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Willamette Speedway Cabin Fever Season Opener Kick-off this Saturday April 16th

Cory Penfold
Moxie Media & Promotions

Willamette Speedway and its fans, drivers and teams are excited to kick off the 2016 Season of racing at the famed one third mile dirt oval in Lebanon.

Racing is slated to start this Saturday April 16th when qualifying gets underway at 4pm, racing begins at 6. Willamette Speedway has been the West Coast center of speed since its inception in 1967. when one looks at the list of past track champions it reads like a who's who in the western dirt track racing world. Drivers are beyond excited to get the season started and take a shot to add their name to the list of champions for the 2016 season of the fastest dirt track in the West.

On April 16th teams from all over the state of Oregon and Washington will fill the pit area and fans from every direction will eagerly take their seats to kick off the start of the 2016 racing season and unload some of the pent up anxiety that has grown over the winter at the Cabin Fever Season Opener. The smell of the fuel, the thunder of racing engines, the shaking of the grandstands and the cheering of the fans cannot come quick enough for many long time Willamette Speedway regulars. Saturday nights at the track are what these people live for April through September, myself included. Looking at the schedule, Willamette Speedway has stepped up to produce a schedule that is sure to satisfy even the most hard core of racing fans. The Cabin Fever Season Opener is just the beginning of what is arguably the best schedule in years.

Defending champions Rob Mayea, Collen Winebarger, Brian Smith, Sandy Sanders and Bill Allison are approaching the season with different plans, one thing is certain...having your name on the 2016 championship trophy and your name in the history books means a lot this year. Some interesting side notes stemming from that last statement is going to really create some excitement for some drivers.

Both Rob Mayea and "Superman" Collen Winebarger are not planning on running for points. Mayea is coming off his 4th late model championship at Willamette and when asked if he intends to defend the title he was quoted as saying "Not at this time". Winebarger is entering the season with no intentions of racing for a championship anywhere though he will be running a majority of Willamette's 2016 schedule. He had no plans of racing for a title last season but we know how that ended up, Modified champion. not intending to run for the title doesn't necessarily mean those plans won't change.

Sandy Sanders has stated in an earlier interview that he will not be defending last seasons championship as he only plans to attend ten to fifteen races over the course of the summer. Family plans for Sanders will kick the door wide open for a new champion to be crowned in the Sportsman division.

Super Sports will also see a new champions name on that divisions hardware as Brian Smith has vacated any attempt at backing up last seasons championship. Smith says "Last years deal was an agreement with Dan Dieble, it was his car and I was just the driver. It was a great opportunity, once in a lifetime and I enjoyed it but family is becoming increasingly important to me".

Bill Allison is the only current defending champion entering the season with full intention of going back to back. Allison completed his championship run in 2015 in impressive fashion by proving consistency is what makes a champion. he did not claim a single feature last season. He also says that "We have improved our car by picking up a new frame, last years car was just to wore out to race again.

The potential to see five new champions this season is a major story line that will provide much talk and anticipation for final results in September. The addition of the Hornet division will guarantee a sixth division champion should none of the 2015 champions repeat.

Come join us at Willamette Speedway this Saturday night. Front gates open at 3:30. Admission is as follows Adults $14.00, $10.00 Senior/Military/juniors 13-17,Youth 6-12 are $5.00 (5 and under are free), Family pass $35.00 (2 Adults and up to 4 Youth), $25.00 Pit Passes.

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