Superman Collen Winebarger Looking For Success At 2016 Wild West Modified Shootout
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Collen Winebarger Racing)
Corbett, Oregon- 2016 has been a sensational year for Collen Winebarger. The second-generation Corbett, Oregon driver is coming off of a huge victory at the NAPA Auto Parts Strawberry Cup in his Late Model at Willamette Speedway as well as the Bill Mills Memorial Modified event at Madras Speedway in early May. The Discount Race Car Parts/Crocker’s Cars/GO Plumbing & Heating, Frisbie Motorsports/Sweere Trucking/BSB Manufacturing #S Victory Circle is on the hunt for success against some of the best IMCA Modified drivers in the western United States at this year’s Wild West Modified Shootout.
“It’s been a pretty good year so far,” said Winebarger, “when we got back from Arizona we got pretty busy and I wasn’t really ready for the racing around here. I honestly was kind of disappointed in the first few weeks but we figured some things out and our Modified program is pretty solid.”
Winebarger would win the IMCA Modified portion of the Season Opener at Cottage Grove Speedway on April 9th, then picked up another victory at Willamette Speedway on May 7th, won the finale of the Bill Mills Memorial in Central Oregon on the 14th of May, and found success on May 28th at Sunset Speedway Park in the first night of their Spring Challenge. He has two wins in five starts in his Late Model including the second night of the Spring Challenge at Sunset as well as the aforementioned Strawberry Cup triumph on June 4th. With so much success early in the year it will interesting to see how well he does.
“Just about a week before the Bill Mills race we stumbled on some good stuff with our setup. I’m really excited about this week because I’ve won at every track but Yreka. I think once we leave Medford and Yreka we will really have a good week since I’m really familiar with the rest of the tracks.”
The 2015 Wild West Modified Shootout would not be the greatest of outings for Collen. In the first night at Willamette he would spin while leading but would completely redeem himself by winning the following night for his one and only Wild West Modified Shootout victory.
“Last year was the worst week of my whole career but I’m thankful that it ended with the biggest win of my career. I’m really looking forward to the week.”
Collen Winebarger is the two-time and defending Willamette Speedway track champion. He also would win the 2015 Oregon State championship with IMCA and was at the top of the points table for the inaugural Northwest Modified Cup.
Be sure and check out the latest news and information regarding the Wild West Modified Shootout by visiting the series Facebook page and clicking “Like”. We will try our best on posting lineups, results, stories, and more throughout the course of the week.
2016 Wild West Modified Shootout Schedule:
Saturday June 11th Southern Oregon Speedway White City, OR
Sunday June 12th Siskiyou Motor Speedway Yreka, CA
Monday June 13th Cottage Grove Speedway Cottage Grove, OR
Tuesday June 14th Cottage Grove Speedway Cottage Grove, OR
Wednesday June 15th Willamette Speedway Lebanon, OR
Thursday June 16th Travel Day/Appreciation Party At Sunset Speedway Park presented by FinishLine Graphics
Friday June 17th Sunset Speedway Park Banks, OR
Saturday June 18th Grays Harbor Raceway Elma, WA
Former Wild West Modified Shootout Champions:
2015- Jesse Williamson
2014- Alex Stanford
2013- Jesse Williamson
2012- Jesse Williamson
2011- Brian Poppa
Wild West Modified Shootout All-Time Win List (2011-15):
Jesse Williamson- 9
Alex Stanford- 6
Brian Poppa- 4
Travis Peery- 2
Ken Schrader
Mark Carrell- 1
Braedon Hand
Scott Lenz
Brad Martin
Nick Trenchard
Mark Wauge
Collen Winebarger