Rushden started well and on three minutes 17-year-old Lee Tomlin shot just over. Two minutes later debutant Ronnie Bull almost put Rushden ahead with a 25-yard pile-driver.
On 12 minutes, Tomlin almost got on the end of a Drewe Broughton cross after a slip by Wrexham defender Shaun Pejic.
Rushden then suffered a blow on 22 minutes when Graham Allen limped off and was replaced by Magnus Okounghae.
On 29 minutes Wrexham keeper Michael Ingham produced a brilliant save to deny Tomlin after Pejic's poor back-pass.
Wrexham took the lead on 36 minutes when top scorer Mark Jones picked the ball up 25 yards out and hit a tremendous shot which left Dan Crane helpless.
On 44 minutes Wrexham nearly doubled their lead when Jonathan Walters found Jim Whitley whose shot hit the post. A minute later Crane denied Walters with a fine save.
On 47 minutes Marc Williams making his debut for Wrexham almost put the visitors further ahead but he fired over with only Crane to beat.
On 52 minutes Broughton had a header cleared off the line by Whitley and Rushden were unlucky again on 61 minutes when Neil McCafferty's effort was again cleared off the line with Ingham way out of his goal.
Wrexham increased their lead on 67 when Walters outpaced the Rushden defence and squared the ball back for Jones to score his second of the game.
Walters went very close in the 75th minute but his shot just cleared the bar. Rushden pressed hard to pull a goal back and on 77 minutes Tyrone Berry had a good chance but the winger shot straight at Ingham and, despite several efforts from the home side, Wrexham held on to claim a vital victory.