By Ben Deatherage
BANKS, Ore. (Aug. 9, 2025) — Albany’s Bricen James became the first repeat winner of the Whisler Construction Banks Mod Nationals presented by Schram Brothers Excavating, scoring his second career win in the event with a $2,000-to-win 40-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature triumph at Sunset Speedway Park. The two-time reigning IMCA Wild West Speedweek champion and 2019 Shaw Race Cars Western Region champion wheeled the Schram Motorsports no. 13 to his eighth win of the season in the region and first at the Banks Bullring in 2025.
Six-time track champion and 2024 Oregon State titleholder Craig Cassell paced the opening lap before James used the bottom groove to take over down the backstretch. The first caution slowed the pace on lap six, but once the field settled in, James stretched his advantage and reached lapped traffic on lap 20.
Another yellow at lap 23 interrupted a spirited battle for second between Cassell and four-time Washington State champion Tyson Blood, who held the spot at the stoppage. James again pulled away on the restart, with Blood securing second and Cassell holding off Zane Miner for third. Heavy lapped traffic with six to go didn’t faze James, who cruised to the milestone win.
Schott Scores Emotional Sunoco IMCA Stock Car Victory
Eagle Creek’s Donald Schott returned to Banks Victory Lane with an emotional $1,250 triumph in the 25-lap Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main. The two-time defending Oregon State champion has run a partial schedule in 2025 following the passing of his daughter, Tabitha, making Saturday’s victory extra meaningful. It was also his second win of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region and first at Banks this year.
Schott led from the drop of the green and built a comfortable gap until B.J. Wild — aboard the Dwayne Klein no. 22K — closed in by lap nine. The lone caution waved on lap 11, setting up a restart that saw Schott fend off heavy pressure from Wild and Chase Berkeley, the three-time IMCA Wild West Speedweek and 2023 IMCA.TV Winter Nationals champion.
Wild and Berkeley battled each other in the closing laps, giving Schott some breathing room, but both regrouped to take another shot with two to go. Schott held firm to the finish, with Wild second and Schott’s son, Sid, edging Berkeley for third at the line.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV affiliate Dirt Oval TV. Missed the action? Catch every lap on demand with an IMCA TV Replay Subscription—available now for just $24.99/month. Plus, don’t miss Season 2 of The Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
