September 24th Championship Night Next For Sunset Speedway Park presented by Finishline Graphics
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Photo Hill)
Banks, Oregon- The 2016 season comes down to one last race. Sunset Speedway Park hosts the final round of action Saturday, September 24th and will crown the latest crop of champions. Classes in action include the Northwest Extreme Late Model Series, Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, Bridgeport Logistics Street Stocks, IMCA Sport Mods, Pure Stocks, and 4-Bees.
The Northwest Extreme Late Model Series has had seven races at SSP this year. Joey Tanner has three victories while Jerry Schram, Jason Johnson, Greg Walters, and Collen Winebarger have scored a single triumph. John Gamell has a paper thin three-point advantage over Jason Johnson.
The Budweiser IMCA Modifieds have seen an incredible number of different winners all year long. But, Craig Cassell is the only driver to park it in the winner’s circle more than once. Cassell has three wins while Bubba Foster, John Campos, Kenny Miller, Jerry Schram, Collen Winebarger, Kyle Yeack, and Kellen Chadwick are single race victors. The title is still up for grabs with defending champion Craig Cassell trying to keep back Bubba Foster. These two drivers had a similar close points battle at Willamette Speedway in 2013.
The same case can be made in the Bridgeport Logistics Street Stocks. Arnie Case has been the dominant force in the class. He has put together an amazing seven-win season at the “Banks Bullring”. Doug Pitsch, Benny Sauter, Joey Tardio, Travis Koch, Chris West, and Roger Hubbard are one-time winners. Arnie Case looks to make it official once the racing is done as his lead over second place Justen Case, his son, is a staggering two-hundred-sixty-one.
In the IMCA Sport Mods, there has been an entertaining see-saw battle in the win column between two drivers. John Henry and Michael Melton hold the top two spots in the points chart with Henry winning four times and Melton grabbing three trophies. Chris Frisbie is the only other feature winner with one trip to victory lane. John Henry has mathematically secured the championship with is sixty-six point difference over Michael Melton.
In Pure Stocks, Trevor LaBarge looks for yet another title. LaBarge has gotten the job done six times when it comes to main events. But Joey Tardio is still the only driver to beat him this year and has done so twice. Trevor LaBarge has a massive one-hundred-ninety-two point lead over second place Kendall Lee.
Tylor Owen has been a dominant force in the 4-Bee ranks. Owen has seven wins in 2016 and is coming off of the Sunset/River City 4-Bee Challenge title a few weeks ago. “Maverick” Cody Jone, William Wolfe, and Danny Asher have one win to their credit as well. Rob Ferree is hoping to win the title and leads Tylor Owen by seventeen markers.
Pit Gates on Saturday will open at 2:00 PM, Front Gates open at 4:00, and racing starts at 6:30. Tickets for this event are Adults $13.00, Seniors/Military/Juniors (13-18) $10.00, Youths (Ages 12-6) $5.00, and Children under the age of 5 are FREE and a family pass will be offered for two Adults and up to four Youths for just $35.00. For more information, log on to www.sunsetspeedwaypark.com.