Rodney Sanders won the USRA Modified main event.

The 24th Annual Rancho Milagro Winter Meltdown wrapped Saturday and saw Rodney Sanders best the field of USRA Modifieds in the $3,000-to-win, 35-lap feature event to complete the weekend sweep at the Vado Speedway Park.

A much warmer, sunnier day greeted racers and fans for the second day of the event. Sanders proved that it didn’t matter if it was snowy like Friday or sunny like Saturday—he was the man to beat.

The USRA B-Mods were up for their 20-lapper with double-duty racer Justin Allen on the pole for the second night in a row, sharing the front row with 2021 track champion Mingo Jauregui, but it didn’t take long for fifth-starting Jesse Haynie to race by and into the lead.

Once Haynie got out front he stretched it out as he did the night before while Aasa Flores, Dustin Smith, Xavier Ortega and Israel Ortega battled with Allen and Jauregui for a top-five run.

Multiple cautions kept the field close to Haynie’s No. X15 but on each restart he was able to drive away and held off 11th-starting Flores for his second straight victory.

Flores beat Smith to the line for second when the checkered flag flew.

Jesse Haynie won the USRA B-Mod main event.

Up next were the Medieval USRA Stock Cars for their 20-lapper, and for the second straight night it was the best race of the program.

Josh Reynolds and Jonathan Burton sat on the front row for this one. At the drop of the green it became an instant classic with three- and four-wide racing throughout the field during the entire main event.

Reynolds led, then Burton led and then Rob Moseley, Bryan Bennett and Dustin White all threw their names in the ring for a shot at the lead while Jason Josselyn sliced his way from the tail after a mid-race incident that sent him to the back.

As the laps wound down, fans were treated to a wild finish as Burton led to the white flag but jumped the cushion in turn two, allowing Bennett and White to pull up three-wide for the lead with Josselyn in tow as the pack entered the final set of turns.

White edged Burton and Bennett by less than a second in a true photo-finish to the checkered.

Dustin White won the Medieval USRA Stock Car main event.

The final event of the night—the $3,000-to-win, 35-lap Rancho Milagro USRA Modified main event—was up with Fito Gallardo and Sanders on row one.

Sanders took the lead on the start with Jake Gallardo racing from third into the second spot on the opening lap and trying to stay within striking distance of Sanders out front.

Just behind the leaders, Kollin Hibdon moved in on Fito Gallardo for third while Carlos Ahumada Jr. and Philip Houston were side by side for several laps for fifth.

Sanders continued to pace the field out front with Jake Gallardo continuing to stay several car lengths behind as the leaders worked through lapped traffic.

Sanders was able to slice through traffic with ease while Jake Gallardo did the same and drew closer to the No. 20 as laps wound down.

The final caution of the event was held on lap 20 and bunched the field again. Sanders took back off with Jake Gallardo in tow, looking to challenge for the lead late in the race.

Gallardo threw a few sliders at Sanders but the leader answered each of them and eventually pulled away for the win.

Jake Gallardo ran second with Hibdon third when the final checkered flag flew.

The Vado Speedway Park will be back in action on Tuesday, March 29, when the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series invades VSP for the first time with the USRA Modifieds also in action.

Pits open at 3 p.m. with the grandstands opening at 5. Hot laps are scheduled for 6:30 with qualifying to follow and racing set to begin at 7:30.

Tickets can be purchased at WorldofOutlaws.com. For fans not able to attend in person, all events at the Vado Speedway Park can be seen live on WatchFYE.tv.

For upcoming schedule information and tickets, visit VadoSpeedwayPark.com.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series
Vado Speedway Park, Vado, N.M.
Saturday, March 12, 2022

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

USRA MODIFIEDS

Heat #1:
1. (1) A Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev.
2. (2) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas
3. (8) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (4) J7 Jake Boles, Alamogordo, N.M.
5. (5) 8N Nick Rivera, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (7) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas
7. (3) 3S Sal Gomez, Las Cruces, N.M.
8. (6) 3J Josh Cain, Rio Rancho, N.M.

Heat #2:
1. (7) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (5) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (2) 24 Rick Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (1) 29X Justin Allen, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (3) 44JT Jaime Torres, Tortugas, N.M.
6. (6) 44 Christy Barnett, El Paso, Texas
7. (4) 49 Duane Murphy, El Paso, Texas

Heat #3:
1. (2) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas
2. (6) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
3. (5) 99 Terry Tipton, Duncan, Ariz.
4. (3) 3 Tim Tharp, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (7) 5A Ralph Adams Jr., El Paso, Texas
6. (1) 4 Kenny McCutcheon, Alamogordo, N.M.
7. (4) 54 Carlos Ahumada Sr., El Paso, Texas

Feature:
1. (2) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
2. (4) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (5) A Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev.
4. (1) G17 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (7) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas
6. (3) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas
7. (21) 3J Josh Cain, Rio Rancho, N.M.
8. (11) 3 Tim Tharp, Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (15) 8N Nick Rivera, Las Cruces, N.M.
10. (16) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas
11. (6) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.
12. (12) J7 Jake Boles, Alamogordo, N.M.
13. (9) 24 Rick Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
14. (20) 54 Carlos Ahumada Sr., El Paso, Texas
15. (14) 44JT Jaime Torres, Tortugas, N.M.
16. (19) 49 Duane Murphy, El Paso, Texas
17. (13) 5A Ralph Adams Jr., El Paso, Texas
18. (8) 99 Terry Tipton, Duncan, Ariz.
19. (10) 29X Justin Allen, Las Cruces, N.M.
20. (18) 3S Sal Gomez, Las Cruces, N.M.
21. (17) 4 Kenny McCutcheon, Alamogordo, N.M.
DNS – 44 Christy Barnett, El Paso, Texas

MEDIEVAL USRA STOCK CARS

Heat #1:
1. (8) 3 Josh Reynolds, Alamogordo, N.M.
2. (9) 00 Jonathan Burton, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (3) 5 Shane McNutt, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (7) 46 Devon Jobin, Alamogordo, N.M.
5. (1) 11JR Daniel Sanchez Jr., La Mesa, N.M.
6. (5) 5X Russell Allen, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (10) 37 Fred Gibson, Anthony, N.M.
8. (4) 97 Wyatt Loveland, Alamogordo, N.M.
9. (2) 1I Daniel Blaeser, La Mesa, N.M.
10. (6) 93 Adrian Barraza, El Paso, Texas

Heat #2:
1. (5) M17 Rob Moseley, Los Lunas, N.M.
2. (8) 25 Jeremy Bradley, Odessa, Texas
3. (3) 2 Dustin White, Lamesa, Texas
4. (7) 10 Bryan Bennett, Tularosa, N.M.
5. (10) 0 Jeramy Hughes, Farmington, N.M.
6. (1) 74 Jason Josselyn, Alamogordo, N.M.
7. (4) 82 Sherman Barnett, El Paso, Texas
8. (6) 51 Kenny McCoy, Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (9) 11SR Daniel Sanchez, La Mesa, N.M.
10. (2) 87 Les Gibson, Jackson, Ohio

Feature:
1. (8) 2 Dustin White, Lamesa, Texas
2. (2) 00 Jonathan Burton, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (6) 10 Bryan Bennett, Tularosa, N.M.
4. (12) 74 Jason Josselyn, Alamogordo, N.M.
5. (3) M17 Rob Moseley, Los Lunas, N.M.
6. (1) 3 Josh Reynolds, Alamogordo, N.M.
7. (9) 0 Jeramy Hughes, Farmington, N.M.
8. (4) 25 Jeremy Bradley, Odessa, Texas
9. (7) 5 Shane McNutt, Las Cruces, N.M.
10. (15) 97 Wyatt Loveland, Alamogordo, N.M.
11. (13) 5X Russell Allen, Las Cruces, N.M.
12. (14) 82 Sherman Barnett, El Paso, Texas
13. (5) 46 Devon Jobin, Alamogordo, N.M.
14. (11) 37 Fred Gibson, Anthony, N.M.
15. (10) 11JR Daniel Sanchez Jr., La Mesa, N.M.
16. (17) 11SR Daniel Sanchez, La Mesa, N.M.
17. (18) 87 Les Gibson, Jackson, Ohio
18. (16) 51 Kenny McCoy, Las Cruces, N.M.
19. (19) 93 Adrian Barraza, El Paso, Texas
DNS – 1I Daniel Blaeser, La Mesa, N.M.

USRA B-MODS

Heat #1:
1. (1) 07 Donavon Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (8) 12 Justin Allen, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (3) 23B Israel Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (6) 11 Lucas Ward, El Paso, Texas
5. (2) 83 Xavier Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (5) 49M Donnie Newcomb, El Paso, Texas
7. (7) 96 Victor Barraza, El Paso, Texas
8. (4) 10 Enrique Barraza, El Paso, Texas

Heat #2:
1. (3) 47 Mingo Jauregui, El Paso, Texas
2. (1) 36 Joe Alvarado, El Paso, Texas
3. (7) 3S Sal Gomez, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (5) 5M Eric McNutt, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (4) 82 Sherman Barnett, El Paso, Texas
6. (2) 45 Jay Hill, Dell City, Texas
7. (6) 44D Troy Philllips, Hanover, N.M.
8. (8) 8840 Ruben Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.

Heat #3:
1. (2) 7G Gabriel Hodges, Lebo, Kan.
2. (4) X15 Jesse Haynie, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (7) 65 Dustin Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (5) 05 Aasa Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (3) 44 Christy Barnett, El Paso, Texas
6. (6) 3 Greg Gorham, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (1) 23H Hector Barraza, El Paso, Texas
8. (8) 17 Peyton Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.

Feature:
1. (5) X15 Jesse Haynie, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (12) 05 Aasa Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (7) 65 Dustin Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (13) 83 Xavier Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (1) 12 Justin Allen, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (9) 23B Israel Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (14) 44 Christy Barnett, El Paso, Texas
8. (4) 07 Donavon Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (10) 11 Lucas Ward, El Paso, Texas
10. (3) 7G Gabriel Hodges, Lebo, Kan.
11. (2) 47 Mingo Jauregui, El Paso, Texas
12. (19) 23H Hector Barraza, El Paso, Texas
13. (18) 3 Greg Gorham, Las Cruces, N.M.
14. (11) 5M Eric McNutt, Las Cruces, N.M.
15. (15) 82 Sherman Barnett, El Paso, Texas
16. (8) 36 Joe Alvarado, El Paso, Texas
17. (22) 17 Peyton Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
18. (20) 44D Troy Philllips, Hanover, N.M.
19. (23) 8840 Ruben Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
20. (17) 49M Donnie Newcomb, El Paso, Texas
21. (21) 96 Victor Barraza, El Paso, Texas
22. (16) 45 Jay Hill, Dell City, Texas
23. (6) 3S Sal Gomez, Las Cruces, N.M.
DNS – 10 Enrique Barraza, El Paso, Texas