WINTER MELTDOWN — NIGHT 1 RECAP
Friday, March 13, 2026 — Vado Speedway Park
Presented by our class partners:
Hulsey Racing Legends • Hacienda Carpet & Tile USRA B‑Mods • Extreme Landscaping USRA Stock Cars • Mendoza Law Firm USRA Modifieds
Night 1 of the 2026 Winter Meltdown lit up the desert as four divisions took center stage under perfect early‑season New Mexico clay. Fans packed into Vado Speedway Park expecting horsepower, drama, and the official return of racing season — and they got all of it.
This recap follows the exact order of events just as the night unfolded.
🔥 HEATS
Hulsey Racing Legends — Heat Action
The Legends kicked off the night, shaking off winter dust with tight, elbows‑up racing. Early heat races showed two things immediately:
- Cale Riggs (96) was already in mid‑season form.
- The rest of the field wasn’t planning to make his life easy.
Fast wheels, a tacky top groove, and one early scare when Edwin Garrett went for a wild ride punctuated the opening division — thankfully, Garrett walked away safe.
Hacienda Carpet & Tile USRA B‑Mods — Heat Action
The B‑Mods came out swinging, with heats offering a preview of the main-event intensity to come. Greg Gorham (93) looked like a hammer on a nail all night, controlling his heat from the first corner. Rob Moseley, Devin Smith, and Israel Ortega all flashed the kind of speed that promised fireworks later.
Extreme Landscaping USRA Stock Cars — Heat Action
The Stock Cars rumbled out next, delivering their signature combination of torque, contact, and crowd‑pleasing unpredictability. RC Combs and Bryan Bennett (777) looked the sharpest early, while Eric McNutt (5M) quietly set up what would become one of the best charges of the night.
Mechanical gremlins showed early for several teams — a sign of the season opener — but the talent pool was deep, and the pace was furious.
Mendoza Law Firm USRA Modifieds — Heat Action
The A‑Mods closed the heat‑race portion with patience-testing intensity. Lance Mari (19SB) and Fito Gallardo (G17) each took advantage of a fast early surface. Meanwhile, Rodney Sanders (20) didn’t panic after a mid-pack heat race start — the multi‑time champion is known for playing the long game, and he absolutely did.
⏸ INTERMISSION
A brief break let fans grab Jaime’s burritos, Elephant Ranch drinks, MVT ice cream treats, and settle in for the headliners.
🏁 MAIN EVENTS
Hulsey Racing Legends — A‑MAIN
Winner: Cale Riggs (96)
The Legends launched into their feature with fire from the drop of the green. Early leaders diced in two‑ and three‑wide packs, but as the surface widened out, Riggs took command. The high side was his domain, and once he cleared the final battle with Brandon Williams (82), the defending champ never looked back.
Angel Garcia (6) completed the podium after a composed and calculated drive.
A major moment came early when the field reset after the earlier flip from Garrett’s heat — adding a layer of tension every time traffic appeared. Riggs’ win marked the perfect start to a title defense.
Hacienda Carpet & Tile USRA B‑Mods — A‑MAIN
Winner: Greg Gorham (93)
Night 1 belonged to Gorham.
Starting on the pole after a flawless heat, Gorham survived multiple cautions, heavy lapped traffic, and late challenges from Rob Moseley (M17) to secure the first B‑Mod feature win of the 2026 season.
Josh Cain (3J) finished third after consistent pressure throughout the race.
The middle portion of the feature saw the field knotted tight — slide‑jobs, pinch points, and restart chaos — but Gorham’s composure never cracked. Hacienda Carpet & Tile’s division delivered one of the cleanest, most professional features of the night.
Extreme Landscaping USRA Stock Cars — A‑MAIN
Winner: Eric McNutt (5M)
Hard‑charger alert: Started 10th → 1st
The Stock Cars were electric.
After early-race leaders Bennett and Combs exchanged blows (figuratively), the complexion of the race changed when McNutt began carving through the field.
The 5M machine looked stuck — straight rail, no wiggles — and every restart favored him more. He swept to the front in the closing laps and withstood a final-lap surge from Combs to lock down a massive season‑opening win.
Attrition and contact claimed multiple cars behind them, including Josh Cain, Darell Cordary, and others who saw promising runs evaporate late.
Extreme Landscaping’s division once again delivered its classic trademark: beautiful chaos.
Mendoza Law Firm USRA Modifieds — A‑MAIN
Winner: Rodney Sanders (20)
Another hard‑charging night: Started 10th → 1st
The headliner did not disappoint.
Lance Mari (19SB) controlled the early race with finesse, dominating the bottom lane and making traffic work for him. But Sanders was on an entirely different level. Once the 20 car entered the top five, every lap was a new chess piece.
The critical moment:
A perfectly‑timed move as the leaders hit lapped traffic three‑wide. Sanders threaded the needle, cleared Mari, and never surrendered the lead again.
Meanwhile, Fito Gallardo (G17) clawed back from early misfortune to earn a strong podium, giving the Gallardo camp something to build on heading into Saturday.
Mendoza Law Firm’s division capped the night with the speed, precision, and late‑race intensity fans expect at the Meltdown.
🌟 NIGHT 1 SUMMARY
Night 1 was everything Winter Meltdown fans hope for:
- Legends: Riggs begins the season with authority
- B‑Mods: Gorham dominates the opener
- Stock Cars: McNutt puts on a passing clinic
- Modifieds: Sanders proves he’s still “The Sandman”
Sponsors were front and center all night — Hulsey Racing, Hacienda Carpet & Tile, Extreme Landscaping, and Mendoza Law Firm supported a packed house and a flawless return to racing.
Night 2 promised even more — and fans left the stands buzzing for Saturday.
