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Full Slate Of Racing On Tap For Siskiyou Motor Speedway
Yreka, CA...Another exciting night of racing is set for Siskiyou Motor Speedway on Saturday. The IMCA Sport Modifieds are very competitive this season, and it's hard to predict who might win from week to week. Joining them this week will be McDonald's Mini Stocks, Outlaw Pro Stocks and SODCA Dwarf Cars. The IMCA Modifieds are also on the schedule. On Friday night at the Outlaw Kart track next to the big track, a full program of 500 Open Karts, Speedway Karts, 250's, Box Stocks and Beginners Box Stocks are scheduled.
Just by taking a green flag in his heat race last week, D.J. Bottoms was assured that he would be the point leader as incoming point leader Justin Foux was out of the state. Bottoms did more than that as he earned a Top 5 Main Event finish. In Monday's special race, it looked like Jack Waldon III was set to become a first time winner as he led most of the way. Even with Colton Cheffey pressuring him hard, Waldon was doing a good job until a lose wire caused him to lose power. Cheffey was all too willing to take the lead from there, and he kept reigning champion Jimmy Lipke behind him for his second straight win. Considering the rough start to his season, which has hampered his chances of winning the championship, Cheffey was pleased with the victory. He's currently third in points and poised to take over second.
When it comes to drivers on the verge of getting their first win of the season, 2015 SCMA Sport Modified champion Doug Franklin would have to be included. Franklin now has three Top 3 finishes in the last four races. This is probably the most competitive field of drivers at the track this year, and other drivers to watch out for this week include Randy Wright, Ryder Boswell, Cory Biggs and Garrett Hamilton.
When the McDonald's Mini Stocks last competed, Ethan Killingsworth's three race winning streak came to an abrupt end before one Main Event lap could be scored. The 15 year old lead foot was caught up in a front straightaway pileup and slammed the front wall. Reigning champion Marilyn Yawnick didn't fare much better after a tractor tire was knocked into her path and she made contact with it. She got a better finish than Killingsworth to keep her point run going, but she too watched the finish from the sidelines.
Third ranked Mike Whitaker was the one having the good luck, which is a reversal of his fortune from last season. Whitaker led the Main Event for several laps before finishing second, but it was a pair of Medford racers fighting for the win. A late mistake by Kristopher Mix was all it took for 15 year old Michael Johnson to race by on the outside and win his first ever Main Event. It's possible that we will see Michael back in town for a run at another win this week. Other racers to watch for include Mike Frost, Amber Waldon, Terry Kendrick and Anthony Whitaker.
There may not be a bounty on Outlaw Pro Stock Association point leader Scott Lenz, but Bowers Construction & Landscaping has increased that division's first prize to $500 to win. To date, Lenz has won all six point races, while 2015 champion Jeffrey Hudson won the $1750 first prize in the Billy Geyer Memorial. Hudson started the season in a Sprint Car, but that effort has been sidelined by a blown motor. In the interim, Scott Bennett put the young hard charger behind the wheel of his #15 car. Hudson has earned four of the five second place finishes in the Yreka point races, and he may be the driver with the best chance of beating Lenz.
The driver ranked second in the standings is three time point runnerup Scott Flowers. Scott has one second place feature finish and two Trophy Dash victories, but he is currently trailing Lenz by 52 points in the championship battle. Flowers has been racing Pro Stocks and Street Stocks for years, but he's really been enjoying his hobby during the past year as wife Ginny, son James and daughter Julia are also racing. Johnny Cobb lurks just 27 points behind Flowers with a pair of third place finishes. Other drivers to watch for this week include Matt Harlow, Bryan Hammond, Roy Bain and Jeff Haudenshild.
The SODCA Dwarf Cars make their third and final appearance of the season this week amidst a close three car battle for the championship. Only four points separate Chad Cardoza, reigning champion Brock Peters and Ryan Smith. It was Cody Peters joining two time champion Josh King as a Yreka winner with his win on July 4th. B. Peters has won the last three races at Medford, while Smith and Cardoza are both looking for their first wins of the season. The Dwarf Cars always put on a good show, and other drivers to watch for this week include Fred Hay, Randy Slater, Mason Lewman and Joe Sanders.
The Outlaw Kart program offers fans a glimpse of future stars of the bigger track. After winning the Beginner's Box Stock championship last year, Taylor Fuller is leading the Box Stock race this season. The Fuller family brings some of the Speedway Karts along with Rambo Motorsports. Some of the young stars to watch in the Outlaw Karts include Drew Berry, Ryan Hischbock, Brionna Fuller, Issac Sanders, Jacob James and Chayce Smith.
It's sure to be an exciting weekend of racing at Siskiyou Motor Speedway. For further information, go to www.siskiyoumotorspeedway.com.
Barraza Coming To Cascade Sprint Car Challenge
At Southern Oregon Speedway
White City, Oregon...Southern Oregon Speedway is hosting a big $3,000 to win Wingless 360 Sprint Car race on August 26th. It's the Cascade Sprint Car Challenge, presented by Herz Precision Parts, and it's offering the biggest winner's prize for a wingless race in Oregon this year. That kind of prize money is sure to attract some top notch talent, and it's already gotten the attention of Kyler Barraza.
In more recent years, Kyler has made a name for himself as one of the top Winged Sprint Car drivers in the state. Currently, he leads the Kendall Oil Winged Sprint Car point race at Southern Oregon Speedway. He hasn't been as active in the two years prior to this season, but when Kyler won a race at Coos Bay Speedway earlier this year, he showed that he hadn't lost a step. He's won twice in the first five races at Southern Oregon Speedway, and that has put him into the point lead.
Barraza's credentials are impressive. He's a two time Southern Oregon Sprint Tour champion, and he has three championships at Coos Bay Speedway. One of his more famous wins was the night he took his 360 Sprint Car to a big Super Modified race on the pavement of Roseburg and won in 2007. He's had plenty of success on the Oregon Winged Sprint Car circuit through the years, but he's no stranger to success in Wingless Sprint Cars either. Kyler won the first two North West Wingless Tour Main Events in 2009.
The lure of a big payday has gotten the attention of Barraza. He's won his share of races with the wing at Southern Oregon Speedway. He knows the track pretty well, and he brings lots of confidence with him every time he straps into the race car. Some of the best drivers on the West Coast will be coming to town for a shot at the money and the right to call themselves the winner of the first ever Cascade Sprint Car Challenge Race. Perhaps that winner will be Kyler Barraza. For further information, go to www.southernoregonspeedway.com or write to contact@southernoregonspeedway.com.
Racing Returns Saturday As Orland Raceway
Hits Mid Season Mark
Orland, CA...Saturday night marks the sixth event of the 12 race championship season at Orland Raceway, and the fans have been treated to some close battles all season long. Last week featured double points for the Pure Stocks, Mini Stocks, Mini Trucks, Micro Sprints and Wingless Gas Sprints. There were no changes at the top. This week will feature all of the regular classes on the one-fifth mile dirt oval. Things are looking up at the track this year as Promoter Rich Hood and his crew continue to improve on things from last season. It's a work in progress, but things are certainly improving.
Pure Stock point leader Jeremy Langenderfer had the most to lose last time out. With 12 cars on the track, Jeremy could certainly lose the point lead to Keith Ross, and Langenderfer's night was in doubt when spun from the lead on lap eight. However, he steadily worked his way back to the front and had the lead before race race was over. It was Ross who failed to finish, but reigning champion Steve Martin didn't do much better. By the end of the night, Langenderfer's lead over Ross increased to 31 points as Martin was still holding third, 32 points behind Ross. Brad Ray brought it home to a second place finish that night with Chris Barnett in third. All of these hard chargers should be there this week along with fourth ranked Shannon Collins, Amanda Koop, John Camper and Cody Bundy.
Though his Pure Stock effort didn't go so well, Keith Ross is on fire in the Mini Truck division. He won the double point race last time, but reigning champion Dan Webster kept the damage to a minimum with a strong second place finish. Ross leads Webster by 24 points. Ross has been so fast this year that he went to Hayfork Speedway last week and won the Main Event there. Actually, if not for a yellow flag late in the recent double point race, "Rollin" Olin Crane surely would have won. Crane led the race for 17 laps before a crash forced a yellow flag. Ross took the lead on the restart, and Crane spun in the final turn trying to regain the lead. These three should be there this week along with 2013 champion Ross Vige, William Fogle and Zachary Baker. Fogle is still only 20 points behind Webster in the battle for second.
Tom Davis has been one of the fastest Mini Stock drivers in Northern California. He has three wins in Orland and three in Susanville so far this year. Though he didn't win on double point night, the fact that rival Sean Perry didn't finish allowed him to increase his lead to 15 points in the championship standings. Donovan Chilton returned that night and led the final 15 laps to beat Davis for the victory. Shasta Speedway racer Dustin Hills was back and finished third. Perry is still second in the standings, just 12 points ahead of reigning champion John Kirkpatrick. Most of these competitors should be there this week, along with Barbara Crane, Steven Speers and Seth Libbee.
Jackie Whitson Jr. won the double point race and is in command of the 250 Micro point lead as the only feature winner in five races. Multi time NCMA Sprint Car champion Scott Holloway returned last time and made a late move around James Barnes for second. This was Holloway's second visit to a track at which he won NCMA races at years ago, and he will be a threat to win if he keeps coming back. Whitson remains the driver to beat, but past champion Jess Garland, Ronnie Heyer, Dave McKinnon Jr. and Russell Hensley are some of the drivers to watch in the battle to evict Whitson from the winner's circle.
The 600 Micro class has been struggling just a bit this year, but previous winner Tyler Rockwell, Colby Gregg, Maril Michelet, Kyra Michelet, Tony Alosi and Steve Harvey are a few drivers to look for this week. Multi time Wingless Gas Sprint champion Josh Jacobo has been the star of the field in that division as he races with newer drivers. John Irwin, Gregory Gotleib and Audrey Webb are other drivers to watch for as the track attempts to reestablish this form of Sprint Car racing on the program.
Saturday night will be a great night of racing in Orland. Gates open at 5:00 PM with the first race at 7:00 PM. General Admission is $8.00 with Seniors and Juniors (7-12) $5.00 and children 6 and under free. For further information, look up Orland Raceway on Facebook of go to www.orlandraceway.org.
Pit Stops
Being that this is an off week for Southern Oregon Speedway, we'll do a brief Pit Stops this week to highlight bits of news and rumors. Hall Of Fame Night is coming up on August 12th, and the inaugural list of names of drivers to be inducted has been gone over. This will be the beginning of what is expected to become a tradition at Southern Oregon Speedway. For far too long, Medford Speedway and Southern Oregon racing history has been pushed to the side, but it's time for the people who have made racing so special to be honored.
The heritage of Medford racing matters to Promoter Mike McCann, and this is the big reason that the R. Charles Snyder Salute was scheduled for September 2-3. Snyder was the voice of racing at Medford Speedway and Southern Oregon Speedway for years, and the first event will see the Scoring Tower dedicated to him. IMCA Modifieds are listed as a headliner for this race and will compete for an increased purse. Details are still pending for them as well as the IMCA Sport Modifieds, but these classes, along with SODCA Dwarf Cars, are on the schedule for both nights. The Dwarf Cars already announced that they will have a $1,000 to win race on Sunday that weekend.
In the rumor department, Late Models may be added to the program for both nights, reportedly for an increased purse as well. The Late Models have been progressing this season, and there is an optimism over where this class is heading. The last two races had eight car fields, and they have a good point battle going on between Dustin Knight and Nathan Augustine. The Medford effort got the attention of Trent Elliott, who won in his first start there in a few seasons. The support of Kristy Grout, Dave Foote, Bob Dees, Garrett Dees, Mike Linder and Don Garrett Jr. has made this a more entertaining show, and there are more cars on the way. Just what may happen should be revealed very soon. Several divisions are asking to be included in the R. Charles Snyder Salute. It's not known who might be added, but rumors are centering around the possibility of Mini Stocks and JOAT Labs Hornets joining the show. Whatever the case may be, look for announcements to be made very soon.
There's been question as to why the track declined to be involved in Sprint Car Speedweek this year. One of the big concerns is car count and justification for the purse being paid. Speedweek used to be a huge event, but they've been struggling to get a car count in the 20's for the first four races this year. In fact, that only happened at Willamette. Management felt that it might be time to try some different things to promote Sprint Car racing at the track. The Kendall Oil Sprint Cars are doing better this year than last year in car count, and the racing has been better. It's by no means where it's hoped to be, but things are looking up.
The other big development is the Cascade Sprint Car Challenge. Mark Herz of Herz Precision Parts is sponsoring this event, which will pay $3,000 to win. It's a Wingless Sprint Car event. Admittedly, Medford hasn't seen much wingless racing through the years, but it is an exciting style of racing that requires a different style of driving. It's puts it more in the hands of the drivers. Kyler Barraza recently revealed that he's racing. Herz will be there as well. The rest is only speculation, but some of the stars of the wingless tour of Oregon are anticipated, and it's possible Kyle Miller will be among them. Some California racers are anticipated. More news will come soon.
The Kendall Oil Winged Sprint Cars will be part of the seven division show on July 22nd and part of the Dwarf Car Nationals on August 5th. We received word prior to last week that David Hibbard set Jake Wheeler up with a motor to race a couple of times with the group. Wheeler is the reigning division champion. He was preparing his ride for Speedweek and was unable to support the most recent race, won by Bailey Hibbard. A car was also purchased out of California, formerly belonging to Shauna Overton. It should be there for the next race, though who will be driving hasn't be revealed. Camden Robustelli should be there for the next race as well as point leader Barraza, B. Hibbard, David Hibbard, Calvin Hibbard, Merissa Henson and Enrique Jaime.
Mini Stocks will also be at the next race on the 22nd. Car count has dropped just a bit this year after multiple weeks with 16 cars last season. There were eight cars racing last week. Eric Hanson has put his car up for sale and appears to be taking a break. Randy Simmons put his car up for sale last year and announced that his plans were to take a season off while building a new car. Patrick Stringer-Stine has moved and may not be back for the remainder of the season. Garrett Fredrickson has started racing in Yreka, and reigning champion Bob Burkett is mainly racing Mini Stocks when the Late Model Lites have a night off. Everything has sort of hit at once.
The drivers who are competing are running very closely, leading to the closest championship battle at the track. While the normally very fast David Steele is struggling with motor problems. Past champions Gary Anderson and Steve Goetz have taken turns keeping any new drivers out of the winner's circle. However, when you watch point leader Dillen Lausen and title contenders Kristopher Mix and Michael Johnson, you can't help but think a new winner will emerge soon. Johnson recently won his first Main Event in Yreka. Despite the car count drop off, racing has been close and entertaining.
Car count for the IMCA Modifieds on July 22nd might be a bit of a question as well. Local support for the Speedweek race, won by Danny Lauer, was just eight cars, and another post Haudenshild Tribute Race (won by Nick Trenchard) drop off saw just five regulars. However, five surprise visitors, including winner Derek Nance, kept the number that night at 10. It's hoped that local support will get the car count back into double digits. Two time champion Albert Gill has been a staunch supporter of the effort, and Jesse Bailey has had the most consistently good finishes of anybody in the group over the past year and a half. James Welshonse, James Anderson, Duane Orsburn, Jeremy Ohlde and season opener winner Monte Bischoff are among the stars anticipated for the next race.
Friday night Outlaw Kart racing last time featured what may have been an all time low for the track, but the show went on. Car count has been struggling at both Medford and Yreka this year. A lot of work has gone into track prep this year, and other improvements are planned for the track and bleachers. There's been a bit of a struggle as the track has fought serious plumbing issues and had to bring in equipment with the departure of John Skinner, but the show goes on. A full slate of Outlaw Kart racing is planned for the 21st, and rumors are circulating about another division being added for the next show. Whatever the case, management will have a race for the young up and coming drivers, and it's hoped that car count will improve.
The July 21st Outlaw Kart show and July 22nd seven division show on the big track should be good. They will be the final races of the month as the track goes dark on July 29th for Country Crossings. The August 4-5 Dwarf Car Nationals will be a big event as well. For further information, go to www.southernoregonspeedway.com.
