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Pit Stops - Jefferson Edition
We're back from our one week hiatus. When the heat out happened at Southern Oregon Speedway, we took that as an opportunity to have a week off. We did write a lengthy column about the state of racing and our concerns, which we may share at some point. The bottom line is, if we care about our sport, we support it.
Many of the fans who attend races these days are fans who have been going for a number of years. They've seen the good times. They'd seen the full fields that required B Mains for some drivers to earn their starts into the Main Event. They looked around in the grandstands and saw the full stands. They look around now, and they know times aren't what they once were.
The bottom line is we are lucky to have as many race tracks as we do these days. Some of these race tracks are struggling to go week to week. They struggle to get the fans to watch and to get the drivers to compete. Somebody ends up paying the bill for this. That is the promoter, and that person has to have the money ready to cover any losses that they have on race night. And, you can believe that there are many races in which the promoters have to pay money out of their own pocket to pay the bills.
When you look at the losses that the promoters at some of these race tracks have had, you have to question why they bother to do it. The answer is obvious. The promoters are opening the gates of these race tracks because they love the sport. They take a bunch of grief because they're not doing this right, they're charging too much to get in the gate, the drivers don't feel they're getting paid enough or whatever, and they have to take all of that in stride. They're only human, and you know it bothers them, but they keep coming back and opening the gate. They do the necessary work each week to make it happen. Why? Because they love the sport.
It's real simple. If you love racing, you support it. If you aren't racing every week, you race whenever you can. If you're a fan, you come out and watch as often as you can. It's really that simple. From time to time, things come up in your life that require your attention. You don't have the time to go to the races. That's certainly understandable. On the other hand, you have people that get frustrated with what's going on at the track. Maybe they come watch and they don't like what they see or maybe they feel they had a bad call against them. From time to time, it's always good to either go visit another race track or just take a week off and come back again.
The race tracks are here for our entertainment. Nobody promises that everything is going to go your way when you go to the race track. There will be good nights and there will be bad nights. That's just the way it is. Racing owes us nothing, and we owe it nothing. But, without the people involved, there would be no racing. The only thing left to ask yourself when you're looking around and see the struggling sport is do you care? If you do, you support when you can. That's all you really can do.
We should enjoy the sport of auto racing on the short track level while we can. Times are changing, and there's no guarantee that these tracks are going to be there. If you enjoy the racing experience, take it all in while you can. You never know when it might be your race track that closes next. On the other hand, if you keep coming back out, and maybe others come out with you, you never know what the sport can be in the future. That's the beautiful thing about racing. You never know what will happen out there from week to week. That in itself is an enticing reason to come out and watch or compete.
Roseburg's Douglas County Speedway is having a NASCAR K&N West Series race. This is the one opportunity for the fans to check out some NASCAR action on the paved track. Some of the best West Coast Stock Car drivers will be out there competing this Saturday night along with the Modifieds and Hornets, and it's sure to be a fun evening of racing for the fans. Bill MacAnally Motorsports is promoting the big event.
Roseburg's, PRA association promotes the track. It can be hit or miss there, but this is a group of people who care about the sport. On any given night, the better car counts seem to be coming from the Hardtops, Hornets and Mini Stock divisions. The Modifieds, Street Stocks and Pro 4 Wedge Cars are the other classes that are offered. There are a few races left to go after this weekend's race, and you can find more information on that at www.douglascountyspeedway.com.
Further down south in Jefferson, they just had the Tilford Memorial Race at Placerville Speedway. Placerville might be considered a Sprint Car track, but new promoter Scott Russell is picking up right where Allan Handy left off by keeping things pretty much the same. The Sprint Car division headlines the show along with Limited Late Models and Pure Stocks. On any given week. they bring NCDCA Dwarf Cars, BCRA Midget Lites and BCRA Midgets as support classes, and they have also been playing around with IMCA Sport Modifieds. Last Saturday, the Sprint Cars had the night off and the Stock Cars took center stage.
Second generation racer Randy McDaniel picked up the victory in the Tilford Memorial Limited Late Model race. Many people know the McDaniel name quite well. Randy is a Stock Car champion at Marysville and has won numerous Modified championships in the area as well. His father, Plummer McDaniel, started racing Stock Cars years earlier. His son Ryan is a champion in Modifieds and Late Models. Randy grabbed a big paycheck and nice trophy. These days, he runs only a limited schedule. McDaniel also picked up a big victory earlier this year in the $2,500 to win Jerry Hetrick Memorial Modified race at Antioch Speedway.
There is also an Antioch connection in the Pure Stock class. Nick Baldwin pretty much clinched the championship after his second place finish last week behind Dan Jinkerson. Baldwin had been attempting to run for a championship at Antioch the year before when things kind of went awry and he ended up at Placerville. There is a difference in speed between the classes at Antioch and Placerville, but Nick got his car up to speed, won a Main Event last year and was Top 10 in the points despite a late start. This year, he's been very consistent and has earned himself his first championship.
It's a little bit puzzling why the Pure Stock or Street Stock division is working at Placerville Speedway and is doing okay at Chico. It even has a presence at Orland Raceway. However, there is nothing to be seen of this division at Southern Oregon Speedway or Siskiyou Motor Speedway in Yreka. It would seem that this division would be a good fit for both race tracks.
Chico Silver Dollar Speedway followed Orland Raceway's lead in starting their own Wingless Spec Sprint class about a decade ago, but in the last five years they've also added the Winged Economy Sprints. It essentially takes the Spec Sprint rules and puts a wing on the car. Some people have pointed a finger at this division as dividing the car count between the winged and wingless classes and effecting car counts in both classes. However, the last couple of races for the Economy class have produced 10 car fields. With his win last Friday night at Chico, Wyatt Brown picked up the track championship.
Brown has been trying to get a Winged Economy Sprint Car presence at Orland Raceway. A race was supposed to have happened there recently, but we've see no results so far. A Sprint Car presence is something that Oregon Speedway has been trying to create. It is known that the car count in the area reaches into the mid teens at least, but getting these drivers to compete in the new Pennzoil Winged Sprint Car class has been a challenge for a variety of reasons. The class is booked for a date on Saturday night, but it's unknown who might support this race. On September 10th, The Limited Sprint Car movement will try to have their day at Southern Oregon Speedway.
Having won a Limited Sprint championship at Cottage Grove Speedway a few years back, David Hibbard has been a big booster of the class. He did win a Pennzoil Sprint Car Main Event in dramatic fashion earlier this year. He's been a winner in Main Event action on multiple occasions at Southern Oregon Speedway through the years. He believes that Limited Sprint Cars are the key to establishing a strong Sprint Car presence, and he has contacted promoter Mike McCann to be a part of a three race series that he has put together to end the season.
Hibbard and has put together a point fund for this series and it begins at Cottage Grove Speedway this Saturday night. The series will continue at Coos Bay Speedway on September 3rd and conclude at Southern Oregon Speedway on September 10th. It is anticipated that car count will be in the 8-12 range, and if they can get 8-10 to show up at Southern Oregon Speedway, they are hoping that this will affect the schedule for 2017 in a good way. Some of the drivers anticipated for the series include David and his son Bailey Hibbard, past champion Raquel Ivie, reigning champion Patrick Dills, Cooper Desbians, Camden Robustelli and the possible debut of Mini Stock driver Merissa Henson.
Southern Oregon Speedway hastily put together an IMCA Modified show for this Saturday night. After the heat out last week, there was a concern about the drivers getting there National points. The date was booked, but negotiations nearly saw the race cancelled due to a race booked at Siskiyou Motor Speedway. IMCA was concerned about the issue of cars as most of the cars that Yreka gets in this class are based in the Medford area. In the end, the date was allowed at Southern Oregon Speedway. The IMCA competitors will now have four races remaining, giving them a nine race season.
What is interesting about this event is that it is a tune up for the Labor Day Weekend Lon Skinner Memorial Race, which will pay $5,000 to the Main Event winner on Sunday and a minimum of $500 to start the Main Event. Some of the local drivers will get one last chance to make sure their cars are okay, and six time champion Mark Wauge will be one of them. Word is that Wauge now has his sights set on winning his seventh track championship, but Duane Orsburn will be there to try and prevent that. Wauge leads Osburn by three points, though the IMCA site lists it at 14 points. There is an error in Orsburn's points as he ran a heat race and didn't start a main at the Wild West Series race. He didn't get his minimum points that night. Wauge and Orsburn should be joined by rookie James Welschonse, past Lon Skinner Memorial race winner Nick Trenchard, Bo Shields and two time reigning champion Albert Gill.
The IMCA Sport Modified division championship at Southern Oregon Speedway is rumored to be about ready to be shaken up with Jorddon Braaten heading to Boone, Iowa with California State champion Fred Ryland. Jorddon may miss at least one of the Lon Skinner Memorial races, reportedly. If that does happen, Mike Medel will be there to take the point lead. The last report was that Braaten was trying to line up a ride in somebody else's car while his car is towed back to Iowa with Ryland. It will be interesting to see what happens here. In the meantime, this weekend's event is anticipated to bring 10-12 cars with Braaten again the man to beat.
There will be lots of racing options for the fans in Jefferson with the NASCAR race at Roseburg and an Outlaw Kart race on Friday and a race on the big track Saturday at Southern Oregon Speedway. Hayfork Speedway will be in action once again and they will be running the Al Hinds Tribute race at Placerville Speedway on Saturday night. Chico Silver Dollar Speedway also has a show on Friday night. The weather is perfect, and the racing should be exciting at any of these race tracks.
IMCA Modifieds, Pro Stocks Compete This Saturday Night
At Southern Oregon Speedway
White City, Oregon...Scorching hot weather forced the cancellation of two nights of racing at Southern Oregon Speedway last week. However, two nights of racing are on the calendar this week at the speedway.
Friday night will be time for the Outlaw Karts to compete on the one-eighth mile dirt oval, and on Saturday night, there will be seven divisions in action on the big track. The IMCA Modifieds were added to Saturday's show to ensure that the racers would have all of the point races necessary for IMCA sanctioning. Joining this division on the card will be IMCA Sport Modifieds, Valley Boys Auto Sales Outlaw Pro Stocks, Pennzoil Winged Sprint Cars, Super 4's and the OTRO Hardtops.
Two time Street Stock champion Duane Orsburn #0 is in the hunt for the IMCA Modified championship.
For
the IMCA Modifieds, this is the time of year for the championship race
to heat up and ultimately be decided. There are four events left on the
calendar, and it's anybody's guess who might walk away with the
championship. With two Main Event wins to his credit, six time champion
Mark Wauge seems to be the driver to beat at this point. However, one
time winner Duane Orsburn has been gunning for the championship and
trails Wauge by only three points.
Bo Shields #555 is a multi time Top 10 ranked Modified driver at Southern Oregon Speedway.
Wauge
is confirmed for this Saturday. This puts the six time track champion
at the top of the list of favorites to win this week. You also have to
factor in two time reigning champion Albert Gill and rookie James
Welschonse. Gill won the most recent IMCA Modified race. Nick Trenchard,
Jesse Bailey and Bo Shields are others to watch for this week.With the Lon Skinner Memorial race coming up the following week, this is also an opportunity for the racers to make their shakedown runs on their cars before the big show. If there is that one thing that you missed on your setup or with the motor, you can catch it at this race. The big money will be on the line with the $5,000 to win on Sunday, September 4th.
In the IMCA sport Modified division, the Main Event glory seems to have been gobbled up by division powerhouse Jorddon Braaten. The two time reigning champion now has four feature victories and holds a 24 point lead over Mike Medel. Medel is the reigning IMCA State champion, but currently that race is being led by Braaten, who has also won seven races in seven starts at Cottage Grove Speedway. Medel has three second place finishes. Much like rookie David Marble, Medel is still looking for his first feature win. Marble only trails Medel by 14 points in the battle for second.
The Sport Modified division has been growing this year, and word was that we would be seeing the return of Rich McCoy in a car painted reminiscent of Lightning McQueen from the Disney movie Cars. Other drivers to watch for this week include Tony Bartell, A.J,.Parker, Willie McFall and Glen Severson.
Rookie Julia Flowers #20 is fourth in the Pro Stock point standings.
The Valley Boys Auto Sales Outlaw Pro Stocks have been dominated this year by Steve Borror. Borror has now won seven of the 10 races held for the class so far, including the $1,000 in the most recent Roger Haudenshild Honors race. With Borror winning so much, only three other drivers have visited the Winner's Circle this year. Miles Deubert and NASCAR veteran Rocky Nash have earned wins at Southern Oregon Speedway and two time Super 4's champion Brian Johnsen has a win at Yreka.
In the championship battle, Scott Flowers is currently second behind Borror. Flowers has finished second in the standings for the past two years. Last time out, he had a concern that he may not even make it through the whole night after he found a problem with his motor just before putting the car on the trailer. He made the decision to come out and race anyway and managed to get a third place finish. Flowers be could be a driver to watch in the quest to defeat Borror, and other hard chargers we anticipate on Saturday are third place point competitor Matt Harlow, James Flowers, two time champion Ken Irving, Scott Bennett and Roy Bain.
The Pennzoil Winged Sprint Car championship appears to be at hand for third generation racer Jake Wheeler. With one win and three second place finishes, Wheeler pretty much just needs to make a start this week and the title will be clinched. The battle would seem to be between Wayne Kniffen, Bill Hopper and Jeffrey Hudson for second in the standings. Hudson currently holds a seven point lead over Hooper and an 18 point lead over Kniffen.
There have now been nine different competitors in the Super 4's division, which was added to the program after being gone for the past two seasons. John Barger got off to a good start, but hard charger Lee Doty has been creeping up on him slowly. After the fourth event, two time winner Doty has moved to within 13 points of Barger in the championship battle. The division has also seen some good drivers joining the action in recent weeks, including Eric Oahs and feature winner Dan Prewitt. These souped up 4 cylinder Stock Cars put on a good show, and racers like Terry Hadley, Krista Hadley, Charlie Eaton and Bill Spencer make this division entertaining to watch.
Not to be forgotten in the mix are the OTRO Hardtops. Trevor Thomason has won three of four exhibition events in the Vic & Louise Bridges owned entry. Thomason has been a fast competitor, and Bill Trotter's car has also been very competitive. With Trotter stepping out of the cockpit last time, it was Mark Minter picking up wins in both the Trophy Dash and Main Event. There are some beautiful race cars in this group. The cars are reminiscent of the cars that ran at the old Medford Speedway and other tracks back in the 1950's and 1960's. Other drivers to watch for this week include Wylie Powell, Jimmy Del Castille and Chris Mehrer.
If you're looking for more racing in addition to the Saturday night show, The Outlaw Kart race track will have you covered. The 500 and 250 Karts will be there along with the Box Stock class and the youngsters in the Beginner Box Stock division. There will be lots of racing on the 1/8 mile clay oval as each division gets two sets of heats before their Main Events. It's an opportunity to watch some of the future stars of the big track as they get their starts in racing. Young chargers like 250's point leader Bodee Weiser, Box Stock leader Trevor Grimes, past 250's champion Brody Sim and Brendon Bartlett are names you may be hearing on the big track someday soon.
The Friday Night Show and the Saturday show both have gates opening at 5 p.m. with the first race starting at 7 p.m. Friday Night tickets are $10 for general admission, and Saturday night tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for Seniors and Juniors and children 5 and under are free. For further information, go to www.southernoregonspeedway.com.
Southern Oregon Speedway Points
IMCA Modifieds
Mark Wauge 143
Duane Orsburn 140
James Welshonse 128
Albert Gill 122
Jesse Bailey 91
IMCA Sport Mods
Jorddon Braaten 273
Mike Medel 249
David Marble 235
A.J. Parker 214
Jimmy Lipke 176
Outlaw Pro Stocks
Steve Borror 496
Scott Flowers 449
Matt Harlow 371
James Flowers 362
Julia Flowers 340
Super 4's
John Barger 118
Lee Doty 105
Bill Spencer 97
Charlie Eaton 85
Dan Prewitt 71
Pennzoil Sprint Cars
Jake Wheeler 140
Jeffrey Hudson 84
Bill Hopper 77
Vern Wheeler Jr. 74
Wayne Kniffen 66
The Super 4's Are Back In A Rebuilding Year
At Southern Oregon Speedway
Lee Doty #7 is a two time Super 4's Main Event winner so far this year.
White City, Oregon...The Super 4's division returns to Southern Oregon Speedway this Saturday night. This will be their fifth of six scheduled appearances on the 1/3 mile clay oval. They will return for the season finale on September 24th. The division was a regular part of the speedway for over a decade before drivers went elsewhere at the end of the 2013 season.
Through the years, four cylinder racing has taken some flack from racing enthusiasts who see the four cylinder engine as somehow lesser than the V8. However, the observant fan knows just how good this form of racing is. Back in the 1980's, in Fremont, California, Baylands Raceway had several different varieties of four cylinder racing from Mini Stocks to the exotic Mini Outlaws. What that gave Baylands was a ladder for Mini Stock drivers to climb from entry level to faster classes, and there were drivers who did just that.
Bill Spencer #99 is currently third in Super 4's points.
Southern Speedway had a Mini Stock division when it opened in 1996, and the division has continued to be a part of things ever since. As the 2000's came along, the Super 4's division was added. Stars such as Brian Johnson, Joe Guider and Reggie DeVore won championships through the years, and competitors such as Bryan Barns, Pat Akins, Vicki Macormick and Krista Hadley moved up from the Mini Stocks into the Super 4's division. In fact, Barns is a two time Super 4's champion with a Mini Stock championship before moving up.
In 2013, John Barger won the last championship before the class was dropped. Though drivers moved on, Barger was one of those racers waiting for the opportunity to come back to his home track. Currently, he is being shown at the point later. Last season, Barger, and hard chargers Lee Doty, Charlie Eaton and Bill Spencer were among the competitors who ran a special August race to see if there was interest in bringing this division back to the speedway. All four drivers are a part of this season's roster.
Terry Hadley #18 is a past Super 4's point runnerup at Southern Oregon Speedway.
2016 is seen as a rebuilding year for the popular Super 4's division, and already nine different cars have been at the speedway so far this year. Making their return this year are the husband and wife duo of Terry and Krista Hadley. Also joining the class this year and winning a feature in Dan Prewitt and the man who finished second to him that night, Eric Oahs. Steve Thompson won the season opener, but after blowing a motor in the second race, he has been working to get things back together.
In an effort to get these cars back to the track, the rule book has been relaxed in favor of rebuilding the class. The roster continues to grow, and it is believed that there will be double digit car counts when this division returns to the speedway in 2017.
The Super 4's division gives the fans a Late Model look without the Late Model budget. The action is close and exciting on the racetrack every week. The desire to make this class work has created a closely knit group. People are quick to pitch in and help each other when they can.
Though he has two wins this year, Doty is working just as hard off the track to get more cars out there. There have been three different Main Event winners in the four races held so far, and most of the drivers are so competitive right now that we could see our fourth different winner when the division returns this week.
So grab a seat when the Super 4's roll onto the track on Saturday, though you may only be using the edge of it. Barger, Doty, Prewitt, Eaton, Spencer, Oahs, Thompson and The Hadley's and their fast Super 4's will be putting on a show that you won't want to miss!
OTRO Hardtops Return To Southern Oregon Speedway
For Final 2016 Appearance
One of the two Bill Trotter owned cars that has supported all of the races this year.
White
City, Oregon...The Old Time Racers of Oregon return to Southern Oregon
Speedway with their Hardtops for their fifth and final appearance of the
season this Saturday night. This is a group of racers more accustomed
to running on the pavement, but they have given it a go on the dirt four
times this year so far. It is a chance for the fans to get a look at
the style of race car that was once prevalent throughout the United
States in the 1950's and 1960's.Racing for the fun of it, these drivers run exhibition races that may take on the appearance full fledged racing shows. However, it's more about having fun than who is winning and who is losing. The OTRO does not race for points. In effort to get some of these payment racers to come out and try the dirt, no tire rule was initiated. Many of these drivers are competing on slick tires, which can make things very interesting early in the evening.
Rhett Lange #79 comes from Nevada to support the OTRO Hardtop effort.
Car
owner Bill Trotter knows a little bit about that. Bill drives the red
#46 1936 Plymouth Coupe, while he has Chris Mehrer driving his red #16
Ford Pick Up. Both have Chevy 250 V6 motors. At the first race this
year, Mehrer crossed the line first in an eventful Trophy Dash that saw
him spin on the front straightaway on the second lap. Feeling pretty
good about the way his truck was running, Mehrer was running hard when
he lost control in the heat race and hit the front wall. The impact
knocked the front end out from underneath the truck. It was a little bit
of work getting the truck back in racing form, but it seems to be
running okay now.The guys are just out there having fun and not so much worried about who is finishing first or who is running last. They frown on point racing as they feel it has a negative effect on the action on the track. The OTRO strives to keep nice looking cars on the race track. One of the nicest looking cars on the track is the #66 1934 Ford four door Sedan of Jimmy Del Castille. Del Castille had a good showing at the most recent event. The #46 Trotter car also ran well with Mark Minter behind the wheel that night.
Jimmy Del Castille #66 has one of the nicest looking Hardtops of the group.
Driving the white and red #26 1936 Plymouth Coupe owned by Dusty Trotter, Wylie Powell has made all of the events along with the red and white #4c 1935 Chevy Sedan of Brian Crouch. The Crouch car actually goes back to the launching of the modern California Hardtop movement in 2002 when it was at the weekend shows at Sacramento and Orland in 2002. Rhett Lange and Gary Barber have also made trips to the speedway this year.
Then, there is the 1933 Dodge Coupe Chevy 250 V6 owned by OTRO President Vic Bridges and his wife Louise. Trevor Thomason is behind the wheel. Trevor is usually setting a fast pace in these exhibition races and putting on a show. Though he's usually being started in the last, he finds his way to the front.
But, it's all in good fun. The closely knit OTRO Hardtop racers show up at the racetrack together and park in a group, and they are always thinking about ways to entertain the fans. For those who remember those days gone by, watching these cars on the race track will spark memories of the good old days. For those who weren't there in those days, you still get a glimpse of some very nice looking race cars. It should be a lot of fun watching the OTRO Hardtops when they take to the track again this Saturday night at Southern Oregon Speedway.
Wauge, Gill And Trenchard Coming
To Lon Skinner Memorial Race
Six time IMCA Modified champion Mark Wauge #1m is competing in this year's Lon Skinner Memorial Race.
White City, Oregon...With a little over a week to go until the big Lon Skinner Memorial IMCA Modified Race, Mark Wauge has served notice to the competition that he is coming to the 21st running of the special event at Southern Oregon Speedway. The event, set for Labor DayWeekend (September 2-4), will pay $5,000 to win on Sunday night with the preliminary Main Event on Saturday paying $600 to win and helping set the lineup for the Sunday race. Nick Trenchard and Albert Gill are also confirmed for the show.
Throughout his illustrious career, Wauge has just about won everything a race car driver can win at Southern Oregon Speedway. With six championships in the IMCA Modified division to his credit, nobody has won more than he has. He is also the winner of the 2006 Lon Skinner Memorial Race. When Mark shows up at the racetrack, the competition knows that they have to step up their game to keep him behind them.
Currently, Wauge leads the IMCA Modified point standings in a bid for his seventh track championship. He has two wins this year, and his win in the Roger Haudenshild Tribute Race back on Memorial Day Weekend had everybody at the speedway talking. After a bad heat race put him into the B Main that night, he proceeded to win that race and then started back in the tenth row in the Main Event that would only have one yellow flag. By lap 20 of the 30 lap race, Wauge had taken over the lead from California visitor Darrell Hughes II. He went on to victory from there.
Nick Trenchard is another star who has been on the rise in recent seasons. Trenchard was the winner of the 2014 Lon Skinner Memorial. He is also a multi time Top 5 IMCA Modified point competitor at Southern Oregon Speedway before winning the championship in Yreka last year. He also kicked off the season at Yreka this year with a $1000 victory. Nick finished sixth last year and has to be considered a threat to win this season.
Albert Gill won the most recent race this season at the speedway in impressive fashion. He's been a fixture at Southern Oregon Speedway for years and was a multi time Top 5 ranked Pro Stock competitor prior to moving up to IMCA Modifieds. For the past two seasons, Gill's name has been at the top of the point list as track champion. Anybody who takes Gill lightly may be in for a big surprise . Long time observers say that the breakout win is just around the corner for him.
Wauge, three time Lon Skinner Memorial winner Brian Poppa, Trenchard and Gill lead what is sure to be a strong Southern Oregon contingent that is determined to keep the first prize money in the area. With four time winner Bobby Hogge IV coming back to try to defend his 2015 victory, they know that winning will be a challenge.
Though Wauge, Poppa, Gill and Trenchard are four of the locals confirmed so far, it is anticipated that most of the big names from the area will be there, including Jesse Bailey, 2012 Lon Skinner Memorial race winner Matt Duste, Bo Shields, Duane Orsburn and James Welschonse. The 2016 Lon Skinner Memorial Race is shaping up to be another crowd pleaser.
Further race information can be found on the official race flier http://www.southernoregonspeedway.com/Skinner.pdf or www.southernoregonspeedway.com.
Fan Appreciation Night At Siskiyou Motor Speedway Next Saturday
Yreka CA...After a month long break for the Siskiyou Fair, racing returns to Siskiyou Motor Speedway in Yreka next Saturday night (September 3rd) with the O'Reilly Auto Parts IMCA Sport Modifieds, McDonalds Mini Stocks and IMCA Modifieds all in action along with a Pitman Race and Side X Side ATV Races. It is Fan Appreciation night, and that includes $1 grandstand admission. There will be a driver meet and greet with the fans during intermission with autographs and a chance for fans to be photographed with their favorite driver.
The IMCA Sport Modified division has been exciting to watch this year. Like last season, there are two point leaders as Jimmy Lipke leads the IMCA sanctioned point race and Garrett Hamilton leads the SCMA point battle. With 13 races in the books, these two drivers account for one win each. Lipke has four seconds and two thirds as well as two Trophy Dash victories. Hamilton has one second and one third along with two Trophy Dash wins. The Lipke lead is now 19 points over Hamilton in the IMCA battle.
Reigning SCMA champion Doug Franklin has a win and two seconds to go with his Trophy Dash win, and that gives him a nine point lead over Jack Walden III in the battle for third in the standings. Only Colton Cheffey and Jorddon Braaten are two time feature winners this season. Young Cheffey has three seconds and a third as well as a division leading three Trophy Dash wins. Braaten has two thirds and a dash win. Kurt Lorenzini, Keith Foux, Brian Cooper, Fred Ryland, Mike Medel, Randy Wright and reigning IMCA champion Colter Boswell are the other Main Event winners in the competitive division. Boswell also has two seconds. Veteran Jesse Morton has two season high seconds as well. The Trophy Dash winner's list also includes Medel, Lorenzini, Chad Wormington, Chris Jorgensen and Foux with one each.
Coming back from the break, Marilyn Yawnick is shown with a 36 point lead over 14 year old Ethan Killingsworth and a 43 point advantage over Terry Kendrick in the McDonald's Mini Stock championship battle. A couple weeks before the break, Kendrick's truck took damage in a heat race flip as he battled reigning champion David Steele. Yawnick is having her best season ever with three wins and three seconds as well a two Trophy Dash wins after 11 races. With two seconds and a third, Killingsworth is still looking for his first win. 2005 champion Kendrick's totals include one win, two seconds and four thirds along with three Trophy Dash wins. He will need a good night on Saturday to help get his championship hopes back on track.
2014 champion Mike Whitaker has one first, one second and one third to help keep him within 25 points of Kendrick for third. The competition may be relieved that reigning champion David Steele is not pursuing a title defense. As it is, he has a division leading five wins and three seconds as well as a division leading four Trophy Dash wins. The only other feature winner is Brian Jorgensen, who also has two seconds and two thirds to go with one Trophy Dash win. Sport Modified star Chris Jorgensen has a second place finish, and Mike Colson is the only other Trophy Dash winner.
The IMCA Modified point list shows a pair of Medford regulars on top with Duane Orsburn leading Albert Gill by five points. Gill has one win, while Orsburn has a second, two thirds and a Trophy Dash win. Reigning champion Nick Trenchard, Roger Lorenzini Jr., Ryan McDaniel, Kellen Chadwick and Chris Olexiewsicz have wins. Trenchard, Lorenzini, James Welschonse, Ray Kniffen Jr. and Duane Cleveland each have a Trophy Dash win. Veteran Stan Gunderson has a second and a third in Main Event competition, while Kniffen, Dan Thomas, Kyle Casson, Lance Mari and Welschonse each have one second.
The Valley Boys Auto Sales Outlaw Pro Stocks have five Main Events in the books, and point leader Steve Borror has won four times, including the $2500 to win Billy Geyer Memorial race. Borror also has a third and three Trophy Dash wins. Brian Johnsen accounts for the other win, and James Flowers, Arlen Garrison, NASCAR veteran Rocky Nash, reigning champion Jeffrey Hudson and second ranked Scott Flowers each have one second. S. Flowers has helped his point effort with three third place finishes, while Miles Deubert also has one third. John David Duffie and Johnsen each have one Trophy Dssh win. The Pro Stocks return on September 10th.
The SODCA Dwarf Cars have visited three times, and Kalvin Morton has won all three appearances to go with two Trophy Dash wins. Chad Cardoza has two seconds and the other Trophy Dash victory. Camden Robustelli has one second while Mason Lewman, Rob Gergel and Cody Peters each have a third place finish. Mitchell Faccinto won the Sprint Car Speedweek race ahead of eventual champion Trey Starks and Jonathon Allard. Faccinto also won the Trophy Dash that night.
Next Saturday Nights is Fan Appreciation Night with a $1 grandstand admission to the races. Also of note is the annual Rod Restad Memorial race on September 24th. The IMCA Modified race will pay $3000 to win, $2000 for second and $1000 for third and should attract some of the best drivers in the area. For further information, check out www.siskiyoumotorspeedway.com.
May, Morton, Tanner Win At Coos Bay
Coos Bay, Oregon...August 20...Dave May returned to the winner's circle with his 25 lap Winged Sprint Car Main Event win Saturday night at Coos Bay Speedway. May only managed to add a few points to his still slim lead after Scott Fox finished second. Ryan Kingrey enjoyed one of his better finishes of the season in third ahead of Lawrence Van Hoof, Duke Johnson, Erin Lyons and Ken Fox as all of the competitors took a checkered flag. A competitive qualifying round found S. Fox setting quick time of 13.859 to beat the 13.883 of Van Hoof. K. Fox just beat Van Hoof back to th line for the four lap Trophy Dash win. Erin Lyons won a close battle with May for the eight lap heat race win.
Kalvin Morton got his SODCA Dwarf Car championship hopes back on track with his win in the 25 lap Main Event. It was his fourth win of the season as he sets his sights on point leader Brock Peters, who settled for third. Camden Robustelli had won a feature at Coos Bay earlier in the year and was hoping to get another one. Robustelli would settle for a close second to the flying Morton. Chad Cardoza finished fourth ahead of Randy Slater, Jake Grabow, Mark Nielson, Chris Jansen and Cody Peters. Morton scored a clean sweep as he won his heat race ahead of Robustelli and then held him off again for a close win in the A Dash. B. Peters won the other heat race ahead of Slater, while C. Peters held off Grabow to win the B Dash.
Joey Tanner won his first 25 lap Late Model Main Event of the season at Coos Bay. When word got out of the cancellation due to heat at Southern Oregon Speeway, the Late Model race was added on Friday, and 11 competitors answered the call. Tanner set a rapid pace, and only point leader Nathan Augustine managed to stay on the lead lap with him. Cottage Grove competitor Ed Peters was a lap down in third ahead of track regular Thor Kristenson. Josh Sim was fifth, ahead of Kristy Grout, Loren McIntyre and Kelly McIntyre. An unidentified driver in the #75 car, Chase Hitner and Mike Peters were Main Event scratches. Tanner set the fast time of 14.402, while K. McIntyre was the only other 14 second qualifier at 14.756. K. McIntyre won the four lap Trophy Dash ahead of Augustine and won a heat race ahead of E. Peters. Tanner also won an eight lap heat race ahead of Augustine.
Rookie Dylan Siewell broke through the division domination of point leader Wayne Butler to win the 20 lap Sportsman Main Event. Like the Late Models, the division was added to this show during the week. Siewell won the Main Event by a straightaway ahead of Butler. Michael Land drove a Street Stocker to a third place finish ahead of Brody Montgomery, while Josh Kralicek was a Main Event scratch. Montgomery beat Siewell's 16.335 lap with a quick time of 16.300. Butler won the four lap Trophy Dash ahead of Siewell and won the eight lap heat race ahead of Montgomery.
Point leader Jeremiah Reiber won the 25 lap Hornets Main Event. The race was yellow checkered at 24 laps with Reiber winning by a few feet ahead of Ryan Siewell. The star up until the Main Event was Josh Corley. Corley started things off by setting the quick time of 21.407 to beat the 21.492 of Reiber. Corley continued his momentum with a four lap Trophy Dash win ahead of Reiber and an eighth lap hwat win over William Hitner. Unfortunately, his Main Event ended after one lap. Second place point competitor Jeremy Beard was the only other lead lap finisher in third behind Reiber and Siewell. Barry Lampert had his best showing of the year in fourth, followed by Mike Spencer, Sam Taylor, Brian Barklow, Matt Butler, Jamie Daniels, Jason Greer, Hitner, Robert Vandre, Paul Benson and Corley. Beard held off Reiber to win his heat race in a close race.
