DECORAH, Iowa – Sunday night’s 12th annual Nordic Nationals presented by American Racer at Upper Iowa Speedway saw Jake O’Neil out-duel Rodney Sanders to score his fifth USMTS victory and second of the season.
The 27-year-old from Tucson, Ariz., grabbed the lead from Sanders on lap 11, but gave it right back one lap later as the lead duo circled the semi-banked quarter-mile dirt oval at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds.
O’Neil fired back on the 16th lap and this time the pass was for good as he paced the final 24 circuits to earn a $2,500 paycheck.
Emerging in the runner-up spot for the second straight night, Hunter Marriott tightened his grip on the Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year standings while Sanders fended off 11th-starting Ryan Gustin for the third spot. Dereck Ramirez rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Jake O’Neil, Hunter Marriott, Rodney Sanders, Ryan Gustin, Dereck Ramirez, Zack VanderBeek, Dustin Hodges, Chris Oertel, Cory Crapser, Mike Striegel, Jacob Bleess, Lucas Schott, Jake Timm, Troy Hovey, Shawn Ryan, Adam Kates.