southernoregonspeedway Archives

Marathon man Ryland wins long race to checkers at Dwayne Melvin Clash

MEDFORD, Ore. (Aug. 20, 2022) – His off-track training regimen had Fred Ryland in shape for Saturday’s Dwayne Melvin Clash. Ryland started on the pole and led the distance in the 69-lap marathon for Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods at Southern Oregon Speedway. “Luckily I hike and run a little bit. That really helped a lot,” the Brentwood, Calif., speedster said following the career-topping $3,000 payday. “It was hot and we spent a lot of time in the car on Saturday. We drank a lot of water when we could.” The Clash, stopped at lap 30 for a fuel-only break, was the longest on Ryland’s career by 19 laps. “The cautions were spread out just right and kept us from getting into too much lapped traffic, and I was able to pull away some on the restarts,” he said. “Ryan Peery challenged on the outside. I just did my thing and kept hugging the bottom.” Fellow Californians Peery, Tyler Rodgers and Kenny Shrader finished two, three, four. Hard charger and hometown hotshoe Mike Medel was [Read More]

Travels take James to victory lane at Southern Oregon’s Rayburn Classic

MEDFORD, Ore. (Aug. 19, 2022) – His latest finish in a self-described “pretty dang good year” also turned out to be a Friesen Performance IMCA Modified career-best payday for Bricen James. The much-traveled James banked $5,500 for his win at Southern Oregon Speedway’s 55-lap Bruce Rayburn Classic. The checkers were his 10th of the season, with those wins coming at seven different tracks in three states. “We kind of went everywhere this year. We’ve chased the big races around here and have won a lot of them,” said James, who piloted a Jerry Schram-owned ride with his own Rage Chassis on the trailer and ready for the next-week tow to Iowa. “It’s been a pretty dang good year for us.” He’d started the main event from the 11th spot and was running in the top five when lap 10 was scored. After a fuel-only stop at midway, James caught Collen Winebarger for third and then Nick Trenchard for the runner-up spot. He chased down Jesse Williamson for the lead around lap 40 and stayed in front to [Read More]

Foulger improves one spot for top IMCA payday at Southern Oregon Snyder Salute

MEDFORD, Ore. (July 3, 2022) – Troy Foulger called his victory at Southern Oregon Speedway’s fifth annual R. Charles Snyder Salute his “third good win” in a Friesen Performance IMCA Modified this season. The Sunday checkers were also good for $7,300, making it his career biggest payday. The California speedster started ninth after missing the redraw by one spot, caught Cory Sample and then Bricen James for the lead with a dozen laps or so to go, then held onto the front spot following a caution late in the 40-lapper. “Five thousand dollars had been our career best when we won the inaugural Snyder race and we ran second last year, so it was nice to improve one spot,” Foulger said. “There were a lot of heavy hitters here.” Bobby Hogge IV was the runner-up and hard charger Mark Wauge motored from 16th starting to third. James and Sample completed the top five. The first caution came after midway and at just the right time, said Foulger, who was in lapped traffic and wasn’t quite sure [Read More]

IMCA Modified winner takes home $7,007 from Southern Oregon Speedway’s Snyder Salute

MEDFORD, Ore. (June 27, 2022) – Southern Oregon Speedway pays tribute to late track announcer and James Bond fan R. Charles Snyder with a $7,007 to win special for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds July 2 and 3. The fifth annual R. Charles Snyder Salute sees Modifieds run two heats and race for $1,500 to win and a minimum of $150 to start their Saturday night qualifying feature. Ten cars advance from that race; last-chance races and the main event are on Sunday. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Shaw Race Cars Western Region and KMJ Performance Oregon State points will be awarded on day two. Pit gates at Medford open at 1 p.m., the grandstand opens at 5 p.m., hot laps are at 6 p.m. and racing is at 7 p.m. both days. Pit passes are $40 or $20 for kids 12 and under. Spectator admission is $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, veterans and kids ages 7-12, and free for six and under. More information about the R. Charles Snyder Salute is available [Read More]

Wild West Shootout takes IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods to Oregon, Washington venues

WHITE CITY, Ore. (June 10, 2022) – Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds return to the top of the marquee for the June 17-25 Wild West Shootout. One thousand dollar top checks and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility go to Modified feature winners June 17 at Southern Oregon Speedway in White City; June 18 and June 21 at Cottage Grove Speedway; June 19 and 20 at Coos Bay Speedway; June 23 at Willamette Speedway in Lebanon; and June 24 at Sunset Speedway in Banks. The June 25 finale doubles as the Modified Clash at Grays Harbor Raceway and pays $2,000 to win. Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods run for $400 to win each of those dates while IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for $400 each night June 17-23 and for $1,000 to win and B & B Racing Chassis All-Star qualifying eligibility in their finale at Sunset. All eight race programs will be broadcast by IMCA.TV and information about the Wild West Shootout will be updated on Facebook. Pit gates open at 1 p.m. with hot [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds, Northern SportMods spy big paydays at Southern Oregon’s Snyder Salute

MEDFORD, Ore. – IMCA Modified and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod drivers will spy the chance to run for big payouts at Southern Oregon Speedway’s R. Charles Snyder Salute. Held in honor of the late track announcer and James Bond fan, the fourth annual special sees the Modifieds run for $1,000 to win and a minimum of $100 to start their qualifying feature on Friday, Sept. 3 and for $7,007 to win and a minimum of $707 to start on Saturday. The Saturday winner becomes eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational and IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Shaw Race Cars Western Region, KMJ Performance State and track points will be awarded. Northern SportMods chase a top check of $707 on Friday and $1,007 on Saturday. National, state and track points are awarded to SportMods both nights. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, KMJ Performance and track points will be awarded both nights; Modifieds also earn Shaw Race Cars Western Region points. Early Modified entry fee is $150 and includes the driver’s pit [Read More]

Ryan Peery sweeps IMCA Pacific SportMod Showdown

By Ben Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (July 24) – Southern Oregon Speedway wrapped up the IMCA Pacific SportMod Showdown on Saturday for Dusty’s Transmission Night. The 40-lap, $2,500 to win feature had 41 Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods on hand. When the green flag flew for the main event, Travis Peery, took control of the top spot to lead the opening lap. However, it was a short-lived reign as his son Ryan, winner from the previous night at White City, seized control by lap three. Travis rebounded to edge out Ryan on lap four. Unfortunately, due to a caution, the pass was nullified, handing back the position to Ryan Peery. Six more stoppages were to be had for the rest of the race resulting in heavy lapped traffic being taken out of the picture but restarts even more critical. Ryan was briefly challenged from time to time, but not enough of a threat to his supremacy. Ryan Peery scored his eighth triumph of the 2021 campaign and swept the Pacific Sport Mod Showdown. It is his [Read More]

Haudenshild Tribute IMCA Modified win is ‘something special’ for DeBenedetti

By Stephanie Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (June 12) – An IMCA Modified driver who’s won a lot of big races in his career won one he described as “something special” Saturday night. Jon DeBenedetti was in and out of the lead before taking the $2,000 checkers at Southern Oregon Speedway’s eighth annual Roger Haudenshild Tribute. The new Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier had put an engine purchased out of a car that Haudenshild had sponsored into his own ride just the day before. “We put it in Friday and won with it on Saturday. That was pretty cool,” DeBenedetti said. “I told (the previous owner) I’d buy it and win with it and that’s exactly what I did.” He’d started third in the 30-lapper and fell back to fifth before running the inside line back to second, behind Zach Fettinger. DeBenedetti’s first pass to the front was negated by caution but he moved ahead following the next restart, on lap 13. Californian Darrell Hughes II saw his bold move rewarded with the front spot [Read More]

Braaten back in victory lane at Southern Oregon

By Ben Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (June 5) – The first repeat winner of the 2021 season at Southern Oregon Speedway emerged from the Saturday night Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod feature, as Jorddon Braaten scored his second straight victory at the White City facility. Braaten now has three wins in KMJ Performance Oregon State competition and five overall in the current campaign. Billy Richey and Branden Wilson were second and third, respectively. Yreka, Calif., teen Ryan Peery posted a fourth-place result followed by Matt Sanders in fifth.

Southern Oregon Speedway roars back to life

By Ben Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (May 29) – The last time the clay was shredded at Southern Oregon Speedway was on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Since then, the facility had laid dormant and quiet as a tomb. But that all changed as a new era of racing began on Saturday, May 29, as the White City clay oval roared back to life and IMCA feature wins belonged to Craig Cassell and Jorddon Braaten. Craig Cassell made the tow all the way from Albany well worth it as he mastered the IMCA Modified field for his first win at SOS. Nick Trenchard was second followed by Albert Gill in third. The rest of the top five was made up of Zach Fettinger and Jesse Bailey, in fourth and fifth, respectively. The Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods witnessed as a familiar face graced victory lane. Jorddon Braaten got the job done in the main event. He now has four wins on the current campaign and two in the KMJ Performance Oregon State competition. Matt Sanders was the [Read More]