Peery scores huge Wild West Shootout win at Siskiyou

By Ben Deatherage

YREKA, Calif. (June 14) – A quick decision late in the race paid off for Travis Peery.

Originally from nearby Fort Jones, the North Dakota transplant won Sunday’s Wild West Modified Shootout feature at Siskiyou Motor Speedway.

Peery started outside pole but the $1,000 Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified victory was sealed un­til he made a split second decision and chose the right lane that took him through lapped traffic with two circuits left.

After taking the lead at the drop of the green, Peery set a rapid pace interrupted only by cautions on laps 15 and 18.

The second yellow involved Colorado pilot Ryan Gaylord, running second at the time. He spun into the infield and the second spot was inherited by North Dakota chauffeur Troy Heupel.

Heupel nearly caught Peery on a couple occasions but each time Peery was able to pull away. Heavy lapped traffic came into play with just a few laps remaining and that’s when Peery picked the right line to work his way through.

The win was Peery’s tour career second and his first at Siskiyou. He was already on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Heupel, opening night winner Jesse Williamson, Jon DeBene­detti and Rob Ireland completed the top five.

Eight states – Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon and Washing­ton – were represented by the 36 drivers signed in for the second event of the 2015 tour.

Round three takes the Wild West Modified Shootout to Coos Bay Speedway on the Oregon Coast on Monday, June 15. This will be the first WWMS race at the facility since 2013 and Williamson was the winner that year.

Feature results – 1. Travis Peery; 2. Troy Heupel; 3. Jesse Williamson; 4. Jon DeBenedetti; 5. Rob Ireland; 6. Danny Lauer; 7. B.J. Wild; 8. Alex Stanford; 9. Mark Wauge; 10. Troy Foulger; 11. Craig Cassell; 12. Paul Stone; 13. Joe German; 14. Troy Morris; 15. Collen Winebarger; 16. John Campos; 17. Nick Trenchard; 18. Zach Olson; 19. Ryan Gaylord; 20. Brian Poppa.