Yawnick Returns To Winner's Circle In Yreka,
Lorenzini And Morton Share Winner's Podium
Siskiyou Motor Speedway was back in action Saturday night with another four division program. When the checkered flag flew on the McDonald's Mini Stock division, it was long time racer and speedway supporter Marilyn Yawnick picking up a rare Main Event win. Kurt Lorenzini claimed the checkered flag in the 20 lap O'Reilly Auto Parts IMCA Sport Modified Main Event, while Kalvin Morton was the winner in the SODCA Dwarf Car feature. A light turnout of IMCA Modifieds saw Jreremy Ohlde win their Main Event.
The Lorenzini family has been supportive of racing in the area for many years, and Kurt Lorenzini continues to keep the family at the front of the pack. Driving an O'Reilly Auto Parts IMCA Sport Modified these days, Lorenzini would collect the Main Event victory on Saturday night ahead of David Marble. Marble, the 2015 Southern Oregon Speedway Mini Stock champion, is a rookie in this division, and he's already looking like a threat to win Main Events. Gary Foster settled for third ahead of Jimmy Lipke. Garrett Hamilton struggled a bit and ended up 5th and watching the finish from the sidelines as Doug Franklin, Chad Wormington and Chris Jorgensen completed the finishing order. Franklin picked up at the hardware in the Trophy Dash with his win ahead of Doug Henshaw, who also finished second in the heat race that he ran behind winner Jimmy Lipke. Unfortunately for Henshaw, he suffered mechanical issues in his dash finish and scratched for the night. Lorenzini won the other heat race ahead of Franklin. Mini Stock graduate Ryder Boswell was last in his heat race and scratched for the Main Event.
In the McDonald's Mini Stock division, the force on the scene is 2015 champion David Steele. However, you can usually find Marilyn Yawnick somewhere in the top five, and she's a regular in the Top 5 in points every year. It's been a while since since Yawnick has won a Main Event, and she did it in impressive fashion on Saturday night, barely holding off the persistent Steele for her first win in three years. Aaron Jorgensen ran strong and right behind the lead duo with a third place finish. Terry Kendrick and Jim Fettinger made up the remainder of the top five. Heat race winner Melissa Henson would settle for a lead lap sixth place finish, and Ethan Killingsworth would end up 7th as the final lead lap finisher. Mike Coleson, Amber Walden, Mike Whitaker and Tyler Frost made up the remainder of the field. The night had four different winners as Henson held off Steele to win her heat race and Kendrick battled Killingsworth to win his heat race. Steele came back to win the Trophy Dash ahead of Kendrick.
Last season, Calvin Morton had an impressive showing in the SODCA Dwarf Car standings as he ranked fourth, and he intends to take it up a notch this season. Morton showed just how much he has improved as he claimed the checkered flag in the Dwarf Car Main Event. Morton thwarted Chad Cardoza's attempt to score a clean sweep as Cardoza settle for second in the feature after winning both his heat race and the Trophy Dash. Rob Gergel ran third at the checkered ahead of 2014 point runner up Ryan Smith and Paul Haselow in the 10 car event. Smith won his heat race ahead of hard charger Brock Peters, while Cardoza won his heat ahead of Morton. The Cardoza Trophy Dash win came ahead of Smith, and young Cody Peters won the B Dash ahead of Gergel.
The IMCA Modifieds had a disappointing turnout of 3 cars, and Jeremy Ohlde ended up winning their 15 lap Main Event ahead of 2015 point runner up Duane Osburn and longtime racer Stan Gunderson. Gunderson won the heat race ahead of Osburn, while Osburn won the Trophy Dash ahead of Ohlde.
Racing continues on Friday night next week with the McDonald's Mini Stocks, O'Reilly Auto Parts IMCA Sport Modifieds and IMCA Modfieds all part of the program. SODCA Dwarf Cars return next week, the Mini Stock drivers will be doing a Ball Toss and there will also be a kids ride along, making this a fun night for the family at the Yreka race track. For further information, check out the website at www.siskiyoumotorspeedway.com.
