
7. (15) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan., 15.073
8. (5) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M., 15.092
9. (11) 52 Chad Davis, Sapulpa, Okla., 15.219
10. (9) 15W Kale Westover, Altus, Okla., 15.355
11. (8) 91 Joe Duvall, Justice, Okla., 15.361
12. (6) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa, 15.405
13. (4) 1S James Reed, Oklahoma City, Okla., 15.491
14. (3) 24B Chris Bragg, Springtown, Texas, 15.515
15. (16) 8S Robert Scott, Sand Springs, Okla., 15.561
16. (2) 54T Matthew Day, Farmersville, Texas, 15.638
17. (1) 17 Brandon Dean, Sapulpa, Okla., 15.775

HODGES FARMS & DREDGING QUALIFYING GROUP #2:
1. (13) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan., 14.793
2. (9) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa, 14.966
3. (11) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla., 15.070
4. (4) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan., 15.085
5. (1) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn., 15.169
6. (15) 4W Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark., 15.251
7. (6) 21 Chris Wilhite Jr, Chandler, Okla., 15.309
8. (7) 703 Treven Geter, Lindsay, Okla., 15.341
9. (2) 71 Chad Melton, Mineral Wells, Texas, 15.414
10. (10) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D., 15.457
11. (16) 27 Greg Skaggs, Coweta, Okla., 15.556
12. (5) 39 Ho Dean, Tulsa, Okla., 15.591
13. (8) 32 Ryan Murphy, Fort Gibson, Okla., 15.808
14. (12) 12 Eric Redman, Sapulpa, Okla., 15.821
15. (14) 77 Kendall Shultz, Broken Arrow, Okla., 16.113
16. (17) 7D Jason Davis, Skiatook, Okla., 16.121
17. (3) 2 Lane Traster, Prue, Okla., 17.496

SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps):
1. (1) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
2. (2) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
3. (3) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C.
4. (4) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
5. (6) 91 Joe Duvall, Justice, Okla.
6. (5) 52 Chad Davis, Sapulpa, Okla.
7. (7) 1S James Reed, Oklahoma City, Okla.
8. (9) 17 Brandon Dean, Sapulpa, Okla.
9. (8) 8S Robert Scott, Sand Springs, Okla.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps):
1. (1) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
2. (2) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
3. (4) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
4. (3) 7 Treyton Gann, Ponca City, Okla.
5. (5) 15W Kale Westover, Altus, Okla.
6. (6) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
7. (7) 24B Chris Bragg, Springtown, Texas
8. (8) 54T Matthew Day, Farmersville, Texas

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps):
1. (2) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
2. (5) 71 Chad Melton, Mineral Wells, Texas
3. (3) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
4. (8) 77 Kendall Shultz, Broken Arrow, Okla.
5. (7) 32 Ryan Murphy, Fort Gibson, Okla.
6. (4) 21 Chris Wilhite Jr, Chandler, Okla.
7. (6) 27 Greg Skaggs, Coweta, Okla.
8. (9) 2 Lane Traster, Prue, Okla.
9. (1) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.

WIELAND HEAT RACE #4 (10 laps):
1. (3) 4W Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark.
2. (1) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
3. (2) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan.
4. (5) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
5. (4) 703 Treven Geter, Lindsay, Okla.
6. (6) 39 Ho Dean, Tulsa, Okla.
7. (7) 12 Eric Redman, Sapulpa, Okla.
8. (8) 7D Jason Davis, Skiatook, Okla.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (2) 7 Treyton Gann, Ponca City, Okla.
2. (5) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
3. (3) 91 Joe Duvall, Justice, Okla.
4. (11) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
5. (6) 52 Chad Davis, Sapulpa, Okla.
6. (1) 77 Kendall Shultz, Broken Arrow, Okla.
7. (9) 17 Brandon Dean, Sapulpa, Okla.
8. (10) 54T Matthew Day, Farmersville, Texas
9. (4) 703 Treven Geter, Lindsay, Okla.
10. (7) 27 Greg Skaggs, Coweta, Okla.
11. (8) 24B Chris Bragg, Springtown, Texas

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (2) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
2. (3) 15W Kale Westover, Altus, Okla.
3. (5) 39 Ho Dean, Tulsa, Okla.
4. (6) 21 Chris Wilhite Jr, Chandler, Okla.
5. (4) 32 Ryan Murphy, Fort Gibson, Okla.
6. (11) 8S Robert Scott, Sand Springs, Okla.
7. (1) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
8. (9) 2 Lane Traster, Prue, Okla.
9. (10) 7D Jason Davis, Skiatook, Okla.
10. (8) 12 Eric Redman, Sapulpa, Okla.
DQ - (7) 1S James Reed, Oklahoma City, Okla.

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (3) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
2. (1) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
3. (4) 24C Jim Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
4. (19) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.
5. (6) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
6. (14) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
7. (15) 21K Kyle Brown, Madrid, Iowa
8. (2) 25 Joe Chisholm, Osage, Iowa
9. (10) 8 Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C.
10. (5) 712 Trevor Hughes, Westville, Okla.
11. (21) 52 Chad Davis, Sapulpa, Okla.
12. (20) 21 Chris Wilhite Jr, Chandler, Okla.
13. (13) 7 Treyton Gann, Ponca City, Okla.
14. (11) 55H A.J. Hoff, Mantorville, Minn.
15. (9) 2SS Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
16. (18) 39 Ho Dean, Tulsa, Okla.
17. (7) 71 Chad Melton, Mineral Wells, Texas
18. (22) 32 Ryan Murphy, Fort Gibson, Okla.
19. (16) 15W Kale Westover, Altus, Okla.
20. (17) 91 Joe Duvall, Justice, Okla.
21. (23) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
22. (12) 5 Reece Solander, Emporia, Kan.
23. (8) 4W Tyler Wolff, Fayetteville, Ark.

Lap Leaders: Phillips 1, Joe Chisholm 2, Phillips 3-12, Sanders 13-40.
Total Laps Led: Sanders 28, Phillips 11, Joe Chisholm 1.
Margin of Victory: 1.553 seconds.
Time of Race: 33 minutes, 08.253 seconds (10 cautions).
Provisional Starter: Girolamo.
FK Rod Ends Hard Charger: Mullens (started 19th, finished 4th).
Entries: 34.
Next Race: Aug. 1-2, Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, Mo.
Summit USMTS National Championship Points: Sanders 1990, Jim Chisholm 1837, Mullens, Joe Chisholm 1709, Strickler 1684, Phillips 1637, Christian 1620, Hughes 1453, Solander 1434, Brown 1402.
Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Points: Joe Chisholm 1540, Hughes 1325, Solander 1303, Girolamo 894, Smith 689.
FK Rod Ends USMTS Hard Charger Points: Sanders 84, Mullens 75, Phillips 68, Jim Chisholm 65, Alex Williamson 58.
Miller Welders USMTS Manufacturers Championship Points: MBCustoms 183, Skyrocket 175, CDR 169, Mullens 141, Bloodline 105.
JE Pistons USMTS Engine Builder of the Year Points: KSE 183, Hatfield 178, Mullins 152, ECE 145, Durham 112.

Contingency Awards:
Aero Race Wheels – Mullens.
American Racer – Brown.
Bear Graphix – Solander.
Beyea Custom Headers – Mullens.
Bryke Racing – Smith.
BSB Manufacturing – Duvall.
Champ Pans – Christian.
Danny Crane Racing Engines – T. Davis.
Driven Racing Oil – Sanders.
Dynamic Drivelines – Wolff.
Edelbrock – Christian.
Fast Shafts – Sanders.
Featherlite Trailers – Jim Chisholm, Phillips, Sanders.
FK Rod Ends – Mullens.
Gorsuch Performance Solutions – Sanders.
Harris Auto Racing – Girolamo.
Hodges Farms & Dredging – Mullens.
Hooker Harness – Willhite.
Hyperco – Day.
Integra Racing Shocks & Springs – Murphy.
Keyser Manufacturing – Hughes.
KSE Racing Products – Mullens.
MD3 – Sanders.
MSD Performance – Mullens.
Penske Racing Shocks – Gann.
PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain – Wolff.
QA1 – Mullens.
Quarter Master – Strickler.
RaceQuip – Wolff.
RacerWebsite – J. Davis.
Real Racing Wheels – H. Dean.
Rush RaceGear by Austin Witt – Shultz.
Simpson Race Products – Phillips.
Sweet Manufacturing – D. Ho.
Swift Springs – Mullens, C. Davis, Sanders.
Sybesma Graphics – Phillips.
Total Power – C. Davis.
VP Racing – Sanders.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Redman.
Wilwood Disc Brakes – Brown.

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