Southern Oregon Speedway Racing Discussion
Bobbio's Pizza Mini Stocks Begin 25th Season
At Southern Oregon Speedway
At Southern Oregon Speedway
White
City, Oregon...The Bobbio's Pizza Mini Stocks return as one of the
featured divisions at Southern Oregon Speedway this season. Along with
the IMCA Modifieds, they are the only division to crown a champion every
season since the track opened in 1996. The division has served as an
entry point into the racing scene, launching several racing careers
through the years.
The four
cylinder division has included cars from several different manufacturers
through the years, including Toyotas, Nissans and Fords. Currently, the
most popular model is the Ford Mustang, and it's not often you see a
racer break that trend and score a feature win these days. Back in the
early days, drivers like Brian Barns, Tracy Bradley, David Bishop, Rich
McCoy and Mike Johnson counted themselves as champions at the speedway.
Both McCoy and Johnson went on to compete in other classes, and Barns
was the first Late Model Lites champion when that division was
introduced.
They didn't get much
better then Jim Pope and John Derby. Both drivers had a knack for
scoring feature wins and were track champions. In fact, Derby won
four-consecutive titles before stepping away. It was around that time
that two top notch competitors, Bob Burkett and David Steele, entered
the scene. Burkett has won championships in both Mini Stocks and Late
Model Lites before stepping away, and Steele has been on a major roll
for the past few seasons.
You
might as well put a big target on the fast #67 Mustang of Steele.
Everybody is gunning for him. During the past two seasons, he's only
failed to win the Main Event four times on his way to back-to-back
championships. Along the way, Steele has written his name in the books
as the all-time Main Event win leader in division history. In fact, he's
also known to head down to Yreka on occasion and leave with the Main
Event winner's hardware there as well. Simply put, Steele is the driver
to beat anytime he's there.
It's
the new stars who have joined this class in recent seasons who have
gained valuable experience and become threats to Steele. The two Main
Events he didn't win last year were won by 2018 championship runner-up
Hunter Magnan and last season's point runner-up Ashtin Hedges. Hedges
was a feature winner in the Hornet division prior to moving up to the
Mini Stock class, and he topped the competitors with six runner-up
finishes last season as the biggest threat to Steele on any given race
night. Both drivers should be fast this year.
2013
champion Steve Goetz had a horrendous start to his season last year,
which took him out of contention, but he'll be a threat to get back into
the winner's column this year. Likewise, 2017 champion Kristopher Mix
is hoping to grab another feature win this year. Though the
third-generation racer Mix also had a rough start last year, he still
climbed his way up the point ladder and held off Magnan to rank third in
the standings. He plans to compete in both the Mini Stock and IMCA
Sport Modified classes this year.
Teammates
Dylan Irving and Brandyn Wonsyld were both top competitors in the
Hornet division in the past, and both won Main Events in that class.
Last season, Irving drove the former David Marble car to a fifth place
season, which was good enough to earn him top rookie honors. He'll be
out to get his first win in this class, while Wonsyld will be hoping to
be a bigger threat to win races as well.
The
division will gain the Hedges Racing Team in full force this year. 2016
Hornets champion Tim Hedges has a four-car team again this year. He
will be behind the wheel of the 2014 division championship car of Gary
Anderson. Wife Jenna Hedges has a car, although she's tentative as far
as how much racing she will do. As a two-time Hornet point runner up and
feature winner in that class, it stands to reason that she would get
comfortable behind the wheel of a Mini Stock in short order. There's no
word on who will drive the other Hedges car, and one of the cars is a
championship winning machine from a little over a decade ago.
Andrew
Hall, who was a Top 5 competitor a few years ago, is hoping he will
have his Ford Pinto dialed in just right this year. There are several
other cars available, and there has been some speculation that we'll be
seeing a few new or returning drivers in the field. Competitors such
Garrett Fredrickson, Greg McDaniels and Scott Yergis could see some
action this year. We might also see a visit or two from drivers in the
Yreka area when scheduling allows.
The
Mini Stock division serves an important role in getting new drivers on
the track who eventually move up to other classes. Car count is expected
to increase slightly this season during the 13 race schedule. The first
race for the class will happen on May 2nd. Other races to look forward
to include May 16th, May 30th as part of the Roger Haudenshild Tribute,
June 13th, June 20th, June 27th, July 11th, July 25th, August 8th,
August 22nd, August 29th and Championship Night on September 12th. For
further information on this and other topics, go to www.southernoregonspeedway.com.
Late Model Lites Return For 16th Season
At Southern Oregon Speedway
At Southern Oregon Speedway
White
City, Oregon...Southern Oregon Speedway continues to offer the pinnacle
of four cylinder racing. This is the Late Model Lites division, and it
returns for its 16th championship season on the 3/10 mile clay oval. The
division first launched in 2003, and Mini Stock graduate Brian Barns
won the first two titles. As this class has evolved, it's become one of
the fastest race cars at the speedway.
Following
the 2013 season with a bit of controversy behind the scenes, the
division was discontinued. However, a few racers wouldn't give up on the
dream, led by Lee Doty . Doty lobbied for a race in 2015, which he won.
He then persuaded new Promoter Mike McCann to add the class in 2016,
coming on board as the title sponsor for the class in 2017. Valley Store
All Self Storage in Medford sponsored three seasons for the class, but
2016 champion Doty has since retired to Arizona after selling his car to
Ross Payant.
If the Payant name
sounds familiar, it's because Ross was a Late Model competitor at the
old Medford Raceway. He was a multi-time Late Model Lites feature winner
last year on his way to third in the standings behind new champion Greg
Arnold and 2018 title winner Charlie Eaton. Arnold, who also won the
2002 Super Truck championship, has moved up to full Late Models this
season, putting Payant and Eaton into the position of "drivers to beat".
Eaton
would love to join Joe Guider, Brian Johnsen and Barns as a two-time
champion, but he knows the competition will still be tough. In addition
to Payant, the Hadley Racing team is anticipated with three cars this
season. Nobody in the history of the division has more feature wins than
past division championship runner-up Terry Hadley. Wife Krista Hadley
had multiple Top 3 feature finishes last season, and she ranked fourth
in the standings. Both drivers will be threats to win.
The
Aos Racing Team should again be represented. Both Eric Aos and Dusty
Aos have been Top 5 ranked in recent seasons, and Dusty was fifth last
year. Last year was not the kindest to either one of them, but as
feature winners in the past, they should both be considered threats to
win again this season.
Following a
season with horrendous luck, Jim Cunningham is hoping to dial out the
bugs and become a factor in the battle for wins this season. One driver
who has won Main Events in the past, Danny Prewitt, is expected to
return this season. The 2018 championship car of Bob Burkett has been
purchased by the Naramore Racing Team and is expected to return this
season. The Naramore family competed in the old Thrill Car division and
were champions. We're also hoping to see 2013 champion John Barger make
an appearance or two this year as well.
For
the Mini Stock racer looking to continue in four cylinder competition,
these fast race cars are an attractive option. They will make their
first 2020 appearance on May 9th, followed by visits on May 23rd, June
20th, July 4th, July 25th, August 1st, August 15th and Championship
Night on September 17th. It's hoped that the car count will be assisted
by the more relaxed eight race season. For further information on this
and other topics, go to www.southernoregonspeedway.com.
Pro Stocks, Hardtops Make Three Appearances Each
In 2020 At Southern Oregon Speedway
In 2020 At Southern Oregon Speedway
Medford,
Oregon...There's quite the variety on the 2020 schedule once again at
Southern Oregon Speedway. Every year since the track opened in 1996, the
Pro Stocks have held at least one race, and that will continue again
this year with three visits on three special occasions. The Old Time
Racers of Oregon Hardtops will also be back with their vintage style of
racing three times.
When the
speedway opened in 1996, the Pro Stocks were instrumental in helping
establish a solid foundation. Frequently during those early years, the
Pro Stocks delivered the biggest car counts at the track. There would be
over 30 competitors at times, and the field included some of the best
drivers, including Jimmy Walker Jr, Scott Lenz, Brian Poppa, Frank Word
III, Tony Walker and John David Duffie. The first four drivers count
themselves as champions. Walker won three of the first championships at
the speedway, and Word won an incredible eight titles in nine seasons,
interrupted by Poppa after his first four-consecutive titles.
When
the speedway went a different route with the introduction of the IMCA
Sport Modifieds in 2012, a few drivers joined the class. However, others
formed the Outlaw Pro Stock Association. The group enters their ninth
season. They have had an impressive roster of their own, and this
includes two-time champions Ken Irving and Scott Lenz, one-time
champions Steve Borror and Dave Everson. The reigning champion will be
Scott Flowers. Flowers like several drivers on the roster, hails from
the Klamath Falls area. He broke a five-year winner's drought with his
October win in Yreka last year. After second and third place finishes in
Medford last year, he's hoping to grab a victory here this time around.
Jeff
Haudenshild managed to score the surprise win in the R Charles Snyder
Salute last season. In an effort to help the Pro Stocks get more of an
opportunity to shine, Promoter Mike McCann has booked them as the third
division for the Sunday portion of the Snyder race on September 6th.
There will be no fourth division this time, meaning the Pro Stocks
should have a great opportunity to shine. Haudenshild and Flowers will
lead an impressive line-up of competitors which should include such
stars as Irving, James Flowers, Matt Harlow, Kenneth LaPlant, Rick
Lukens, Colby Hammond and Dean Hackworth. We could also see 2016
champion Steve Borror among the field as well.
The
Pro Stocks have become an important part of the Roger Haudenshild
Tribute race, which happens again on May 30th. With two-time series
champion Scott Lenz winning the last three big shows and moving up to
Late Models this year, it opens the door for somebody else to get a
winner's opportunity. Borror won the race in 2016. However, there is
still one other Pro Stock race on the schedule that the association will
be a part of.
On July 11th,
Southern Oregon Speedway offers a $1,000 to win race with a special
meaning behind it. This will be the Rocky Nash Memorial race. Nash was
not only one of the top Pro Stock competitors and a longtime Medford
area racer, he was also a winner on the prestigious NASCAR West Series
circuit on multiple occasions. Nash passed away in 2017 following
complications suffered from a crash in Yreka. This event will be
promoted by the new Tri State Pro Stock Series.
Series
organizer Roy Bain was excited to announce the event after negotiations
fell through in the attempt to book a race in 2018. The Pro Stocks will
be the headliner that night, and drivers from Oregon, California and
Nevada are anticipated. Jesse Gonzalez has won the first two races held
in Stockton, California this year. He figures to be a tough competitor,
along with such crafty veterans as Bill Pearson, reigning series
champion Mike Learn, Jerry Bartlett, Ryan Cherezian, Donny Richardson
and some of the best drivers from the Oregon Outlaw Pro Stock
Association.
The Vintage Coup and
Sedan race cars from the Old Time Racers of Oregon will be back three
times this year as well. The drivers compete in old 1930s and 1940s
Ford, Chevy and Dodge bodied race cars. They have had several races each
season since Promoter Mike McCann took over the track in 2016. Mark
Minter counts himself as the only driver to win a feature in each of the
four previous seasons. Bill Trotter has been the biggest supporter of
the effort during that time, and both drivers are anticipated when the
group comes to town on May 9th, May 23rd and June 13th.
Among
the drivers on the roster are Dan Fouts in the Dusty Trotter owned
entry, Brian Weberg II, Matt Butler, Jay Smith, Chris Mehrer and Dean
Cast. Cast was a feature winner last season, and Butler and Weberg were
both preliminary race winners last year. The Hardtops are always fun to
watch and are a throwback to a time when this division ruled the race
tracks throughout the United States in the 1950s and 1960s.
