sunsetspeedwaypark Archives

Jerry Schram: Not Done Yet

By Ben Deatherage VANCOUVER, Wash. (Mar. 18, 2026) — For years, Jerry Schram lived on borrowed time. Three days a week, four hours at a time — sometimes far more — he sat connected to a dialysis machine, waiting for it to do what his body no longer could. When the treatments ended, the exhaustion didn’t leave with him. It followed him home. “Dialysis is tough on you,” Schram said. “You start to think it’s killing you slowly — but it’s better than the alternative.” For nearly six years, that was life. Until March 3. That’s when everything changed. A Fight That Took Years Schram’s battle with kidney disease didn’t begin with a dramatic moment. It started quietly in November of 2017 during a routine physical, when doctors discovered blood in his urine. Follow-up testing revealed he was already in end-stage renal disease, operating at just 35 percent kidney function — something he hadn’t even realized. The seriousness of it didn’t fully hit until March of 2018, when he underwent hip replacement surgery and doctors warned [Read More]

James Makes History as First-Ever Repeat Winner of Banks Mod Nationals

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 [Read More]

Whisler Construction Banks Mod Nationals Set for August 9 at Sunset Speedway Park

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. (Aug. 2, 2025) — Sunset Speedway Park will be the place to be as the Whisler Construction Banks Mod Nationals presented by Schram Bros Excavating takes center stage on Saturday, August 9. Friesen Performance IMCA Modified drivers from across the area will converge on the tight ¼-mile bullring, all chasing a $2,000 payday in the 40-lap main event. The action-packed program will feature a unique qualifying and scramble-based format. Swan Island Sheet Metal qualifying will see all competitors time in via pill draw order, with the fastest car drawing for an invert chip to set up the heat race grids. Fast time receives $100, with second and third quick times each earning $50. James Gang Pizza Heat Races will consist of either three or four 10-lap heats, depending on car count. If three heats are run, the top four from each will transfer directly to the main; if four are run, the top three will advance. Heat winners and the fastest qualifying transfer driver will be locked into the Dirt Oval TV [Read More]

Blood Edges Patterson in Photo Finish at Sunset

By Jeremy Means BANKS, Ore. (Jun. 7, 2025) – The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds headlined the night at Sunset Speedway Park, and what a show it was. Both the reigning Oregon and Washington state champions were in the house, and the action lived up to the billing. Oregon’s Carter Patterson set a torrid pace out front that could’ve gone unnoticed—if not for the war that broke out behind him for positions two through five. David Day, John Gaynor, Tyson Blood, and Devon Reed were locked in a relentless battle, often racing under a blanket and using multiple grooves across the Bullring. By the time Tumwater, Washington’s Tyson Blood finally broke through to second, he faced a mountain: a four-second gap to the leader, lap traffic, and just 15 laps remaining. But the driver of the no. 97TB wasn’t backing down. Lap after lap, Blood chipped away at the deficit. Catching the leader is one thing—passing is another. By the time he reached the rear bumper of Patterson’s no. 47 machine, the white flag was waving. What [Read More]

2025 IMCA Wild West Speedweek Set for Seven Races in Eight Nights Across Oregon

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 22, 2025) — The best of the West will once again converge in the Pacific Northwest as the 2025 edition of IMCA Wild West Speedweek returns for a thrilling stretch of racing from June 14 through June 21, featuring seven races at six tracks over eight nights, all within the borders of Oregon for the first time in several years. The tour opens Saturday, June 14 at Southern Oregon Speedway, then heads northwest to Coos Bay Speedway for a two-night stay on June 15 and 16. The action continues Tuesday, June 17 at the Douglas County Dirt Track, followed by a midweek break on Wednesday, June 18, for a Pit Party at Cottage Grove Speedway. The engines fire back up on Thursday, June 19, at Cottage Grove, then roll into Willamette Speedway on Friday, June 20, before the grand finale at Sunset Speedway Park on Saturday, June 21. This year’s tour features Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, and Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods. Speedweek has been sanctioned [Read More]

Ferrando shines at Sunset Speedway’s Mod Frenzy

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. (Aug. 10, 2024) – The event at Sunset Speedway Park on Saturday, Aug. 10, was significant, attracting a large field of Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds for the third running of the Whisler Construction Mod Frenzy, with a cool $3,000 on the line. The 40-lap finale for Modifieds was a thrilling spectacle. Multi-time defending track champion Craig Cassell immediately seized the top spot, setting the stage for an intense battle. Cassell had to put up a hard fight on the initial start when he went three-wide with Grey Ferrando and Bricen James. As Cassell secured the lead, Ferrando held off James for second before concentrating his efforts on running down the leader. Ferrando, determined to secure the lead, worked the inside line on the fifth circuit as Cassell kept his faith on the top shelf. The two dueled for quite some time with no clear advantage to either party, showcasing their unwavering determination and skill. Things would take a twist when lapped traffic entered the mix on lap 18. Using [Read More]

James, Berkeley, Bloom win IMCA Wild West Speedweek finales

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. (June 22, 2024) – The sun set Saturday on the IMCA Wild West Speedweek, with final night feature wins at Sunset Speedway Park going to Bricen James, Chase Berkeley and Aaron Bloom. Tour champions in those divisions would be Collen Winebarger, Berkeley and Matt Sanders. The Modified finale had Carter Patterson in control on the initial start but Devon Reed had plans and was in the lead by lap five. Another exciting race unfolded for third as Grey Ferrando battled Tyler Smith. What proved to be the only caution of the contest came on lap seven. The event stayed green for the remaining 28 circuits around the quarter-mile clay oval. Patterson tried to retrieve the lead from Reed and Craig Cassell entered the picture after securing third from Ferrando on lap 10. Reed kept Patterson at bay but in a sudden turn of events, three-time defending and six-time Banks Bullring track champion Cassell, pulled alongside, then edged out Reed for the top spot on lap 12 and began to pull [Read More]

Matt Jenner wins Battle at the Border at Banks

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. (May 11, 2024) – Sunset Speedway Park got its 2024 opening night in the books on Saturday with Friesen Performance IMCA Modified entries from Oregon and Washington duking it out at the Banks Bullring. Veteran Don Jenner took off on the initial start. The Vancouver, Wash., native maintained a significant lead during a 13-lap green flag run. However, the race took a dramatic turn on the 15th circuit. As he approached lapped traffic, a slower car collided with Jenner, sending both to the infield. Fortunately, Jenner was able to drive away, but the incident significantly altered the course of the race as Jenner was piloting a wounded chariot. On the ensuing restart, he was eventually overtaken by another Jenner family member, Matt. Also from Vancouver, Wash., Matt Jenner dealt with several cautions and challenges from potentially overtaking him. Jenner led the rest of the distance to win the Battle of the Border for his native state of Washington. Chaz Wilder made the trip from Elma, Wash., well worth it as he managed to [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]

Winebarger scores third Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout win at SSP

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. (Aug. 13) – The third different leader raced to his third feature win in seven Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout starts Friday at Sunset Speedway Park. Collen Winebarger got the best of a 23-car IMCA Modified field at Banks Bullring, earning $1,000 for his career 11th series triumph. Jake Mayden led the field at the start of the 40-lap main event and remained the pacesetter until lap five, when Greg Walters overtook him. Winebarger chased down Walters after one of seven restarts and took control of the top spot on lap 15, dealing with any lapped traffic and leading the rest of the way. Mayden rallied to end the race second while Grey Ferrando placed third. Greg Walters took home fourth while the top five was completed by Craig Cassell in fifth. The Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods had their final night alongside the Wild West Modified Tour. The 25-lap main event saw Dustin Comer take the lead from Michael Melton by the completion of the second circuit. Comer dominated the [Read More]