ROCK RAPIDS, Iowa – Rodney Sanders registered his sixth Summit USMTS National Championship fueled by Casey’s main event win of the season as he raced his way into victory lane Friday at the Rapid Speedway with a late-race pass of Jason Hughes during the 12th Annual Rapid Rumble presented by American Racer.
The $3,000 effort came one week shy of the anniversary of his first win in 2009 and was the 103rd checkered flag for the 30-year-old from Happy, Texas, which ties him for third on the all-time USMTS wins list with Ryan Gustin.
Jason Hughes led the first 30 of the 35-lap feature race before Sanders was able to blast around the four-time USMTS champion and go on to win. Second on the all-time wins list, the pass and runner-up finish denied Hughes of his 156th career win and first triumph since Sept. 3, 2017.
Kelly Shryock continues as the winningest USMTS competitor of all time with 182 wins on his resume while capturing nine series titles. He was the winner of the inaugural Rapid Rumble in 2006.
Now a three-time winner of this event, Sanders crossed the finish line 1.14 seconds ahead of Hughes while 2017 Rapid Rumble winner Dereck Ramirez came home third in front of Hunter Marriott and Tanner Mullens.
The finish:
Rodney Sanders, Jason Hughes, Dereck Ramirez, Hunter Marriott, Tanner Mullens, Terry Phillips, Casey Skyberg, Tyler Davis, Adam Kates, Kyle Brown, Don Gerritsen Jr., Nathan Hagar, Calvin Iverson, Miah Christensen, Brock Hess.