willamettespeedway Archives

Points is The Man at Willamette

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (Sept. 28, 2024) – Trevor Points, a force to be reckoned with, once again showcased his dominance Saturday at Willamette Speedway. Taking the lead shortly after a restart in the early stages, the Salem standout led the field in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature. The race kicked off with Jacob Shandy taking the lead on the first lap. However, Nate Turnidge was not far behind, keeping Shandy within his sights. With an impressive move outside of Shandy in turn two, Turnidge seized the top spot on the next lap. Before Turnidge could build a significant lead, the race’s first stoppage occurred on lap five. On the ensuing restart, Points entered the fray by getting around Shandy on the high side of turn two, ran down Turnidge, and got under and around the leader to perform the overtake out of turn four. From there, Points seemed to be in firm control of the lead as he had to deal with several restarts but, on the same token, did not get [Read More]

Points powers to Saturday win at Willamette

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (Sept. 21, 2024) – After taking the lead in the first handful of laps, Salem sensation Trevor Points was victorious in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature at Willamette Speedway. It is the eighth time the 20-year-old has won in 2024, but the first time he’s done so at the Lebanon 1/3-mile clay oval. The main event began with Michael Lavery and Don Moore fighting it out for the lead. Moore won the race to the line but fell immediately under pressure from Nate Turnidge. Just as Turnidge seemed to be in a position to take over the top spot, a caution came out. Points strategically maneuvered into second on the restart and began to close the gap with Moore. Utilizing the inside line on the backstretch, Points made a brilliant move to seize control in turn three on the fourth circuit. The race would stay incident-free, allowing the new leader to assert his dominance with a significant lead. Even the race’s final yellow flag on lap 18 couldn’t [Read More]

Berkeley leads the lap that matters most at Willamette

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (Sept. 14, 2024) – In racing, it’s not about how many laps you lead but that you are ahead of the field when the checkered flag flies. That was the case for Colville, Wash.’s Chase Berkeley, as he got around his brother-in-law with two laps left to cover in the 45-lap contest at Willamette Speedway’s $2,500 to win IMCA Sunoco Stock Car special. It marked the sixth occasion this season he’s won in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region and his third win at Willamette in 2024, the latest victory making him eligible to qualify for next September’s B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. B.J. Wild, showing his determination, won the three-car race for the lead on the opening lap at the one-third mile clay oval after coming from the second row. Wild tried his best to escape the clutches of Sid Schott, but Schott, equally determined, kept him in his crosshairs. Schott’s efforts ended on lap 16 when he was involved in a caution. Berkeley and Zack [Read More]

James, Williamson split wins at Willamette

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (Aug. 9 and 10, 2024) – Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds were in action at Willamette Speedway on Friday and Saturday for a pair of exciting races on the historic 1/3-mile clay oval. The main event on Friday began with Matthew Drager taking control at the start. A caution on the second circuit set up a battle for second between Carter Patterson and Dan Sheller. Patterson held on to the runner-up spot but a new force to reckon with towards the front emerged in Bricen James. James worked his way into third on lap five and, after dealing with some traffic, was up to second on the 11th circuit. The former Shaw Race Cars Western Region champion was not content with remaining behind the leader and began challenging the inside of the pacesetter, threading the needle in the second corner to procure the coveted position and be the new trailblazer on the 13th lap. While James secured the lead, Grey Ferrando motored his way forward. Ferrando went from fourth to second [Read More]

Turnidge, Schott earn Clair Cup victories

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (Aug. 3, 2024) – Willamette Speedway hosted two IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing divisions on Saturday at the Clair Cup, a prestigious event run in honor of long-time track promoter Clair Arnold. Nate Turnidge zoomed out in front at the start of the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature, starting on the outside pole and powering away to build big gap over second place in the running order, contested by Sandy Sanders and Jacob Shandy. Shortly after that, Jason Ferguson moved into third. As the race progressed without any incidents, Shandy began to close the gap on Turnidge. With five laps to go, Shandy applied intense pressure on the leader. Turnidge, however, fended off those relentless challenge to maintain his lead. Shandy made a final attempt to overtake Turnidge, but the latter held his ground, even as Shandy spun out in the final corner. Turnidge earned the victory. Ferguson finished a close second, with Mark Pothoff third. For the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, outside polesitter Brad Gentry took control of [Read More]

Berkeley dominates at Willamette, James & Killingsworth win, too.

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (June 21, 2024) – Night six of the 2024 IMCA Wild West Speedweek had to rate a 10 with Chase Berkeley. The Colville, Wash., warrior raced to his fourth consecutive and career 10th IMCA Sunoco Stock Car tour win Friday night at Willamette Speedway, a victory good for $2,500 and qualifying eligibility for the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. The two-time defending Speedweek champion took control of the first of 40 laps with brother-in-law B.J. Wild trying to run him down, Kersey Ferrando in third and David Schmidt and Jeff Lovell fighting for fourth. Lovell secured fourth on lap eight and the top five running order remained the same until a lap 19 caution for second-running Wild. Kevin Roberts moved around Lovell to get third on lap 22. Another long green flag run followed with Roberts continuing his charge forward to second. The final caution occurred with 12 laps to go. Berkeley was just too good out in the open in scoring his fourth straight Speedweek win. Roberts was a [Read More]

Gentry picks up Strawberry Cup feature win

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (June 1, 2024) – IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars were back at Willamette Speedway on Saturday for the historical Strawberry Cup, a race the venue has hosted for several decades. The race kicked off with a bang as Scott Winebarger took the lead on the first lap. Young talent Calista Johnson, applied pressure on the second circuit, almost overtaking the seasoned driver at the line. This thrilling battle continued for several laps, allowing Myke Landis and Sean Gentry to stay within striking distance. By the eighth lap, Winebarger had established a comfortable lead. Gentry secured the second position from Johnson and set his sights on Winebarger. The 17th and 18th laps saw cautions, setting the stage for a showdown between the two frontrunners. When the green flag came back out, Winebarger did his best to distance himself from Gentry and all other challengers. With eight laps to go, Gentry and Kevin Roberts started to get in a good rhythm, but their efforts would be stunted due to another caution. On the restart, Winebarger again [Read More]

James dominates at Willamette

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (May 18, 2024) – Bricen James was Dominant with a capital “D” Saturday night at Willamette Speedway. The former Shaw Race Cars Western Region champion, most recently the May 10 winner at Douglas County Dirtrack, topped his heat and ran second in the trophy dash before notching Friesen Performance IMCA Modified career win number 58. Trevor La Barge set the pace early, reaching a comfortable distance ahead of the rest of the field. As the race stayed green, James got into a great rhythm and began to give chase down the leader. By lap eight, James overtook La Barge to obtain the race lead and then checked out, ahead of a dogfight for a second involving La Barge, Grey Ferrando and Matthew Drager. A late caution injected a potential twist into the finish, but James quickly reestablished a sizable ap over the rest of the pack. The battle for second continued to sizzle as Ferrando and Drager continued their fight. Ferrando secured the second spot, with Drager finishing third.

Ferrando is phenomenal at Willamette

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (May 11, 2024) – Willamette Speedway finally returned to racing Saturday after a few wet weeks and former track champion Grey Ferrando was phenomenal in the Saturday feature for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. Hometown driver Carter Patterson was quick out of the gate but a couple cautions in the first five laps kept the field close. On a lap five restart, Ferrando turned up the wick and applied heat to Patterson. Despite Patterson’s excellent speed out of the corners, Ferrando’s relentless pursuit paid off after the yellow flag waved on lap nine. On the restart, Ferrando made a decisive move, taking the lead on the 10th circuit. Ferrando was not out of the woods, however, as Bricen James made a run on the pacesetter. Before James could get around for the top spot, the fourth and final stoppage occurred on lap 20. This set things up for a late race shootout. The battle for the top spot was intense, with Ferrando and James engaging in a thrilling duel. The race reached its apex [Read More]

String of seconds ends at Willamette as Berkeley wins $5,000 IMCA Stock special

LEBANON, Ore. (July 30, 2022) – Chase Berkeley put an end to his string of second-place finishes and put his IMCA Sunoco Stock Car in victory lane Saturday night at Willamette Speedway. Then he put $5,000 in the bank after his career-best payday. Berkeley raced from ninth starting and led the last 18 times around the track in the 50-lap marathon at Lebanon, holding Jesse Williamson at bay after a restart with six to go. “The best part about winning was that I’d had a streak of second place finishes coming into the night,” said the Colville, Wash., hotshoe, who’d clinched the Wild West Shootout crown with runner-up showings at Willamette and at Sunset Speedway Park, then ran second behind Collen Winebarger at Sunset’s 50-lap, $5,000 to win show on July 16. “It felt good to be back in the top spot.” Berkeley’s first win on the season, at Coos Bay Speedway, paved the way to the Wild West Shootout crown. His second earned him a guaranteed starting spot in the B & B Racing [Read More]