Ron Bennett
Eugene, Oregon
Aug. 13
Seven Oregon drivers are currently ranked in the Western States Top 30 according to the latest Southwesternstockcar.com standings. This rankings system covers all Dirt Late Model tracks and associations between Eastern Colorado and the Pacific coast. Willamette Speedway and Bud I-5 Challenge Series points leader Rob Mayea from Bend, Oregon is listed as #3 in the west behind Californians Mike Johnson and Steve Drake in the #1 and #2 spots.
Bob Boyd, the defending Bud I-5 champ and 4-time Willamette Speedway champion is #2 in Bud I-5 and Willamette Speedway points and is ranked # 7 in the west despite two consecutive DNFs from a blown engine two weeks ago and a main event crash last Saturday (Aug. 7th) night at Willamette. Other Oregon drivers making this weeks top 30 list are Jeremy Shank (18th), Greg Walters 20th, Trevor Glaser (21st), Randy Boyd (22nd) and Darren Coffell who made the #30th spot after winning the Reno, Nevada Western Xtreme event last Saturday (Aug. 7th) night in Fernley, Nevada.
With six weekends left in the 2004 Dirt Late Model season here in Oregon following this weekend?s action, it would appear that Rob Mayea?s point lead of 286 over Bob Boyd may hold up. But I learned long ago that anything can happen in auto racing and as they say, it ain?t over until the checkered flag falls on the last race of the season.
With the Bud I-5 Series schedule showing Elma, Washington on September 18th and a two-night show at Medford the following Friday and Saturday nights, the top 6 drivers on the Bud I-5 Tour are still in the running for the title. Rob Mayea leads the standings with 580 points. Bob Boyd is ?39, Casey Vitale is ?53, Randy Boyd ?77, Trevor Glaser ?86 and Rick Hazen is 99 points behind Mayea. With a combination of 100 points for winning, 2 points per each position gained in the feature, plus heat race points, the maximum number of points available is 142 based on a 18 car feature.
The point battle in the Pacific Xtreme Dirtcar Series is another close one with Jeremy Shank leading with 1858 points. Greg Walters (-99) and Darren Coffell (-166) are still in the running. With that group racing in Susanville and Quincy, California this weekend (Saturday Sept.14th and 15th) and with three Oregon dates (8/28 and 9/10 ? 9/11) this one could go down to the last race.
The coming off-season will probably be the most interesting in many years. This being an election year and with the unanswered questions about the economy, fuel prices, etc., etc., the 2005 season will probably see a lot of changes. Let?s hope it?s for the good of all racers.
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