Killingsworth Stuns in Modified Debut at Southern Oregon Opener

Modified, News, Northern SportMod, Results

Photos by Shadows of Light Photography

By Ben Deatherage

WHITE CITY, Ore. (Apr. 19, 2025) – Ethan Killingsworth turned heads Saturday night at Southern Oregon Speedway, winning his Friesen Performance IMCA Modified debut in commanding fashion. The defending Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod track champion took the lead early and never looked back, capturing the $2,000 top prize in the 25-lap main event.

Kevin Pendergrass led early before a lap one caution bunched up the field. Killingsworth then executed a textbook move to the front and dominated the top groove of the 3/8-mile oval. Eston Whisler battled with Pendergrass for second before pulling away to attempt a challenge on Killingsworth.

A caution with 11 to go set up a restart, but the Yreka, California chauffeur remained smooth and composed up top, pulling away in the final laps for his first career Shaw Race Cars Western Region victory. Whisler finished second, while his 17-year-old brother Ian Whisler completed the podium.

Braaten Bags First SportMod Win of 2025 in Dominant Run

Four-time Oregon State champion Jorddon Braaten was untouchable in the 25-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature, collecting a $1,000 payday and his first win of the season.

Braaten checked out from the field after grabbing the lead at the start. A midrace caution reset the field, allowing veteran Rich McCoy to challenge for second. McCoy, returning to action after a brief hiatus to get his son Lain’s driving career going, impressed before being overtaken by 2023 state champion Trevor Points and 2022 Southern Oregon titleholder Ryan Peery.

Peery, fresh off his Ernie Mincy Memorial Early Thaw Series crown in Arizona back in January, surged to second but couldn’t run down the four-time track champ, Braaten, who navigated traffic perfectly in the final laps. Peery settled for second, while Ricky Ashley rounded out the top three in the T.R. Points Trucking-owned entry.

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Northern SportMod

Bigfoot finale checkers fly for Sanders

By Ben Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (June 29, 2024) – Always consistent at Southern Oregon Speedway, Matt Sanders sped to his first Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature win at White City this season on night two of the Bigfoot Weekend presented by Toyota. The Brookings hotshoe brought three top five’s and had finished no worse than sixth in four previous Southern Oregon starts during the current campaign, drew the ninth starting spot on Saturday and got the win ahead of Jorddon Braaten. Jeffrey Hudson led on the first trip past the finish line before a caution came out with two laps complete. On the restart, Andy Freeman moved up to third just before the yellow flag returned for the second stoppage of the main event. When things got underway again, Braaten took over third while Ethan Killingsworth was all over Freeman for fourth. Shields and Braaten battled for the runner-up position before Shields had to bow out early due to mechanical issues on lap seven. Sanders continued an impressive run, obtaining third on lap [Read More]

Results

Trenchard scores at Southern Oregon Speedway 

By Don Martin II WHITE CITY, Ore. (Aug. 18) – Taking the lead from Jantzen Knips on the fourth lap, Nick Trench­ard went on to win his second IMCA Modified main event Saturday night at Southern Oregon Speed­way. It had been a last-minute decision for Trenchard to go racing. He’d won the $2,000 prize in the Roger Haudenshild Tribute race earlier this year and has positioned himself as one of the favor­ites to win the $5,000 R. Charles Snyder Salute on Labor Day Weekend. Knips raced into the early lead ahead of Duane Orsburn. Dave Duste Jr. led Trenchard around Orsburn on the second lap and a high pass on the fourth lap gained Trenchard the lead. Moments later, Knips spun for a caution flag. Trenchard pulled away after a couple later restarts and won ahead of Albert Gill and Zach Fettinger. Matt Sanders became the seventh different Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod winner in as many events this season at White City, holding off a late challenge from Rich McCoy.

Feature

First for Oregon as Braaten wins IMCA 100th

CENTRAL POINT, Ore. (Aug. 16, 2024) – It was an accomplishment that Jorddon Braaten would have preferred to have celebrated sooner, but the timing was perfect, anyway. Braaten became the first Oregon driver in any IMCA division to reach the 100 career win mark, topping the Friesen Performance Northern SportMod feature during the Dwayne Melvin Clash program at Southern Oregon Speedway Friday night. “I don’t think I could have picked a better night for this, other than Super Nationals,” he said after the $3,069 checkers flew. “It’s a bit of relief. After being at 99 I was wondering when I was going to get the 100th. There’s been a bit of a monkey on my back the last few months.” Win number 100 came from eighth starting with Braaten lined up against the heavy hitters from the Pacific Northwest in a 40-lapper at White City that ended green, white, checkered. “It was cool. Kind of everything went through my mind at the same time because I knew it was all together,” he said. “It was [Read More]