(Written by Jeremy Means)
The family that has the shortest tow each week to the speedway have started off the season strong at the Banks Bullring in 2025. Sunset Speedway seasoned racer “Hollywood” Greg Walters has found his way to victory lane each race so far, but it has not come without challenge. Multiple time Track Champion, Craig Cassell, out of Albany has been his closest competitor at the stripe each Saturday Night. Cassell, who has had the most championships at the speedway in recent history, is always a tough competitor. The Two-Five express of Cassell has gone on to win almost every marquee matchup Banks has to offer at some point. Which just goes to show the speed and consistency of the #97 PCD chassis driven by Walters. The next 2 closest rivals on track this year for Walters has to be a couple surprises for different reasons. First brings you to the friendliest and most joyful rival a racer can have if you are Walters in his son, Jake. Jake Walters has found a way to drive his #67 machine, a number once raced proudly by his grandfather in the NW, to a podium on May 3rd as well as a Top 5 on May 10th to begin his points season on the bullring. Jake has shown extremely fast rising success since joining the ranks of the division and continues to raise the bar with his start this year after making the feature lineups of both the Wild West IMCA Speedweek finale, and Whisler Construction Mod Frenzy fields just one year ago. The other racer who has claimed a top 5 each race this year is the 2-time defending IMCA Modified Oregon State Champion. Lebanon’s Carter Patterson was a surprise competitor to start the season with us and has been a welcomed addition to the Bullring. The #47 car hit the northbound freeway and showed he’s no racer to toy with, having the speed to collect a Heat race win and Trophy Dash win to go along with the Top 5s. The IMCA Modifieds will continue the first grind of their season with races each Saturday through June 7th before first pause in their Saturday plans.
The American Classics season has also started with a 2-2 season start with a racer the crowd is very familiar with at the front of the field. Joey Tardio has been the man victorious each race with a competitive field of racers behind this year. Each collecting just 1 top 5 for the top 9 in Points. Chris Pearson, Ron Prevost, Robert Summerhalder, and Willie Sutton are the only ones with podiums to join the specialty numbered 55 car of Tardio. The number to reflect sponsor of both him and the speedway, Jim’s Market. Jim’s the main sponsor of the Speedways’ oldest annual race. The Jim’s 100 showcasing the best American classics from the entire region each year since 1999.
Pure Stocks will continue the 2-2 streak for divisions with Brad Hamer victorious both times with clean sweeps over the division each night. Defending Champion, Jeff Anderson currently sits 2nd in points with a podium finish. While young racer, Timber Blanchard, has found a way to wheel the #30 to a top 3 each event. Marcie Lowe is the final podium finisher to begin the year in the division.
The Checkered Flag Asphalt Stock Cars would kickoff their season on May 10th for Ladies Night. Defending Champion, Don Jenner, heard there was a challenger and he came ready to defend the Bullring. Defending IMCA Wild West Speedweek Champion, Chase Berkeley, made the 7-hour tow to join us and would duel with the track champion every race. Jenner would go 3 for 3 against Berkeley finding a way to win the heat, dash, and main event on the evening. Berkeley would finish in the number 2 spot, while Jeremy Brookshire found a step on the podium in 3rd. Sid Schott and Jason Johnson would round out the top 5.
The Open 4cyl and Micro 600R divisions would have one race May 3rd before taking the 10th off. Ryan Conroy would have a clean sweep to kick off the season. The closest hiccup to that achievement would almost come from his son. Riley Conroy. Riley led the majority of the trophy dash before giving it to his dad painfully a quarter track from the finish line that evening. Riley would also finish 2nd in the main with 2023 Champion Greg Davidson 3rd. Sam Richardson and Darrell Coles would round out the top 5. For the Micro 600R division it was a brand-new racer to victory lane for micro sprint racing. Arlington, Washington’s Hudson Little would pick up his first ever victory in the division via Clean Sweep. Clayton Turner would finish in 2nd with defending track champion, Lexi Myer, rounding out the podium in the main event. Jessie Henry and Ron Grimes would begin their seasons with top 5s.
Can the 2-2 streak continue for Stock Cars, Open 4cyl, and Micro 600R like it has the rest?