March 12, 2026

Fettinger is fastest at Southern Oregon

Zach Fettinger bounced back from an early crash to win Saturday’s IMCA Modified feature at Southern Oregon Speedway. (Photo by Carole Bryan, Shadows of Light Photography)

By Don Martin II

WHITE CITY, Ore. (June 16) – Making a nice comeback from an early race crash, Zach Fettinger scored the 25-lap IMCA Modified main event victory Saturday night at Southern Oregon Speedway.

Fettinger held off C.J. Putnam down the stretch for what would be his first win of the season despite restarting at the back of the field following the lap eight fracas.

The frontrunners had come up on a slower car and while Andy Freeman got by, Mark Wauge and Fettinger both got caught up. Wauge suffered enough damage to end his race while Fettinger made a pit stop and was able to rejoin the back of the pack for the restart.

Fettinger quickly found the fastest line and charged to the lead, and eventual win ahead of Putnam and Albert Gill.

Braxton Possinger was flawless in leading start to finish of the 20-lap feature for Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods.

southernoregonspeedway

Southern Oregon win to Winebarger on night two of Wild West Modified Shootout

By Ben Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (June 22) – Another defending race winner was first to the checkers, on night two of the Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout Collen Winebarger topped Saturday’s main event at Southern Oregon Speedway, gaining a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth with the $1,000 victory, his series second in a row at White City. Kellen Chadwick took full advantage of his pole starting spot, taking the lead early and remaining there much of the race. Chadwick cruised until the culminating laps when he was briefly barricaded by traffic. Winebarger managed to cut down Chadwick’s lead and for the first time in the feature put significant pressure on the leader. The two battled briefly until lap 33 when Winebarger edged out in front. Winebarger went on to win the main event, his career fourth Wild West Shootout triumph. Chadwick, Jesse Williamson and Zach Fettinger were next across the stripe, while Jerry Flippo posted a fifth in his series first career feature start. Nick Trenchard had repeated his winning ways on opening [Read More]

Trenchard triumphs at Haudenshild Tribute

By Don Martin II WHITE CITY, Ore. (June 2) – After taking the lead from Preston Jones early in the race, Nick Trenchard went on to victory in the 25-lap IMCA Modified main event Saturday at Southern Oregon Speedway. This was the sixth annual Roger Haudenshild Tribute race and the win paid $2,000 to Trenchard, new to the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. It was also his third win in the big event. Jones paced just one lap before Trenchard made an outside pass to gain the lead. On the third lap, Albert Gill took second and Duane Orsburn made his way to third. By then, Trenchard was a straightaway in the lead, leaving behind him a good battle between Gill and Orsburn for second. Trenchard was working lapped traffic and in command when the caution flew on lap 11. Orsburn worked his way to second following the second restart. Trenchard set a rapid pace and soon had a straightaway advantage. The man making the charge was Dave Duste Jr., who had fifth on the [Read More]

$10,000-To-Win Legends of Dirt Modified Shootout Headlines at Southern Oregon Speedway

By Ben Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (Aug. 5, 2025) — Southern Oregon Speedway will roar to life on August 15–16 with the Legends of Dirt Modified Shootout, a marquee event for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds that boasts a $10,000 top prize and an additional $10,000 in contingencies up for grabs. The weekend combines some of the track’s most storied traditions — the R. Charles Snyder Salute and the Rayburn Classic — into a single blockbuster program. This is the highest-paying IMCA Modified race in the state of Oregon and ranks among the richest events in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. In addition to the five-figure payday, a special one-of-a-kind gift will be presented to the winner in victory lane. On Friday, the field will be split into two groups. Group A will contest heat races 1 through 3, while Group B runs heats 4 through 6. Qualifying — determined by pill draw — will set the heat race lineups, and results from those heats will shape the night’s feature lineups. The top seven finishers in [Read More]

Feature

Joel Magee: Collecting Toys and Checkered Flags

By Ben Deatherage PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (Mar. 9, 2026) — Inside hotel ballrooms and convention halls across America, Joel Magee can often be found leaning over a folding table with a magnifying glass in hand, carefully studying a toy that might be decades old. A faded lunchbox, a worn toy car, or a well-loved action figure could all hold stories — and sometimes surprising value. For the past several decades, collectors have brought their treasures to Magee hoping to learn what they’re worth. To many in the collecting world, he’s known simply as “The Toy Scout.” But when the appraisal tables close and the lights go down, Magee trades vintage toys for something much louder — the rumble of a race car engine. The Sioux City, Iowa native is also the driver of a Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock, and at 64 years old, he’s chasing checkered flags with the same enthusiasm he brings to tracking down rare collectibles. And in 2026, he’s already off to a strong start. Winter Champion, Summer Contender Magee opened the [Read More]

News

Al Buschelman: A Life Remembered

By Ben Deatherage GREEN RIVER, Wyo. (Mar. 10, 2026) — Dirt-track racing in southwestern Wyoming didn’t simply appear overnight. Tracks were carved from open ground, racecars were built in home garages, and entire racing programs grew from the efforts of volunteers who believed in the sport. Few individuals embodied that spirit more than Allen “Al” Buschelman — racer, builder, community servant, and longtime IMCA official whose influence helped shape generations of racing across the region. Buschelman passed away Sunday, March 8, at age 88 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. For decades he was a familiar figure at Wyoming racetracks, whether behind the wheel of a racecar, operating heavy equipment, or helping guide the sport as an IMCA regional director. Those who knew him remember a man who loved fast cars, valued hard work, and cared deeply about the people around him. From Nebraska Roots to a Life in Wyoming Al Buschelman was born in Crofton, Nebraska. He attended high school in Crofton and grew up in a rural environment that emphasized hard work and [Read More]

Divisions

Johnson Avenges Opening Night Flip with Round Two SportMod Victory in Bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Mar. 7, 2026) — Following a prolific 2025 season at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway across various Stock Car classes, Nicholas Johnson took on the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods in 2026. His season opener in February ended on his lid, but he quickly regained his form at the one-third-mile dirt track on Saturday during March Madness with a coveted comeback victory. Johnson dominated his heat race, then lined up third for the 25-lap feature alongside his brother Ethan. Ethan jumped ahead at the start with Nicholas sliding into second. Following a crash in turn one on the opening lap, Nicholas Johnson used the restart to take over the lead on the second lap. Johnson dominated the rest of the feature to score his first Bakersfield SportMod win. Tate Lofts drove from eighth to second, with Chris McKellar, 2024 champion Jason Bannister, and Alyssa Smith rounding out the top five. 2023 and 2024 Bakersfield Speedway Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified champion Gavyn Manning returned to the top step of the podium, winning the [Read More]

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