Ben Deatherage
Willamette Speedway Writer
It was a wild night at Willamette Speedway for the first race of the season Saturday.
Despite the cool temperatures, once the sun went down, racing on the 1/3-mile clay oval started to really heat up.
On hand for the Season Opener were all six staple classes at the venue, which included the DIRTcar Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sports, Sportsman, Street Stocks and Mini Trucks.
In the DIRTcar Super Late Model feature it looked as if Russ Sell from Brownsville had it in the bag. That was until just past lap 25 when he got sideways and briefly lost control and spin out. The incident brought about a lead change, giving it to Joey Tanner of Portland.
Tanner paced the field for the remaining circuits, all while keeping seven-time champion Trevor Glaser of Tangent in check behind him. Glaser searched the track high and low to try overtaking Tanner, but Tanner held on for the big win.
In IMCA Modified action it was the Mark Carrell show. The Redmond native put a clinic on for the fans and competitors as he nailed the set up and cruised to the win without any difficulty at all. It was Carrell’s first win in a while at Willamette Speedway.
The Super Sport class made its return to Willamette after a hiatus of a few years.
And earning the victory would be three-time Super Sport champ Gil Pickett from Salem.
Pickett was the only driver to make the high side work and pass cars. A great multi-car battle occurred after a late restart with Pickett getting around Salem’s Chris Mott and Steve Moore of Scio.
From there on Pickett would have no difficulties and would cross the line first.
In Sportsman action Phil Houseworth of Lebanon and Albany’s Todd Miller dueled one another for the lead for several circuits. As the laps continued to click away Houseworth, while leading, got sideways out of turn four, which allowed space for Miller to make the pass for the lead. Once Miller took the lead he ran off with it and would earn the win.
Seven-time Willamette track champion David Cronk from Portland was mighty fast in Street Stock action. Cronk led the race from flag to flag for the win with Albany’s young Bricen James right behind him. James could stick with Cronk for the most part but couldn’t find a way around the veteran chauffer.
Domination was what occurred in the Mini Truck feature. Don Croy of Prineville was the truck to beat as he lapped several cars on his way to his first win of the season. Croy used full advantage of his front row starting position to perform the feat.
Willamette Speedway will have two nights of action next weekend.
The first race of the year for the Karts will take place on Friday night April 26th. Saturday evening will be the second race of the year for the 1/3-mile and will feature all six regular divisions.
Season overview
Following a complete overhaul for the Willamette Speedway that brought the facility to top-flight status, the 2013 season is in even better than last year, with 36 events on tap for the 1/3-mile dirt oval concluding at the end of September.
The big news during the offseason was the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) becoming the sanctioning body for the Modifieds. The event schedule is packed with special events but will also see the DIRTcar Super Late Model, IMCA Modified, Super Sport, Sportsman, Classic Sportsman and Mini Truck classifications as regular classes practically every Saturday night. The Super Sports make their return after last competing in the 2010 campaign.
After two straight weekends of rain-outs, the first points event was held Saturday
Memorial Day weekend sees the return of the Clair Cup which won the Reg Midgley First Class Promotion Award back in late November at the annual Western Automotive Racing Promoters Association meeting.
Following Clair Cup will be Strawberry Cup which has been expanded into two nights of racing for May 31 and June 1. Fan Appreciation Night will occur on June 8, and June 16 will be the annual Tuff Truck and Trash Car show.
June 18 will see the return of the Wild Wild West Modified Shootout bringing the best IMCA Modified drivers in the Northwest to Willamette for a middle of the week bout.
Closing out the month will be the Topless Showdown on June 29, which will have the DIRTcar Super Late Models take the roof tops off for the evening.
July will open up with the annual Speedweek Northwest stop from the American Sprint Car Series-Northwest Region, with this year’s event on July 3.
July 6 will feature a 100-lap DIRTcar Super Late Model feature as will July 13 and the return of the Willamette 100.
The annual Mid-Season Championship will take place on July 20 before a weekend doubleheader with the ASCS-National Tour closes out the month on the 26th and 27th.
Aug. 13-14 will mark stints for the DIRTcar Super Late Model Summer National, and the ASCS-Northwest Region will make its final visit of the year on Aug. 17.
The Modified Tribute To Clair will happen on Aug. 24, and the Labor Day Classic will be a two-day show for the Labor Day Classic on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.
The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series will be back in town on Tuesday, Sept. 3 and will mark the final special event of the season before Championship Night on Sept. 21. Once the point battles are settled two more events will remain on the calendar which includes an Open Competition event on Sept. 28 and a 250-lap Iron Man Enduro on Sept. 29.
Jeremy Means will be atop the flag stand all season long for both the 1/3-mile and Kart races at the historic venue. The 20-year-old Lebanon native has been attending the races since early childhood and took some time to explain what this means for him.
“I’m very excited,” said Means. “I grew up attending races at Willamette and watched Bill Arnold flag for years. Growing up at the track some kids dreamed to drive race cars while I wanted to flag.”
That dream has come true. In fact it was Bill Arnold that gave him his first flagging job back in 2008 at Willamette for the Kart program. Since then Means has flagged at the Albany Motorsports Park and Salem Indoor Speedway when not at flagging at the Lebanon facility.
“I’m really excited for the Clair Cup event in May,” talking about which race he anticipates flagging the most. “It’s really cool that the Schrams put on a race in memory of Clair Arnold. I also think it’s great for his family too. Evelyn, Bill and Lori (Arnold) are all great people.”
Season tickets are still available and can be ordered via the track’s website.
To get a form for the reservation of your preferred seats log on to http://www.trophymotorsports.com and click on “Track Info” and scroll down and the form is available for download. Season passes are good for all regular shows (non-special events) and are good at regular shows at Sunset Speedway Park, Cottage Grove Speedway, and Grays Harbor Raceway.
The Willamette Speedway has operated since the 1960s and is a facility where high car counts and great racing are the norm.
For more information on the latest news and stories regarding the Willamette Speedway log on to http://www.trophymotorsports.com.
2013 Willamette Speedway Tentative Schedule
April 27 – Dirt Car Super Late Model, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sport, Sportsman, Street Stocks
May 4 – Fighting Hunger Night $2 off with can of food – Dirt Car Super Late Models, IMCA Mods, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Trucks
May 11 – Dirt Car Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sport, Sportsman, Street Stocks
May 18 – Dirt Car Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sport, Street Stocks, Mini Trucks
May 25 – Clair Cup – Dirt Car Super Late Models, NW Extreme Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sport, Sportsman, Street Stocks
May 26 – Clair Cup – Dirt Car Super Late Models, NW Extreme Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sport, Sportsman, Street Stocks
May 31 – ASCS 360 Sprints, Dirt Car Super Late Models (Qualifying & Heats for Late Models)
June 1 – Strawberry Cup – Dirt Car Super Late Models (LCQ’s & Main Events), IMCA Modifieds, Super Sport, Street Stocks, Mini Trucks
June 8 – Fan Appreciation Night – Dirt Car Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sport, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Trucks
June 15 – Dirt Car Super Late Models, Super Sport, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Trucks
June 16 – 13 Annual Father’s Day Tuff Truck and Trash Car, Side by Side Exhibition
June 18 – Les Schwab Wild Wild West Modified Shootout – IMCA Modifieds, Sportsman
June 22 – Dirt Car Super Late Models, Super Sport, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Trucks
June 29 – Topless Showdown – Dirt Car Super Late Models – 50 Laps, IMCA Modifieds, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Trucks
July 3 – ASCS 360 Sprints, IMCA Modifieds – ASCS Speedweek
July 6 – Super Dirt Late Model 100 Lap Feature, IMCA Modifieds, Sportsman- Fireworks Display
July 13 – Willamette 100 – Dirt Car Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sports, Sportsman, Street Stocks
July 20 – Mid-Season Championship- Dirt Car Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sport, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Trucks
July 26 – ASCS 360 Nationals, NWWT Sprints – Wingless Speedweek
July 27 – ASCS 360 Nationals, NWWT Sprints – Wingless Speedweek – Pepsi Night at the Races
Aug. 3 – Platt Night – Dirt Car Super Late Models, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Trucks
Aug. 10 – IMCA Modified 40 Lap Feature, Super Sport, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Trucks
Aug. 13 – Summer Nationals – Dirt Car Super Late Models, Super Sports
Aug. 14 – Summer Nationals – Dirt Car Super Late Models, Super Sports
Aug. 17 – ASCS 360 Sprints, Sportsman, Mini Trucks
Aug. 24 – Modified Tribute to Clair – Dirt Car Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sports, Sportsman
Aug. 31 – Labor Day Classic – Dirt Car Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sports, Sportsman, Street Stocks
Sept. 1 – Labor Day Classic – Dirt Car Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sports, Sportsman, Street Stocks
Sept. 3 – World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds
Sept. 7 – Dirt Car Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sport, Sportsman, WMRA/USAC Midgets
Sept. 14 – Dirt Car Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Street Stocks, Mini Trucks, PHRA Dwarfs
Sept. 21 – Les Schwab Championship Night – Dirt Car Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sports, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Trucks
Sept. 28 – Open Competition – No sideboards, W.R.S. Late Model Lites
Sept. 29 – 250-Lap Iron Man Enduro