On Sale At Reduced Price
Don's California Racing Recollections: Best Of The Blog And Beyond
Available via print on demand at Lulu in Hard Cover or Paperback
Just A Kid From The Grandstands: My Time In Auto Racing
Available on Lulu in Paperback And Hard Cover
Also...
If You Like Reading Our Articles, Visit The Tip Jar at Go Fund Me to support our efforts
DCRR Racing Media And PR Consulting HERE
2016 Schedule Signals A New Beginning
For Southern Oregon Speedway
White City, OR...February 17...The 2016 schedule for Southern Oregon Speedway ushers in a new beginning for the 20 year old racing facility. New promoter Mike McCann released the schedule for the three-tenths mile dirt oval track last Wednesday as he held a meeting with over 150 racers and racing enthusiasts in attendance. At the meeting, McCann introduced himself, discussed some of his plans for this season and the future and then fielded questions. McCann's reputation as a racer's promoter is well known. He has over 30 years of experience and is a winner of the RPM Monthly "Promoter Of The Year" award.
The new schedule will continue to offer all of the things that the fans have come to expect from Southern Oregon Speedway and even more. The prestigious Lon Skinner Memorial Race, won by Californian Bobby Hogge IV last season, will be back with a $5000 first prize, and this big IMCA Modified event will take place on September 2-3. IMCA Sport Mods and SODCA Dwarf Cars are also part of that weekend's action.
The IMCA Modifieds have nine dates this season, which includes the Roger Haudenschild Tribute race on May 28th. Furthermore, the track will continue to take part in the IMCA Wild West Shoot Out with a date scheduled on June 11.
There was concern among the competitors that there would be no IMCA sanctioning in 2016, but McCann put those rumors to rest by signing with IMCA for another year for Modifieds and Sport Mods as well. This will assure that racers from other area tracks will be legal to compete at Southern Oregon Speedway and vise versa. It also keeps both divisions involved in the Oregon State IMCA point race.
Furthermore, Southern Oregon Speedway will also have a 13 race schedule for Sport Mods that will ensure that the track regulars can be competitive in the new series created by Steve Kerstulovich that pits the drivers at various Oregon tracks and Yreka against each other.
The SODCA Dwarf Cars will remain a part of the speedway with 11 race dates scheduled. This includes the prestigious SODCA Dwarf Car Nationals Event that attracts some of the best drivers from Oregon and out of the state. This event is scheduled from August 4-6.
Of course, the track will have the popular Mini Stock division on the schedule with 13 dates booked. Also back will be the entry level Hornet division with six dates and the quicker Super 4 division with eight dates. The Super 4's were a regular part of the show a few years ago, and the racers are excited to be back this year.
The always exciting Outlaw Pro Stock Association will make eight appearances this year, and that's not all. Sprint Cars are back at Southern Oregon Speedway! McCann has made a commitment to establishing the crowd pleasing division as part of the program with ten races, which will give the fans a healthy dose of high horse power open wheel racing. This includes a race during the prestigious Sprint Car Speedweek Series on July 9.
For fans of the cars of yesterday, the OTRO Hardtops will be doing some dirt track racing this season with five dates being booked. Look for a few more surprises to be thrown in during the 23 race season.
It all adds up to plenty of great racing at Southern Oregon Speedway on Saturday nights. After the April 24 playday, the season kicks off with an April 30 event, which will be headlined by Sprint Cars, Pro Stocks, Mini Stocks and Dwarf Cars. Further details can be found on the track's official web site, www.sospeedway.com.
A Brief Recap Of The 2015 Season At Southern Oregon Speedway
White City, Oregon...When last we left Southern Oregon Speedway, Albert Gill successfully defended his 2014 IMCA Modified track championship. Gill won one Main Event along with four seconds and two thirds last season, but he claimed the championship by a wide margin over past champion Mark Wauge. Wauge led the Main Event winner's list with three victories in the competitive field that saw 11 different winners during the season.
Wauge held off Tim Bailey by just four points to claim second in the standings, while one time winners Jesse Bailey and Brian Poppa rounded out the Top 5 in points. The big feature wins of 2015 went to Wauge (Firecracker 50), Bobby Hogge IV ($5000 to win Lon Skinner Memorial) and Jesse Williamson (Speedweek race). Kellen Chadwick won the preliminary feature at the Lon Skinner Memorial event. Yreka and past Lon Skinner Memorial winner Nick Trenchard won two times, while other feature winners last season included Scott Lenz, Jon DeBenedetti and Andy Freeman.
In recent years, Jorddon Braaten has established himself as one of the stars of the speedway. The defending IMCA Sport Mod champion racked up eight feature wins and one second, and yet he only beat Oregon IMCA State champion Mike Medel by ten points in a close battle. Two of Braaten's wins occurred on the biggest stage of the season, the Lon Skinner Memorial.
Bob Nelson, Glenn Seversen and Matt Duste each managed to pick up a feature win. Seversen would rank third in the final standings ahead of Randy Fernandes and Dwayne Melvin. Nelson led the division in second place finishes with four, but he fell just short of Melvin for fifth in the standings as Melvin had two seconds and one third.
Three drivers really shined the brightest in Mini Stock competition last season, led by the champion David Marble. Marble scored four feature wins, three seconds and two thirds. His closest point rival, Bob Burkett, also had four feature wins as well as three seconds and three thirds.
Meanwhile, third ranked Gary Anderson impressed with his three wins, three seconds and four thirds. Eric Hanson's high finish was a second, which helped him hold off Mike Cloud for fourth in the standings. Yreka champion David Steele made two visits and brought home a second and a third.
The SODCA Dwarf Cars held ten of their events at the speedway, and Josh King made the most of it with six wins and two seconds to hold off young up and comer Camden Robustelli to win the club's championship. Robustelli had two seconds and two thirds.
Ryan Smith, Chad Cardoza and Brock Peters rounded out the Top 5 in points. Smith and Cardoza both had feature wins. Smith also had a pair of thirds, while Cardoza had two seconds and a third. C.J. Puttnam and Fred Hay had feature wins. Hay also won the veteran's feature in the Dwarf Car Nationals event, while Matt Sargent won the Pro feature and Joey Dale won the Sportsman feature at the big event.
The Outlaw Pro Stock Association ran a few different tracks, and eight of their races were at Southern Oregon Speedway. Young Jeffrey Hudson only had one win in eight visits, but he had five seconds, including the second place finish he had in the finale that moved him past Scott Flowers into the championship. S. Flowers had a second and a third at the speedway to hold onto second ahead of James Flowers in the point race. Steve Borror had three feature wins, while Dave Everson was a two time winner and Dave Quick and Rocky Nash each had one win.
The Sprint Cars will have a championship season this year. Last year, there were four races. Colby Copeland won the June Northwest Speedweek race ahead of Roger Crockett and Kyle Hirst. Hirst came back later in the season and won that race ahead of Jared Peterson and Trey Starks. Seth Nunes won the first Sprint Car race of the season ahead of Vern Wheeler Jr. and Kyler Barazza, and Crockett won the next race ahead of Peterson and Starks, meaning there were four different winners in four races.
Racing against competitors such as Mikey Johnson, Neal Coaty, Brian Dickens and Lon Fox, Drew Fielder won the Hornets championship. The Super 4's made their lone appearance late last season with Lee Doty winning ahead of John Barger and Charlie Eaton.
2016 SOUTHERN OREGON SPEEDWAY SCHEDULE
2016 Southern Oregon Speedway Schedule
Sunday April 24 - Test & Tune - 3PM-7PM
Saturday April 30 - Sprint Cars, Pro Stocks, Dwarf Cars, Mini Stocks
Saturday May 7 - Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods, Mini Stocks
Saturday May 14 - Ladies Night - IMCA Sport Mods, Pro Stocks, Super 4's, Hornets, OTRO Hardtops
Saturday May 21 - Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, Mini Stocks, Open Stock
Saturday May 28 - Roger Haudenshild Tribute - IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mod, Dwarf Cars, Super 4's
Saturday June 4 - Sponsor Appreciation Night - Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, Mini Stocks, Hornets, OTRO Hardtops, Open Stock
Saturday June 11 - Wild West IMCA Speedweek - IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods, Pro Stocks
Saturday June 18 - Father's Night - IMCA Sport Mods, Dwarf Cars, Mini Stocks, Hornets, Open Stock
Saturday June 25 - Military Appreciation Night - Sprint Cars, IMCA Sport Mods, Mini Stocks, Super Mini 4's, OTRO Hardtops
Monday July 4 - Fireworks Spectacular - Pro Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, Dwarf Cars
Saturday July 9 - Sprint Car Speedweek - Sprint Cars, Dwarf Cars, Mini Stocks
Saturday July 16 - Family Night - IMCA Modifieds, Dwarf Cars, Mini Stocks, Super 4's, OTRO Hardtops
Saturday July 23 - Jackson County Fair - No Races
Saturday July 30 - Sprint Cars, Pro Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, Mini Stocks, Hornets, Open Stock
Thursday August 4 - SODCA Dwarf Car Nationals - Registration/Practice
Friday August 5 - SODCA Dwarf Car Nationals - Preliminary Night
Saturday August 6 - SODCA Dwarf Car Nationals - Finals - With OTRO Hardtops
Saturday August 13 - Pro Stocks, Dwarf Cars, Mini Stocks, Super 4 Mini Stocks
Saturday August 20 - Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods, Mini Stocks, Hornets, Open Stock
Saturday August 27 - Sprint Cars, Pro Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, Super 4's, OTRO Hardtops
Friday September 2 - Lon Skinner Memorial - Registration/Practice
Saturday September 3 - Lon Skinner Memorial - Preliminary ' IMCA Modifieds with IMCA Sport Mods, Dwarf Cars
Sunday September 4 - Lon Skinner Memorial - Finals - $5000 to win IMCA Modifieds with IMCA Sport Mods, Dwarf Cars
Saturday September 10 - Dwarf Cars, IMCA Sport Mods, Mini Stocks
Saturday September 17 - IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods, Super 4's, Hornets, Open Stock
Saturday September 24 - Championship Night - Sprint Cars, Pro Stocks, Mini Stocks, Super 4's
Schedule Subject To Change
Our weekly program schedule runs as follows:
4:00pm Pit Gate Opens
5:00pm Grandstands Open
5:45pm Practice Starts
7:00pm Racing Starts
Race times are approximate and are subject to change. Please check here for weather and schedule updates
Siskiyou Motor Speedway Prepares For Exciting 2016 Season
Yreka, CA...February 16...Siskiyou Motor Speedway fans are looking forward to another exciting season of racing action, and the roar of the engines will be heard again in April. On April 2, there will be a playday. On April 9, the three regular divisions, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds and McDonald's Mini Stocks, will be joined by the Outlaw Pro Stock Association as the season opens for action. The Modifieds will pay $1000 to win. The SODCA Dwarf Cars join Modifieds, Sport Mods and Mini Stocks for their first appearance a week later.
The Sport Mods and Mini Stocks are the two classes doing the most racing with 17 races each, the IMCA Modifieds have nine dates, the Pro Stocks are visiting seven times and SODCA Dwarf Cars six times. The track also has several special things planned throughout the season, including Mud Bogs, Ladies Races, Mechanic's Races, Kid's Bike races, Kids Ride-A-Longs and more. All totaled, there are 22 races scheduled for what is sure to be an action packed season.
Noteworthy dates include the Memorial Day Weekend event of the John Arnberg 38 lap Memorial Race for IMCA Modifieds, Bo Hittson Memorial for IMCA Sport Mods and Mike Caveye Memorial for Mini Stocks. The two day event is May 28-29. The Wild West Modified Tour kicks off on Sunday, June 12th. A month later, the Northwest Sprint Car Tour comes to town on Friday, July 8th. There's also the two day Billy Geyer Memorial race for the Pro Stocks on July 23-24 The season wraps up with the Annual Rod Restad Memorial, headlined by IMCA Modifieds on September 24th.
The track is also pleased to have its Sport Mod division be included in the special series created by Steve Kerstulovich that pits the drivers at various Oregon tracks and Yreka against each other. The track itself is also having a special three race series for Sport Mods, Pro Stocks and Mini Stocks, dubbed The Patriot Series. Those dates are May 21, July 3 and September 10. The May 21 date will include a special $1 admittance for all military personnel, and the July 3 race will be a 40 lapper for the Sport Mods.
One thing that sets the Patriot Series apart from most series is that all three divisions will earn points in an overall format, and the winner of the points will take all of the prize money, whatever division that driver happens to be competing in. The track is also encouraging drivers to run patriotic themes on their cars for the series and will award points for that, making this one of the more unique series out there.
The 2016 season of racing at Siskiyou Motor Speedway offers something for everybody and is some of the best entertainment you can find for your family in the area. So, come on out and see for yourself. For further information, check out www.siskiyoumotorspeedway.com.
2015 - A Brief Review
The track's SCMA association crowned Doug Franklin the Sport Mod champion. Only members of the SCMA gained track points in any division, and Franklin beat past Mini Stock champion Colter Boswsell by just 14 points. Franklin had one win, three seconds and a third, while Boswell had two seconds and a third in what was a good battle.
Cody Biggs picked up one win, one second and one third and finished third in the standings ahead of Garrett Hamilton. Hamilton missed some races, but he grabbed two wins a second and a third among his best finishes. Jimmy Lipke ranked fifth in the standings. Southern Oregon Speedway champion Jorddon Braaten was not there all the time, but he dominated when he was there with seven wins, two seconds and a third. One of his wins was the Bo Hittson Memorial race.
Long time modified racer Lenny Toolanen started racing again during the season and won two Main Events along with two seconds and one third. Other feature winners included Keith Foux, Doug Foster, Donny Bottoms and IMCA State champion Fred Ryland. Greg Severensen was notable in his three second place finishes.
The dominant force in McDonald's Mini Stocks was champion David Steele. Steele left little doubt who was the champion as he sped to five feature wins, eight seconds and one third. Steele won the championship by over 100 points ahead of Mike Whitacker. Whitacker had three seconds and two thirds to just beat Ryder Boswell by eight points in a closer battle for second. Boswell, meanwhile, had three wins, three seconds and three thirds for a solid 2015 effort.
Marylin Yawnick held down forth in the points on the strength of three third place finishes, while Leslie Cobb's two seconds and a third helped gain her fifth in the standings. Others on the winner's list included Terry Kendrick (five times), Chris Jorgensen (three times), Garrett Hamilton and James Welshonse. Southern Oregon Speedway champion David Marble came to town and went home with two victories of his own at the June 6 double header. Steele won the Mike Caveye Memorial.
Nick Trenchard had an impressive season that included five wins, a second and a third as he beat Duane Osbourne for the Modified track championship by over 50 points. Osbourne had a second and finished ahead of long time racer Roger Lorenzini, who had a second and three thirds, in the point standings. Josh Cullen and James Berry rounded out the Top 5 in points as Cullen picked up a win along the way.
Other winners included past champions Travis Peery and Mark Wauge, each with two. Peery won the Wild West Series feature, while Wauge won the John Arnberg Memorial. Jake Holland pocketed $3,000 for his win in the season ending Rod Restad Memorial race. Zach Fettinger and Riley Simmons were the other winners.
The SODCA Dwarf Cars made four visits to Yreka, and that didn't hurt Josh King's championship effort as he won two features and had one second. Brock Peters and past champion Fred Hay were the other winners as Hay also had two second place finishes to King's one.
There were four different Outlaw Pro Stock winners, including champion Jeffrey Hudson. Other winners included Petaluma visitor Mike Learn, Billy Geyer Memorial preliminary winner Brian Johnson and Bill Geyer Memorial winner Dave Everson. There were also two Sprint Car races with Colby Copeland winning the Northwest Sprint Car Speedweek race and Kyle Hirst winning the other Sprint Car event.
SIKIYOU MOTOR SPEEDWAY2016 RACING SCHEDULE
Subject to Change
March:
Saturday 12th – Sportsman’s Expo Car Show
Sunday 13th – Sportsman’s Expo Exhibition
April:
Saturday 2nd – Test & Tune
Saturday 9th – Season Opener! – Mini Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, Pro Stocks, IMCA Modifiedd $1000 to win
Saturday 16th – Mini Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, Dwarf Cars – Ball toss by Dwarf Cars
Friday 22nd – Mini Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Modifieds, Dwarf Cars – Ball toss by Mini Stocks and Kid’s Ride-A-Long
Saturday 30th – Canned Food Drive – $2 off Entry with Canned Food Donation – Mini Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, Powder Puffs, Mud Bogs
May:
Saturday 14th – Mini Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Modifieds, Mud Bogs, Pitman Races – Ball toss by IMCA Sport Mods and Kid’s Race
Saturday 21st – Armed Forces Day – $1 entry for all Military Personnel – Mini Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, Dwarf Cars, Pro Stocks – Race #1 of Patriot Series
Saturday 28th – Memorial Weekend Qualifying (Non Track points all classes) – Mini Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Modifieds
Sunday 29th – Memorial Weekend Championships (Non track points all classes) – Mini Stocks Mike Caveye Memorial, IMCA Sport Mods Bo Hittson Memorial, IMCA Modified John Arnberg Memorial 38 lap Main Event
June:
Saturday 4th – Mini Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, Pro Stocks – Ball toss by Pro Stocks
Sunday 12th – Wild West Modified Tour (w/supporting class)
Thursday 16th – Test & Tune
Saturday 18th – Mini Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Modifieds, Mud Bogs – Kid’s Ride-A-Long
Saturday 25th – Mini Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, Powder Puffs – Kid’s Race
July:
Sunday 3rd – Firecracker Challenge – Mini Stock, Pro Stocks, Dwarf Cars, IMCA Sport Mods – Race #2 of Patriot Series. 40 Lap IMCA Sport Mod Main Event
Friday 8th – Northwest Sprint Car Tour (w/supporting class)
Thursday 14th – Test & Tune
Saturday 16th – Christmas in July – Mini Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, Pitman Races, Mud Bogs – Kid’s Ride-A-Long
Friday 22nd – Billy Geyer Memorial Qualifying – Pro Stocks, Dwarf Cars
Saturday 23rd – Billy Geyer Memorial Championship – Pro Stocks, Dwarf Cars
August:
Thursday 25th – Test & Tune
Saturday 27th – Fan Appreciation Night – Mini Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, Pro Stocks, IMCA Modifieds, Powder Puffs
September:
Saturday 3rd – Mini Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, Pitman Races, Mud Bogs
Saturday 10th – Mini Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, Pro Stocks, IMCA Modifieds – (Non-Sanctioned IMCA) Patriot Series Finale
Thursday 15th – Test & Tune
Saturday 17th – Mini Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, TBA
Saturday 24th – Rod Restad Memorial Season Finale – Mini Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Modifieds – Kid’s Bike Race
New to 2016 – Patriot Series!
Open to any driver in Mini Stock, IMCA Sport Mod, Pro Stock
$30 buy-in by first series race
Patriot Series points are separate from track points
Points accrue from standard races – No special race
Points are not class specific – One winner in series
Points winner collects entire pot – Winner Take All
Competition and decoration points awarded regardless of race finish
Patriot Series Points Awarded as Follows:
Compete in Series Race – 10 points
Heat Race Win – 5 points
Trophy Dash Win – 5 points
Main Event Win – 10 points
Patriotic Decoration on Car – 15 points
