Star-studded field of dirt track racers can't chase down Texan
BARBERVILLE, Fla. - Feb. 12, 2013 - Rodney Sanders fought off hard-charging Kyle Bronson Tuesday night to win the DIRTcar UMP Modified opener at the 42 nd Annual UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment at Volusia Speedway Park.
Sanders, of Happy, Texas, got the best of a star-studded field of 77 DIRTcar UMP Modifieds. The field included several NASCAR stars, including Austin and Ty Dillon, Justin Allgaier, Matt Crafton, Brendan Gaughan, David Stremme, Kenny Wallace and Ken Schrader.
"This is my first time even being here," said Sanders, who has had a remarkable start to the 2013 season. "I think we've won five out of 10 so far."
Bronson, of Brandon, Fla., finished second with Dale Mathison, Schrader and Austin Dillon rounding out the top five.
Also Tuesday night at Volusia, high-speed 410 Sprint Cars were warming up for their action during the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit, beginning Wednesday night. Brad Sweet, of Grass Valley, Calif., who also drives in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, posted a lap of 13.115 seconds at 137.247 mph around the Volusia half-mile oval in his Kasey Kahne Racing car.
The two-week event kicks into high gear Wednesday through Feb. 23. Beginning Wednesday night, the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars begin racing in conjunction with the second night of action for DIRTcar UMP Modifieds.
For more information and updates on the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment, clickDIRTcarNationals.com or follow on Twitter at Twitter.com/DIRTcarNats.
UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment Statistical Report; Feb. 12, 2013; Volusia Speedway Park; Barberville, Fla.
A-MAIN - 20 Laps - 1. (20s) Rodney Sanders ($1,000), 2. (40b) Kyle Bronson, 3. (9M) Dale Mathison, 4. (9s) Ken Schrader, 5. (3) Austin Dillon, 6. (0J) Bryce Jewell, 7. (12) Ivedent Lloyd, 8. (36) Kenny Wallace, 9. (90) Jason Beaulieu, 10. (49) Brian Ruhlman, 11. (31) Justin Allgaier, 12. (8C) Tyler Carpenter, 13. (54W) Matt Westfall, 14. (93) Kelly Shryock, 15. (1G) Devin Gilpin, 16. (77W) Mike Wedelstadt, 17. (41) Ty Dillon, 18. (1s) Brian Shaw, 19. (64) Gary Cook Jr, 20. (44) Dave Hess Jr, 21. (01G) Joey Galloway, 22. (20) Kody Weisner, 23. (18C) Matt Cooper, 24. (17JE) J E Stalder.