8/31/2020
Willamette Speedway
Tanner And James Repeat At Willamette; J. Slover, Yeack, And B. Gentry Also Lebanon Winners
Tanner And James Repeat At Willamette; J. Slover, Yeack, And B. Gentry Also Lebanon Winners
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Doc’s Photos)
Lebanon, Oregon- For the third time in 2020 engines would roar at the Willamette Speedway. Five classes attended the historic 1/3-mile clay oval. The divisions included the Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Sportsman, Street Stocks, and Hornets.
Trent Elliott, from La Pine, was the early race leader in the Late Model feature. Elliott remained in the position for a handful of laps until Joey Tanner got around him. The Portland pilot, of Tanner, dominated the race with only two cautions slowing him down. Tanner went on to win his second straight Super Late Model event at Willamette for car owner B.J. Donofrio. James Slover, of Albany, was second followed by Toledo’s Jordan Wright, in third. Kye Frick, from Sweet Home, took home fourth with fifth place belonging to Salem’s Britton Donahoo.
In the IMCA Modified main event, Paul Culp was the car to beat for most of the race. The Creswell driver successfully retained the lead after several restarts and a couple of challenges. However, with around ten laps remaining he would be passed by Bricen James.
James, of Albany and in the Jerry Schram machine, took full control of the top spot and held on to win his second consecutive race at Willamette. It is Bricen’s third overall win of 2020 in a Modified. Grey Ferrando, from Stayton, was a respectable second with third in the finishing order being Oregon City’s Jeff Lovell. Paul Culp ended the race fourth while Doug Lockwood, of Aloha, placed fifth.
The Sportsman division witnessed an exciting race. Corvallis’ Ryan Emry blazed the trail for the field in the first half of the race. James Slover, doing double duty, tracked him down and got the front around the midway point. Slover cruised right along but a caution bunch the field up with a few laps to go.
Ryan Emry kept close with James Slover but Slover would go on to win the main event. He is the third different driver in as many races to conquer the field in the class. Ryan Emry was second while Albany’s Chad Slover got third. Lebanon native Jeff Rash, driving for Glenn Hackney, hit the finish line fourth with Corvallis veteran Steve Piefer behind him, in fifth.
The Street Stocks had a large field of competitors in attendance looking to take home the big prize money. Lebanon standout Kyle Yeack took full advantage of starting up front and grabbed the lead on the initial green flag. Sean Cronk, of Portland, beat out Yeack on the second lap but the third trip past the flag stand saw Yeack as the leader once more. From there Yeack pulled away.
Kyle would construct some sizable leads but a couple of cautions allowed for some drivers to put some heat on him during the restarts. David Cronk, also of Portland, briefly reeled in Yeack but Yeack stayed out in front to win the feature. Just like in the Sportsman class there have been three different Street Stock winners in as many races.
David Cronk was second over third finishing Dakota Goddard, from Albany. Woodland, Washington’s Chris West ended up fourth while Sean Gentry, of Lafayette, got fifth. Donald Schott, now residing in Eagle Creek, won the consolation feature.
Lastly, in the Hornet ranks, Brad Gentry took care of business. Gentry, from Dayton, took care of business and led every single lap of the feature. It is the first time he has bested the field this year. Salem’s Andrew Wright was the runner-up with third going to Chloe Van Sant, from Eugene. C.J. Davidson, of Salem, completed the finishing order, in fourth.
The historic 1/3-mile clay oval will host a Test N’ Tune practice on Friday, September 4th from 2:00 PM to Dark. Saturday, the 5th, the track will have their fourth race of the season with Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sports, Sportsman, Street Stocks, and Hornets. As has been the case for 2020 the main grandstands are still closed to spectators but you can watch all the action on DirtOval TV. Any leftover driver and crew pit passes will be sold for $40.00 each. The track is planning on racing every Saturday from here until October 31st. Be sure and stay up to date via the track Facebook page.
2020 Willamette Speedway Sponsors/Marketing Partners:
Peterson Cat
Western Beverage Company
Anheuser-Busch
Budweiser
Bud Light
10 Barrel Brewing Company
Nature Quest LLC
THC Recreation Station of Salem
CBD Express of Salem
W3 Wireless
Wirth Wifi
Buck’s Sanitation Service
Crocker’s Cars
Race Results
Saturday, August 29th, 2020
Willamette Speedway
Lebanon, Oregon
Super Late Models
A Feature: 1. Joey Tanner; 2. James Slover; 3. Jordan Wright; 4. Kye Frick; 5. Britton Donahoo; 6. Randy Barley; 7. Doug Elkins; 8. Mark Wauge; 9. Rob Campos; 10. Darryl Blanchard; 11. Greg Heinrichs; 12. Glenn Hackney; 13. Trent Elliott
IMCA Modifieds
A Feature: 1. Bricen James; 2. Grey Ferrando; 3. Jeff Lovell; 4. Paul Culp; 5. Doug Lockwood; 6. Greg Walters; 7. Craig Cassell; 8. Steve Moore; 9. Justin Cady; 10. Nick Bessette; 11. Sam Potter; 12. Mike Sweere; 13. Ted Rees; 14. Micah Burkley; 15. Clark Lukens
Sportsman
A Feature: 1. James Slover; 2. Ryan Emry; 3. Chad Slover; 4. Jeff Rash; 5. Steve Piefer; 6. Jeff Davis; 7. Roger Bell; 8. Jody Tanner; 9. Darron Clark
Street Stocks
A Feature: 1. Kyle Yeack; 2. David Cronk; 3. Dakota Goddard; 4. Chris West; 5. Sean Gentry; 6. Rod McCombs; 7. Matt Jenner; 8. Phil Lovvorn; 9. Donald Schott; 10. McKenzie Lockhart; 11. J.J. Irvine; 12. Adam Applebee; 13. Jody Tanner; 14. Justin Evans; 15. Cody Humphrey; 16. Brody Humphrey; 17. Sean Cronk; 18. Kevin Roberts
B Feature: 1. Donald Schott; 2. McKenzie Lockhart; 3. Adam Applebee; 4. J.J. Irvine; 5. Cody Humphrey; 6. Brody Humphrey; 7. Dom Conti; 8. Loren Graham; 9. Blake Gower; 10. Darron Clark; 11. Kyndall Irvine; 12. P.J. Humphrey
Hornets
A Feature: 1. Brad Gentry; 2. Drew Wright; 3. Chloe Van Sant; 4. C.J. Davidson
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage
