7/26/2016
Willamette Speedway
Tylor Owen Wins Willamette Great American Hornet Challenge; Tanner, Thompson, T. Yeack, D. Cronk Also Shriner’s Night Victors
Tylor Owen Wins Willamette Great American Hornet Challenge; Tanner, Thompson, T. Yeack, D. Cronk Also Shriner’s Night Victors
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Owen Racing)
Lebanon, Oregon- Willamette Speedway would be full of Hornets on Saturday, July 23rd for the first ever Great American Hornet Challenge. Over thirty entries from all across the Pacific Northwest would make the journey to the historic 1/3-mile clay oval. In addition to the Hornets the Super Late Models, Super Sports, Sportsman, and Street Stocks were on the card for Shriner’s Night.
Hometown driver Dale Holland would lead the opening laps of the Great American Hornet Challenge feature. It wouldn’t be too long before Tracey Muse, of Albany, would make the pass. Muse held the top spot for some time but would be overtaken on the tenth circuit by Tylor Owen. Owen, out of Vernonia, blazed the trail the rest of the way to win in his first appearance at Willamette in 2016.
Westfir driver Josh Corley was second followed by John Gartner, of Hillsboro, in third. The rest of the top five was made up of Tracey Muse, in fourth, and fifth finishing Dale Holland. Two B-Mains were ran and Monmouth’s Sam Potter and Cody Jones, out of Vancouver, Washington, were the winners.
The Super Late Model main event would be a caution free affair. Rob Mayea, from Bend, would seize control for the first ten laps in the top spot. Around lap eleven Joey Tanner, driving for car owner Dave Walters, made the pass overtaking Mayea. Tanner, from Portland, would hold off both Mayea and fellow Portland driver Brian Cronk even while negotiating some heavey lapped traffic. It marked the second occasion that Tanner has won at Willamette this year.
Rob Mayea was the runner-up and behind him, in third, was Darren Coffell, who is also from Bend. Steve Moore, of Scio, and Bend’s Thomas Hunziker were respectively fourth and fifth.
In the Super Sports, it was all about Brian Thompson. The Sweet Home chauffeur took care of business once he got to the front in the early goings of the main. Checking out and going the distance practically unchallenged Brian would emerge triumphant for the fourth occasion.
Lebanon’s Dan Deibele was second over third finishing Brian Winkler, of Newberg. Albany ace Brian Smith was fourth and Salem’s Chris Mott completed the top five in fifth.
In the Sportsman ranks, it was Ryan Emry who shined brightly. The Corvallis driver was the car to beat for much of the race and looked to be on his way to his first win of the campaign. Emry led the first half of the race and would be passed by Crawfordsville veteran Tom Yeack. Yeack would remain in the coveted spot the rest of the way to collect his seventh win of 2016.
Ryan Emry was a respectable second while Lebanon’s Casey Rhoades placed third. Jeff Rash, driving for car owner Glen Hackney and also out of Lebanon, crossed the wire in fourth and behind him, in fifth, was fellow Lebanon driver Chad Slover.
The Street Stock main event would see lots of stoppages. But the car to beat was David Cronk. The Portland native, and father to Late Model driver Brian Cronk, stayed out in front of the field to win his first race of the season.
Arnie Case of Vancouver, Washington was second while Justin Evans, of Lebanon and driving for car owner Al Flora, got third. Jordan McDonald, out of Halsey in the Kevin Williamson entry, placed fourth, while Lebanon’s Mikey Brakeall was fifth.
Karts will kick off the next weekend of racing action on Friday, July 29th. General Admission to the Friday Kart race will be FREE of charge. Pit Passes are $10.00 and Car and Driver fees will be $30.00. The Pit Gate will open up around 4:00 PM and Racing is scheduled to begin around 6:30.
Then Willamette Speedway returns for Fan Appreciation Night on Saturday, July 30th. This is an extremely popular event and is a night where all the cars competing park on the front stretch to sign autographs and pose for pictures with the fans, so don’t forget your autograph books at home.
All six regular classes will be racing on Saturday including Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sports, Sportsman, Street Stocks, and Hornets. Tickets are $14.00 for Adults, Juniors/Seniors/Military $10.00, Youths $5.00, and a Family Pass (2 Adults and up to 4 Youths) $35.00. Front Gates open at 3:30 PM and Racing kicks off at 6:00. For more information, log on to www.trophymotorsports.com.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage