Ingle, Grimes, Comstock Win Little
Southern Oregon Speedway Opener
White City, Oregon...The racing season finally got started at the little Southern Oregon Speedway oval track Friday night with a full lineup of Outlaw Karts and a new addition to the program. Motorcycles, Trikes and Quads joined the card to make this one of the biggest supported races the track has had in recent years.
In the 12 lap Open Motorcycle Main Event, Bobby Ingle wrote his name into the record books as the first ever winner on the eighth-mile dirt oval. Ingle is the oldest driver in the field at 69 years old and competes against the pros at Salem indoors during the winter. Ingle wiped out in the first turn in practice, but he came back to win his six lap heat race ahead of Shawn Vernier. In the Main Event, Ingle was the class of the field in leading all the way for the victory. Colin Laeger won a close battle with Brooke Lozano to finish second as Alec Vernier and brother Shawn Vernier completed the order. Alec Vernier was challenging Ingle early in the race when the two touched wheels in Turn 4, resulting in Vernier crashing. He got back on his bike and finished the race.
Trevor Grimes won the 20 lap 250 Intermediate Kart Main Event. The 2017 champion had the pole for the race and moved into lead from the outset. There were a pair of mid-race yellow flags, but that didn't stop Grimes from leading all the way for the win. Grimes won a heat race, and Jacob James was the other heat race winner and second-place feature finisher, followed by Vinny DeBenedetti, Taylor Fuller and Emma Rodgers.
The three wheel Trikes division was fast and entertaining in their 12 lap Main Event. Ryan Comstock withstood a late challenge from Ben Herbert to win that race. Garrett Stookey finished third ahead of Erin Melvin and Mike Benson. Stookey also won the heat race.
Keaton Augustine won the 15 lap Box Stock Main Event. After winning both heat races, he went flag to flag to win the feature ahead of Mikey Wheeler Jr and Kiley Grimes.
Double heat race winner Albert Gill Jr led the entire 12 lap distance to win the Beginners Box Stock Main Event. Jayme DeBenedetti finished second ahead of Isaac Grimes and Hunter Granger.
Bhaltaire Edwards won the Novice Box Stocks 10 lap race ahead of Urijah Boardman, Talia Colley and Saige King.
Mike Wheeler proved unbeatable in the 15 lap UAS Speedway Kart Main Event. Wheeler took the lead from the start and collected the victory ahead of Ed Grubb and Brenden Bartlett. He also won both heat races.
In the 4 Cycle Main Event, double heat winner Lori Fuller saw her attempt to sweep thwarted by her daughter Brionna Fuller, who made the pass on lap six and brought it home to a Main Event victory. Lori Fuller settled for second ahead of Steve Rambo and Cody Bruckenstein.
Tyler Gove won the 12 lap Quads Main Event ahead of Bo Stanridge and John Creveling. Christopher Raper won the 65 to 85 Motocross race ahead of brother Devin Raper.
The same program will happen next Friday night at the little track. For further information, go to www.southernoregonspeedway.com.
