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Settlemire, Cook, Atchison Win The Memorial Cup Features At Rocky Hill Speedway
Racing returned to Rocky Hill Speedway Saturday night with the first running of the Memorial Cup. When the checkered flag flew on the Hobby Stock 20 lap Main Event, it was Chris Settlemire picking up his first win of the season at the speedway in Porterville. Roy Atchison continued his domination in Mini 4's by winning their 20 lap Main Event, while Jason Cook also won his second straight Mini Stock Main Event. Dakota Brown came in from Bakersfield Speedway to win the American Stock 20 lap feature, while a good field of Mod Lites saw the win go to Roy Maynard Jr.
The Memorial Cup event was created to bring together the various Memorial races that have been held at the speedway in previous seasons under one race. New promoter Jerm Smith, who has been making many improvements to the racing facility this year, provided five beautiful cup trophies to the various feature winners. The race was also part of the Highway 65 Series between Porterville and Bakersfield involving the Hobby Stock, Mini Stock and American Stock divisions, and an increased turnout saw roughly 50 cars filling the pits.
The Hobby Stock division had a 10 car turn out, and the Noland family reign was temporarily interrupted by Chris Settlemire. Settlemire is a regular out at Bakersfield Speedway. The Noland family was shut out of the podium at this event as Colby Quinton picked up his best career finish in second, followed by Jake Peters. Karl Noland settled for a 4th Place finish ahead of Raymond Noland Jr. as second ranked Bakersfield competitor Michael Scruggs and Jared Plumlee followed. Plumlee was last season's Mini Stock division champion and has moved up to the Hobby Stock ranks. Kevin Collier made a somewhat rare appearance at his home track and finished eighth as Karl Noland Jr. and James Cornelius rounded out the top 10. It's been awhile since we seen Cornelius at the speedway, and he was a welcome return.
In the Mini Stock ranks, Cook continues to make a case that he is the man to beat in this year's championship battle, but it looks like we could have a good race up front. Cook happily collected the big trophy with his impressive victory, but once again, he was followed by Andy Boydstun, who grabbed his second consecutive second place finish. Clinton Massey returned to action to grab the final podium position as Zack Westlake and Shawn Schwartzenberger rounded out the top five. Steven Scott improved slightly over his season opening effort with a sixth place finish as Wade Moore, Shannon Treide, Candy Noland and Matt Herod rounded out the top 10. Lance Gonzalez suffered mechanical problems in preliminaries and scratched from the Main Event.
The American Stocks have been struggling to get a car count this year, but the influx of Bakersfield competitors allowed them to have their own 7 car Main Event. Dakota Brown, who is the point leader at Bakersfield Speedway, picked up the Main Event win and the big trophy. As it is at Bakersfield Speedway, the Johnson family is usually up at the front of the pack in this division. In this case, it was Tyler Johnson finishing second and second ranked Bakersfield racer Nicholas Johnson finishing third. The other family that stars in this division out at Bakersfield, the Childress family, was represented by Brian Childress in 4th. Trevor Baker, Bob Ellis and Monty Ince rounded out the field.
The super 4's division continues to belong to long time Speedway competitor Roy Atchison. Atchison led the way, with division hard charger Darren Estermann settling for second ahead of Russell Silva. Steve Golden ended up in 4th, while William Hughes, who was second in the season opener, dropped to a fifth place finish in this race. D.J. Hughes, Jake Daniels and Kit Murphy rounded out the finishing order.
The Mod Lites division is one of the up and coming divisions out at Bakersfield Speedway, and Rocky Hill Speedway has booked them for several dates. After an entertaining season opener, the Mod Lites were added for this event and produced a 10 car field. Roy Maynard Jr., who finished second in the season opener, bumped it up a notch with his Main Event win over Bakersfield point leader Zach Forrester. Season opening winner Brian Puckett grabbed the final podium position in third as Anthony Balcazar and James Brown made up the remainder of the top five. Kaden Cochrun was sixth in this one has Kyleigh Forster, Cheyenne Flippo, young up and comer J.D. Brown and Jerry Flippo made up the remainder of the field.
The facility continues to get an upgrade as bigger events are being contemplated for the future. Next weekend, there is a Monster Truck event on Friday and Saturday, April 22-23. The next racing event is set for May 14th as the Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks, Super 4's and American Stocks will be a part of this show.
Yawnick Returns To Winner's Circle In Yreka,
Lorenzini And Morton Share Winner's Podium
Siskiyou Motor Speedway was back in action Saturday night with another four division program. When the checkered flag flew on the McDonald's Mini Stock division, it was long time racer and speedway supporter Marilyn Yawnick picking up a rare Main Event win. Kurt Lorenzini claimed the checkered flag in the 20 lap O'Reilly Auto Parts IMCA Sport Modified Main Event, while Kalvin Morton was the winner in the SODCA Dwarf Car feature. A light turnout of IMCA Modifieds saw Jreremy Ohlde win their Main Event.
The Lorenzini family has been supportive of racing in the area for many years, and Kurt Lorenzini continues to keep the family at the front of the pack. Driving an O'Reilly Auto Parts IMCA Sport Modified these days, Lorenzini would collect the Main Event victory on Saturday night ahead of David Marble. Marble, the 2015 Southern Oregon Speedway Mini Stock champion, is a rookie in this division, and he's already looking like a threat to win Main Events. Gary Foster settled for third ahead of Jimmy Lipke. Garrett Hamilton struggled a bit and ended up 5th and watching the finish from the sidelines as Doug Franklin, Chad Wormington and Chris Jorgensen completed the finishing order. Franklin picked up at the hardware in the Trophy Dash with his win ahead of Doug Henshaw, who also finished second in the heat race that he ran behind winner Jimmy Lipke. Unfortunately for Henshaw, he suffered mechanical issues in his dash finish and scratched for the night. Lorenzini won the other heat race ahead of Franklin. Mini Stock graduate Ryder Boswell was last in his heat race and scratched for the Main Event..
In the McDonald's Mini Stock division, the force on the scene is 2015 champion David Steele. However, you can usually find Marilyn Yawnick somewhere in the top five, and she's a regular in the Top 5 in points every year. It's been a while since since Yawnick has won a Main Event, and she did it in impressive fashion on Saturday night, barely holding off the persistent Steele for her first win in three years. Aaron Jorgensen ran strong and right behind the lead duo with a third place finish. Terry Kendrick and Jim Fettinger made up the remainder of the top five. Heat race winner Melissa Henson would settle for a lead lap sixth place finish, and Ethan Killingsworth would end up 7th as the final lead lap finisher. Mike Coleson, Amber Walden, Mike Whitaker and Tyler Frost made up the remainder of the field. The night had four different winners as Henson held off Steele to win her heat race and Kendrick battled Killingsworth to win his heat race. Steele came back to win the Trophy Dash ahead of Kendrick.
Last season, Calvin Morton had an impressive showing in the SODCA Dwarf Car standings as he ranked fourth, and he intends to take it up a notch this season. Morton showed just how much he has improved as he claimed the checkered flag in the Dwarf Car Main Event. Morton thwarted Chad Cardoza's attempt to score a clean sweep as Cardoza settle for second in the feature after winning both his heat race and the Trophy Dash. Rob Gergel ran third at the checkered ahead of 2014 point runner up Ryan Smith and Paul Haselow in the 10 car event. Smith won his heat race ahead of hard charger Brock Peters, while Cardoza won his heat ahead of Morton. The Cardoza Trophy Dash win came ahead of Smith, and young Cody Peters won the B Dash ahead of Gergel.
The IMCA Modifieds had a disappointing turnout of 3 cars, and Jeremy Ohlde ended up winning their 15 lap Main Event ahead of 2015 point runner up Duane Osburn and longtime racer Stan Gunderson. Gunderson won the heat race ahead of Osburn, while Osburn won the Trophy Dash ahead of Ohlde.
Racing continues on Friday night next week with the McDonald's Mini Stocks, O'Reilly Auto Parts IMCA Sport Modifieds and IMCA Modfieds all part of the program. SODCA Dwarf Cars return next week, the Mini Stock drivers will be doing a Ball Toss and there will also be a kids ride along, making this a fun night for the family at the Yreka race track. For further information, check out the website at www.siskiyoumotorspeedway.com.
