Southern Oregon Speedway Release
Season opener scheduled for Saturday night. Hearing a lot talk of new Sport Modifieds ad Sprint Cars this season. Hopefully, weather will allow this one. Everything is ready to go. We’ll let you know if anything changes.
Don Martin II
Southern Oregon Speedway
publicity@southernoregonspeedway.com
Publicity Director/Sales
(925)-458-3446
The SODCA group had a fan meet and greet on Sunday at Granger Accounting ii Central Point. About a dozen cars ere on display, and the association also had a barbecue. Photo by SODCA
Reining IMCA Modified champion Jesse Bailey #68 and Jeff Faulkner #34 racing for a heat win last season. Photo by Raven Mountain Photography.
Bob Dees #6 ad 2017 champion Nathan Augustine #24 race for a Trophy Dash win. Photo by Raven Mountain Photography.
Spring Thaw Kicks Off 2018 Season At Southern Oregon Speedway
White City, Oregon…After a wet and cold winter and some hard work during the past few weeks to get ready, Southern Oregon Speedway is about ready to roar back into action again. Saturday night, IMCA Modifieds, Late Models, IMCA Sport Modifieds and Southern Oregon Dwarf Cars will all be competing on the Jim Rodgers prepared 3/10 mile clay oval.
During the offseason, loads of clay were hauled onto the track as promoter Mike McCann continues to make improvements to the facility. The racing surface should be better. On the fan side, the grandstands and concessions area were completely power-washed. Further improvements have been made to concessions, which will include some new food items. It’s all about giving the fans comfort and good show.
On the race track, Jesse Bailey is the reigning IMCA Modified champion. However, 7-time champion Mark Wauge will be back in a new car. Nobody has won more Main Events in this division’s history at the track than him. Wauge is two wins shy of 50 wins in this division and sits third on the track’s all-time win list in overall wins behind legendary Pro Stock champion Frank Word III and Brian Poppa.
Word is that another legend of the track, Jon DeBenedetti, will be teaming up with Brian Bowman to wheel an IMCA Modified. There is great competition to be found as the track has an IMCA sanctioning for the sixth consecutive season. Two time champion Albert Gill, James Welschonse, Zach Fettinger, Preston Jones, Matt Duste and Ray Kniffen Jr are other drivers to watch for this week.
The Late Models are back for their third consecutive season, and Nathan Augustine is the reigning champion. Augustine has made plans to continue racing at this track despite making the long trip from Redmond to be at every race. One of the top contenders he’ll need to watch out for this year is Bob Dees.
Dees is the 2016 champion and a two-time winner last season. The Dee’s family fields three cars with sons John and Garrett behind the wheel of them. Garrett is the 2017 “Rookie Of The Year” winner. Speaking of rookies, 2014 Street Stock champion Miles Deubert will be making his division debut. Other drivers to watch for include Dave Foote, longtime Medford area racer Mike Linder, Don Garrett Jr and Chris Biggs.
The IMCA Sport Modified division turns seven years old, and only three drivers have been the champion so far. Reigning champion Mike Medel, Jorddon Braaten and Dwayne Melvin each have two championships to their credit. All three drivers will be racing this season, and word is that we will be seeing our biggest car counts yet for the class.
Willie McFall made things difficult for Medel last season before settling for second in the standings. McFall will be going for his first career win this year, but the competition is going to be tougher. Last year’s top rookie, Jesse Merriman, will be back along with Danny Rule, Lloyd Speer, Tony Bartell, Tony Duste and newcomer Joby Shields.
The Southern Oregon Dwarf Car Association has another great schedule lined up at their home track, and it starts Saturday night as Brock Peters attempts to win his third straight championship. He can count on tough competition from his own son, Cody Peters. Cody won the prestigious Dwarf Car Nationals event last season and finished fourth in the final standings. The two other drivers he followed in the points, Chad Cardoza and Ryan Smith, also figure to be tough competitors.
Camden Robustelli has picked up two wins in Yreka two weeks ago, and he won the first race at Southern Oregon last year. He has his sights set on another win, and there’s added incentive. Jim Nelson is offering $1,000 to the winner. Other drivers to watch for in this extremely competitive division include two-time champion Josh King, ageless veteran Fred Hay, Randy Slater, Joe Sanders and Mason Lewman.
Gates open at 5 p.m. and the first race starts at 7 p.m. General Admission is $12, 6-12, Seniors and Veterans are $6 and Children 5 and under are free. For further information, go to www.southernoregonspeedway.com.
