GEORGE STARKS / SPECIAL TO THE PVT Jay Rode, the winner of the modified feature at the Pahrump Valley Speedway, is greeted by well-wishers at the finish line. Rode was a winner in his first-ever feature on the quarter-mile dirt oval. Advertisement

When there are six cars in a 25-lap feature, chances of winning are normally good.

In the case of Jay Rode, it was even better.

Starting in the middle of the field, Rode's chances of winning his feature was better than just good. With 18 laps left to the checkered, it all came down to Rode and one other car.

At that point, under yellow, it went to a green, white, checkered situation and for Rode, that was all he needed. It was just his third time in a modified and his first time at Pahrump Valley Speedway.

In a car that wasn't exactly hitting on all cylinders it was one time...one victory for Rode.

"This was a night when you didn't have to have a great running car but you didn't need a whole lot of power," said Rode. "This is only my third time in a modified and I'm still learning about the car. It's a little different and I was talking to a guy back in the pits and they were telling me to watch the 3j car that he was tough here and I'm a rookie."

It all boiled down to Rode and Dave Jurist, from Mohave Speedway in Arizona, in the end but in the end, Jurist did not threaten Rode.

"He was running me clean out there and I appreciate that," said Rode. "He was giving me a rough way to go until right up to the end then it was like he had nothing for me and I was happy about that.

"He seemed to be losing power and for some reason, he was losing ground to me. When that last yellow came out, that scared me a little because my car seemed to sputter on restarts. For the first time here, I'm happy to come out with a win and no damage to the car."

In his first apperance at the quarter-mile dirt oval, Rode figured he would just be there to figure the track out. Nothing more.

"I just wanted to find where the grooves were at and learn the track" Rode said. "I never expected to win a race. This is big for me. It's unbelievable. It's a great feeling for me. I never would have thought that I would be in the winners seat tonight."

Jeff Talley, Fred White, Leland Hibdon, Jeff Tooley and Donny Berger all challenged for the lead in the early laps, but could not continue because of either mechanical problems or accidents.

In other action, Joe Rogers Jr. won the mini-Stock feature, holding off Terry Hiser for the victory.

In the 12-car field, Jonathan Burch, Tony Martin and Brandon Madan were in the top five. Completing the top 10 were Kelby Coultas, Richard Weseman, Robert Pearson, Franklin Madan and Chad Broadhead.

Greg Prince was 11th and Anthony Broadhead 12th.

Hiser had held the lead in a door handle to door handle event, holding off Rogers on many occasions before Rogers was able to grab the lead on the 12th circuit for good.

Daniel Katzer won the super stocks feature while Jim Ralleo took the checkered in the Coupes of Nevada main.

In the super stock feature, Dale Daffern was second, followed by Cory Simoneau, Jim McCoy, Stacy Stinson, Ron Moffatt, Chance Zeis, and David Madar.

Ralleo got to the checkered flag ahead of Chris Hewitt. Cassandra Stapleton, Jim Constonado, Justin Berger and Terry Hiser completed the field.

The track will be idle this weekend, with action resuming July 14 in a program that includes a demolition derby.