Getting Up To Speed With…Jesse Williamson
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Madman Photography)
We had the chance to talk to the defending Wild Wild West Modified Shootout winner Jesse Williamson. The third-generation driver from Coburg, Oregon is anxious to get back on the road and become the first guy to win the series more than once. Williamson is a two-time winner of Oregon’s Cottage Grove Speedway Modified Nationals and the 2009 winner of the Shipwreck Beads Northwest Modified Nationals in Elma, Washington. So far he has won two races in 2013 including the prestigious Strawberry Cup at Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, Oregon earlier in June.
Driver: Jesse Williamson
Hometown: Coburg, OR
Occupation: Business Owner
Years Racing: 17
Age: 35
Classification: IMCA Modifieds
Car Number: W5
Chassis: Hughes Race Cars
Sponsors: Furniture Options, Housing Options, Ron Martin Wholesale, Royalty Homes, Raceprint.com
BD: You’re the defending title holder of the Wild Wild West Modified Shootout. Do you think you can do it again?
JW: I hope so, I feel really good with this new car. I only won one race last year. My goal this year is to win every race.
BD: Last year what were some of the keys to winning this thing?
JW: The way I was finishing. I had only one DNF but either than that I was in the top five in the rest of them. My goal is to win more races than I did last year.
BD: Out of all the tracks that are on the schedule this year which won in the most challenging for you?
JW: Probably Yreka, just because I have only been there four or five times. I’ve won at pretty much the rest of them so probably that track. I just really hope that all the tracks are going to be racy.
BD: With the schedule the way it is there isn’t a lot of time to rest is there?
JW: Not really. It’s going to be a grind with that many races in that many days. Bringing good help with you is a plus. I’m bringing a couple of guys to help me with maintenance, etc.
BD: How tough is the competition of the Wild Wild West Modified Shootout?
JW: It’s so tough. You have the best drivers around running every single night. There is a ton of good teams that run this thing.
The Wild Wild West Modified Shootout will visit Sunset Speedway Park on Monday June 17th. Tickets for Adults/Seniors/Military are $8.00, Youths (6-12) $5.00, Children 5 and Under FREE, and a whole CAR LOAD will get you into the races for $25.00. Brian Poppa won the first installment in 2011 and Jesse Williamson is the defending champion.
2013 Wild Wild West Modified Shootout Schedule:
June 15th – Grays Harbor Raceway (Elma, Washington)
June 16th – OFF
June 17th – Sunset Speedway (Banks, Oregon)
June 18th – Willamette Speedway (Lebanon, Oregon)
June 19th – Cottage Grove Speedway (Cottage Grove, Oregon)
June 20th – Coos Bay Speedway (Coos Bay, Oregon)
June 21st – Siskiyou Motor Speedway (Yreka, California)
June 22nd – Southern Oregon Speedway (White City, Oregon)