What won the race: Polesitter Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas, held off a hard-charging Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, to notch his first career Late Model victory.

Quotable: "We struggled pretty bad last night. We just made it in the show," Sanders said. "We changed some stuff around. We had a pretty good heat race. Starting up front, I didn't really know what we had."

Key notes: Sanders zipped under Terry Phillips exiting turn two and led the next restart when Justin Gregg got into the backstretch wall. ... From there, Sanders turned back challenges from Birkhofer. ... Sanders made only his third Late Model start of the season; he was an early retiree in Saturday's event. ... Kyle Berck of Marquette, was the highest-finishing home-state driver in sixth. ... Saturday's winner Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., started second and led the first half of the race before falling to fourth at the finish; Phillips was eligible for a $2,500 bonus had he been able to sweep the weekend. ... Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa, debuted a new Rocket Chassis this weekend at I-80, recording a pair of top-five finishes. ... The 35-lap feature was slowed by a pair of cautions, the most serious of which coming on the second lap when multiple cars piled up in turn two. ... Friday's $2,000-to-win season opener was moved to Sunday because of uncooperative weather. ... I-80 promoter Joe Kosiski announced any Late Model entered for both of this weekend's events will receive free entry for the Corn Belt Clash event at l-80 on June 27. ... The Spring Meltdown was co-sanctioned by MLRA and the Corn Belt Clash.

On the move: Birkhofer rallied from 10th to finish second; he finished fourth Saturday.

Winner's sponsors: Sanders drives an MB Customs chassis sponsored by Swan Energy, Wichita Tank Racing, Kimrad Transport, Integra Racing Shocks and KBC Graphix.

Points chase: Terry Phillips has 204 points to lead MLRA followed by Chad Simpson (196), Brian Birkhofer (194) and Brad Looney (192);

Car count: 39

Polesitter: Rodney Sanders

Heat race winners: Terry Phillips, Chad Simpson, Don Shaw, Todd Frank

Consolation race winners: John Anderson, Kyle Berck

Next series race: September 5, Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO) $5,000