Friday night at Vado Speedway Park, Jake Gallardo worked lapped traffic to perfection. He bested Rodney Sanders late to win the season opening event for the USRA American Racer Modified Series presented by Day Motorsports. The win is 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 Modified 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 he promptly pulled the lowest chip in the bag, number six. He made the work a little tougher on big brother.

“He usually messes around with me a lot,” 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.”

The evening's runner up, Rodney 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 balance of the top five.

Only one caution slowed the race. Broc Bowen passed 12 cars from his 19th starting position to finish seventh. Heat race wins went to Carlos Ahumada Jr., Nick Rivera, Jake Gallardo and Gary Christian.

Tomorrow racing concludes for the weekend at Vado Speedway Park, 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 $3000 to win and $250 to start.

Wehrs Machine & Racing Products A Feature (30 laps): 1. Jake Gallardo 2. Rodney Sanders 3. Gary Christian 4. Nick Rivera 5. Lance Mari 6. Carlos Ahumada Jr. 7. Broc Bowen 8. Christy Barnett 9. Terry Tipton 10. Joe Duvall 11. Gabe Hodges 12. Philip Houston 13. Peyton Gallardo 14. Jimmy Ray 15. Casey Fowler 16. Xavier Ortega 17. Sam Osman 18. John Neal Reid 19. Justin Allen 20. Lucas Ward 21. Chase Hatton 22. C.J. Hulsey 23. Rick Ortega 24. Jake Boles

Day Motorsports B Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. Sam Osman 2. Chase Hatton 3. Xavier Ortega 4. Lucas Ward 5. Ricardo Olague Jr. 6. Austin Adams 7. Jamie Newton 8. Jacob Twomey 9. Nathan Smith 10. Tom Georges 11. Royal Jones 12. Fito Gallardo 13. Blake Jegtvig

ARMI Contractors Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. Carlos Ahumada Jr. 2. Jake Boles 3. Peyton Gallardo 4. Lance Mari 5. Jimmy Ray 6. Lucas Ward 7. Royal Jones 8. Fito Gallardo 9. Chase Hatton

Kenny's Tile Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. Nick Rivera 2. Rodney Sanders 3. Gabe Hodges 4. Rick Ortega 5. Broc Bowen 6. Sam Osman 7. Xavier Ortega 8. Blake Jegtvig

S&S Fishing and Rental Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. Jake Gallardo 2. Terry Tipton 3. Philip Houston 4. John Neal Reid 5. Justin Allen 6. Ricardo Olague Jr. 7. Austin Adams 8 . Nathan Smith

Fast Shafts Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. Gary Christian 2. C.J. Hulsey 3. Joe Duvall 4. Christy Barnett 5. Casey Fowler 6. Jamie Newton 7. Tom Georges 8. Jacob Twomey

The American Racer Modified Series Presented by Day Motorsports would like to thank their 2024 season long partners.

Gold Partners - ARMI Contractors, Day Motorsports, Hochatown Saloon, Kenny's Tile, Midwest Sheet Metal, RacinDirt.com, Real Racing Wheels, S&S Fishing and Rental, VP Racing Fuels Heartland, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products

Silver Partners – American Racer Tires, Central Spray Foam & Cement Lifting, Duvall Electric, Fast Shafts, Freight Logistics Inc., Integra Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, Milburn Property LLC

Bronze Partners – Charlie Williams Painting, Fowler Locomotive Sales, Lassiter Construction, Rick Beebe Heating and Air Conditioning, Transmissions Unlimited

2024 ARMS Point Fund

1. $7,500

2. $4,500

3. $3,500

4. $3,000

5. $2,500

6. $2,400

7. $2,300

8. $2,200

9. $2,100

10. $2,000

*80 Percent attendance required to remain point fund eligible*