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Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds Headline Show
At Southern Oregon Speedway
White City, Oregon...The Kendall Oil Winged Sprint Cars kick off the season at Southern Oregon Speedway this Saturday night. Joining them in an action-packed five division program will be the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Mini Stocks and JOAT Labs Hornets.
The Sprint Car division continues to gather momentum, and several new competitors will be joining the field this season. At the head of the pack is 2017 champion Kyler Barraza, who won three Main Events out of seven Top 3 finishes last season. Matching him in the win column was rising young star Bailey Hibbard. Some people are saying Hibbard could be the driver to beat in this year's championship chase.
Displaying consistency and a smooth driving style, Merissa Henson notched Rookie Of The Year honors last season as well as runner-up point status. Henson will be going for her first career feature win this season. Veteran competitors such as David Hibbard Aaron Miller, Todd Whipple, 2009 champion Charlie Thompson and Outlaw Kart kingpin Mike Wheeler are anticipated along with such rising young stars as Enrique Jaime, AJ Harbaugh, Jeffrey Hudson, Theron Smith and Tanner Holmes.
There's a lot of buzz about the IMCA Modifieds and the possibility that Mark Wauge will be going for his unprecedented eighth division championship. Wauge already leads all other competitors in this division with 48 career feature wins at the track, including winning the season finale last year to notch second in the standings behind first time champion Jesse Bailey. Bailey has been a model of consistency these past two seasons and is a force to be reckoned with anytime he's on the track.
Two-time champion Albert Gill will also be a factor in the battle as well as long-time competitor Matt Duste. Several top stars are anticipated this week, including past Dwarf Car champion CJ Putnam, Ray Kniffin Jr., James Welshonse and Duane Orsburn. From the Klamath Falls area, hard charger Nick Trenchard, Zach Fettinger and Jeremy Ohlde are anticipated.
Two-time reigning IMCA Sport Modified champion Mike Medel comes in as the driver to beat this year, but the competition will be fierce in a class that some say could reach into the twenties in car count this season. Among the list contenders this year is last season's runner-up Willie McFall, David Marble, Jesse Merriman, Bob Thomas, rookie Joby Shields, young gun Justin McCreadie and two-time champion Dwayne Melvin. Another two-time champion, Jorddon Braaten, may not run for points, but he will be a factor anytime he's there.
With five feature wins last season and six the year before, nobody has done more winning in the Mini Stock division lately then David Steele. The only thing left for him to accomplish is a championship at his home track. Steele has already won multiple Main Events on the circuit this year. Hoping for his first win will be reigning champion Krristopher Mix, and he can expect stiff competition from 2013 champion Steve Goetz, 2014 champion Gary Anderson, Andrew Hall and Hunter Magnan.
The JOAT Labs Hornets round out an exciting program with reigning champion Jason Stoutenburgh expected to be there to defend his title. Stoutenburgh won the last four features of the season last year to solidify his status at the top of the point ladder. Jenna Hedges hopes to give him some good competition after notching second in the standing as the top rookie last season. Her 2016 championship-winning husband Tim Hedges will be pulling double-duty in a Hornet and a Mini Stock. Son Ashtin Hedges will be there along with the Nelson family, father Darrel and sons Zack and Ryan, Dylan Irving, Brandon Wonsyld and Bree Tritchler.
People are itching to get back out to the race track after a cold and wet winter. This five division program is just what everybody's been waiting for. Gates open at 5 p.m. with the first race at 7 p.m. General Admission is $12 with Juniors, Seniors and Veterans $6 each. Children 5 and under are free. For further information, go to www.southernoregonspeedway.com.
Billy Geyer Memorial This Saturday Night
At Siskiyou Speedway
Yreka, CA...The racers are anxious to get back to it this Saturday night at Siskiyou Motor Speedway. After showers during race night cancelled last week's show, the Calculated Comfort Outlaw Pro Stocks are back to run the 4th Annual Billy Geyer Memorial 50 lap race. The IMCA Sport Modifieds and Mini Stocks will also be competing.
The Pro Stock competitors will be running a 50 lap Main Event that will pay $1,500 to win. Bowers Construction has joined Calculated Comfort to increase the purse for this race. More importantly, they are remembering longtime Pro Stock driver Billy Geyer, who passed away in 2015. The race will further be held on a somber note in memory of Rocky Nash. Last year, Nash lost his life after complications from injuries suffered from his crash off of Turn 3 during the Billy Geyer race. Nash was once a top driver on the NASCAR West circuit and a feature winner with the Pro Stocks in recent seasons.
The record shows that Dave Everson, Steve Borror and Jeffrey Hudson have won the three previous events. In fact, 2015 Pro Stock champion Hudson finished second the two years that he didn't win. Borror enters this race as the driver to beat after the 2016 champion dominated the season opener a few weeks ago. He can expect stiff competition from 2017 association champion Dr. Scott Lenz.
The usual cast of hard chargers includes Scott Flowers and his son James Flowers, Matt Harlow, Jeff Haudenshild, Bryan Hammond and Roy Bain. However, several competitors from the Nevada Outlaw Pro Stock Association are anticipated for the big 50 lap feature.
After missing the first two IMCA Sport Modified races, reigning champion DJ Bottoms was ready to compete last week when the rains hit. Bottoms was a two-time feature winner last year, and he's anxious to add to his trophy collection. The Sanders team will be two cars strong with Matt and Isaac. Matt is competing in a new car this year and has looked pretty quick so far. Ryder Boswell, Trevor Tiffee, Doug Franklin and Jimmy Lipke are other drivers to watch for.
After a pair of Top 5 feature finishes, past champion Terry Kendrick is hoping to make a play for the Mini Stock championship. He knows that with Marilyn Yawnick, Mike Whitaker and Chris Jorgensen around, it won't be so easy. The Mini Stock division is seeing some new drivers in its ranks. Jason Frost now has his own car as Mike Frost is this lone driver of the #13 car. Mike has a fourth place finish, and he's anxious to make a run at a feature win. Darrick Alford and Michael MacLeod are two of the new drivers in the class this season.
The Billy Geyer Memorial Race for the Outlaw Pro Stocks is the first of several special races that are on this season's schedule, and it's an event you won't want to miss. On Friday night, the Outlaw Karts will be competing on the smaller track. For further information, go to www.siskiyoumotorspeedway.com.
NASCAR Racing On Pepsi Night At Coos Bay Speedway
Coos Bay, Oregon...The NASCAR Whelen All American Series is back for the third round of racing at Coos Bay Speedway this Saturday night. The Pepsi Night lineup includes Winged Sprint Cars, Super Late Models, Sportsman Late Models, Street Stocks, Mini Outlaws, Hornets and Humboldt Motorsports Side By Sides.
The first appearance of the Sprint Cars at the season opener produced a good battle between Ian Bandy and Stephen Snawder. Bandy came out ahead at the checkered flag, while Kayla Green won her heat race. Two time champion Dave May was in action, but mechanical issues ended his race. It should be another exciting night for the Sprint Cars as Brett Hulsey, Donovan Prather, Justin Walker and reigning champion Lawrence Van Hoof are others to watch for.
Brody Montgomery used his win in the most recent Super Late Model Main Event to move into the point lead over the consistent Chris Ray. At the moment, the battle is between these two drivers, while reigning champion Mike George ranks third. George won the season opener. Other drivers to watch for in the battle for victory this week include the Thor Kristensen, Richard Wallace and Toby McIntyre.
After two-time Sportsman Late Model champion Wayne Butler suffered mechanical issues in winning the Trophy Dash last time out, Dyllan Siewell collected the Main Event victory. Siewell now has a good lead over Butler in the championship standings, but the battle is early. Long time Coos Bay competitor Tom Williams and Charlie Withers will be out to make a run at Main Event glory this week as well.
Ken Fox is off to a great start in the Street Stock division with a win and a second place finish. However, the consistent David Smith is keeping the championship battle close. Last time out, Troy Chamberlain outran Fox in a good battle for the win. Other drivers to watch for this week include Jeff Thurman, Daniel Land and Steve Dubisar.
The Mini Outlaw feature wins have gone to John Henry and two-time reigning champion Sam Talon. Their battle continues this week, and other drivers to watch for include Dan Daniels, Jason Kallum, Alyssa Johnson and the fast VW Beetle of Rob Lauver.
David Pellum has been the most consistent Hornet competitor so far. Despite still looking for his first feature win, he holds an eight point lead over the most recent feature winner, "Lady" Venom" April Warmack. Newcomer Kylea Krossman is also in the battle, two points behind Warmack. Despite not finishing either of the features so far, Hannah Robison sits fifth in the standings. If not for mechanical issues, she may have already won a Main Event this year. Tyler Tullos, Braden Fugate, Cameron Sieger and Andrew Grisham are other drivers to watch for this week.
Pepsi Night at the races will be a fun show from start to finish. For further information, go to www.coosbaypeedway.us.
