Mini Stock Drivers Prepare For Coming Season
At Southern Oregon Speedway
White City, Oregon...With less than a month left to go, there are several drivers chomping at the bit to put their cars on the racetrack. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the Mini Stock division, where several Southern Oregon Speedway competitors were seen on a racetrack making some practice laps.
The track was neighboring Siskiyou Motor Speedway in Yreka, and a little over a half dozen racers were there. For the last two seasons at Southern Oregon Speedway, there were three names you needed to know when it came to championship contenders. Those three drivers were longtime division competitor Bob Burkett, 2014 Champion Gary Anderson and 2015 Champion David Marble, who is reportedly getting ready for a move up to Outlaw Pro Stocks.
Eric Hanson and Mike Cloud were next on the point list last season, ranking fourth and fifth respectively. Both racers are hungry to see the Winner's Circle this year, and they could very well be drivers to beat in the championship battle this year. The duo came to Yreka on Saturday and were part of the car show at McDonald's in Yreka before heading to the track for practice.
Two of last season's Top 10 competitors were also seen in Yreka. Seventh ranked Kris Mix and 10th ranked Marissa Henson were there to put their cars though the paces. Mix was so excited to get some practice laps that his car was primered and didn't even have a paint job yet. He could feel the top 5 within his grasp last season, and he's anxious to make it this year and perhaps see the Winner's Circle a time or two. Henson had her beautiful #17 car out there making laps as she tries to improve on last season's 10th place ranking.
Henson also ran the 250's on the smaller track last season and brought it home to a third place ranking behind Dylan Lausen. Lausen will be a rookie in Mini Stocks this year and was making laps in Yreka. Last season, Lausen ran a Hornet a time or two and ranked second in 250's on the 1/8 mile dirt oval next to the big track. He will be joined in this year's rookie class by another driver making his first Mini Stock laps in Yreka, Devin Weiser. Like Lawson, Weiser raced briefly in the Hornet Class last season.
There is excitement in the air as the Mini Stock division prepares for its 21st season of racing at Southern Oregon Speedway. Several racers are hoping to make their presence known in the battle this year, and these drivers were hoping to get a head start and be ready when the gates open in a few weeks for the first race on April 30th. For more information about the happenings at Southern Oregon Speedway, check out the official webpage at www.southernoregonspeedway.com.
