LA MONTE, Mo. – Rodney Sanders had been close before, but the 19-year-old from Happy, Texas, finally sealed he deal Friday night as he captured the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour event at the LA Raceway in La Monte, Mo.

After two seasons of racing under the USMTS banner in his family-owned Modified, Sanders teamed up with Bryan Rowland for an all-out assault on the 2009 campaign. Rowland got his career-first win earlier this season in a USMTS Southern Series event while Sanders recorded 13 top-five and 22 top-ten finishes this year before tasting victory for the first time Friday night.

Sanders drew the outside of the front row for the start of the 35-lap Sunoco “A” Main and raced wheel to wheel with polesitter Chad Wheeler for the first lap around the smooth 3/8-mile dirt oval, leading the first lap by a nose.

Nobody got any closer than that until the final lap of the caution-free contest.

While Sanders stretched his advantage to as much as a full straight-away during the first half of the race, Jason Hughes was working his way to the front of the pack from the seventh spot, grabbing second from Wheeler on lap 17.

Hughes shortened the distance between himself and Sanders with each passing lap, and finally moved up on the leader's bumper with three laps to go.

With Sanders struggling to find a way around a lapped car running the same line on the darkening racing surface, Hughes took a peek to the inside on the final lap. Sanders, however, was able to out-race Hughes down the back-stretch and crossed the finish line with Hughes glued to his tail.

Wheeler hung on for a fourth-place paycheck while AFCO Pole Award winner Jason Krohn rounded out the top-5 finishers. Sixth through tenth, respectively, went to Dustin Boney, Johnny Bone Jr., Jim Moody, Dean Wille and Jason Thompson.

In contrast to the last three USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour races where a rough and tacky-fast racing surface contributed to less than half of the field finishing the feature races, the track surface at the LA Raceway Friday night was dry and smooth as all 26 main event starters finished the race.

Hughes continues to lead the Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region points standings, while Sanders jumped into the runner-up spot and trails Hughes by 30 points (913 to 883). VanderBeek is third with 862 markers, followed by Kelly Shryock (859), Boney (795), Bone (769), Dereck Ramirez (767), Rowland (743), Jon Tesch (717) and Scott Green (714).

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER ...

On Saturday night, the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour makes their long-awaited return to the “Diamond of Dirt Tracks” as they return to the state-of-the-art Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo.

The 2nd running of the “Diamond of Dirt Tracks” Modified Nationals will see pit gates opening at 4:00 and grandstand gates opening at 5:00. Hot laps begin at 6:45 and the first heat race takes the green flag at 7:00. Also on the racing card will be the Show-Me Late Model Series.

Race fans can pick up $2-off coupons on Friday at the Casey's General Stores locations in Lincoln, Stockton and Warsaw. Check out www.caseys.com for more information or to find the location nearest you.

The Lucas Oil Speedway is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.2 mile south of US 54 on SR 83, then east. For more information, call the track hotline at 417-282-5984 or visit www.lucasoilspeedway.com online.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Sat., June 27 … Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, Mo.
Thurs., July 23 … Fayette County Speedway, West Union, Iowa
Fri.-Sat., July 24-25 … Elko Speedway, Elko, Minn.
Mon., Aug. 3 … Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, Iowa
Tues., Aug. 4 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, Iowa

As they did on Friday night from the LA Raceway, WatchModsLive.com will be providing a live feed of the Lucas Oil Speedway show. The entire event will be broadcast live online and in real time. For more information, go to WatchModsLive.com.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information from the USMTS.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour (Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region)
3rd Annual Event
LA Raceway, La Monte, Mo.
Friday, June 26, 2009

Showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown and starting position in parentheses. The top 12 drivers in passing points accumulated in the heat races are locked into the Sunoco “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (2)
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (3)
3. 22 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (7)
4. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (9)
5. 15 - Nathan Mayes -- Springdale, AR (4)
6. 5c - Don Crnkovich -- Lenexa, KS (6)
7. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (8)
8. 112 - Justin Moon -- Sedalia, MO (1)
9. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (5)

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 89 - Tate Cole -- Muskogee, OK (2)
2. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (1)
3. 90 - Terry Schultz -- Sedalia, MO (8)
4. 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (6)
5. 12 - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (9)
6. 17 - Lucas Conley -- Spring Hill, KS (3)
7. 20 - Jason Thompson -- Concordia, MO (5)
8. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (4)
9. 96 - Chad Lyle -- Lone Jack, MO (7)

BRODIX HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (2)
2. 18 - Chase Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (3)
3. 68 - Dean Wille -- Warrensburg, MO (7)
4. 11p - Curt Potter -- Boonville, MO (6)
5. 42 - Daulton Greven -- Bolivar, MO (8)
6. 12m - Christopher Moon -- Sedalia, MO (5)
7. 12 - Nathan Vaughn -- Lincoln, MO (4)
8. 9j - Darrell Jones -- Ashland, MO (1)
9. 21m - Steven Martin -- Ozark, MO (9) DNS

AWESOME RACEWEAR HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (1)
2. 00 - Jim Moody -- Odessa, MO (5)
3. 14 - Shawn Nations -- Macks Creek, MO (3)
4. 15 - Richard Payne -- Jefferson City, MO (7)
5. 48 - Jimmy Dowell -- Boonville, MO (2)
6. 25 - Scott Roberts -- Columbia, MO (8)
7. 21 - Johnny Fennewald -- Appleton City, MO (6) DNF
8. 22 - Luke Feeback -- Harrisonville, MO (4) DNF
9. 10p - Jason Pursley -- Hermitage, MO (9) DNS

INTERCOMP HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (4)
2. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (5)
3. 66 - Darryl Turner -- Columbia, MO (2)
4. 66t - Tyler Schmidt -- Easton, KS (1)
5. 24d - Scott Allen -- Urbana, MO (6)
6. 88d - Matt Dotson -- Sturgeon, MO (7)
7. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (8) DNF
8. 8 - Wesley Summers -- Wellington, MO (3) DNS

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (10)
2. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (1)
3. 20 - Jason Thompson -- Concordia, MO (11)
4. 15 - Richard Payne -- Jefferson City, MO (2)
5. 66 - Darryl Turner -- Columbia, MO (3)
6. 21m - Steven Martin -- Ozark, MO (16)
7. 5t - Randy Timms -- Wheatland, OK (13)
8. 11p - Curt Potter -- Boonville, MO (4)
9. 17 - Lucas Conley -- Spring Hill, KS (9)
10. 22 - Luke Feeback -- Harrisonville, MO (14)
11. 48 - Jimmy Dowell -- Boonville, MO (7)
12. 88d - Matt Dotson -- Sturgeon, MO (8)
13. 24d - Scott Allen -- Urbana, MO (6) DNF
14. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (15) DNF
15. 21 - Johnny Fennewald -- Appleton City, MO (12) DNF
16. 42 - Daulton Greven -- Bolivar, MO (5) DNF

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 5 advance):
1. 12 - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (4)
2. 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (3)
3. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (1)
4. 25 - Scotty Roberts -- Columbia, MO (7)
5. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (10)
6. 15 - Nathan Mayes -- Springdale, AR (6)
7. 5c - Don Crnkovich -- Lenexa, KS (8)
8. 96 - Chad Lyle -- Lone Jack, MO (15)
9. 14 - Shawn Nations -- Macks Creek, MO (2)
10. 112 - Justin Moon -- Sedalia, MO (12)
11. 12 - Nathan Vaughn -- Lincoln, MO (11)
12. 12m - Christopher Moon -- Sedalia, MO (9)
13. 66t - Tyler Schmidt -- Easton, KS (5)
14. 8 - Wesley Summers -- Wellington, MO (14)
15. 9j - Darrell Jones -- Ashland, MO (13)
16. 10p - Jason Pursley -- Hermitage, MO (16) DNS

SUNOCO “A” MAIN (35 laps):
1. 20 - Rodney Sanders -- Happy, TX (2)
2. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (7)
3. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (13)
4. 88 - Chad Wheeler -- Muskogee, OK (1)
5. 7k - Jason Krohn -- Slayton, MN (4)
6. 22 - Dustin Boney -- Tonganoxie, KS (9)
7. 12 - Johnny Bone Jr. -- Pea Ridge, AR (14)
8. 00 - Jim Moody -- Odessa, MO (5)
9. 68 - Dean Wille -- Warrensburg, MO (10)
10. 20 - Jason Thompson -- Concordia, MO (17)
11. 90 - Terry Schultz -- Sedalia, MO (8)
12. 89 - Tate Cole -- Muskogee, OK (6)
13. 18 - Chase Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (12)
14. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (3)
15. 14 - Jon Tesch -- Watertown, SD (22)
16. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (11)
17. 65 - Tommy Myer -- Blooming Prairie, MN (18)
18. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (23)
19. 2 - Grant Junghans -- Manhattan, KS (16)
20. 15 - Richard Payne -- Jefferson City, MO (19)
21. 21m - Steven Martin -- Ozark, MO (24)
22. 25 - Scott Green -- Derby, KS (15) -1 Lap
23. 48 - Jimmy Dowell -- Boonville, MO (25) -1 Lap
24. 25 - Scotty Roberts -- Columbia, MO (20) -1 Lap
25. 112 - Justin Moon -- Sedalia, MO (26) -1 Lap
26. 66 - Darryl Turner -- Columbia, MO (21) -1 Lap

Lap Leader: Sanders 1-35.
Total Laps Led: Sanders 35.
AFCO Pole Winner: Krohn.
Provisional Starters: Rowland, Martin, Dowell (track), J. Moon (track).
PBM Performance Products Hard Charger: VanderBeek (started 13th, finished 3rd).
Next Race: Saturday, June 27, Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, Mo. (Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region).
Bear Tire Mo-Kan Region Points: Hughes 913, Sanders 883, VanderBeek 862, Shryock 859, Boney 795, Bone 769, Ramirez 767, Rowland 743, Tesch 717, Green 714.
DandyLand Farms Rookie of the Year Points: G. Junghans 371, Mike Hansen 322, Rich Lewerke 201, Mike Albertsen 193, Cole 149.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Sput’s 246, Mullins 192, ASI 149, JR 124, AEM 79.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: Skyrocket 233, Ramirez 218, Hughes 201, GRT 125, Harris 120.

Contingency Awards:
AFCO Racing Products – Krohn.
American Racer – Shryock.
Isky Racing Cams – Ramirez.
KSE Racing Products – Schultz.
PBM Performance Products – VanderBeek.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Turner.
Nitroquest – VanderBeek.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Schultz.
Quarter Master – Sanders, Moody.
QuickTime Performance Parts – Bone.
Real Racing Wheels – Martin, Mayes.
Ruter Farms – ?????.

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USMTS TITLE SPONSOR: Casey’s General Stores.

USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Awesome Racewear, AwesomeRaceSuits.com, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, COMP Cams, Intensitee Custom Racewear, Intercomp, Karl Chevrolet, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, New Vision Graphics, Nitroquest, PBM Performance Products, Sunoco Race Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: ASi Racewear, Bear Tire, Big Dog Chassis & Fabrication, DandyLand Farms, Day Motor Sports, Diamond Oil Company, Dirthead.com, Gressel Oil Field Service, Just Say Yes, Ramirez Race Cars, Lone Star Super Gas, Olympic Fire Protection, Ruter Farms, WatchModsLive.com, Yeager Machine.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Dynatech Racing Exhaust, Hyperco, ISKY Racing Cams, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Out-Pace Racing Products, Quarter Master, QuickTime Performance Race Parts, Real Racing Wheels, US Brake.