The DCRR Racing Radio Show
Racing Season Kicks Off Saturday Night At Siskiyou Speedway
Yreka, Ca...A new season of racing is ready to begin this Saturday night at Siskiyou Motor Speedway. Several drivers took advantage of the opportunity to come out and make practice laps last week. On the card for this week are the O'Reilly Auto Parts IMCA Sport Modifieds, McDonald's Mini Stocks and IMCA Modifieds.
The IMCA Sport Modifieds are poised for a big season, and the SCMA has offered a further enticement for the drivers. At 13 cars this season, the payout goes up. The winner's share of the purse goes from $300 to $500. That makes Siskiyou Motor Speedway the biggest paying track for this division anywhere in the area. If last season is any indication, there are several drivers who have a shot at the increased payout. There were 14 different winners last season.
Colton Cheffey enters the season as one of the top contenders not just for wins, but for the championship. The talented second generation racer won four Main Events last season. Reigning IMCA champion Jimmy Lipke, runnerup Garrett Hamilton and Doug Franklin were on the winner's list last season and are anticipated for this race as well as 2015 champion Colter Boswell.
Last year, Medford champion Mike Medel won the season opener, and he'd like to have a repeat performance. That could be a challenge with Oregon IMCA champion Jorddon Braaten in the field. Braaten won twice in Yreka last year.
There were about a dozen IMCA Sport Modified just for a practice last week. There are new drivers in the field, including Mike Colson. Colson is up from the Mini Stock division. With Jack Waldon III, Doug Morton, Gary Foster and Ryder Boswell among the pack, the Sport Modified division will be putting on a good show for the fans.
Last year, Marilyn Yawnick finally wrote her name into the record books as a McDonald's Mini Stock champion. She joined fellow competitors Terry Kendrick, Mike Whitaker and David Steele on the champion's list. Steele is likely to divide his time between two tracks, but the other three are expected to compete with a talented young driver on the cusp of his first championship. Last season, Ethan Killingsworth drove his fast Mini Truck to multiple feature wins on his way to second in points.
Those five drivers will make this a competitive show as it is, but they have other competition looking to step up. Dennis Jorgensen was a feature winner last season, and both he and Aaron Jorgensen could put it in the winner's circle. Mike Frost and Amber Waldon are also among the others to watch this season. Word is that we could be seeing Anthony Whitaker this season as well.
The IMCA Modifieds round out the program. Last season, Albert Gill won a nail biter with Duane Orsburn for his second championship in three years. Orsburn looked like he might hold on until failing to finish the season finale. It was his second straight runnerup season. The roster of racers from the area includes past champion John Toolanen, Stan Gunderson, Roger Lorenzini Jr. and Pablo Duran. With Medford not running a race this week, we could be seeing visits from hard chargers such as James Welshonse, Jeremy Ohlde, Zach Fettinger and Ray Kniffen Jr.
In an interesting note from last week's playday, Fred Hay got back behind the wheel of his Dwarf Car for the first time since his terrible crash in Chico and made some laps along with rookie Ashleigh Strain. It was a case of the oldest and youngest Dwarf Car drivers on the track together. Hay said afterwards that he felt comfortable behind the wheel and the car handled well. Pro Stock driver Johnny Cobb also made some good practice laps. Hornets racer Joby Shields was also practicing. On April 22nd, SODCA Dwarf Cars, Outlaw Pro Stocks and Hornets will join the regular three divisions for a big night of racing.
The O'Reilly Auto Parts IMCA Sport Modifieds, McDonald's Mini Stocks and IMCA Modifieds should put on a good show this week as we kick of an exciting new season of racing at Siskiyou Motor Speedway. For further information, go to www.siskiyoumotorspeedway.com.
George, Forte, Wauge Open Coos Bay Season With Victories
Coos Bay, Oregon...April 1...Coos Bay Speedway kicked off the NASCAR era for the track with an eight division program. Promoter Drake Nelson put some serious publicity efforts into this event and ended up with a packed grand stands as the coastal track was the first one in the state to hold a race this season. On Thursday night, Nelson put word out on social media that he would add the A Modifieds to the program for a regular purse if they could give him at least six cars, and he had that commitment by the evening.
Mike George won the 25 lap NASCAR Whelen All American Series Late Model Main Event. George hadn't won a feature at the track since September of 2014, but he took advantage of his pole position start to get the win. It might have been the NASCAR sanctioning, but Jered Bemetz was another 2014 feature winner who returned to action. From the outside third row staring position, Bemetz moved up to finish second. Late Model veteran Chuck Bracelin, himself a feature winner back in 2015, grabbed the final podium position. Chris Motts finished fourth ahead of Tom Parry, 2015 champion Toby McIntyre, Trent Elliott, Kristy Grout and Chris Ray. Elliott and George were heat race winners.
Mark Wauge led the crusade the get A Modified drivers too commit to this race, and nine competitors ended up making the trip on short notice. A seven time Southern Oregon Speedway champion, Wauge had to battle Ryan Baker for the lead early on before making the pass. Wauge had heavy pressure from reigning Cottage Grove champion Curtis Towns down the stretch, but Towns fell out late. Wauge took the checkers ahead of Baker and heat race winner Albert Gill. Tyler Smith settled for fourth ahead of Towns, Jake Mayden, James Anderson, Max Augustine and James Welshonse.
Shane Forte made a surprise visit and left with the victory in the 25 lap Winged Sprint Car Main Event. Forte had the pole for the race, but he shared the front row with fellow heat winner Lawrence Van Hoof. Coming off of another Top 5 season, Van Hoof gave it a good run before settling for a second place finish. Brett Hulsey finished third ahead of Casey Sabin and Ryan Kingrey. Christon Baird finished sixth ahead of Todd Stevens, two time reigning champion Dave May, Michael Colby Jr. and Kevin Pendergrass.
Brody Montgomery opened the NASCAR Sportsman Late Model season with a 25 lap feature win. Both Montgomery and Dyllan Siewell were stars of the Hornets division in 2015, where Siewell led the 1-2 finish in the standings. Montgomery served notice to the competition that he will be a contender this year with his feature win over Siewell. Siewell was a feature winner last year as well as second in the standings. He finished second in this race as two time reigning champion Wayne Butler settled for third. Jeff Krossman, Charlie Withers and Troy Chamberlain completed the finishing order. Siewell won the heat race.
Jeremiah Reiber scored the victory in the 20 lap NASCAR Hornets Main Event. Reiber is the reigning champion, and he shows no signs of slowing down as he won both the feature and heat race. Ryan Siewell seemed to be the one driver last year who could challenge Rieber, and he finished second in the Main Event ahead of Hanna Robinson and 2016 point runner up Jeremy Beard. Robert Vandre finished fifth ahead of Sam Taylor, Matt Butler and Erin Burton.
Ryder Johnson impressed with his own 20 lap NASCAR Mini Outlaws feature win and a heat race triumph. Johnson is the defending champion, and his win came ahead of Carl Johnson, 2015 point runnerup John Henry, Dan Daniels and Jamie Daniels.
Justin Krossman won the 20 lap Street Stock Main Event ahead of Ken Fox as reigning champion Daniel Land failed to start.
There were six competitors in the Humboldt Motorsports Side By Side UTV division, and Curtis Zeissler won their first ever 12 lap feature ahead of Scott Carroll, Shannon Krohn, Wayne Frampton, Byron Peck and an unidentified driver who finished last.
Next Saturday night is Business Card Night with Super Late Models, Sportsman Late Models, Street Stocks, Mini Outlaws, Hornets and Humboldt Motorsports Side By Sides all on the schedule. For further information, go to www.coosbayspeedway.us.
Coos Bay Speedway Race Results April 1, 2017
Winged Sprints
1 Shane Forte Junction City, OR
2 Lawrence VanHoff North Bend, OR
3 Brett Hulsey Coos Bay, OR
4 Casey Sabin North Bend, OR
5 Ryan Kingery North Bend, OR
6 Christon Beaird
7 Todd Stevens Elizabeth, MN
8 Dave May Walton, OR
9 Michael Colby Jr Gold Beach, OR
DNS Kevin Pendergrass
NASCAR Super Late Models
1 Mike George Coos Bay, OR
2 Jared Bemetz
3 Chuck Bracelin Coos Bay, OR
4 Chris Mott Salem, OR
5 Tom Parry Coos Bay, OR
6 Toby McIntyre Coos Bay, OR
7 Trent Elliott Springdale, OR
8 Kristy Grout Myrtle Point, OR
9 Chris Ray Coos Bay, OR
Modifieds
1 Mark Wauge Medford, OR
2 Ryan Baker Coquille, OR
3 Albert Gill Medford, OR
4 Tyler Smith Cottage Grove, OR
5 Curtis Towns Cottage Grove, OR
6 Jake Mayden Eugene, OR
7 James Anderson White City, OR
8 7 Max Augustine Cottage Grove, OR
9 James Welshonse Medford, OR
NASCAR Sportsman Late Models
1 Brody Montgomery Bandon, OR
2 Dyllan Siewell Bandon, OR
3 Wayne Butler Bandon, OR
4 Jeff Krossman Junction City, OR
5 Charlie Withers Bandon, OR
6 Troy Chamberlain Junction City, OR
NASCAR Hornets
1 Jeremiah Reiber North Bend, OR
2 Ryan Siewell
3 Hannah Robinson Myrtle Point, OR
4 Jeremy Bead Coos Bay, OR
5 Robert Vandre
6 Sam Taylor
7 Matt Butler Coquille, OR
8 Erin Burton Coos Bay, OR
NASCAR Mini Outlaws
1 Ryder Johnson Coquille, OR
2 Carl Johnson Myrtle Point, OR
3 John Henry
4 Dan Daniels
5 Jamie Daniels Coos Bay, OR
Humboldt Motorsports Side By Sides
1 Curtis Zeissler Coos Bay, OR
2 Scott Carroll Roseburg, OR
3 Shannon Krohn Lincoln City, OR
4 Wayne Frampton Lakeside, OR
5 Byron Peck Camas Valley, OR
6 Mystery Driver Coos Bay, OR
NASCAR Street Stocks
1 Justin Krossman Coquille, OR
2 Ken Fox North Bend, OR
DNS Daniel Land Coos Bay, OR
2017 Mini Stock Season At Southern Oregon Speedway An Opportunity For New Stars To Shine
White City, Oregon...The Mini Stocks are back for another ten race season at Southern Oregon Speedway. Since the track opened in 1996, they have been one of the staple classes. Car count had struggled for a few seasons leading into last year, but the track experienced some of its best Mini Stock turnouts since 2010. In fact, the Mini Stocks were one of the more reliable divisions at the track last season.
A look into the numbers over the past three seasons finds an interesting fact. You can count the different feature winners over the previous 47 races on one hand. Bob Burkett, David Steele, Gary Anderson and David Marble won most of them, and James Welshonse had one win. Welshonse is now in a Modified, and 2015 champion Marble is driving a Sport Modified these days. 2016 champion Bob Burkett has a Late Model Lite and won't run all of the Mini Stock races this year, meaning 2014 champion Anderson and 2015 Yreka champion Steele might be the drivers to beat for the championship this year.
We just received word of another champion returning to action. Steve Goetz is back this season after a couple of years away. Steve had three Top 3 point seasons prior to winning the 2013 championship He returns to a division that has several new drivers on its roster since the last time he was here.
Chances are good that there will be at least one new winner this season, but the question is who will it be? Leading the charge is last year's third place point competitor, Andrew Hall. Though without a feature win last season, Hall still had three second place finishes. By ending the season with back to back runnerup finishes in his fast Pinto Wagon, Hall managed to hold off Steele for third in the standings.
Hall's Neon Mafia teammate Kristopher Mix had his moments last season with several Top 5 finishes. The second generation racer's season took a hit at a playday in Yreka last year when his car was destroyed in a crash, but his new car turned out to be pretty competitive. One of the young up and coming drivers to watch is past 250 Kart champion Dillen Lausen. Dillen ended the season with a third place feature finish by holding off Bob Burkett, and he left with "Rookie Of the Year" honors.
Eric Hanson had mostly bad luck last season, but he could be a threat to win on any given night You also have to keep an eye on other hard chargers such as second generation racer Mikey Johnson, Garrett Fredrickson, Hunter Magnum, and Randy Simmons. Johnson's car has just been painted, and he's excited about the opportunity to try to write his name on the track's all time feature winner's list next to his father
To get those wins, the drivers will have to get past David Steele and Gary Anderson. Steele returned a few races into the season and won six times last year, matching his season best effort from 2013. Steele carries the experience advantage of nearly ten seasons over the rest of the pack. Anderson took the division by storm with his 2014 championship in his rookie season, and he has racked up nine wins in the last three years. We also can't forget that Burkett will still run some races, and Goetz is back. Any new winners will know they've earned it by beating these guys.
Prior to the Hornets being added to the roster in 2014, the Mini Stocks were the most affordable entry point into racing, and it's still a pretty reasonable option for the budget minded racer. In fact, three competitors moved up from Hornets to Mini Stocks last season. The competition is still pretty close on the track, and the racing is good. The ten race season kicks off on April 29th after back to back playdays on April 15th and 22nd. For further information, check out www.southernoregonspeedway.com.
2017 Southern Oregon Speedway Schedule
April 15 - Playday
April 22 - Playday (Rain Makeup)
April 29
May 6
May 20
June 10
June 17
July 1
July 8
July 22
August 26
September 26
Mini Stock Champions
1996 Brian Barns
1997 Scott Holt
1998 Rich McCoy
1999 Tracy Bradley
2000 Tracy Bradley
2001 Tom Lanigan
2002 Mike Johnson
2003 David Bishop
2004 David Bishop
2005 Tony Christopher
2006 Milton Carter
2007 Jim Pope
2008 John Derby
2009 John Derby
2010 John Derby
2011 John Derby
2012 Toby Judd
2013 Steve Goetz
2014 Gary Anderson
2015 David Marble
2016 Bob Burkett
New Era For Valley Stor-All Late Model Lites
At Southern Oregon Speedway
At Southern Oregon Speedway
White City, Oregon...For several seasons, the Super 4's were a featured division at Southern Oregon Speedway. Drivers like Brian Barns, Parker Jones, Joe Guider and Brian Johnsen battled at the front of the pack. By 2012, car count had fallen off. After John Barker won the 2013 season championship, the division disappeared from the roster. It was because of long time competitors Lee Doty and Barger that the division managed to get their foot in the door for a late season date in 2015.
When Mike McCann took over the promoting duties of Southern Oregon Speedway last year, Doty and the others knocked on the door once again. They were brought back for seven races. The Super 4's once established themselves as a place for Mini Stock drivers to make the move up, and even drivers from other classes gave it a shot. Doty was somebody leading the charge to get cars back to the track last year. By season's end, the division had its best turnout going back a few years into their previous run with back to back ten car fields. The Super 4's were back and growing.
One of the trends in rebuilding the class has been for the drivers to take their 4 cylinder motors and drop them into older Late Model chassis. This is largely due to the fact that the older chassis are out there and they are affordable options. During the offseason, it was suggested that the division be rebranded as the Valley Stor-All Late Model Lites. Valley Stor-All of Medford has come on board as the title sponsor.
The class has evolved just a little bit from those earlier days, they are going just a bit faster now and they have the look of the popular Late Model class. This is not an entry level division, but it remains an option for Mini Stock drivers moving up Making it more enticing is the fact that the Late Model Lites are back for an eight race season that will begin with the April 29th season opener.
To highlight the fact that Mini Stock drivers can move up, Mike Cloud moved from Mini Stocks to Late Model Lites late last season. Perhaps the most consistently fast Mini Stock driver of the current decade, Bob Burkett, is also moving up. Burkett has racked up four runner up point seasons in Mini Stocks and was the champion last year. Furthermore, he's won a Mini Stock division leading 20 races in the last five years. He is a welcome addition to the Late Model Lites.
It is Doty leading the charge as the defending champion. He won five times last season, but he didn't overtake Barger until the end of the season. Doty not only won often, he did it with class. Getting this division built up seems to be an even bigger goal than winning for Doty. Barger, meanwhile, will be out to try to return to the winner's circle this season. As with Doty, he brings years of experience into his effort.
Speaking of experience, you need not look any further than the husband and wife duo of Terry and Krista Hadley. Both have had Top 5 seasons in the past, and Terry is a two time runnerup. Both have also won Main Events through the years, and they were fast when they raced last year. Word is that they have a new car in the works and may be fielding a third car this year.
Speaking of fast, Dan Prewett is fast as well, and he was one of two other drivers to get a feature win last year as he finished fifth in points. Steve Thompson, another driver with feature wins through the years, won last year's opener before blowing a motor and falling out of the action. Eric Aos is a winner of a prestigious Battle At The Border Late Model Lites race not too many years ago. He had his moments last year and is anticipated this year along with Dustin Aos, who is up from the Outlaw Karts this season.
Charlie Eaton came on very strong late last year with a pair of dash wins and two Main Event seconds in the last three races. The steady Bill Spencer finished right behind him in fourth in points. These drivers are all anticipated this year along with others who the fans may be familiar with.
The Late Model Lites are a fast and exciting brand of racing that will continue to entertain the fans when they are in town. After the playdays on April 15th and 22nd, their ten race season kicks off on April 29th. For further information, check out www.southernoregonspeedway.com.
2017 Southern Oregon Speedway
Valley Stor-All Late Model Lites Schedule
April 15 - Playday
April 22 - (Rain Date) Playday
April 29
May 6
May 20
June 10
July 8
Auugust 5
August 26
September 9
Past Late Model Lites Champions
2003 Brian Barns
2004 Brian Barns
2005 Reggie DeVore
2006 Joe Guider
2007 Jacob Cole
2008 Brian Johnsen
2009 Parker "Hollywood" Jones
2010 Brian Johnsen
2011 Joe Guider
2012 Jamie Guider Newberg
2013 John Barger
2016 Lee Doty
There's Nothing Like Opening Day At The Races
There's nothing like opening day at the race track. We're in the heart of spring after a wet winter, and there is so much green around the race track and the pits. It really is a beautiful time of year. It's not so beautiful when the rain comes and forces the races to be canceled, but it does add to the beauty of the area.
It's a clean slate for all of the racers. Consider the fact that every racer at the track on opening day is technically tied for the point lead until that first heat race pulls out onto the track. The preparations have been made, the car is ready and anything is possible.
That brings us to the other thing about that preparation. We've already seen some pictures of the cars, and there are some beautiful race cars. Some of them could win the prize for best looking car. Several cars will be on display this weekend at the 64th Annual Pear Blossom Festival Parade. For the fans, it's their first chance to look at these race cars this year.
The teams put all of that work into their cars with the knowledge that the car won't stay pristine for long. The first ding will be put on that car soon, maybe as eaerly as hot laps. That's okay. It's to be expected. It's all about the competition. The pre season preparation is itself a competition. My car is better looking than your car.
Some people haven't seen each other since the last race. The opener is the first chance to visit with everybody and get caught up on what's been happening. We're stll a family, and that doesn't change because it's been a few months since we last spoke. The racing family is a special fraternity.
The clean slate makes it special too. You were the champion last year? That's fine, but you have to go back out there and earn it again this year. You had a bad season? That's okay. It's a new year. That was then, this is now. The beautiful thing about auto racing is that anything can happen on any given week.
Goals can be set and achieved if the dedication is there to make it happen. Maybe a driver simply wants to take a checkered flag. That happens, and now they want to win a heat race. Maybe a Main Event? It's all possible for those who put in the effort. The offseason was the time to get everything lined up. Now the green flag waves, and it's time to make it happen.
The sound of the race track. That first motor is fired up as the car backs out of the trailer. The sound of the cars going around the track on the pace lap, followed by the roar of the engines as the green flag waves. The announcer is calling the action as the crowd cheers. The sound of multiple conversations in the stands. You can hear the pit board official call the next race to staging. It's on now.
The smell of opening day is unique. Racing fuel and oil. The smell of barbecue wafting through the pits, or the smell of the food being prepared at the concessions stand. Just being out in the open air at one of your favorite places to be, the racetrack. You've waited all winter for this, and now it's time.
This is the 22nd time we've had an opening day at Southern Oregon Speedway, and no other race day is quite like it. This night doesn't need a special promotion to make it better. It's finally time to go racing again, and you've been looking forward to this. Whether you win or lose, you're enjoying a night at the races. That's what it's all about.
