PETTY, Texas — Rocket Raceway Park saw 63 USRA Modified make their way through the gates of the three-eighths-mile dirt oval Saturday for the 9th Annual Bryan Mize Memorial headlined by the American Racer USRA Modified Series powered by Day Motor Sports.
One of the competitors pulling into the pits was four-time USMTS National Champion Jason Hughes, pulling his familiar No. 12 Hughes Racing Chassis with a pickup and an open trailer.
With $9,000 posted for the winner, S&S Fishing & Rental stepped up to make it an even $10,000 for the winner of the 40-lap main event.
Hughes wasted little time in the race, speeding from his position on the outside of the third row when the green flag waved to the lead in a little more than five laps.
Once he got around early leader Tyler Davis, the 49-year-old racer left no doubt as he sailed to an easy victory on an ultra-smooth, black and slick-from-top-to-bottom racing surface—just the way he likes it.
Not only did Hughes arrive with an open trailer but his wife, Julie, was his only companion as she rode shotgun and played the role of crew chief for the night.
“Hell, it’s too much work in the other truck,” Hughes said of his usual long, blue toter home and racecar hauler. “It’s just me and my wife tonight so we had to make it easier.”
Hughes wasn’t easy on the competition though.
Three cautions kept his pursuers within striking distance but with every green flag lap Hughes just pulled away as he flawlessly circled the center of the racetrack.
“It was as good a race,” Hughes said. “I’ve been down here in the spring a lot and it’s rained; it’s been rough and I brought my son (Trevor) down here and it’s smooth and I loved it. This place is awesome to race on.”
The margin of victory was 3.536 seconds as Rodney Sanders settled for second-place for a second straight night.
“It’s a good day,” Hughes exclaimed. “We didn’t leave the house until about 1 o’clock today and hopefully we’ll be back about 3 or 4 in the morning.”
Sanders, who started 11th, held off a hard-charging 12th-starting Tanner Mullens with Tyler Wolff and polesitter Dennie Gieber completing the top five at the finish line.
Bo Day and Colby Smith scored sixth and seventh-place finishes while Davis wound up eighth in the final rundown.
Jared Russell passed seven competitors to nab the ninth spot and Max Eddie Thomas went from 20th to 10th in the 40-lapper.
Four of the top-ten finishers started from the sixth row and back, including 23rd-starting Justin McCoy who passed 11 of his competitors to finish 12th and pick up the Dickson Transport Hard Charger Award.