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Pit Stops - Jefferson Edition
Car count was a bit low for the series, and it took heavy support from California to help keep the car count from getting really bad. Southern Oregon Speedway benefited from a rain out at the last minute at Cottage Grove Speedway, which had booked a Limited Sprint race opposite the Speedweek race for some unknown reason. With the rain, a half a dozen more competitors boosted the total to 22 cars for that race.
Though Limited Sprint racer David Hibbard was a surprise winner in the track's Pennzoil Winged Sprint Car race a few weeks ago, he and the others from his group were noticeably under powered compared to the big contenders. David is the Cottage Grove Limited Sprint Car point leader and a past champion, and he was joined by 2015 champion Patrick, Dills, Cooper Desbians, Don Waddell, Bailey Hibbard and Raquel Ivie. Ivie actually won the B Main for the Speedweek Series a few days earlier at Cottage Grove.
David is beating the drum for Limited Sprint race dates at Southern Oregon Speedway as well as trying to come up with ideas that can enable the track regulars to run what they have for now. The Limited Sprints had their genesis back in the early 1990's with the old Sportsman Sprint class, which had cars with four barrel carburetors. Back then, they still had to run with Dan Menne, Jason Finley and the rest of the injected Sprint Car racers
It took a group of Northern California racers from the CMA, led by Mike Johnson, Mike Esseltine and Dave Johnson to help the Sportsman Sprints get their own races. Sportsman Sprint drivers at the time included Worden Speedway owner Carl Tresser, Mike Linder, Ron Godwin, Don Garrett, Cale Carder and Joe Salyer. The class remained a part of Yreka racing for the next few years. In the 2000's, the division evolved a little bit, but they have tried to keep the rules more affordable in comparison to the regular 360 Sprint Cars.
The struggle for a Speedweek car count only highlights one of the problems of Sprint Car racing in Oregon. There isn't much organization. The Sprint Car movement in Oregon lacks direction, and if it's not corrected, things may not get better and could fall apart completely. The Speedweek car count is a sign of the bigger problem. When you talk about a Speedweek event, generally speaking, you should have car counts in the 25-35 car range. Though there were two nights during the six night event that had B Mains, the other four nights didn't have enough cars for that.
Simply put, the Speedweek series is on life support at the moment. This is not to say that the racing wasn't good. However, there was a definite discrepancy in speed of the cars. At Southern Oregon Speedway, for instance, the leaders were already in lapped traffic within five laps of any green flag period. One of the things that maybe helped keep the drivers from coming was the lack of a point fund. The drivers were simply running for the night's purse and to see who could win the big trophy at the end.
After Roger Crockett opened the series with back to back wins, he took a tumble at Willamette Speedway and was missing in action until the Southern Oregon Speedway series finale. Other wins went to Cory Eliason, Justin Cox and Yreka winner Mitchell Faccinto. Mitchell had a strong charge at the end of the series, and he used that win and a second at Southern Oregon to move into third in the series standings.
The fact that the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series was running a race in Hanford opposite the Southern Oregon Speedway event led to the departure of some of the teams after the race at Coos Bay on Wednesday. Justyn Cox, past series champion Rick Hirst and Cory Eliason all headed to Hanford. Hirst is the current King Of The West point leader and used another strong finish to maintain his lead there. Boosted with confidence from his Speedweek win, Eliason went back to his home track in Hanford and won the King Of The West race on Saturday.
The series championship battle was between two drivers who hadn't won any of the first five races. There was Steven Tiner and Trey Starks. Starks has competed in Speedweek series events for several years prior to this one, but he had no wins. When he needed a win the most, he came through big time. Starks needed just 8 laps to wrestle the lead away from the Jered Ridge, and once he had it, he didn't let go. He did what he needed to do to win the series title. The rest was up to Tiner. Tiner was running in the Top 5 until doing a wheelie on the front straightaway. This happened just past the midway point of the race, and when he landed, he broke a front shock. This cost him a few positions down the stretch, and his eighth place finish was not good enough to keep the lead. The 2016 Western Sprint Tour Speedweek champion is Trey Starks. Starks is just the second Washington resident since the series began in 1998 to be the champion.
Crockett tried to sneak up on everybody. He was a late arrival and qualified last, but that didn't stop him from setting fast time and then winning his heat race. Crockett gave it a good run in the Main Event, but the best he could do was chase Faccinto across the line for a third place finish. Early leader Ridge finished fourth as past King Of The West and Silver Dollar Speedway point front runner Jonahan Allard finished fifth.
At this point, it sounds like there will be a Speedweek series for 2017, and it is worth fighting for. However, some things need to change not just for this series but for the state of Sprint Car racing in Oregon. The fans want to see Sprint Car racing, but they also want to see good shows with full fields. There are two distinct Winged Sprint Car efforts in Oregon, the regular Winged 360 Sprint Cars and the Limited Sprints.
At Southern Oregon Speedway, the effort has been made to run all the cars together to see what is there. Unfortunately, there has been a movement behind the scenes to convince racers not to support the new management in their effort to establish something. This has hindered the White City based race track from really establishing anything. In the end, these people's selfish motives are just hurting racing not just for the fans but for Sprint Cars in general. Fortunately, there are certain racers out there trying to help the cause. A few of these guys are showing up with their race cars to support things, and there is another team working to try to put together a race in September for one of the divisions. As things get a little bit closer, this column will have more details. What we want to see the most is a stronger Sprint Car movement in Oregon. To do that, there has to be a little bit more cooperation and less selfish motives.
There are a few surprises in the works for the Sprint Car movement. However, we're reluctant to mention much of that in this column until things get finalized. The end result will be something the fans will enjoy. But, the good news is that Sprint Car racing does continue and there was a speed week the fans could watch this year. There will be one next year, and things can still get better if there's a little bit more cooperation in the ranks.
We also salute racers like New Zealand's Daniel Anderson, Bricen James, Shane Forte, Brian Boswell, Chelsea Blevins and Kelly Miller for being other racers who supported most of Speedweek, Without them and the rest of the drivers who brought cars to at least one race, there would have been no series at all.
Yreka also had the O'Reilly Auto Parts IMCA Sport Modifieds as part of their show on Friday. Randy Wright picked up his first career Main Event win. It highlights the competitive nature of the Sport Modified division at the Northern California track. The competition is so fierce that most of the drivers in the field are capable of taking a win on any given week. Wright was chased across the finish line by Jimmy Lipke. Lipke was able to use that second place finish to take over the point lead from the absent Garrett Hamilton. It's not a big point lead, but in IMCA, it literally comes down to one point at a time. Making up a ten point lead can be something that takes a few weeks for a driver to do.
The Boswell family was well represented as rookie Ryder Boswell finished third and reigning champion Colter Boswell finished fifth. Not a bad showing for either of the drivers who got their start at the speedway in Mini Stocks. In between the two was Doug Franklin, who won The Siskiyou County Motorsport Association Sport Modified championship last year. The division has been added to the July 22nd and 23rd racing program on both nights.
Unknown is what the car count will be like for this class as some of the Southern Oregon drivers have had vacations planned for their off week there, and some of the regulars are a little concerned over the entry fees for the two day event and how that compares to what the payoff is. It does pay $700 to win on Saturday, but the drivers will pay a $150 entry fee for the two day event with the start money being $50 on Saturday and only the first half of the field getting a pay off on Friday. What sort of turn out they will have is anybody's guess. There have been some good turnouts in Yreka this year.
Also on the card on the Saturday portion of next weekend will be the McDonald's Mini Stocks. Title contender Terry Kendrick had a rough go of it in the previous race. While having a heat race battle with reigning Mini Stock champion David Steele, the two got together, sending Kendrick flipping. His Mini Truck was destroyed in the crash, but he got a ride in the Amber Walden car to get his Main Event points. Kendrick has a new truck, but word was that it wouldn't be ready to go until late August. At press time, we didn't have confirmation as to whether or not this coming Saturday race will be for points.
It is likely that the past Mini Stock champion Kendrick could secure a ride for that race if needed, and you know that Marilyn Yawnick will be there to go for her fourth feature victory of the year. Last time out, "Big Mac" had a strong showing as she won the Trophy Dash and then finished third in the Main Event. It was not a big surprise to see Steele picking up that Main Event victory ahead of his old rival, "Magic" Mike Whitaker. Most of the Mini Stock competitors should be in action for the Saturday show on the 23rd. Of course, there is a big headliner for the big the weekend.
That will be the annual Billy Geyer Memorial race, and the Valley Boys Auto Sales Outlaw Pro Stocks are the headliners racing for the $2,500 first prize. The drivers are all anxiously awaiting the opportunity to run on the big stage, and 17 competitors were in action at their previous race at Southern Oregon Speedway. Miles Deubert won ahead of second ranked point competitor Scott Flowers. Rocky Nash finished third, but word is he will put reigning champion Jeffrey Hudson behind the wheel for the big race. Not finishing the Southern Oregon Speedway race in a rare non finish was current point leader and four time feature winner Steve Borror. Borror is probably the man to beat next weekend.
The big money is sure to lure some of the Lumberjack's Restaurant Super Stock competitors in from Petaluma Speedway, and last year saw Mitch Machado and Mike Learn among those competitors. As we get closer to the big event, will take a special look, but you know that hard chargers like James Flowers, two time champion Ken Irving, John David Duffie, Roy Bain, Scott Bennett, John Bowers, Todd Zeitler and Matt Harlow will be among the field for the Pro Stocks, and this is an event you don't want to miss.
Before that comes along, Southern Oregon Speedway has a race this Saturday night, headlined by the IMCA Modifieds, Old Time Racers of Oregon Hardtops, Southern Oregon Dwarf Cars, Mini Stocks and Super 4's. It will be a good program heading into the one week break at the track.
There had been some question as to who might bring their IMCA Modifieds, but perhaps the track's biggest star in Modified history, six time champion Mark Wauge, plans to be there. Mark got into a wicked crash in his previous start at Cottage Grove Speedway that left him with severe front end damage. He is a two time winner there this year as well as his home track, and of course his big victory came from the last row of the 20 car field as he won big money in the Roger Haudenshield Tribute Race. Many people are saying that was the best ride of any competitor so far this year.
If Mark is the driver to beat, there are several drivers lining up to beat him. A few drivers have publicly announced that they are going to be there, including Jesse Bailey, Monte Bischoff and two time reigning champion Albert Gill. Any one of these drivers could give Mark a run for his money. Also planning to compete are Bo Shields, James Anderson and Ray Kifffen Jr.
We haven't heard what other name drivers might be out there, but it's already shaping up to be a big show. Should guys like past champion Bryant Poppa, past point runner up Matt Duste, Dwarf Car champion C.J. Putnam or Kyle Casson be among the competitors, it will be even better. It is likely that two of this year's Top 5 competitors, "Cowboy" Duane Orsburn and James Welshonse, will be there. Orsburn is a feature winner this season and leads the Yreka points, while Welshones now has three Trophy Dash wins between the two tracks.
Last week, Calvin Morton barely got his car back to the track. The week before, he was within a half a straightaway of victory when he tangled with a lapped car, sending both of them flipping. With the help of his teammates Brock Peters and Cody Peters, Morton just barely made it to the track. Unfortunately, the repairs didn't take and he did not start the Main Event. This means that we will likely end up seeing a new Southern Oregon Dwarf Car point leader.
In this case, it's Morton's teammate Brock Peters. Peters won everything he was in last week, including his heat race, the A Dash and the Main Event, which he led from start to finish. While Perters was winning, Rob Gergel left little doubt that he would finish second as he held that position the entire way. It was Gegel's best finish of the year. Camden Robustelli had a good night as well as he won the B Dash and finished third in the Main Event. To get that finish, he had to battle two time reigning champion Josh King, who settled for 4th.
An added incentive this week is a special $750 to win Dash For cash that has been added to the program. This will be another winner take all race, much like the Fred Hay Dash that paid $1,000 to win in the season opener. This race is sure to have an impact on car count, and other competitors to keep an eye on will include 2014 point runner up Ryan Smith, Fred Hay Dash winner Chad Cardoza, Cody Peters, Joe Sanders, Randy Slater and Kaycee Sheeler.
The Mini Stock division is still led by Bob Burkett, but the star on the track over the last few weeks has been David Steele. Steele won his second Main Event in three starts after taking the lead from early leader Gary Anderson. At the moment, these three drivers are dominating the Southern Oregon Speedway winner's circle. Anderson slipped to a fourth place finish, but when you combine that with his heat race win, he managed to regain second in the standings from 14 year old Marissa Henson. With Burkett finishing third in the Main Event and winning the Trophy Dash, Anderson didn't gain much on him.
The next driver to watch in the battle for a win could be 14 year old Ethan Killingsworth in his Mini Truck. Ethan made his way around Anderson for second and would finish there for his best career effort. If Ethan is a driver looking to break the stranglehold of the big three this week, you also should keep an eye on last week's fifth place feature finisher Eric Hanson, Top 5 ranked teammates Kris Mix and Andrew Hall, Marissa Henson and Devon Weiser.
In the Super 4 division, Lee Doty had himself a strong performance last time after he hit the wall in the heat race. Once repairs were made, he came from last starting to reel in a straightaway advantage held by John Barger. Doty made the pass and scored the win, forcing point leader Barger to settle for second. These two hard charges are anticipated this week along with Krista Hadley, Terry Hadley and Charlie Eaton. Bill Spencer and season opener winner Steve Thompson will both be out to try to turn their bad luck around from last time. Spencer finished last, and Thompson scratched after hot laps. No word on any new cars being prepared to run this event.
The OTRO Hardtops put on a good show the last time out, but it was Trevor Thomasson scoring a sweep in the Vic and Louise Bridges entry. Thomason had to start last in the Main Event, but it didn't stop him from charging to the victory. After spinning during the race, Winnemucca, Nevada competitor Rhett Lange still managed to come back up to the front and get a second place finish. These two should be out there this week, along with Bill Trotter, Gary Barber, Brian Crouch and Chris Mehrer.
There were eight competitors last time from a roster of 13 drivers, and the word is there could be one or two others from this list of pavement racers giving the dirt a try this week. Making it even more challenging for these guys is the fact that they're running on slick tires. The old style Coup and Sedan bodies on these cars gives them a unique appearance that is a throwback to the glory days of Hardtop racing in the 1950's and 1960's.
Orland Raceway is said to have a race on Friday night with their regular divisions. Results are still unavailable from their previous race, but we know that Robert Hunt won the Mini Stock Main Event, Dan Webster won the Mini Truck race and Brad Ray won the Hobby Stock feature. To this point of the season, there have been four different Hobby Stock feature winners, while Webster and Olin Crane are the only truck feature winners with two a piece.
With nothing to do at Orland, several Mini Stock and Mini Truck competitors headed to Hayfork Speedway for the extra money. Management at Hayfork announced that any division with 10 or more cars would get an extra $1,000 added to their purse. The Mini Stocks reached that goal and ran for the extra money, and it was an Orland sweep as 2015 Orland Mini Truck champion Keith Ross won the $500 prize for his victory. Eric Hammond drove his Mini Stock to a $300 second while Ross Vige was a $200. Vige, a past Orland Mini Truck champion, has been racing at Hayfork this season and has several wins. Meanwhile, Jeremy Langenderfer came in from Orland and grabbed the Hobby Stock Main Event win over Kevin Kasper. Jeremy also won the Trophy Dash. There were half a dozen Hobby Stocks. The track's regular Outlaw Pro Stock competitors had no visitors, but Josh Smith picked up the win in that event over Tressan Smith. They continue to grow this class. Hayfork Speedway will be back in action at the end of the month.
In dirt track news from Southern Jefferson, The Winged 410 Sprint Cars headlined the show at Chico Silver Dollar Speedway with Mason Moore besting the 13 car field to win ahead of Andy Forsberg and incoming point leader Sean Becker in the Dan Menne car. Matt Micheli won the Limited Late Model feature ahead of Willie McMillen and reigning champion Ryan McDaniel. From the Grass Valley area, Brett Youngman won the Wingless Spec Sprint Main Event ahead of Jeremy Wilson and Brent Steck, while incoming point leader Terry Schank Jr. had a rare non Top 3 finish in fourth, Two time reigning Hobby Stock champion Bran Compton won that Main Event ahead of Shannon Collins and Brad Ray, Mike Ficklen won the Winged Economy Sprint feature ahead of Mike Sayre and Chris Story.
In Placerville, there were five divisions competing, and Michael Kofoid won the Thompson's Auto Winged 360 Sprint Main Event ahead of Greg DeCaires and Mason Moore. The DOMCO Plumbing Limited Late Model feature win went to Mike Lightfoot ahead of Tyler Lightfoot and Matt Davis. The track held their second IMCA Sport Modified event with Todd Cooper besting brother Brian Cooper and Kyle Cheney for the victory. Dan Jinkerson won the Jay's Welding & Fabricating Pure Stock feature ahead of point leader Nick Baldwin and Orville Owens. The BCRA Miget Lites made another appearance as Australian Scott Males won that race in front of two time San Jose Sprint Car champion Charlie Carraccilo and Danika Jo Parker.
Marysville Raceway had a good show with Mike Monohan leading a 16 car Winged 360 Sprint Car field for the win ahead of Cody Lamar and three time champion Colby Wiesz. Long time speedway competitors Cortney Dozier, Phillip Shelby and James Castleberry made up the Top 3 in the nine car Super Stock feature. Kevin Bender won the NCDCA Dwarf Car Main Event ahead of Matt Sargent and Buddy Olsholwka, and Jim Speck won the Hobby Stock Main Event.
Up north at Coos Bay Speedway, the fourth Speedweek Race for the WST Sprint Cars was won by Justyn Cox ahead of J.J. Hickle, Jake Wheeler, Trey Starks and Steven Tiner. Rookie Dylan Siewell won the Sportsman Trophy Dash and also won the feature ahead of point leader Wayne Butler.
Southern Oregon Speedway races Saturday night with a five division show that includes IMCA Modifieds, SODCA Dwarf Cars, Mini Stocks, OTRO Hardtops and Super 4's. For further information, check out www.southernoregonspeedway.com.
Siskiyou Motor Speedway takes a week off, but July 22-23 will be the $2,500 to win Billy Geyer Memorial race for the Valley Boys Auto Sales Outlaw Pro Stocks. O'Reilly Auto Parts IMCA Sport Modifieds will run both nights, and McDonald's Mini Stocks will be on the card for Saturday. For further information, check out www.siskiyoumotorspeedway.com.
