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Tuff Trucks and Trash Cars Entertain Crowd!

Cory Penfold

Fathers Day at Willamette Speedway was filled with fun, laughter and chaos. The annual Father's Day Tuff Trucks and Trash Car show rolled in with a large crowd ready to let it all go.

The event drew a record count for Trash Cars but saw a short field in the Tuff Trucks. Regardless the entertainment value was just as good as ever and culminated with mixed group of trucks for the Tug-O-War competition.

In the Trash Cars the crowd saw the definition of chaos as Chris Nofziger kept the race track wet and very slick. The fans in the grandstands witnessed some good racing, rollovers and wrecks. Kenny McBeth was the man to beat in 4 cylinder station wagon. McBeth won both of his heat races in the 4 cylinder division with a pair of strong runs that made it clear he was the guy to beat when the feature rolled around.

David Mann in his 007 was a serious contender in the 6 cylinder modified division. Mann was fast and showed he could "bump and run" with anyone on the track. Mann went into the modified feature prepared with a game plan of hamner down and don't look back, use the bumper if I have too.

21 cars took the green flag in feature that provided pure entertainment for the fans. Slick conditions created a bump and run, slam and slide style of racing. Blown engines, overheating, a roll over was just the norm in the 15 lapper. After attrition and hard racing Lebanons own Kenny McBeth dominated the 4 cylinder and David Mann of Eugene claimed the 6 cylinder modified feature. Both outlasted and outwitted and leaned on some luck to win. In the end McBeth and Mann walked away with bragging rights for the next 365 days.

Tuff Truck competition had four trucks sign in to compete. Matt Waggoner, Chris Haase, William Howard and Tim Manchester braved the obstacle course of jumps, triples and tractor tires. Manchester and his truck made a big statement in round one of competition with fast time and fantastic job of negotiating the course. Each driver would get two runs of the course and in the finals a two lap run and a final time of both laps combined.

In the finals three trucks took their shot at the clock. Matt Waggoner didn't compete in the final round because of broken suspension. In the finals drivers turned in the following times.

Chris Haase: 100.926 seconds
William Howard: 96.655
Tim Manchester: 86.421

Manchester was nearly perfect in the finals and he would claim the title of 2016 Tuff Truck Champion.

The day would close with a Tug-O-War battle that had entries in Toyota, Dodge, Ford and Chevrolet trucks. Jordan St. Clair of Salem in his 1998 Supercharged Toyota Tacoma lined up opposite of Larry Hageman and his wicked Dodge powered by 500 cubic inches of Mopar fury for the first tug. Hageman made easy work of the Toyota as he pulled St. Clair across the mark in the shortest battle of the day. Hageman was all smiles after that.

In tradition of the event Kyle Roles matched up against his father Ed Roles in a pair of Chevrolets. At the horn both drivers stomped on the throttle and once again the kid got the better of his dad winning a very close match that got the crowd stirred.

Ken Lill faced off with Ryan Emry and Lill drug Emry backwards with ease after Emry locked his Ford in 2WD High instead of 4WD. It was a tough lesson but one Emry won't forget.

Jeff Anderson competed in his V-10 Ford but he would be eliminated leaving Kyle Roles in his Chevrolet matched up with Hageman in the big Dodge. At the sound of the Horn the pair mashed the throttle and both of the big trucks went toe to toe in a match that went stalemate and officials shut them down for another attempt.

In the second pull Hageman appeared to have destroyed Roles pulling him backwards like he wasn't even there but it was deemed that an official made a mistake causing Hageman to jump the start and thus the final round went to a third pull. In the third attempt it was a show of Hagemans horsepower versus Roles torque. After seeing this was going to be a battle of inches, officials marked the tow strap with a piece of tape to make sure there was a reference point to decide who moves who. At the last shut down and a check of the tape it was decided the thirteen year old Roles won the Tug-O-War for the fourth time in five years.

The Fathers Day Tuff Trucks and Trash Cars event lived up to its tradition of entertainment and excitement as everyone had smiles and laughs as they walked out of the gate and made their way home. A great event that will certainly be a long tradition at Willamette Speedway.

Racing action will return this Saturday night on the one-third mile track with some great racing action. For more information please visit www.trophymotorsports.com

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