6/7/2025
Rodney Sanders
Sanders charges to Doug Murphrey Memorial victory
Action-Packed USMTS Week Looms for Five-Time Champ
HAPPY, Tex. (06/09/25) – “The Rocket” Rodney Sanders lived up to his nickname on Saturday when he drove to a $10,000 payday in the 19th annual Doug Murphrey Memorial finale at Greenwood, Louisiana’s Boothill Speedway.
The triumph was the 125th of his Summit United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) career.
“I felt like I could carry good speed around the top when I could really charge a corner of somebody in front of me,” Sanders said. “Sometimes when you’re searching out front you don’t really know where to go. I didn’t know if the guys behind me would see the screen and move around.”
Sanders, who was among 38 USMTS Modified competitors at the 3/8-mile track, steered his No. 20 car to the third-quickest time in his qualifying group during Saturday's session. He then finished third in his heat race and started the 50-lap A-Main from the 12th position. He quickly moved forward and took over the top spot with 16 laps remaining, using a pass on the inside of Jason Hughes exiting turn two to claim the lead. Sanders showed the way for the remainder of the race to take his fifth feature victory of the year by a 4.471-second margin over Kyle Strickler, with Hughes finishing third. Chris Henigan and Gary Christian rounded out the top five.
Sanders’ win capped his strong Doug Murphrey Memorial weekend, which began on Friday in a 40-car USMTS field on hand for preliminary action at Boothill.
Sanders qualified ninth in his group on Friday evening before finishing fourth in his heat. He took the checkers in his B-Main and started 14th in the $5,000-to-win feature. He marched forward in the 40-lapper and finished third, rounding out the podium behind Jim Chisholm and Henigan. Tanner Mullens took fourth and Kyle Strickler came home fifth.
Sanders currently leads the Summit USMTS National Championship standings by 56 points over Jim Chisholm.
Following the Saturday victory, Sanders competed in a 19-car field USRA Northern Lights Modified Series field at Mason City (Iowa) Motor Speedway on Sunday evening. He qualified fifth on the 1/3-mile track, finished third in his heat race, and started on the pole in the 30-lap feature. He led 18 laps and was out front with six circuits remaining when he relinquished the lead to eventual winner Jacob Bleess. Sanders finished 1.948 second behind Bleess, while Brandon Davis, Joe Chisholm and Shadren Turner completed the top five.
Full results from Boothill Speedway are at www.USMTS.com, and results from Mason City Motor Speedway at www.NorthernLightsModifiedSeries.com.
With little time to reset, Sanders and the USMTS field are back in action Wednesday at Fayette County Speedway for the War in West Union. The week continues with a trip to Cedar Lake Speedway for the 26th annual Masters. A full breakdown of Sanders’ upcoming schedule is listed below.
June 11 – Fayette County Speedway – War in West Union
June 12 – Cedar Lake Speedway – Masters
June 13 – Cedar Lake Speedway – Masters
June 14 – Cedar Lake Speedway – Masters
Full event details are available at www.USMTS.com.
Rodney Sanders would like to thank all of his sponsors including Wichita Tank Racing, ARMI Contractors, Mesilla Valley Transportation, S&S Fishing and Rental, Kenny’s Tile, MB Customs, Hatfield Race Engines, Hibner Logging, Keith Hammett Trucking & Construction, Bergman Tax and Accounting, Paulson Rock Products, Stussy Construction, Integra Shocks, Shocker Hitch, Olsen Custom Farms, Swift Springs, Texas Locomotive Solutions, American Masonry Contractors, FK Rod Ends, CMD Race Shocks, Wehrs Machine, 87 Automotive, Keyser Manufacturing, Allstar Performance, Speedway Motors, Schoenfeld Headers, JE Pistons, Walker Performance Filtration, Day Motorsports, Real Wheels, Palmer Painting, Deatherage Opticians, Wilwood Brakes, PEM Rearends, Winning Edge Carburetors, McCartney Welding, Simpson Race Products, Buzz Signs & Graphix, and MyRacePass.com Marketing Services.
For the latest updates on Rodney Sanders, visit www.RodneySandersRacing.net. Fans can also stay connected by subscribing to his official mailing list at https://pages/5ZJHIM.
Article Credit: Scott Burson | Scott's Custom Art image