Friday night at Vado Speedway Park, Jake Gallardo worked lapped traffic to perfection and bested Rodney Sanders to win the season-opening event for the USRA American Racer Modified Series presented by Day Motorsports.

The win was Gallardo's first of the season.

“The biggest thing I noticed when he (Sanders) was in three and four, I was really good up there and he was too,” commented Gallardo, the defending Vado Speedway Park USRA Modified track champion. “It was cleaning up in the middle and I think that's why he dropped down. I was able to roll the top and I think I could get a little bit better of a run. The second place guy always has a pretty good advantage in lapped traffic too. Rodney was really good, but I was pretty good too. I was fortunate with lapped traffic to be able to pick my marks.”

Gallardo was the overall top passing points car following the heats. He sent his brother, Peyton, to the tech shed for the redraw and Peyton promptly pulled the lowest chip in the bag (No. 6). He made the work a little tougher on big brother.

“He usually messes around with me a lot,” Jake Gallardo further elaborated. “I asked if he was serious. He usually has better luck than me so that's why I let him. Every now and then he'll get a bad pill and make my job a little more difficult.”

Sanders led the majority of the feature before surrendering the top spot with four laps to go.

Gary Christian completed the podium with a strong third-place effort. Nick Rivera and Lance Mari rounded out the top five.

Broc Bowen passed 12 cars from his 19th starting position to finish seventh. One caution slowed the race.

Heat race wins went to Carlos Ahumada Jr., Rivera, Jake Gallardo and Christian.

Racing concludes Saturday with night two of the 26th Annual Winter Meltdown featuring the American Racer Modified Series presented by Day Motorsports. Saturday's 35 lap feature will pay $3,000 to win and $250 to start.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series
Vado Speedway Park, Vado, N.M.
Friday, March 15, 2024

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown

USRA MODIFIEDS

Heat #1:
1. (2) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas
2. (4) J7 Jake Boles, Alamogordo, N.M.
3. (3) 17 Peyton Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (8) 19SB Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif.
5. (1) 9R Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (6) 11 Lucas Ward, El Paso, Texas
7. (5) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.
8. (9) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (7) 211 Chase Hatton, De Berry, Texas

Heat #2:
1. (2) 8N Nick Rivera, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (5) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
3. (3) 7G Gabe Hodges, Lebo, Kan.
4. (4) 24 Rick Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (1) 56 Broc Bowen, Fannin, Texas
6. (7) 88 Sam Osman, Spiro, Okla.
7. (6) 24X Xavier Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
DNS – 2J Blake Jegtvig, Hawley, Minn.

Heat #3:
1. (3) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (2) 99 Terry Tipton, Duncan, Ariz.
3. (8) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas
4. (7) 37 John Neal Reid, Loving, N.M.
5. (4) 12 Justin Allen, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (6) 18JR Ricardo Olague Jr., El Paso, Texas
7. (5) 85 Austin Adams, El Paso, Texas
8. (1) 88S Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M.

Heat #4:
1. (3) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
2. (1) 77 C.J. Hulsey, El Paso, Texas
3. (5) 91 Joe Duvall, Justice, Okla.
4. (2) 44 Christy Barnett, El Paso, Texas
5. (8) 64 Casey Fowler, Grand Saline, Texas
6. (7) 30 Jamie Newton, Carlsbad, N.M.
7. (6) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas
8. (4) T11 Jacob Twomey, Carthage, Texas

"B" Feature:
1. (2) 88 Sam Osman, Spiro, Okla.
2. (7) 211 Chase Hatton, De Berry, Texas
3. (8) 24X Xavier Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (3) 11 Lucas Ward, El Paso, Texas
5. (4) 18JR Ricardo Olague Jr., El Paso, Texas
6. (6) 85 Austin Adams, El Paso, Texas
7. (1) 30 Jamie Newton, Carlsbad, N.M.
8. (11) T11 Jacob Twomey, Carthage, Texas
9. (10) 88S Nathan Smith, Anthony, N.M.
10. (9) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas
11. (5) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.
DNS – G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
DNS – 2J Blake Jegtvig, Hawley, Minn.

"A" Feature:
1. (6) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (2) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
3. (3) 58X Gary Christian, Broken Bow, Okla.
4. (1) 8N Nick Rivera, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (10) 19SB Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif.
6. (5) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas
7. (18) 56 Broc Bowen, Fannin, Texas
8. (15) 44 Christy Barnett, El Paso, Texas
9. (8) 99 Terry Tipton, Duncan, Ariz.
10. (9) 91 Joe Duvall, Justice, Okla.
11. (13) 7G Gabe Hodges, Lebo, Kan.
12. (4) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas
13. (12) 17 Peyton Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
14. (17) 9R Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
15. (14) 64 Casey Fowler, Grand Saline, Texas
16. (22) 24X Xavier Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
17. (20) 88 Sam Osman, Spiro, Okla.
18. (11) 37 John Neal Reid, Loving, N.M.
19. (19) 12 Justin Allen, Las Cruces, N.M.
20. (23) 11 Lucas Ward, El Paso, Texas
21. (21) 211 Chase Hatton, De Berry, Texas
22. (7) 77 C.J. Hulsey, El Paso, Texas
23. (16) 24 Rick Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
DNS – J7 Jake Boles, Alamogordo, N.M.

USRA STOCK CARS

Heat #1:
1. (1) 74 Jason Josselyn, Alamogordo, N.M.
2. (3) 25 Jeremy Bradley, Odessa, Texas
3. (5) 7 Jason Mendoza, Artesia, N.M.
4. (7) 171 Jed Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (4) 49 A.J. Dancer, Red Rock, Texas
6. (6) 84 Katie Seals, Bosque Farms, N.M.
7. (2) 911 Jullio Villanueva-Quiroga, Las Vegas, Nev.

Heat #2:
1. (5) 10 Bryan Bennett, Tularosa, N.M.
2. (8) 88 Andrew Fanning, Rio Rancho, N.M.
3. (4) 5X Rick Boelter, Los Lunas, N.M.
4. (2) 33Z Michael Zimmerman, Elephant Butte, N.M.
5. (1) 143 Danny Gross Jr., Los Lunas, N.M.
6. (3) 3 Josh Reynolds, Alamogordo, N.M.
7. (6) 53JT Justin Thornton, Chandler, Ariz.
8. (7) 72X Cameron Martin, Los Lunas, N.M.
DNS – 00X Jonathan Burton, Las Cruces, N.M.

Heat #3:
1. (1) M17 Rob Moseley, Los Lunas, N.M.
2. (3) 2 Kohl McCutcheon, Alamogordo, N.M.
3. (2) 99 Chase Ortiz, El Paso, Texas
4. (7) 4 Justin Loera, Lubbock, Texas
5. (5) 00 Shawn McCarty, Carlsbad, N.M.
6. (4) 5 Russell Allen, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (6) B51 Bobby Sandy, Bosque Farms, N.M.
8. (8) 665 Roby Knight, Las Cruces, N.M.

Heat #4:
1. (2) 3J Josh Cain, Rio Rancho, N.M.
2. (7) 6FO Javie Chavez, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (3) 37 Fred Gibson, El Paso, Texas
4. (6) 51 Kenny McCoy, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (5) 3H Hunter Huerta, Anthony, N.M.
6. (1) 511 Cory Williams, Slaton, Texas
7. (4) 96X Herman Garcia, Espanola, N.M.

"B" Feature:
1. (7) 3 Josh Reynolds, Alamogordo, N.M.
2. (1) 49 A.J. Dancer, Red Rock, Texas
3. (10) 96X Herman Garcia, Espanola, N.M.
4. (2) 00 Shawn McCarty, Carlsbad, N.M.
5. (8) 53JT Justin Thornton, Chandler, Ariz.
6. (6) 143 Danny Gross Jr., Los Lunas, N.M.
7. (5) 911 Jullio Villanueva-Quiroga, Las Vegas, Nev.
8. (11) 665 Roby Knight, Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (4) 84 Katie Seals, Bosque Farms, N.M.
10. (9) B51 Bobby Sandy, Bosque Farms, N.M.
11. (3) 3H Hunter Huerta, Anthony, N.M.
DNS – 5 Russell Allen, Las Cruces, N.M.
DNS – 511 Cory Williams, Slaton, Texas
DNS – 72X Cameron Martin, Los Lunas, N.M.
DNS – 00X Jonathan Burton, Las Cruces, N.M.

"A" Feature:
1. (4) 3J Josh Cain, Rio Rancho, N.M.
2. (6) M17 Rob Moseley, Los Lunas, N.M.
3. (5) 74 Jason Josselyn, Alamogordo, N.M.
4. (17) 3 Josh Reynolds, Alamogordo, N.M.
5. (3) 6FO Javie Chavez, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (8) 2 Kohl McCutcheon, Alamogordo, N.M.
7. (1) 10 Bryan Bennett, Tularosa, N.M.
8. (13) 99 Chase Ortiz, El Paso, Texas
9. (12) 4 Justin Loera, Lubbock, Texas
10. (22) 143 Danny Gross Jr., Los Lunas, N.M.
11. (19) 96X Herman Garcia, Espanola, N.M.
12. (20) 00 Shawn McCarty, Carlsbad, N.M.
13. (16) 33Z Michael Zimmerman, Elephant Butte, N.M.
14. (2) 88 Andrew Fanning, Rio Rancho, N.M.
15. (7) 25 Jeremy Bradley, Odessa, Texas
16. (11) 171 Jed Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.
17. (15) 51 Kenny McCoy, Las Cruces, N.M.
18. (9) 7 Jason Mendoza, Artesia, N.M.
19. (10) 5X Rick Boelter, Los Lunas, N.M.
20. (14) 37 Fred Gibson, El Paso, Texas
21. (21) 53JT Justin Thornton, Chandler, Ariz.
22. (18) 49 A.J. Dancer, Red Rock, Texas
23. (23) 911 Jullio Villanueva-Quiroga, Las Vegas, Nev.
24. (24) 665 Roby Knight, Las Cruces, N.M.

USRA B-MODS

Heat #1:
1. (2) 93 Greg Gorham, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (1) 44 Christy Barnett, El Paso, Texas
3. (9) 23H Hector Barraza, El Paso, Texas
4. (3) 24 Jonathon Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (4) 02 Deuce Teague, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (6) 32 Alex Sutherlin, Aztec, N.M.
7. (8) 59 Travis Sutherlin, Aztec, N.M.
8. (7) 7S Hunter Sandy, Albuquerque, N.M.
9. (5) 4C Chris Hooper, Albuquerque, N.M.

Heat #2:
1. (1) 07 Donavon Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (4) 12 Mike Rosales, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (2) 81 Devon Jobin, Alamogordo, N.M.
4. (7) 4D Danny Concelman, Colorado Springs, Colo.
5. (5) M77 Cameron Martin, Los Lunas, N.M.
6. (3) 46 Jackson Harpole, Farmington, N.M.
7. (6) 59D Jacob Dart, Deming, N.M.
8. (9) 96 Victor Barraza, El Paso, Texas
9. (8) 3R Mel Romero, Las Cruces, N.M.

Heat #3:
1. (2) 23B Israel Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (4) 3 Dickie Gorham, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (7) 88 Andrew Fanning, Rio Rancho, N.M.
4. (1) 86 Luis Salazar, Ciudad Juárez, Chih., Mex.
5. (6) 47 Mingo Jauregui, El Paso, Texas
6. (8) 40 Ruben Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (5) 7 Derel Lackey, Las Cruces, N.M.
8. (3) 77Q Raynie Hughes, Los Lunas, N.M.

Heat #4:
1. (1) 65 Dustin Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (5) M17 Rob Moseley, Los Lunas, N.M.
3. (3) 14 Snowden Duke, Albuquerque, N.M.
4. (7) 3J Josh Cain, Rio Rancho, N.M.
5. (2) 28 Aiden Frazier, Bosque Farms, N.M.
6. (6) 08 Daniel Lozoya, El Paso, Texas
7. (4) 11 Joel Duke, Albuquerque, N.M.
8. (8) 241 David Jay Jr., Las Cruces, N.M.

"B" Feature:
1. (2) 02 Deuce Teague, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (1) 47 Mingo Jauregui, El Paso, Texas
3. (14) 7S Hunter Sandy, Albuquerque, N.M.
4. (4) 28 Aiden Frazier, Bosque Farms, N.M.
5. (7) 46 Jackson Harpole, Farmington, N.M.
6. (9) 59 Travis Sutherlin, Aztec, N.M.
7. (5) 40 Ruben Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
8. (12) 11 Joel Duke, Albuquerque, N.M.
9. (8) 08 Daniel Lozoya, El Paso, Texas
10. (11) 7 Derel Lackey, Las Cruces, N.M.
11. (13) 96 Victor Barraza, El Paso, Texas
12. (6) 32 Alex Sutherlin, Aztec, N.M.
13. (10) 59D Jacob Dart, Deming, N.M.
14. (15) 3R Mel Romero, Las Cruces, N.M.
15. (16) 77Q Raynie Hughes, Los Lunas, N.M.
16. (3) M77 Cameron Martin, Los Lunas, N.M.
DNS – 241 David Jay Jr., Las Cruces, N.M.
DNS – 4C Chris Hooper, Albuquerque, N.M.

"A" Feature:
1. (4) M17 Rob Moseley, Los Lunas, N.M.
2. (3) 23H Hector Barraza, El Paso, Texas
3. (5) 07 Donavon Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (1) 93 Greg Gorham, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (12) 3J Josh Cain, Rio Rancho, N.M.
6. (6) 65 Dustin Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (15) 24 Jonathon Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
8. (7) 12 Mike Rosales, Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (8) 3 Dickie Gorham, Las Cruces, N.M.
10. (9) 88 Andrew Fanning, Rio Rancho, N.M.
11. (11) 4D Danny Concelman, Colorado Springs, Colo.
12. (14) 14 Snowden Duke, Albuquerque, N.M.
13. (21) 46 Jackson Harpole, Farmington, N.M.
14. (23) 40 Ruben Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
15. (18) 47 Mingo Jauregui, El Paso, Texas
16. (19) 7S Hunter Sandy, Albuquerque, N.M.
17. (10) 44 Christy Barnett, El Paso, Texas
18. (24) 11 Joel Duke, Albuquerque, N.M.
19. (17) 02 Deuce Teague, Las Cruces, N.M.
20. (22) 59 Travis Sutherlin, Aztec, N.M.
21. (2) 23B Israel Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
22. (20) 28 Aiden Frazier, Bosque Farms, N.M.
23. (13) 81 Devon Jobin, Alamogordo, N.M.
24. (16) 86 Luis Salazar, Ciudad Juárez, Chih., Mex.

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