Stickler sweeps open wheel modified 50-lap races at Desoto Speedway

BRADENTON -- Cody Stickler continued his domination of the open wheel modified division at Desoto Speedway this year.

Stickler led every lap to win both ends of the Auburndale-Desoto modified twin 50-lap doubleheader on Saturday.

Stickler started on the outside pole in the first feature and immediately took the lead. Despite multiple incidents in the first first half of the race, Stickler retained the lead and cruised to the finish. Josh Todd finished second and Brandon Thompson ended up third.

A roll of the dice led to only a two-car inversion for the start of the second 50-lap feature, putting Todd on the pole and Stickler again on the outside of the front row. In a replay of the start of the first race, Stickler jumped into the lead at the green flag and never looked back. Once again, Todd finished second and Thompson was third.

Stickler has won all three races in the series this year.

In other features Saturday, Danny Caylor opened a straightaway-length lead near the midpoint of the 40-lap street stock feature only to have hold off a late charge by Eric Purcell. Todd Brown finished third.

Sherry Best held off cousin Jimmie Best to win her first career pure stock feature; Ren Wright Jr. won the 25-lap mini stock feature; Mike Endee won the outlaw modified feature; and Lee Davis won the 25-lap modified mini stock feature.

Desoto Speedway returns to action on May 21 with the Sunoco Challenge Super Series Late Models.

This story was originally published May 8, 2016 at 11:46 PM with the headline "Stickler sweeps open wheel modified 50-lap races at Desoto Speedway ."