3/26/2014
Willamette Speedway
IMCA Modifieds Expected To Have Another Smashing Year At Willamette
IMCA Modifieds Expected To Have Another Smashing Year At Willamette
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Doc's Photos)
Lebanon, Oregon- Although Willamette Speedway has only hosted weekly IMCA Modified action for less than ten years they have no doubt provided some of the best action on the entire Pacific Coast. In the last three seasons there have been three different champions and last year saw a good mix of different faces in the winner’s circle.
“The IMCA Modifieds are the most unpredictable class at Willamette,” commented current Willamette Speedway announcer Cory Penfold,” there were eleven different winners in the first eleven races which shows how tough it can be to win here. Every car can realistically win and the fact that the champion last year didn’t win a race speaks volumes. I wouldn’t wager on who will win the title this season.”
2014 will see Willamette Speedway host the final two races of the annual Wild West Modified Speedweek on Friday July 26th and Saturday the 27th. Another must see event is the annual Modified Tribute To Clair which is ran in honor of longtime Willamette Speedway owner and promoter Clair Arnold. That event will take place on Saturday August 23rd. In total there are seventeen IMCA Modified races including the three mentioned above.
If you look at the history of the last three seasons you will see no indication of a pattern in how the championships were won. In 2011 Dustin Dittman owned the division by winning all but one feature in the thirteen race schedule including twelve visits to victory lane in a row. When the reconfiguration occurred during the 2011-12 winter that’s when some new faces would emerge victorious as there would be eight different winners in twelve Modified races in the 2012 season.
One of those new faces was Kyle Yeack who had never won a Modified feature prior to 2012. Not only would he win one he would win four by the time the year was over. That year he would lead the division in main event wins as well top five finishes with eight en route to his championship.
Last year would see a total of thirteen different winners in nineteen events with Craig Cassell and Monte Bischoff tied at the top with the most feature wins with three apiece. Kyle Yeack and Joey Tanner were the only other drivers to win more than once as they visited the winner’s circle twice in 2013.
At the end of the year though Bubba Foster was atop the point table by just one point over second place Craig Cassell and only two points ahead of third place finisher Matt Mitchell. Even though he did not win won race Foster’s consistency paid off as he would finish among the top ten in main event action a total of fifteen times.
We shall see what 2014 brings as we have already seen that consistency and/or dominance can win you championships in the last few years. Speaking of championships in the eight seasons that a champion has been declared there have been five different drivers to pick up the crown. Rob Mayea leads the list with his three straight that he won from 2007-09 and Dustin Dittman is the only other repeat champion with his back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011.
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.
Former Willamette Speedway IMCA Modified Track Champions
2006- Craig Hanson
2007- Rob Mayea
2008- Rob Mayea
2009- Rob Mayea
2010- Dustin Dittman
2011- Dustin Dittman
2012- Kyle Yeack
2013- Bubba Foster
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage