willamettespeedway Archives

Berkeley dominates at Willamette, James & Killingsworth win, too.

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (June 21, 2024) – Night six of the 2024 IMCA Wild West Speedweek had to rate a 10 with Chase Berkeley. The Colville, Wash., warrior raced to his fourth consecutive and career 10th IMCA Sunoco Stock Car tour win Friday night at Willamette Speedway, a victory good for $2,500 and qualifying eligibility for the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. The two-time defending Speedweek champion took control of the first of 40 laps with brother-in-law B.J. Wild trying to run him down, Kersey Ferrando in third and David Schmidt and Jeff Lovell fighting for fourth. Lovell secured fourth on lap eight and the top five running order remained the same until a lap 19 caution for second-running Wild. Kevin Roberts moved around Lovell to get third on lap 22. Another long green flag run followed with Roberts continuing his charge forward to second. The final caution occurred with 12 laps to go. Berkeley was just too good out in the open in scoring his fourth straight Speedweek win. Roberts was a [Read More]

Gentry picks up Strawberry Cup feature win

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (June 1, 2024) – IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars were back at Willamette Speedway on Saturday for the historical Strawberry Cup, a race the venue has hosted for several decades. The race kicked off with a bang as Scott Winebarger took the lead on the first lap. Young talent Calista Johnson, applied pressure on the second circuit, almost overtaking the seasoned driver at the line. This thrilling battle continued for several laps, allowing Myke Landis and Sean Gentry to stay within striking distance. By the eighth lap, Winebarger had established a comfortable lead. Gentry secured the second position from Johnson and set his sights on Winebarger. The 17th and 18th laps saw cautions, setting the stage for a showdown between the two frontrunners. When the green flag came back out, Winebarger did his best to distance himself from Gentry and all other challengers. With eight laps to go, Gentry and Kevin Roberts started to get in a good rhythm, but their efforts would be stunted due to another caution. On the restart, Winebarger again [Read More]

James dominates at Willamette

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (May 18, 2024) – Bricen James was Dominant with a capital “D” Saturday night at Willamette Speedway. The former Shaw Race Cars Western Region champion, most recently the May 10 winner at Douglas County Dirtrack, topped his heat and ran second in the trophy dash before notching Friesen Performance IMCA Modified career win number 58. Trevor La Barge set the pace early, reaching a comfortable distance ahead of the rest of the field. As the race stayed green, James got into a great rhythm and began to give chase down the leader. By lap eight, James overtook La Barge to obtain the race lead and then checked out, ahead of a dogfight for a second involving La Barge, Grey Ferrando and Matthew Drager. A late caution injected a potential twist into the finish, but James quickly reestablished a sizable ap over the rest of the pack. The battle for second continued to sizzle as Ferrando and Drager continued their fight. Ferrando secured the second spot, with Drager finishing third.

Ferrando is phenomenal at Willamette

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (May 11, 2024) – Willamette Speedway finally returned to racing Saturday after a few wet weeks and former track champion Grey Ferrando was phenomenal in the Saturday feature for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. Hometown driver Carter Patterson was quick out of the gate but a couple cautions in the first five laps kept the field close. On a lap five restart, Ferrando turned up the wick and applied heat to Patterson. Despite Patterson’s excellent speed out of the corners, Ferrando’s relentless pursuit paid off after the yellow flag waved on lap nine. On the restart, Ferrando made a decisive move, taking the lead on the 10th circuit. Ferrando was not out of the woods, however, as Bricen James made a run on the pacesetter. Before James could get around for the top spot, the fourth and final stoppage occurred on lap 20. This set things up for a late race shootout. The battle for the top spot was intense, with Ferrando and James engaging in a thrilling duel. The race reached its apex [Read More]

String of seconds ends at Willamette as Berkeley wins $5,000 IMCA Stock special

LEBANON, Ore. (July 30, 2022) – Chase Berkeley put an end to his string of second-place finishes and put his IMCA Sunoco Stock Car in victory lane Saturday night at Willamette Speedway. Then he put $5,000 in the bank after his career-best payday. Berkeley raced from ninth starting and led the last 18 times around the track in the 50-lap marathon at Lebanon, holding Jesse Williamson at bay after a restart with six to go. “The best part about winning was that I’d had a streak of second place finishes coming into the night,” said the Colville, Wash., hotshoe, who’d clinched the Wild West Shootout crown with runner-up showings at Willamette and at Sunset Speedway Park, then ran second behind Collen Winebarger at Sunset’s 50-lap, $5,000 to win show on July 16. “It felt good to be back in the top spot.” Berkeley’s first win on the season, at Coos Bay Speedway, paved the way to the Wild West Shootout crown. His second earned him a guaranteed starting spot in the B & B Racing [Read More]

Wild West Shootout takes IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods to Oregon, Washington venues

WHITE CITY, Ore. (June 10, 2022) – Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds return to the top of the marquee for the June 17-25 Wild West Shootout. One thousand dollar top checks and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility go to Modified feature winners June 17 at Southern Oregon Speedway in White City; June 18 and June 21 at Cottage Grove Speedway; June 19 and 20 at Coos Bay Speedway; June 23 at Willamette Speedway in Lebanon; and June 24 at Sunset Speedway in Banks. The June 25 finale doubles as the Modified Clash at Grays Harbor Raceway and pays $2,000 to win. Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods run for $400 to win each of those dates while IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for $400 each night June 17-23 and for $1,000 to win and B & B Racing Chassis All-Star qualifying eligibility in their finale at Sunset. All eight race programs will be broadcast by IMCA.TV and information about the Wild West Shootout will be updated on Facebook. Pit gates open at 1 p.m. with hot [Read More]

Penfold makes good on youthful vow to own, promote Oregon’s Willamette Speedway

LEBANON, Ore. (April 7, 2022) – As a 12-year-old, Cory Penfold made the bold statement that he’d someday own and promote Willamette Speedway. Thirty-six years later, he does. Penfold and wife Sandy have purchased the big 1/3-mile clay oval at Lebanon from Jerry Schram and Jimmy Schram. They’ll be in charge of Saturday night programs that feature four IMCA divisions starting with opening night on April 16. “I believe that hands down, this is the best facility on the West Coast,” said Penfold. “I grew up here and started saying when I was 12 years old, when it was still owned by Clair and Evelyn Arnold, that I was going to own it.” “I have two passions in life – racing and football. When I became owner of this track, I compared it to when a college player hears his name called in the NFL draft,” he continued. “We did a lot of work to get here. When your dream comes true, it’s an amazing feeling.” IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts [Read More]

Willamette IMCA Stock Car special sports $5,000 top prize

LEBANON, Ore. – IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars race for $5,000 to win and a starting spot on the B & B Chassis All-Star Invitational grid Saturday, Aug. 21 at Willamette Speedway. The inaugural special is sponsored by AAMCO and the $80 entry fee includes the driver’s pit pass. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region, KMJ Performance Oregon State and track points will be awarded. Also on the card that evening is a $1,500 to win, Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying event for IMCA Modifieds. Pit gates and the grandstand open at 2 p.m. Hot laps are at 4:30 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Pit passes are $40. Spectator admission is $14 for adults, $10 for seniors and kids, and free for youngsters ages five and under. The event will be broadcast by SPEED SPORT.TV affiliate Dirt Oval TV. Practice on Friday, Aug. 20 runs from 4 p.m. to dusk.

Willamette IMCA Stock Car special sports $5,000 top prize

LEBANON, Ore. – IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars race for $5,000 to win and a starting spot on the B & B Chassis All-Star Invitational grid Saturday, Aug. 21 at Willamette Speedway. The inaugural special is sponsored by AAMCO and the $80 entry fee includes the driver’s pit pass. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region, KMJ Performance Oregon State and track points will be awarded. Also on the card that evening is a $1,500 to win, Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying event for IMCA Modifieds. Pit gates and the grandstand open at 2 p.m. Hot laps are at 4:30 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Pit passes are $40. Spectator admission is $14 for adults, $10 for seniors and kids, and free for youngsters ages five and under. Practice on Friday, Aug. 20 runs from 4 p.m. to dusk.

Towns tops Sunday field at Willamette for first Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout win

By Ben Deatherage LEBANON, Ore. (Aug. 8) – The third night at Willamette Speedway was the Sunday night charm for Curtis Towns. Towns topped the third event in as many nights to start the Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout, earning $1,000 and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. He’d taken advantage of his inside front row starting position in the 40-lap feature, hoping to bounce back after failing to make the feature on Friday night. Towns set a rapid pace but was eventually caught once he entered traffic. Collen Winebarger put the pass on Towns on lap 14. Dominant the previous evening and looking to make it two victories in a row, the new leader had no real issues whether on an open race track or in traffic. Unfortunately, Winebarger suffered a flat right rear tire with two laps to go. Towns was there to retake the lead and powered his way to his first career Wild West Modified Shootout checkered flag. Mark Carrell was second while Danny Lauer placed third. Eston Whisler and [Read More]