Photos by Todd Boyd.

Rodney Sanders arrived at the 81 Speedway on Thursday afternoon and headed down the highway several hours later with a $2,500 winner’s paycheck and his 81st career USMTS victory. Sanders-the 2013 and 2014 USMTS national champion-started deep in field from the outside of the fifth row, and used the high side of C. Ray Hall’s 3/8-mile clay oval to track down early leader Johnny Scott and take the lead with a dozen laps remaining in the 40-lapper.

Scott stole the lead from polesitter Austin Siebert after one lap around the Park City, Kan., speedplant, and set the pace for the next 27 laps before giving way to Sanders in the late stages of the exciting contest. The win was the second of the season for Sanders, and his series-best fourth at the 81 Speedway. During last November’s Park City Chisholm Trail Showdown here, Sanders grabbed his third win on opening night while Johnny Scott, who finished second on Thursday, won the finale the following night.

VanderBeek and Stormy Scott held down the third and fourth finishing positions, R.C. Whitwell took fifth and the rest of the top ten at the checkered flag were 14th-starting Lucas Schott, Ryan Gustin, 16th-starting Cade Dillard, 23rd-starting Jake O’Neil and Dereck Ramirez.

With his runner-up effort, Johnny Scott leap-frogged O’Neil in the USMTS Hunt for the Casey’s Cup points battle by three points (1363 to 1360), Sanders surpassed Schott to claim the third position with 1299 points while Schott is just another eight markers behind with 1291 markers. Stormy Scott sits fifth with 1286, followed by VanderBeek (1276), Ramirez (1250), Terry Phillips (1204), Joe Duvall (978) and Jake Timm (952).

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944.

OFFICIAL RESULTS: United States Modified Touring Series
USMTS Hunt for the Casey’s Cup powered by Summit
Sunflower State Showdown – Round 1 of 3
81 Speedway, Park City, Kan.
Thursday, June 7, 2018

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed and money won. The top 12 in heat race passing points advance to the Casey’s General Stores “A” Main with the top 8 redrawing for the first 8 starting spots.

SIMPSON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (2) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo.
2. (1) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (3) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
4. (7) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
5. (5) 3j Jake Nightingale, Hutchinson, Kan.
6. (6) 747 Colton Eck, Goddard, Kan.
7. (4) 25p Mike Petersilie, Hoisington, Kan.
8. (8) 1m Cody Gearhart (R), Turpin, Okla.
9. (9) 59 Bob Sammann, Winona, Minn.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (4) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
2. (3) 71t R.C. Whitwell, Tucson, Ariz.
3. (5) 20 Rodney Sanders, Worthington, Minn.
4. (2) 87 Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, Kan.
5. (1) 0 Jake O’Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz.
6. (9) 23 Logan Robertson, Shamrock, Texas.
7. (8) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
8. (7) 20rt Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
9. (6) 171 Edward Leecy, Derby, Kan.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 5k Kyle Prauner (R), Norfolk, Neb.
2. (4) 23 Adam Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan.
3. (5) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa.
4. (9) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan.
5. (7) 2g Brandon Givens, Cheney, Kan.
6. (1) 71 Jessie Hoskins (R), Longdale, Okla.
7. (6) 52c Alex Cammon, Wichita, Kan.
8. (8) 32b Bobby Bills, Wichita, Kan.
9. (3) 8c Chris Clark, Jackson, Wyo.

MSD PERFORMANCE HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (1) 1st Johnny Scott, Cameron, Mo.
2. (4) 21t Lance Town, Wellsville, Kan.
3. (2) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
4. (7) 4 Dan Powers, Wichita, Kan.
5. (6) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
6. (8) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
7. (5) 87 Kenny Sweet, Wichita, Kan.
8. (3) 25c Johnny Cammon, Wichita, Kan.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (1) 4 Dan Powers, Wichita, Kan.
2. (2) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
3. (4) 23 Logan Robertson, Shamrock, Texas.
4. (3) 2g Brandon Givens, Cheney, Kan.
5. (7) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
6. (6) 747 Colton Eck, Goddard, Kan.
7. (9) 1m Cody Gearhart (R), Turpin, Okla., LG2/ChevPerf, $90.
8. (8) 52c Alex Cammon, Wichita, Kan., Custom/Cammon, $75.
9. (12) 8c Chris Clark, Jackson, Wyo., GRT/Cornett, $90.
10. (5) 0 Jake O’Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz.
11. (11) 59 Bob Sammann, Winona, Minn., GRT/Allard, $75.
12. (10) 32b Bobby Bills, Wichita, Kan., BillsBuilt/Yancy’s, $75.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (12 laps, top 5 advance):
1. (3) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
2. (1) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
3. (2) 87 Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, Kan.
4. (5) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
5. (9) 20rt Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
6. (11) 171 Edward Leecy, Derby, Kan., TwoM/TwoM, $75.
7. (4) 3j Jake Nightingale, Hutchinson, Kan.
8. (6) 71 Jessie Hoskins (R), Longdale, Okla.
9. (8) 87 Kenny Sweet, Wichita, Kan., BillsBuilt/KBS, $75.
10. (7) 25p Mike Petersilie, Hoisington, Kan., 1stClass/AEM, $90.
11. (10) 25c Johnny Cammon, Wichita, Kan., GRT/Mullins, $75.

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (10) 20 Rodney Sanders, Worthington, Minn., MBCustoms/Hatfield, 40, $2850.
2. (3) 1st Johnny Scott, Cameron, Mo., VanderBuilt/Durham, 40, $1825.
3. (5) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, VanderBuilt/Sput’s, 40, $1300.
4. (2) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., VanderBuilt/Mullins, 40, $995.
5. (8) 71t R.C. Whitwell, Tucson, Ariz., Victory/Tahtinen, 40, $600.
6. (14) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn., MBCustoms/Hill, 40, $790.
7. (11) 19r Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa, Hughes/TriStar, 40, $450.
8. (16) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., MBCustoms/Knowles, 40, $400.
9. (23) 0 Jake O’Neil (R), Tucson, Ariz., LG2/Cornett, 40, $660.
10. (12) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Hughes/Cornett, 40, $630.
11. (1) 16 Austin Siebert, Grandview, Mo., MBCustoms/Durham, 40, $325.
12. (22) 20rt Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz., Jet/Mullins, 40, $300.
13. (20) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Durham, 40, $550.
14. (13) 4 Dan Powers, Wichita, Kan., GRT/KBS, 40, $250.
15. (18) 87 Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, Kan., MBCustoms/Driskell, 39, $250.
16. (17) 23 Logan Robertson, Shamrock, Texas, MBCustoms/Knowles, 39, $325.
17. (9) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 39, $200.
18. (25) 3j Jake Nightingale, Hutchinson, Kan., Mullens/Mullins, 38, $200.
19. (24) 71 Jessie Hoskins (R), Longdale, Okla., Longhorn/Mullins, 39, $250.
20. (21) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustoms/ChevPerf, 31, $525.
21. (26) 747 Colton Eck, Goddard, Kan., GRT/Hillsboro, 27, $200.
22. (4) 23 Adam Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan., VanderBuilt/Speedway, 25, $250.
23. (7) 5k Kyle Prauner (R), Norfolk, Neb., Razor/ChevPerf, 24, $250.
24. (19) 2g Brandon Givens, Cheney, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 10, $200.
25. (15) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan., Hughes/Hatfield, 2, $250.
26. (6) 21t Lance Town, Wellsville, Kan., MBCustoms/Driskell, 1, $250.

(R) = Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year contender

Lap Leaders: Siebert 1, J. Scott 2-28, Sanders 29-40.
Total Laps Led: J. Scott 27, Sanders 12, Siebert 1.
Margin of Victory: 2.830 seconds.
Time of Race: 18 minutes, 50.296 seconds (3 cautions).
Provisional Starters: O’Neil, Hoskins, Nightingale (track), Eck (track).
Eibach Spring Forward Award: Thornton (advanced 13 positions).
FK Rod Ends Hard Charger: Thornton (started 22nd, finished 12th).
Entries: 35.
Next Race: Friday, June 8, Dodge City Raceway Park, Dodge City, Kan.
USMTS Hunt for the Casey’s Cup Points: J. Scott 1363, O’Neil 1360, Sanders 1299, Schott 1291, S. Scott 1286, VanderBeek 1276, Ramirez 1250, Phillips 1204, Duvall 978, Jake Timm 952.
Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year Points: O’Neil 1360, Carlos Ahumada Jr. 760, Zane Ferrell 692, Billy Vogel 610, Lance Mari 529.
USMTS Engine Builder of the Year Points: Durham 149, Sput’s 127, Cornett 122, Hatfield 109, Mullins 107.
USMTS Manufacturers Championship Points: VanderBuilt 169, MBCustoms 167, GRT 122, Hughes 122, LG2 119.

Contingency Awards:
American Racer – A. Cammon.
Beyea Custom Headers – Powers.
BSB Manufacturing – Eck.
Casey’s General Stores – Givens, Leecy.
Champ Pans – Whitwell.
Deatherage Opticians – Thornton.
E3 Spark Plugs – VanderBeek.
Edelbrock – Prauner.
Eibach – Thornton.
Fast Shafts – VanderBeek.
FK Rod Ends – Thornton.
Forty9 Designs – Fuqua, Hoskins.
GRT Race Cars – Eck.
Hooker Harness – Phillips.
Integra Shocks & Springs – Nightingale.
Jerovetz Motorsports Racing Parts – Robertson.
Keyser Manufacturing – Ramirez.
KSE Racing Products – O’Neil.
Maxima Racing Oils – Sanders.
Mesilla Valley Transportation – Clark.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Green.
QA1 – Sanders.
RacerWebsite.com – Leecy.
Real Racing Wheels – all non-qualifiers.
Simpson Performance Products – Siebert.
Swift Springs – Sanders, Green.
Sybesma Graphics – Siebert.
Tire Demon – Siebert.
VP Racing Fuels – Sanders.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Sanders.
Wilwood Disc Brakes – Gustin.