Southern Oregon Speedway Racing Discussion
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Henson, Jaime Part Of The Sprint Car Show At Southern Oregon Speedway
Merissa Henson #17m after her second Mini Stock Trophy Dash win last year.
White City, Oregon...It starts on the Outlaw Kart track for the young racers who dream of one day racing on the bigger track at Southern Oreon Speedway. They learn how to drive, they learn basic racing procedures, they learn how to work on their Karts and some of them even learn about getting sponsorship and making appearances at local business. Through the years, racers like Chadd Noland, Seth Nunes and C.J. Puttnam raced on the smaller track. All three have gone on to win championships on the bigger tracks.
With the Kendall Oil Winged Sprint Cars now a part of the racing lineup at Southern Oregon Speedway, these young drivers have another goal to shoot for. One day, they could be racing Sprint Cars on the three-tenths mile clay oval. There are several young drivers preparing Sprint Cars, and three of them have already started competing. Third generation racer Bailey Hibbard recently finished second in a Main Event. Last year, the past 250 Kart champion won his first Main Event at his home track.
Enrique Jaime #48e was third in 250 Kart points last season.
Two young drivers now competing for "Rookie Of The Year" honors and maybe even a track championship are Merissa Henson and Enrique Jaime. Both have competed on the Kart track in recent seasons. Jaime just had a third place season in his 250 Kart last year. This young hard charger has been burning up the circuit both on dirt and on pavement. Last year, seven time IMCA Modified champion Mark Wauge let Enrique take the wheel of his car for some hot laps. He was hooked. The Jaime family knew that their son was ready for another move up, and they have put him in a Sprint Car this season.
Merissa Henson #17m won the 500 Open Kart dash and feature in last year's season finale.
Merissa Henson has had a love of racing basically since she was old enough to stand. She started in the Box Stocks and worked her way up from there to 250's and then the faster 500 Open class. On each level this talened teen racer demonstrated her ability as a Top 3 point competitor and race winner. Last year, she notched her first 500 Open Kart Trophy Dash and Main Event wins. In 2015, Shannon and Mitch Henson put their daughter into a Mini Stock, and she finished tenth in points. She was only 14 years old.
Last year was a breakthrough year for Merissa. She finished fifth in points. In a very competitive field, she notched a pair of third place finishes and also won two Trophy Dashes. Her parents presented her with an opportunity in August of last year. She could continue racing Mini Stocks, or she could move up to Sprint Cars. It just so happened that the former Phil Del Rosa car was available. Henson didn't hesitate. She wanted to move up. The Mini Stock went up for sale, she finished out a strong season and the car went to Michael Johnson. Work began on the Sprint Car during the offseason.
Merissa Henson #17 had a Top 5 finish in her first Sprint Car start.
Henson has a champion in her corner. 2009 Sprint Car titlist Charlie Thompson is working as crew chief and providing his knowledge on car setup and driving technique. Armed with that and her already proven ability, Merissa opened the season with a Top 5 Main Event finish. She also finished second in her heat race. Her most recent start didn't go so well as she broke her steering and didn't finish. However, it was a learning experience, and she's ready to get back behind the wheel again.
Enrique Jaime #48e looked good in his third place finish last time.
Merissa Henson and Enrique Jaime are two of the young guns of the Kendall Oil Winged Sprint Cars, and both are ready for racing to resume this Saturday night. It's because of drivers like these two that the Sprint Car effort at Southern Oregon Speedway has a bright future ahead. Saturday's program will also include Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Mini Stocks and OTRO Hardtops. Gates open at 5 PM with the first race at 7 PM. General Admission is $12, Seniors and Juniors are $6 and Children 5 and under are free. For more information, go to www.southernoregonspeedway.com.
Stacked Six Division Show At Southern Oregon Speedway
White City, Oregon...The June storm that passed through Oregon didn't spare any of the racing programs as the tracks all canceled one by one. So far, Southern Oregon Speedway has managed to hold four of the seven races this year. Forecasts are calling for a nice day on Saturday as IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Kendall Oil Winged Sprint Cars, Late Models, Mini Stocks and OTRO Hardtops are all on the schedule.
The IMCA Modifieds and Sport Modifieds will be running two weeks in a row, and this is a tuneup race for the big Wild West Speedweek race on June 24th. The locals know that the best the state of Oregon has to offer will be there on the 24th, as well of stars from California and Washington, so getting their cars dialed in will be important. It's also a crucial time in the IMCA Modified point battle. After this week's race, the regulars have the pressure of just making the Main Event the following week. That in itself will be a challenge.
Point leader Monte Bischoff #F1 won the IMCA Modified Season Opener.
Two drivers you know are up to the challenge are Monte Bischoff and Mark Wauge. Bischoff earned Top 5 finishes in both the Roger Haudenshild Tribute and the John Arnberg Memorial this year in Yreka. It's no secret to the success of racers like these two. You'll find their cars up on jacks between races as their crews make adjustments. "The track can change during the night, " said Monte. "You have to make adjustments to loosen or tighten the setup. It can make the difference between having a chance to win or being an also ran that night."
Bischoff leads Jesse Bailey and past champions Wauge and Albert Gill in a close four car battle at the top of the standings. This Saturday will still be an important night of racing for the division, but the 24th will be the big test. The drop in points from making the Main Event to not getting out of the B Main can be pretty steep, so these drivers are hoping to end June on a positive note.
Reigning champion Mike Medel #30 is looking for his first win of the season.
The Sport Modifieds will get to race at most of the tracks during Speedweek after this week's race. Jorddon Braaten and Mike Medel are doing what you'd expect these two champions to do so far. They are running at the head of the pack. They've had 1-2 finishes in the first two races, but Medel is hoping to take a step up to a feature victory. "The new car is running pretty well, " Medel admitted. "I've had some good finishes. but I've also been caught up in a few crashes. I think we're pretty close on things, and I feel that win will be coming soon."
With Willie McFall and Rich McCoy running as well as they are now, and other tough competitors like A.J. Parker, Tony Bartell, David Marble and Jason Zimmerman in the field, it should be another good night of racing this week.
The Kendall Oil Winged Sprint Cars are doing better this year. It is a work in progress establishing this class at the speedway. Prior to last season, 2010 was the last time a champion was crowned, and car count had been going down during the previous two years. However, Promoter Mike McCann is committed to building this class, and car count is up from last year.
Bailey Hibbard #1 finished a strong second in the recent race.
When Hibbard speaks of young drivers, he's not only talking about his son Bailey, who finished a strong second last time. He's also talking about teen leadfoots like Merissa Henson, Enrique Jaime, Jeffrey Hudson and the soon to be season debut of Outlaw Kart star Tanner Holmes. Because of the sensible rules the class offers, word out of California is that David Johnson and Jeff Crossman will be racing this week as well. They all will have their work cut out for the when it comes to battling the most recent winner, Kyler Barraza. Kyler is a two time Southern Oregon Sprint Car Tour champion.
Nathan Augustine #24 has won his two Late Model Starts at the track.
If you aren't getting enough speed with these three divisions, there's also the Late Model division. With three races getting rained out, the competitors are chomping at the bit to get some more seat time. Last week's rainout was actually a make up race for one of the other rainouts. Word is that our most recent two winners, Nathan Augustine and Dustin Knight, will be back to renew their battle. Krity Grout and Dave Foot plan on being there, and Dees Racing, Mike Linder and Steve Lemley are others to watch for this week.
David Steele #67 is the early Mini Stock point leader.
With the experience advantage that he carries, David Steele leads the way in the Mini Stock class. He's already won both races here and three in Yreka. Not surprisingly, he leads the standings. He knows the young talent in the division will present a challenge for him as the season moves along. "A lot of these drivers have only been racing for a few years, " said David. "They just need a bit more seat time. I don't take it for granted that I'm going to win, because I know one of these drivers could win on any give week."
Dillen Lausen is the driver taking up pursuit of Steele at the moment. Last year's top rookie is second in the standings following his career best second place finish last time. Add in the Pinto Wagon of Andrew Hall, Kristopher Mix, Michael Johnson, Patrick Stringer-Stine and Eric Hanson, and you can expect a first time winner soon. Plus, past champions Gary Anderson and Steve Goetz will be at the front of the pack once they get their motor issues sorted out.
Mark Minter #33 won the OTRO Hardtop season opener.
The gates open for this six division show at 5 PM with the first race starting at 7 PM. General Admission prices are $12 with Seniors and Juniors $6 and Children 5 and under free. For further information, go to www.southernoregonspeedway.c//om.
Stacked Six Division Show At Southern Oregon Speedway
White City, Oregon...The June storm that passed through Oregon didn't spare any of the racing programs as the tracks all canceled one by one. So far, Southern Oregon Speedway has managed to hold four of the seven races this year. Forecasts are calling for a nice day on Saturday as IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Kendall Oil Winged Sprint Cars, Late Models, Mini Stocks and OTRO Hardtops are all on the schedule.
The IMCA Modifieds and Sport Modifieds will be running two weeks in a row, and this is a tuneup race for the big Wild West Speedweek race on June 24th. The locals know that the best the state of Oregon has to offer will be there on the 24th, as well of stars from California and Washington, so getting their cars dialed in will be important. It's also a crucial time in the IMCA Modified point battle. After this week's race, the regulars have the pressure of just making the Main Event the following week. That in itself will be a challenge.
Point leader Monte Bischoff #F1 won the IMCA Modified Season Opener.
Two drivers you know are up to the challenge are Monte Bischoff and Mark Wauge. Bischoff earned Top 5 finishes in both the Roger Haudenshild Tribute and the John Arnberg Memorial this year in Yreka. It's no secret to the success of racers like these two. You'll find their cars up on jacks between races as their crews make adjustments. "The track can change during the night, " said Monte. "You have to make adjustments to loosen or tighten the setup. It can make the difference between having a chance to win or being an also ran that night."
Bischoff leads Jesse Bailey and past champions Wauge and Albert Gill in a close four car battle at the top of the standings. This Saturday will still be an important night of racing for the division, but the 24th will be the big test. The drop in points from making the Main Event to not getting out of the B Main can be pretty steep, so these drivers are hoping to end June on a positive note.
Reigning champion Mike Medel #30 is looking for his first win of the season.
The Sport Modifieds will get to race at most of the tracks during Speedweek after this week's race. Jorddon Braaten and Mike Medel are doing what you'd expect these two champions to do so far. They are running at the head of the pack. They've had 1-2 finishes in the first two races, but Medel is hoping to take a step up to a feature victory. "The new car is running pretty well, " Medel admitted. "I've had some good finishes. but I've also been caught up in a few crashes. I think we're pretty close on things, and I feel that win will be coming soon."
With Willie McFall and Rich McCoy running as well as they are now, and other tough competitors like A.J. Parker, Tony Bartell, David Marble and Jason Zimmerman in the field, it should be another good night of racing this week.
The Kendall Oil Winged Sprint Cars are doing better this year. It is a work in progress establishing this class at the speedway. Prior to last season, 2010 was the last time a champion was crowned, and car count had been going down during the previous two years. However, Promoter Mike McCann is committed to building this class, and car count is up from last year.
Bailey Hibbard #1 finished a strong second in the recent race.
When Hibbard speaks of young drivers, he's not only talking about his son Bailey, who finished a strong second last time. He's also talking about teen leadfoots like Merissa Henson, Enrique Jaime, Jeffrey Hudson and the soon to be season debut of Outlaw Kart star Tanner Holmes. Because of the sensible rules the class offers, word out of California is that David Johnson and Jeff Crossman will be racing this week as well. They all will have their work cut out for the when it comes to battling the most recent winner, Kyler Barraza. Kyler is a two time Southern Oregon Sprint Car Tour champion.
Nathan Augustine #24 has won his two Late Model Starts at the track.
If you aren't getting enough speed with these three divisions, there's also the Late Model division. With three races getting rained out, the competitors are chomping at the bit to get some more seat time. Last week's rainout was actually a make up race for one of the other rainouts. Word is that our most recent two winners, Nathan Augustine and Dustin Knight, will be back to renew their battle. Krity Grout and Dave Foot plan on being there, and Dees Racing, Mike Linder and Steve Lemley are others to watch for this week.
David Steele #67 is the early Mini Stock point leader.
With the experience advantage that he carries, David Steele leads the way in the Mini Stock class. He's already won both races here and three in Yreka. Not surprisingly, he leads the standings. He knows the young talent in the division will present a challenge for him as the season moves along. "A lot of these drivers have only been racing for a few years, " said David. "They just need a bit more seat time. I don't take it for granted that I'm going to win, because I know one of these drivers could win on any give week."
Dillen Lausen is the driver taking up pursuit of Steele at the moment. Last year's top rookie is second in the standings following his career best second place finish last time. Add in the Pinto Wagon of Andrew Hall, Kristopher Mix, Michael Johnson, Patrick Stringer-Stine and Eric Hanson, and you can expect a first time winner soon. Plus, past champions Gary Anderson and Steve Goetz will be at the front of the pack once they get their motor issues sorted out.
Mark Minter #33 won the OTRO Hardtop season opener.
The gates open for this six division show at 5 PM with the first race starting at 7 PM. General Admission prices are $12 with Seniors and Juniors $6 and Children 5 and under free. For further information, go to www.southernoregonspeedway.com.
Pit Stops
The SODCA Dwarf Cars were back for their second appearance at Southern Oregon Speedway. We haven't seen a point list from SODCA yet, but it's pretty safe to say that reigning champion Brock Peters, son Cody Peters, Camden Robustelli and Chad Cardoza are players in the championship battle. It's early yet, and even hard chargers like Fred Hay, Kaycee Sheeler, Ryan Smith and Randy Slater are in the hunt. Two time champion Josh King isn't pursuing points this year, though he skipped a $1,000 to win race in Nevada to compete at his favorite track. Josh had preliminary success with his win in the Haudenshild family's Crack The Whip race. His win paid $200.
Robustelli has a Kendall Oil Winged Sprint Car, but there's something else motivating the recent high school grad. He wants to win the Dwarf Car championship. For the past two seasons, Camden has settled for a very close second. He entered this race with hack to back wins in Medford and Coos Bay, but his night didn't go so well. He was caught up in an early tangle to end his race. You can bet he'll come back strong as the club is supporting a couple of big events in the next two weeks.
Cody Peters led the first Medford race of the season for quite some time, but he was having some problems as Robustelli and his father Brock Peters caught him. His battery connection wasn't good, and it effected his power steering. Cody was steering the car with help from his brakes. He didn't realize until afterwards that he didn't have front brakes. It might have been a good thing he didn't know. Cody kept going and salvaged a third place finish that night. Brock, meanwhile, is happy with his new M&M chassis, but he's still getting things dialed in. He said prior to the most recent race that Cody's car is there right now, but his own car is still a work in progress.
After Cody won yet another B Dash, he was part of the incident that ended the race for Robustelli. While Cody came back through the pack, Brock had the lead. One thing we've noticed about Cody since last year is his willingness to work the outside groove to pass people. It served him well this time until he caught his father. Cody searched high and low, but that #2 car in front of him was pretty wide at times. It ended up being a father and son 1-2 finish as Brock beat Cody. You have to believe that Cody's win is coming.
The race for third was a good one as A Dash winner Cardoza led Rob Gergel and King for a while. A late restart opened the door for Gergel to claim that finish with King forcing Cardoza to settle for fifth. While Cardoza and King are on the Medford winner's list, Gergel is still looking for his first victory. Driving the way he did, you have to believe Rob's win is coming. Kaycee Sheeler and Fred Hay were among the Top 10 finishers. Bud Lorentz also finished in the Top 10. Saturday night was an opportunity for Bud to race with his son Jesse, who competed in a Mod Lite. Jesse put his father in his #3 car last year, making him the oldest rookie in the field. This was the first opportunity for the two to compete against each other. Jesse didn't do as well, but he was happy to see his father get another checkered flag.
Nick Trenchard is playing the role of Bounty Hunter lately. The second generation competitor has won some big IMCA Modified races in his career, and the 2015 Yreka champion recently went back to that track and pocketed $1,038 for a dominant victory in the John Arnberg Memorial. Last week, he proceeded to dominate the field again for his second Roger Haudenshild Tribute race victory. The win was set to pay $1,200, but the Haudenshild family upped the ante by giving him another $500 in the winner's circle. The Wild West Speedweek will make a stop in Medford on June 24th, and Nick may be one of the drivers to beat.
Monte Bischoff is the early point leader, and his win in the season opener helped his effort. You can usually find Monte and his crew making adjustments on the car between races as it is up on jacks. Monte admitted that he loosened the setup a couple times that night, and the adjustments paid off with his impressive victory over Mark Wauge. He came into the recent race prepared for a hooked up racing surface and won the Trophy Dash in a battle with Jesse Bailey. These two were battling all night. In the Main Event, Bischoff made contact with Bailey in his bid for third, and then he lifted to allow Bailey to recover. The two had body damage, but they both made it to the finish line in third and fourth.
That Main Event went non stop. Two time champion Albert Gill won his heat race and was a race long second in the feature. Gill started to catch Trenchard as the flying leader used caution in heavy traffic, but he was never able to make a challenge. However, Gill was never really threatened for second either. With a bad starting spot, seven time defending champion Mark Wauge had to battle just to get a fifth place finish. He was not thrilled by the finish, but it was still a good point night. The race that will shake things up between Bischoff, Gill, Bailey and Wauge is the Speedweek event on June 24th. With the increased car count, it's going to be a challenge for the regulars just to make the Main Event. This was the night that put Wauge back into the point battle last season.
James Welshonse ended up a close second in his "Rookie Of The Year" season last year, and he was somebody people looked at as a title contender this year. Unfortunately, his point effort took a hit last week in the Crack The Whip race. James broke a rear end in that race and scratched from the Main Event. Just staying on the lead lap with Trenchard setting such a rapid pace was a challenge. Jeremy Ohlde rebounded from a rough season opener with a respectable sixth place finish. Past Late Model Lites racer Preston Jones was in danger of going a lap down as he battled for position in the final half-dozen laps. We haven't even seen Preston in a few seasons, and he drove like he hadn't been gone at all. Not only did he make some passes to earn seventh, he also kept Trenchard from putting him a lap down. Jones led most of the Crack the Whip race, but Bailey made a last lap pass for the $200 victory.
Speaking of Crack The Whip, the IMCA Sport Modified version of the race ended up being Crash The Car after a botched start. Rookie Justin McCreadie has been burning up the scene at Yreka with a pair of feature wins already, but he wanted to race in front of the home crowd. David Marble skipped the Medford opener thinking things would go smoother in Cottage Grove. Unfortunately, he was involved in a crash that left his car too damaged to affordably repair. It was easier to get a new car, and David had that car ready for a run at a big Medford win. After a strong second to reigning champion Mike Medel in their heat race, David lined up for the Crack The Whip race. The drivers were rolling to what they thought would be a green flag. It never waved, and Marble crashed with McCreadie in Turn 1. Both drivers found the unhappy end of the tow truck hook to end their night.
A.J. Parker gave it a pretty good run in the opener when you consider the car wasn't set up right and the ball joint wasn't installed properly. He managed a fourth place finish that night. He's still working on a new car for next year, but he is running his Top 5 car from last season in the meantime. Saturday saw A.J. lead a couple of laps of the Trophy Dash before Jorddon Braaten took over. A.J. had a bit of a rough night as he ended up eighth in the Main Event.
Braaten was practically unstoppable all night, which was the case on the previous Sunday when he won the Bo Hittson Memorial at Yreka for an $812 victory. Only a second to Rich McCoy in their heat race marred Braaten's night as he won the $200 in the Crack the Whip race. He was never seriously threatened as he won the $800 prize in the Roger Haudenshild Tribute. The Haudenshild family upped that total by $500 in the winner's circle, meaning it was a $1,500 night for the two time track champion and current point leader. Jorddon now has 26 career feature wins, just in the Sport Modified class in Medford.
Reigning champion Mike Medel has been running strong in his new car this year and is one of the Top 5 drivers in the Sport Mod Challenge Series, led at the moment by Braaten. In Yreka the previous Saturday, Mike's car took heavy damage in a late race crash, but he still got it to the finish line in the Top 6. On Sunday, he finished third, losing second on a late restart. Mike looked good back at Medford as he won his heat race and finished a solid second in the Main Event ahead of 2016 Yreka champion Jimmy Lipke and heat winner Rich McCoy. McCoy was at the center of the Saturday crash in Yreka and wasn't exactly proud of his effort that night. After his non start in the Medford opener, the past Mini Stock champion did a great job of getting a fourth place finish.
Two time champion Dwayne Melvin was proudly displaying the Roger Haudenshild Racing logo on the rear quarter panel of his car. Melvin also runs the same #69 that Roger did. He gave it a valiant effort before finishing second to Braaten in the Crack The Whip race. In the Main Event, Dwayne battled Willie McFall fiercely for fifth, but he settled for a respectable lead lap sixth. Rookie Jason Zimmerman put on an entertaining show, though his car got put through its paces. In only his second start, he did a complete 360 in Turn 4 and kept going. Later, he rode the front wall on two wheels. He spun in Turn 2 on the final lap and missed the checkered flag, but he still finished seventh. At the moment, he leads all rookies in the division.
The Pro Stocks delivered a solid 16 car field for the latest race, which included the return of two time champion Ken Irving, Dan Randall and Tom Hackworth as well as support from the OPSA. There was no question that Dr. Scott Lenz was the star of the evening. Lenz dominated the Roger Haudenshild Tribute for the $800 payday and won the $200 in the Crack The Whip race. He also won his heat race. Scott is a past Pro Stock champion at the track and a Street Stock champion at the old Medford Speedway. This win was his 102nd career victory, and it helped him maintain the OPSA point lead over Scott Flowers. S. Flowers was riding along in third, but he lost the position to Irving on the last lap.
The Flowers family was out in full force with four cars thanks to the support of car owner Arlen Garrison with the #00 car that Scott's son James was driving. James picked up a heat race win and a second in the Main Event. Scott's wife Ginny and daughter Julia didn't finish the Main Event, but young Julia, who recently graduated high school, finished a strong second in the Trophy Dash and followed Jeffrey Hudson in second in her heat race after leading early. Hudson may be the only driver on the circuit who can keep up with Lenz, but the 2015 OPSA champion had a rough Main Event. He did win the Billy Geyer Memorial race a few weeks ago in Yreka.
The early Medford point battle is being led by Coos Bay's Josh Kralicek. Josh had an eighth place finish in the Main Event, but his highlight came earlier as he won his first Trophy Dash. He may not have considered the possibility of a championship when he made the decision to race in Medford this year, but right now he leads Derrel Nelson Jr. We'll be waiting for the next race to see what the plans are for Lenz and Irving in regards to racing for points, but there are no more conflicts in race dates between Medford and the OPSA. Another driver looking good out there was the #03 of Johnny Cobb. Johnny trails Lenz and S. Flowers in the OPSA point battle. He did well in finishing fifth in the Main Event ahead of Brian Hammond.
