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Southern Oregon Speedway Racing Discussion
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The Wait Is Over,
Southern Oregon Speedway Opens Saturday Night
White City, Oregon...The rains have washed away two play days, and despite a sunny Saturday night last week, the pits were too wet to make it happen. However, Southern Oregon Speedway is set to open this Saturday night with an exciting evening of Late Model, IMCA Modified, IMCA Sport Modified, Mini Stock, Valley Stor-All Late Model Lite and JOAT Labs Hornet racing. The racers and fans have been looking forward to this night for the entire off season.
The pits have been groomed by Uncle Rich, the concession stands have been fitted with new equipment as old equipment has been removed and Jim Rodgers has been hard at work making the track ready for Saturday night. With an officiating crew, led by Director Of Competition Jon DeBenedetti, the season will begin. There are changes in store for this season, but racing will go through mid September. The track will be making an announcement soon about a special race that will feature IMCA Modifieds and Sport Modifieds, while saluting one of the beloved members of the community, long time DJ and track announcer R. Charles Snyder. Stay tuned for details on this and other happenings as the season moves on.
One of the divisions we're seeing the most activity from is the IMCA Sport Modifieds. Roughly 20 competitors are preparing cars for the coming season. Jorddon Braaten and "Marvelous" Mike Medel are both back in new cars this season. Braaten has already won a race on the circuit this year. He is a two time Medford champion as well as reigning IMCA Oregon and Pacific Sport Mod Series champion. Medel, meanwhile, enters the season as the reigning Medford champion. They may be the two drivers to beat, but there is a host of tough competitors lining up to do just that.
Two time champion Dwayne Melvin is back again this year, and another champion is planning to race with us. He's 2016 Yreka champion Jimmy Lipke. Rumors circulated of Bob Nelsen selling his car during the offseason, but the latest word is that he will be competing at Medford this year, possibly on opening night. Nelson won two Main Events last year, including his "Race Of The Year" battle with Braaten.
It doesn't stop there. Top 5 2016 competitors David Marble, A.J. Parker and Willie McFall are back this year. Marble was the "Rookie Of The Year" and will be gunning for his first feature win in this class. Marble is the 2015 Mini Stock champion and racked up numerous wins there. Parker did well in his rookie year and is hoping to improve upon that, while McFall was Top 5 for the second straight season. The impressive roster includes past Mini Stock champions Rich McCoy and Toby Judd. McCoy has won Modified mains in the past and was a Sport Mod feature winner last year. Judd made his return at the end of last season.
Dwarf Car ace Kalvin Morton, Bob Thomas in the former Brian Cooper car, Lloyd Speer, Shane Everson and rookies Justin McCreedie and Braxton Possinger are others to watch for. McCreedie is coming off of an impressive win at Yreka, while Possinger has already had Top 5 success there. The IMCA Sport Modifieds are poised for a big year as they enter their sixth season.
JOAT Labs Hornets have just sort of been there for the past three seasons. The 2013 launch yielded no results, the next two years sort of had them treated as an afterthought, but new management made more of an effort to promote this class. Two six car fields last year were signs that interest was growing. During the offseason, Miles Deubert of JOAT Labs offered to come in as title sponsor with a goal of building safe and reliable cages for the new cars in production. Over a half dozen cars have left his shop since then, and more cages are in production.
Tim Hedges is back to defend his championship. As Derrel Nelson Jr. moves up to Pro Stocks, his 14 year old Kart racing son Gabe Nelson slips behind the wheel of the #8g car. John Hoult is also said to be coming back. All three drivers face stiff competition from the "Triple Nickel" Hornet of Joby Shields, who finished third last year with four wins. Shields already has two wins in Yreka. The list of drivers is growing as Jason Stoutenburg, Ashton Hedges, Anthony Kniffen, Tylor Ray, David James Gillig and Christian Listro are among those joining the show this year. Speculation is that car count in this class will double from the previous record.
Late Models have only had one "officially recognized" championship season, won by Chris Salyer and Roger Lorenzini in a tie. The division returned last year as Open Stocks to welcome any fendered Stock Car. Late Model drivers answered that call, and Late Models are what they are this year. Bob Dees returns as reigning champion, and his sons Garrett and John will be joining him. Two time winner Mike Linder will be back, joined by a fellow competitor from the Limited Sprint class of the early 1990's, Don Garrett Jr.
The competition level is going up with the addition of 2016 Coos Bay champion Nathan Augustine and past Medford Pro Stock and Modified champion Dustin Knight. Both drivers were impressive feature winners last season. Augustine's teammate Kristy Grout will be racing, and past Cottage Grove Street Stock champion Steve Lemly is joining the division with two cars, one of which is for sale. Interest in Late Models is growing, and it will be interesting to see how things go this season.
IMCA Modifieds have been an important part of Southern Oregon Speedway since it opened in 1996. We're hearing of new cars being built, but the good news is some of the biggest supporters of the class in recent years are also coming back. Albert Gill has racked up two championships each between Medford and Yreka during the past three seasons. He was Top 5 last year with an impressive win. Gill may be the driver to beat this year, but multi time Top 5 racer Jesse "Beetle" Bailey may be the driver to do it. He had three Top 3 finishes last season, but he's anxious to get back into the winner's circle this season.
2016 "Rookie Of The Year" James Welshonse won the season finale last year to secure second in points. He's a driver who should not be counted out in this year's battle. Nick Trenchard has won several races in Medford as well as the 2015 Yreka championship. We should see these four drivers as well as several other hard chargers such as Monte Bischoff, Duane Orsburn, Zach Fettinger, Bo Shields, Scott Crumm, Kevin Hewitt, rookie Dave Martin Jr. and more.
The Valley Stor-All Late Model Lites are back this year after ending last season with two ten car fields. Lee Doty enters the season as the reigning champion and five time winner last year. He is the man to beat, but Charlie Eaton, Terry Hadley, John Barger and Steve Thompson are four drivers to keep an eye on. Eaton's strong season ended with two second place finishes in the last three races, and he is due to win. Thompson won the opener before blowing a motor. He's won races through the years in this class and is one of the faster competitors. You don't win over 20 Main Events in the last 12 seasons while ranking second twice without being fast, so we know what T. Hadley is capable of. His wife Kritsa has also won races in the past. Barger was the 2013 champion and finished second in points last year.
Danny Prewitt was a feature winner last season and is somebody we'll have to watch this year. Eric Aos won one of the Bud Cup Late Model Lite races in the past and was a feature winner at Madras last year. Dustin Aos will be joining him as one of this year's rookies. The steady Bill Spencer was Top 5 last year, and the division will gain 2016 Mini Stock champion Bob Burkett. Burkett has won over 20 Main Events in his impressive Mini Stock career.
Of course, Burkett has said he may run his Mini Stock sometimes, but the three drivers who may be the early favorites in Mini Stock points are 2014 champion Gary Anderson, 2015 Yreka champion David Steele and 2013 champion Steve Goetz. Anderson finished second in points last year with two wins, while Steele finished fourth with six wins after a late start. Goetz has been away for a couple of years, but he is a welcome return to the division.
Drivers are lining up to see who can become a first time feature winner, and leading that charge may be last year's third ranked driver, Andrew Hall. Hall had three second place finishes last season, including two in a row to hold off Steele for third in points at the end of the season. Hall's "Neon Mafia" teammate Kristopher Mix will be out to grab his first win after several Top 5 finishes. 2016 "Rookie Of The Year" Dillen Lausen is primed and ready to write his name onto the winner's list, and the class will have some fast competitors, including Eric Hanson, Patrick Stringer-Stine, Michael Johnson, Garrett Fredrickson, Randy Simmons and rookie Hunter Magnun.
Saturday night marks the beginning of an exciting time of the year. It's racing season. There are lots of exciting things in store for the fans this year. It starts with this week's program of Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Valley Store-All Late Model Lites, Mini Stocks and JOAT Labs Hornets. Gates open at 5:00 PM with the first race at 7:00 PM. General Admission is $12, Juniors (6-12) and Seniors (62 and older) are $6 and children five and under are free. For further information, go to www.southernoregonspeedway.com.
Billy Geyer Memorial Race Headlines
Siskiyou Motor Speedway Program
Yreka, CA...When called into action at the last minute last week, the Outlaw Pro Stock Association delivered an exciting race to Siskiyou Motor Speedway fans. This week, the group will hold their Third Annual Billy Geyer Memorial 50 lap race. Also on the card will be O'Reilly Auto Parts Sport Modifieds and McDonald's Mini Stocks.
The Geyer Race will offer a $750 bonus to the driver leading at 25 laps, while the winner gets $1750. The increased purse is thanks to the sponsorship of Calculated Comfort, Lucas Oil, Aaron Amuchastegui Construction and John Bowers Construction. With that kind of money, the OPSA will joined by several competitors from the Nevada Pro Stock group as well as a star or two from California.
When they get there, they will have to contend with Dr. Scott Lenz. Lenz hasn't raced his Pro Stock for a couple of seasons, but he has served notice to the rest of the competition that he is as fast as ever with back to back feature wins. Last week, he came from last starting for the victory, and it was also the 100th win of his racing career. Lenz has had to contend with 2015 champion Jeffrey Hudson, who finished second both times in the #15 Scott Bennett car.
NASCAR veteran Rocky Nash was third last week in his first start of the year. He also recorded multiple wins last season. The Flowers family should be there with multiple cars. Father Scott Flowers finished second in points again last year, and his wife Ginny, son James and daughter Julia also race. The steady Rick Lukens, Matt Harlow, John Bowers, Johnny Cobb, Jeff Haudenshild and Brian Hammond are some of the regulars to watch for, but visiting drivers should swell the car count into the 20's.
The IMCA Sport Modified show is just getting started, but things are already getting interesting. Early stars in the track IMCA point battle are Chris Jorgensen, D.J. Bottoms, Colton Cheffey and Garrett Hamilton. Jorgensen opened the season with a third place finish, and Bottoms was a career best second last week in an impressive driving display. Cheffey had a fourth in the opener and won the dash last week. Hamilton was fifth last week. These four hard chargers should be there this week. Justin Foux had a second place finish in the opener and could be there this week along with Gavin Gonzales, Mike Colson and Gary Foster.
Ethan Killingsworth reminded everybody that he's still somebody to contend with in Mini Stocks. The teen leadfoot finished second last week ahead of the dueling Terry Kendrick and Marilyn Yawnick. With back to back Top 5 finishes, Aaron Jorgensen is a player in the battle. All four of these drivers will be in action this week. 2014 champion Mike Whitaker has seen his bad luck from last year follow him into the new season. He was out of the race early last week, but he will be looking to rebound this week. Other drivers to watch for this week include Dennis Jorgensen, Mike Frost, Heather Ryan and Jeremy Sites.
The Billy Geyer Memorial Pro Stock Race will be a highlight of this Saturday's show, and the IMCA Sport Modifieds and Mini Stocks will round things out with plenty of excitement. Also of note, the Outlaw Kart race that was scheduled for this Friday has been postponed to wtrack workings to better prepared the racing surface. For further information, go to www.siskiyoumotorspeedway.com.
Double Main Events, Mr. Dizzy's Human Car Explosion
On Tap For Coos Bay Speedway
Coos Bay, Oregon...The NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series returns to Coos Bay Speedway this Saturday night. In addition to the six division show, the fans will be treated to Mr. Dizzy's Human Car Explosion. Double Main Events are on the agenda as NASCAR Super Late Models, Sportsman Late Models, Street Stocks, Hornets, Mini Outlaws and Side By Side UTV's will be competing.
Mike George has the early lead in a close Super Late Model battle. George leads the tied Toby McIntyre and Jered Bemetz by just 12 points as Chris Ray trails by 32 points in fourth. George opened the season with a win before finishing second to Trent Elliott the next week and second to McIntyre last week. McIntyre is the 2015 champion and is running strong so far. Bemetz now has a second and a third. Chuck Bracelin, 2016 point runnerup Thor Kristensen and Brian Tenney are others to watch for.
In the Sportsman Late Models, Brody Montgomery's strong start has him leading two time reigning champion Wayne Butler by four points and 2016 "Rookie Of The Year" Dyllan Siewell by 16. Charlie Withers is also still in the hunt, just 22 tallies behind. Montgomery has two wins and was second to Butler last week. Butler has a win, a second and a third, while Siewell opened the season with a second. Withers finished third last week. Jeff Krossman, Troy Chamberlain and Doug Coffman are other drivers to watch for this week.
Justin Krossman leads the Street Stock battle by 54 points over reigning champion Daniel Land. This is because Krossman has won all three features, while Land has a pair of seconds and failed to start the opener. The division is struggling at the moment, but Stacy Robinson and Ken Fox are two other racers to watch for this week.
Dan Daniels and Jamie Daniels have supported all three Mini Outlaws races, and Dan now leads Jamie by six points. Rob Lauver missed the opener, as did 2015 champion Sam Talon, but they are 34 and 38 points back, respectively. Fauver won the second feature ahead of Talon, while Talon hed off Lauver to win last week. Reigning champion Ryder Johnson won the season opener. John Henry, Jason Kellam and Ken Fox are others to watch for this week.
Hornet points were not available at press time, but you can count on the fact that Jeremiah Reiber, Ryan Siewell and "Hurricane" Hannah Robison are in the thick of the battle. Reiber won the first two races before taking a checkered flag back in seventh last week. Siewell won that race and has two seconds, meaning he is the likely point leader at the moment. Robison has three third place finishes so far. Sam Taylor was second in last week's 16 car field. Other racers to watch for this week include Tom Williams, Robert Vandre, Jeremy Beard, Matt Butler, Jake Siewell and David Pellaum.
Saturday's NASCAR Whelen Racing Series lineup with the double Main Events, combined with Mr. Dizzy's Human Car Explosion, makes this a show you won't want to miss. For further information, go to www.coosbayspeedway.us.
