willamettespeedway Archives

Willamette Speedway returns to racing this Saturday

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. – Willamette Speedway will be back in action this weekend with IMCA Modifieds and Mach-1 Sport Compacts on the Saturday, June 12 card. Racing kicks off at 6 p.m. Online tickets will be available for purchase on the website and will be $15 for adults, juniors ages 13-17, seniors 62 and over and military are $12, kids ages 6-12 are $5 and five and under is free. Pit passes are $40 as is the car and driver fee. Willamette Speedway is now under the management of co-owner Jimmy Schram, a long-time racer at the Lebanon facility and across the Pacific Northwest in Super Late Models and IMCA Modifieds. Schram is a former Super Sport champion at the track, winning the title in 2007. The 1/3-mile clay oval last hosted an event on October 24th of last year for the Ice Cube Cup. The facility will have an open practice on Friday from 5 p.m. to dusk. Things have been quite busy at the race track behind the scenes, with several [Read More]

James repeats at Willamette

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (Aug. 29) – For the third time in 2020, engines roared at Willamette Speedway and for the second time it was Bricen James standing in victory lane at the conclusion of the IMCA Modified main event. Paul Culp had the car to beat for most of the race, retaining the lead after several restarts and a couple challenges. However, with around 10 laps remaining, he was passed by James. James took full control of the top spot and held on to win his second consecutive race at Willamette. Grey Ferrando was second with third going to Jeff Lovell.

Willamette openers go to Peery, Coffman

LEBANON, Ore. (Aug. 15) – Saturday went down in history as the first race of the 2020 season at the Willamette Speedway with drivers from all over Oregon, Washington, California and Nevada competing. In the IMCA Modified main event, Justin Cady led early before a dizzying six lead changes. Bricen James, Travis Peery and Grey Ferrando all took turns at the front. Peery navigated his way back into the lead on lap 33 and held on for the rest of the distance. James was second while Washington traveler Tyson Blood placed third. Domination was the keyword in the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods. Doug Coffman set a wicked pace and was practically in his own area code over the rest of the pack. It was Coffman’s second win of 2020. Kevin Williamson was the runner-up.

Single season wins record to Winebarger, Chadwick captures finale, Wild West crown

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (June 29) – Collen Winebarger won a single season record fifth feature while Kellen Chadwick’s victory in Saturday’s finale at Willamette Speedway netted him the Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout crown. Chadwick had four runner-up finishes to go with a pair of $1,000 checkers during the eight-race series, beating Winebarger, who’d finished 17th in the fourth tour outing, for the title by 10 points. In the afternoon make-up feature it was utter dominance by Winebarger, who led all 35 laps. All that slow him down were six stoppages, but he mastered every single restart. The win marked Winebarger’s fifth of the week, third in a row and set the record for most triumphs in a single season with the series. It was also Winebarger’s eighth career Wild West victory and his fourth tour win at Willamette. John Campos was second followed by Chadwick, Grey Ferrando and Brad Martin. In the grand finale, the main event consisted of 24 cars starting three-wide. Dustin Cady cracked the whip early, launching his entry to [Read More]

Winebarger ties Wild West Shootout record with fourth win of season

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (June 28) – Collen Winebarger put his name in the Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout record book Friday night. Winebarger’s fourth series win of 2019 came at Willamette Speedway and matched the record set by Brian Poppa (2011) and first equaled by Kellen Chadwick (2016). Pole starter Winebarger stayed out front and out of trouble from the get-go Friday despite five stoppages. He was pressured late by Jesse Williamson, who bicycled hard in the first set of turns and eventually Jesse pulled off the track. Chadwick, Justin Duty, Grey Ferrando and Matt Jenner made up the rest of the final five. Lebanon saw the biggest car count of the week with 48 drivers assembled in the pits representing five states and British Columbia. Winebarger’s win was also his Wild West Modified Tour career seventh, second on the all-time list. Williamson’s 12 victories lead the way in that department. Feature results – 1. Collen Winebarger; 2. Kellen Chadwick; 3. Justin Duty; 4. Grey Ferrando; 5. Matt Jenner; 6. John Campos; 7. Aaron [Read More]

Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout cut short due to curfew

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. – The track crew of Sunset Speedway Park battled the weather Wednesday, June night, but the curfew came before the scheduled Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout main event could be started. The feature will be held at the end of the night at Willamette Speedway in Lebanon on Friday, June 28. There will be no racing tonight (Thursday) but Willamette Speedway will host a driver appreciation party, presented by FinishLine Graphics. Thirty-nine cars made the journey to Sunset Speedway Park, representing Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada and North Dakota as well as British Columbia The starting lineup for Friday’s makeup event will be: Row 1, Collen Winebarger; Travis Peery. Row 2, John Campos; Jimmy Lipke. Row 3, Grey Ferrando; Geoff Morris. Row 4, Jeffrey Hudson; Justin Foux. Row 5, Kellen Chadwick; Eston Whisler. Row 6, Brad Martin; Jerry Schram. Row 7, Greg Walters; Bricen James. Row 8, Jake Pike; Jeff Lovell. Row 9, Matt Jenner; Lawrence O’Connor. Row 10, Paul Rea; Duane Orsburn. Row 11, Steve Moore; Mike Sweere.

Braaten collects Willamette, Cottage Grove checkers

By Ben Deatherage CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – It was a fantastic weekend of racing for Jorddon Braaten last Friday and Saturday night as the Central Point, Ore., chauffeur took home the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod winner’s checks on both nights at two different venues. The weekend kicked off July 27 at Willamette Speedway. The night started off by Braaten being third quick and finishing second in the heat. In the main event, Braaten seized the lead after a lap five restart. From there on he simply dominate the field for his fifth win of 2018 at Willamette. “This car is working well and that really make job way easier,” commented Braaten. “The last half of the race I was having fuel pressure problems for some reason but other than that the car handled good and felt really good.” The team traveled south on Saturday to Cottage Grove Speedway on Saturday, where Braaten set quick time in time trials and was the runner-up in his heat race. He patiently worked his way to the front after starting toward the [Read More]

James is double winner during weekend at Willamette

By Ben Deatherage ALBANY, Ore. – 2018 has been an ultra-successful campaign for Bricen James. The Albany, Ore., teenager has nabbed four wins at Cottage Grove Speedway and twice has visited victory lane at Willamette Speedway. James was hoping to add more to that count by participating in two evenings of racing at Willamette Speedway on Friday and Saturday, July 27-28. Friday saw James win his heat race and finish on top in the trophy dash. In the feature, he battled toward the front for most of the race. He spent the majority of the time in second place trying to track down the leader. James caught the pace setter and the two battled in some heavy traffic. He got to the front with a daring pass on lap 28 and held on for the final two circuits for the victory. “I really didn’t think we had a chance there,” said James. “Justin (Cady, the leader) was gone and if it hadn’t been for lapped traffic he definitely wouldn’t have won.” The next night, James competed at the Rick [Read More]

James tames Willamette for career first Wild West Shootout checkers

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (June 29) – Night number seven of the Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout belonged to Bricen James. The Albany speedster gained the lead near midway and led to the $1,000 checkers Friday at Willamette Speedway, earning his tour career first victory and a berth on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. Rob Mayea made his first start with the series and got to the front on the initial green. Mayea was mighty fast while leading but unfortunately got caught up with a lapped car on the 13th circuit. Although Mayea retained the lead due to not stopping, his car was sustained enough damage to take him out of contention for the victory. On the restart, James blazed past Mayea and officially took over first place on lap 14. James tried to separate from the rest of the field but a handful of contenders gave chase. The race started intensified as lapped traffic came into the picture in the last laps. James kept all challengers in check to become the sixth [Read More]

Gentry makes history at Willamette

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (April 21) – Brad Gentry made history on opening night at historical Willamette Speedway. Gentry won the first-ever IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature held in Oregon Saturday at Lebanon, holding off Kevin Roberts for the victory. Collen Winebarger topped the IMCA Modified feature and Jorddon Braaten was the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod winner.