2/17/2014
Willamette Speedway
Getting Up To Speed With…Bricen James
Getting Up To Speed With…Bricen James
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Doc’s Photos)
Bricen James is one of the brightest young stars coming out of Willamette Speedway. The South Albany High School sophomore, and second-generation driver, amazed the fans of the historic 1/3-mile clay oval in 2013 by winning four Street Stock features and finishing runner-up in the final point standings. Following in the footsteps of his father Charlie, a two-time Willamette Speedway champion in his own right, and his older brother Brett this young teenager looks to be on the fast track to a successful racing career.
Although the plans for him in 2014 aren't quite concrete he hopes to be racing in a variety of different cars and yes you will still see him on Friday nights in the Kage Karts. Bricen has won six driving championships in the Karts between the Salem Indoor Speedway and Willamette Speedway in his nine year career and in the 2013 won the inaugural Summer Sizzle Tour which brought the toughest drivers in the Pacific Northwest to the best three Karting facilities in the state of Oregon. Now let’s get up to speed with Bricen James.
Driver: Bricen James
Home Track: Willamette Speedway
Hometown: Albany, Oregon
Occupation: Student at South Albany High School
Age: 15
Years Racing: 9
Classification: IMCA Modified/Super Sport/Street Stock
Team: James Gang Racing
Car: 13
Chassis: GRT Race Cars/MasterSbilt Race Cars/Buick Regal
Sponsors: James Gang Pizza, Lebanon Auto Body, Sign Express, Rainbow Rentals, Schram Brothers Excavating, Kartco Racing
Special Thanks: Charlie James (Father)
BD: Last season you and David Cronk had a great year going back and forth in the win column for several weeks. How big was 2013 to you and your career?
BJ: It was a huge a step in the right direction. Going into the year I didn’t expect to win all those races and have as much success as I did. I knew I was going to be a contender but I would have never imagined I would finish where I did in the points.
BD: Last offseason you told Cory Penfold and I that you had started to do some R/C racing. Have you been doing any of that lately?
BJ: Yes at Northwest Hobbies here in Albany. I just do it to have some fun and do something different. It’s pretty cool.
BD: Your career started in the Speedway Karts and then eventually to the Kage Karts. Your one of the only drivers at Willamette to do both Kage Karts and racing every Saturday night at your home track. How different are they in your opinion?
BJ: The Kage Karts are a lot faster and the speed is double compared to a Street Stock. You really have to be on the wheel and ready for whatever happens in a Kart. In a car you’re moving around a lot more but it doesn’t seem as fast. Even though you may be going same amount of speed it feels like you’re going 20 MPH faster in the Kart.
BD: What are your plans in 2014 as the season in coming up quickly?
BJ: A couple of options are on the table but we haven’t completely figured everything out yet. I know we’ll be doing some travelling in the Kage Kart this summer. I may race in a few different classes and not really chase points so that’s kind of the plan at this point. But whatever happens my goal is to win at least one race in a division that I’m looking at moving up to whether it be in a IMCA Modified or Super Sport.
BD: Where would you like to end up racing eventually? Perhaps in a Super Late Model or is there maybe chance for career in a 360 Sprint Car?
BJ: The more realistic thing would be me racing in a Super Late Model. But my biggest goal would be to drive a 360 Sprint Car. I think those cars fit my driving style a lot better. I’m hoping that a Sprint Car team owner could give me the opportunity to do that one day.
BD: During the school year you also play sports specifically baseball in the spring. How hard is it for a young man to juggle a full-time race team, a Kage Kart team, school work, and participate in athletics at the same time? And when do you have time to yourself?
BJ: There really isn’t a lot of time to myself sometimes. School work is pretty much the number one priority because if I’m not doing well in school then I wouldn't be able to do all of these great things. I go to school until 3:00 PM and right after that I go straight to baseball practice until 6:00 and if there’s time I go to the shop and work on the car. In High School sports are a lot harder than say Middle School or younger leagues because it’s more demanding and intense.
The 2014 season is quickly approaching and Willamette Speedway is the place to get your racing fix. Saturday April 5th will kick things off with the test and tune open practice while the “Cabin Fever Season Opener” will be held the following Saturday on the 12th. Be sure and log on to www.trophymotorsports.com for the latest information regarding Willamette Speedway.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage