Sanders masters Cedar Lake Speedway on Saturday

Sanders masters Cedar Lake Speedway

NEW RICHMOND, Wis. -- Rodney Sanders scored a convincing win on the final night of the 14th Annual Masters Saturday night at the Cedar Lake Speedway, capturing his third USMTS Casey’s Cup Series win of the season and pocketing the $2,000 winner’s share of the prize money.

Polesitter Zack VanderBeek led the field to the green flag for the start of the 35-lap main event, but it was outside front row starter Jason Krohn edging ahead to lead the first lap.

Krohn continued to set the pace for the next six laps with VanderBeek tucked in close behind until Steve Wetzstein’s spin on lap 6 brought out the race’s first caution flag.

Back under green, Krohn continued to lead the march with his first win of the 2012 campaign in his crosshairs, while VanderBeek now had his hands full fending off Jon Tesch for second place and three-time Cedar Lake Speedway winner Ryan Gustin wrestled with Brent Larson for the fourth spot.

Krohn’s advantage was five car-lengths by lap 17 when the second and final yellow flag waved for Stormy Scott as he came to a stop atop turn 2 with mechanical woes.

When the race resumed, Krohn shot to the high line while VanderBeek took the middle groove and Gustin hugged the low line. The trio exited turn 2 three wide but the 2007 USMTS National Champion was able to maintain the lead as they completed lap 18.

Sanders made his presence known the next time around. ‘The Rocket’ went around Gustin, scooted underneath Tesch and then powered around the outside of VanderBeek to grab second by the end of the 19th lap.

Pulling alongside Krohn down the back-stretch, Sanders made his move in turns 3-4 the next time around and crossed beneath the flagstand with a half-car-length advantage to complete lap 21.

From there, the race was for second place as Sanders blistered the field over the final 15 laps en route to recording his eighth career USMTS victory. Even more impressive, it was the 14th top-five and 16th top-ten finish in 17 starts for the USMTS Casey’s Cup Series points leader.

Krohn fended off the challenges of VanderBeek, and then comfortably rolled to a runner-up finish with Tesch coming home fourth and Larson finishing fifth.

Dave Cain came from 15th to finish sixth, Gustin faded to seventh, Ryan Ruter ended up eighth, Scott Duval nabbed the ninth spot and USMTS rookie Daniel Hilsabeck rounded out the top-10 at the finish line.