Medel, Steele, Trenchard Kick Off 2016 Season In Yreka
Throughout the state of California, heavy rain forced the cancellation of the racing programs at most of the tracks. The one track that withstood the threat was Siskiyou Motor Speedway in Yreka. Four divisions took their turns on the fast quarter mile clay oval. When the checkered flag flew, it was Nick Trenchard collecting the victory in the IMCA Modifieds. State of Oregon IMCA Sport Modified champion Mike Medel won that division's 20 lap feature. Steve Borror won the Valley Boys Auto Sales Outlaw Pro Stock Main Event, while David Steele collected the winner's hardware in the McDonald's Mini Stock division.
Itching for his chance to get out there and race after winning the IMCA State championship for the Sport Mod division in Oregon last year, 2015 Southern Oregon Speedway point runner up Mike Medel wanted to remind everybody that he is a major player in Sport Mod competition in the area. Medel won the Main Event, but it was no gimme. His victory came ahead of 2015 SCMA sanctioned IMCA Sport Mod champion Doug Franklin and 2015 Southern Oregon Speedway champion Jorddon Braaten, who finished second and third respectively. Jimmy Lipke debuted his new car with a fourth place finish as Doug Henshaw completed the top five finishing order. Garrett Hamilton rounded out the lead lap finishers with Greg Foster finishing seventh one lap down. 2015 Southern Oregon Speedway Mini Stock Champion David Marble debuted his Sport Mod, but he fell out early to end up 8th. After grabbing a checkered flag in the first heat race, Chris Jorgensen suffered a mechanical issue that sidelined him from the Main Event. Heat race winners were Lipke and Henshaw. Medel collected the hardware with his Trophy Dash victory.
It was a light turnout of IMCA Modifieds for the opener, but last year's Top 2, Nick Trenchard and Duane Osburn, we're both in the field. Trenchard won the 25 lap Main Event in dominant fashion with Dan Thomas a half lap behind him in second. 2015 Southern Oregon Speedway Champion Albert Gill was the last lead lap finisher in third as Osburn and Mike Evans rounded out the field. Trenchard won the Trophy Dash, but Osburn prevented the clean sweep by holding him off for the heat race win.
A few of the drivers weren't ready for the Valley Boys Auto Sales Outlaw Pro Stock season premiere at Siskiyou Motor Speedway. However, the way Steve Borror was running, it may not have mattered who else was in the field. Borror got the night started off by winning his heat race and then coming back for the Trophy Dash victory. Border was the top feature winner on the circuit in 2015, and he continued that trend with a strong victory in the Main Event ahead of heat race winner James Flowers. The Flowers family presence in the Outlaw Pro Stock ranks grew to three cars as 2015 point runner up Scott Flowers finished third and young Julia Flowers made her debut with a fifth place finish. Roy Bain had a respectable showing with a second place finish in his heat and the dash and a fourth in the feature. John Duffie, Scott Bennett and Kris Ohlde rounded out the finishing order order.
The McDonald's Mini Stocks division had the high car count with 11. If anybody has hopes of winning the championship this year, they may have to get through 2015 champion David Steele to do it. Steele served a reminder of that with his impressive Main Event win ahead of Dennis Jorgensen. Jorgensen gave him all the pressure he could handle before settling for second. Terry Kendrick was on a pace to score a clean sweep as he won his heat race and then collected the Trophy Dash victory. Unfortunately, Kendrick had to settle for a solid third place finish ahead of 2014 Champion Mike Whitaker and Southern Oregon Speedway competitor Marissa Henson. Marilyn Yawnick had a respectable showing with a lead lap sixth place finish ahead of Tyler Frost and Killingsworth. Guy Morris was a lap down in 9th as Mike Coleson and Quintyn Ericks rounded out the field. Steel won the other heat race.
The racing action continues at Siskiyou Motor Speedway next week with IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds and McDonald's Mini Stocks being joined by the Southern Oregon Dwarf Car Association. The smaller track will also hold its first Go Kart event. For further information, check out the official website at www.siskiyoumotorspeedway.com.
