7/19/2016
Willamette Speedway
Mayea, Cady, Barley, T. Yeack, K. Yeack, And Lovvorn Win At Willamette Les Schwab Tires Mid-Season Championship Night
Mayea, Cady, Barley, T. Yeack, K. Yeack, And Lovvorn Win At Willamette Les Schwab Tires Mid-Season Championship Night
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Cady Motorsports)
Lebanon, Oregon- Willamette Speedway would return to racing after taking a week off. Saturday, July 16th would be Mid-Season Championship Night presented by Les Schwab Tires marking the halfway point to the 2016 campaign. A full card of racing would be on the docket. All six staple classes would be on hand at the historic 1/3-mile clay oval including Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sports, Sportsman, Street Stocks, and Hornets.
In the Late Models, Portland native Joey Tanner blazed the trail early. Unfortunately, due to several cautions, he would not be able to develop a very large lead. Following a restart past the halfway mark Rob Mayea would pull off a slide job in turn three that stuck to get him to the front. With around ten to go Tanner recaptured first place only to lose it shortly later. Once Mayea, from Bend, reclaimed the coveted top spot he would hold on to get his third win of the season.
Joey Tanner was second in the Dave Walters owned entry and Bend’s Darren Coffell was third. Thomas Hunziker, aslo from Bend, finished fourth while Albany’s Casey Vitale got fifth.
The IMCA Modifieds would have an exciting race. Albany’s Rod McCombs showed the way in the first few laps. He would be joined by some fast company with Dustin Cady of Albany and Lebanon’s Kyle Yeack. Cady would make an incredible bonsai pass while going three wide to obtain the lead.
Kyle Yeack would catch him and the two would battle for several laps, with several exchanges of the lead, before a caution would come out. Cady would be scored the leader on the last completed lap. Cady held on for the remaining distance to win for the first time this year.
Kyle Yeack was a respectable second followed by Stayton’s Grey Ferrando in third. Sean Mayea, of Bend, would finish fourth while Rod McCombs ended his evening in fifth.
Randy Barley was dominant in the Super Sports. However, the Albany veteran would not go unchallenged. With around ten laps remaining Barley would experience some motor problems. He would hold on for the victory and it was his third visit to the winner’s circle in the current season.
Brian Thompson of Sweet Home finished right behind the leader in second and following him was Woodland, Washington’s Jerry Casey in third. Newberg native Brian Winkler was fourth while fifth place went to Larry Rametes of Dayton.
The Sportsman feature would see Casey Rhoades out in front for much of the race. Rhoades, of Lebanon, maintained the top spot until around the halfway mark. Tom Yeack, of Crawfordsville, made the pass and left everyone in the dust for the win. It was Yeack’s sixth triumph of the season.
Jeff Rash of Lebanon was second, in the Glen Hackney owned entry, followed by fellow Lebanon driver Chad Slover in third. James Slover, also from Lebanon and also in a Hackney car, was fourth and Corvallis’ Ryan Emry completed the top five finishing order in fifth.
Kyle Yeack was dominant in the Street Stocks. Yeack, who was performing double duty, checked out from the rest of the field for them to battle for second place. It was Yeack’s first Street Stock win of the current season.
Portland’s David Cronk was second and third place went to Kevin Roberts of Gresham. Eugene driver Chris Sine crossed the stripe fourth while finishing fifth was Albany’s Justin Evans in the Al Flora owned machine.
In the Hornets, it would Tracy Muse in the early goings. Muse led for much of the race until getting passed with a few laps to go by Rowe Lovvorn. It was Lovvorn’s fourth win of 2016.
Tracy Muse finished second and Devon Traslavina was the third place finisher. Michaela Campbell managed to get fourth over Cole Brannan who was fifth,
Willamette Speedway will next host the annual Coors Clay Cup. Classes in action include the Super Late Models, Super Sports, Sportsman, Street Stocks, and Hornets. Also, the Hornets will be racing for $500.00 and $75.00 to start in what is being dubbed the Great American Hornet Challenge.
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 around 6:30. For more information, log on to www.trophymotorsports.com.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage