Hanakahi, Taylor, Ranney Bring Excitement
To Little Southern Oregon Speedway
White City, Oregon...July 19...Alex Hanakahi won the 12 lap Open Bike Main Event Friday night at Little Southern Oregon Speedway. The Open Bike Main Event saw a red flag when Trevor Taylor crashed in Turn 3. He needed medical assistance for a possible rib injury. Taylor had won the 250cc and 450cc Bike Main Events.
After the first attempt to start the Open Bike Main Event was called back, Taylor had to start last on the eight bike grid. Taylor quickly charged into third behind Hanakahi and Mya Maffei. Taylor went low exiting Turn 4 and gained the second position from Maffey on lap five. As they worked the sixth lap, Taylor attempted to get underneath Hanakahi as they entered Turn 3. However, Taylor crashed, which resulted in a red flag. He was taken to the hospital to check for possible rib injuries. The report from his family was that he was doing okay.
Hanakahi resumed his rapid pace on the restart and repelled Maffei's determined efforts for the remainder of the race to score the victory. Brooke Lozano made a late move around Theo Lount to grab third as Lount and Zach Burkdoll made up the remainder of the Top 5.
Trevor Taylor had been on a roll up until the Open Bike Main Event. Taylor led all the way to win his fourth 12 lap 250cc Bike Main Event with Maffei a close second and Lount finishing third.
Taylor also won his third 12 lap 450cc Bike Main Event. Maya Maffei led that race for three laps, Hanakahi was running in second when he crashed in Turn 1. There was a red flag, but he was okay and restarted at the back of the pack. Maffei's bike failed to start on the ensuing restart, and Taylor took the lead from there all the way to the checkered flag. Lozano, Hanakahi, Lount and Maffei made up the the balance of the Top 5.
Caleb Ranney won his first ever Beginners Box Stock Main Event. Ranney had a perfect evening as he won both of his heat races. The 15 lap Main Event ran rapidly with no slow downs, and Ranney led Isaac Grimes from the start. By the sixth lap, Ranney had lapped the third place driver, and he won by a half-lap ahead of Grimes. Point leader Jayme DeBenedetti finished third, followed by Bhaltaire Edwards, Saige King and Talia Colley.
Point leader Trevor Grimes won his fourth 20 lap 250 Kart Main Event. Grimes and reigning champion Vinny DeBenedetti had a good battle all night as they exchanged the lead in both heat races, which were eventually won by Grimes. DeBenedetti led the Main Event for the first ten laps before Grimes made his winning move. Grimes went on to victory, followed by DeBenedetti, Cadyn Smith and Jacob James.
Brody Taylor won the 12 lap Small Bike Main Event. Heat winner Jeremiah Pruitt led the race for three laps before being passed by Brody Taylor. Taylor led the rest of the way to win ahead of Pruitt, Jax Taylor and 6 year old Aydan Egan.
Ben Herbert put on a show by winning both the Big Trike and Little Trike 12 lap Main Events. The Little Trike Main Event saw Herbert and Daniel Ward exchange the lead a few times. Ward led the first three laps of this race-long, side-by-side battle. Working the outside, Herbert went around for the lead on lap four, but Ward regained the lead on lap six. They exchanged the lead yet again, but it was Ward who received the white flag first. Herbert made an outside pass to take the lead entering Turn 1 and grabbed the victory ahead of Ward and MiKayla Burson. Mike Burson Sr took a tumble on the back straightaway to end his night early.
In the Big Trike Main Event, Garrett Stookey led the race for nine laps before Herbert went charging around on the outside as they entered Turn 1. Herbert won the race ahead of Stookey and Sam DeSimone. Point leader Keaton Augustine won both heat races in the Box Stock Main Event ahead of Albert Gill Jr.
All of the Outlaw Kart, Flat Track Bike, Trike and Quad classes will return on August 9th. For further information, go to www.southernoregonspeedway.com.
