Sean C. Morgan
Kyle Yeack of Crawfordsville is having a huge year behind the wheel at Willamette Speedway in the modifieds and classics, winning 11 races – six in classics and five in modifieds.
He’s won three races in a row in each class.
“I never got a win in mods last year,” Yeack said, but then he changed the car’s setup. The new setup includes shocks and the car went from four bars on the right and two on the left side to four on both sides.
“It’s a lot better now,” he said. “This is probably about the best year so far (his third). Both cars are out front every weekend.”
Yeack raced at Cottage Grove and Banks at the beginning of the season and then, two weeks ago, he blew up his motor in the modified at Gray’s Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash.
Kyle Yeack, here with his modified car, has been on a roll at the Willamette Speedway, winning the last three races in both the Modified and Classic divisions at the track going into this weekend,
“We were in about fifth place in mods over there when it blew up,” he said. That was among about 50 cars.
Early on this season, he had some minor problems with the setup, he said. “The first week, both cars broke, little things, brand new parts.”
His father, Tom Yeack, was racing both classes too, at least until “he stole my motor,” Tom Yeack said. “And he’s won two with it.”
Cory Yeack, Kyle’s older brother, races in the classics.
Kyle Yeack thinks the changes at Willamette Speedway have helped him – or at least it’s a lot more fun.
“I love it,” he said. “It’s a lot more racy.”
The track is three to four cars wide instead of two wide, he said.
“I think it’s easier to pass on that track. I don’t hit the wall as much. I still rub off it all the time, but I don’t hit as hard any more.”
Yeack, who works at Radiator Supply House in Sweet Home, is leading in points for the season in both classes. He has a long lead in classics with four or five races left, but he is only 20 points ahead of Justin Evans of Lebanon in mods, with three races left.
Races at Willamette generally include 15 to 20 drivers, but some will have close to 50.
“It’s really just a breakout year because this class is stacked – the mods,” said Ben Deatherage, announcer and press officer for Willamette Speedway. “It’s on par with the late models.”
The track has had a lot of visitors this year, he said, “I like to call them invaders – so Kyle’s defending the home turf pretty well.”
Yeack has had two double wins this year, and that’s relatively rare, Deatherage said. “Really what I think’s been helping is running the different classes.”
Track time is very important for the drivers, Deatherage said.
It goes beyond practice and reading strategy. Week after week, Yeack’s running races in two classes. It’s experience on the track.
“It’s just like anything really. In racing, we call it seat time,” Deatherage said.