8/20/2024
Southern Oregon Speedway
James Wins $5,500 Rayburn Classic On Last Lap Pass; Braaten Collects $3,069 For The Melvin Clash At Southern Oregon To Earn 100th Win
James Wins $5,500 Rayburn Classic On Last Lap Pass; Braaten Collects $3,069 For The Melvin Clash At Southern Oregon To Earn 100th Win
(Photo Courtesy of Shadows Of Light Photography)
White City, Oregon (August 16th, 2024)—After a chess match in lapped traffic, Bricen James, in the S.D.M.F. Race Cars house car, methodically used a lapped car as a pick on the final circuit of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified finale for the $5,500 to win Rayburn Classic to achieve the trophy by a mere 0.060 seconds after starting from eighth. The race ran in tribute to the late legend Bruce "The Rabbit" Rayburn, was sponsored by Jahnke Heating & Air. James, from Albany, is now the first repeat winner of the event's three-year history and earned his tenth win of 2024 in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region.
The forty-lap main event kicked off with Nick Trenchard seizing the lead after a brief tussle with Craig Cassell. Cassell's slight misstep in turn four on the second circuit created an opening for Trenchard to pull away. It also allowed Grey Ferrando and Ian Whisler to slip past him, for second and third, in a thrilling start to the race.
As Trenchard surged ahead of the pack, James made his move around lap four, skillfully maneuvering his way around Whisler to secure the third position. A fierce battle for second ensued between Ferrando and James in lapped traffic, showcasing the strategic prowess of the racers.
Before long, Ferrando, Whisler, and James duked it out for second with James getting the position on lap twenty-one. James set sail to track down Trenchard for the lead as Ferrando and Whisler continued to slug it out for third, with Whisler securing the position on the twenty-sixth trip around the 3/8-mile oval.
As the race entered its final stages, James closed in on Trenchard. The battle for the lead intensified in the last ten laps, with both racers utilizing different lines. On the last lap, Trenchard's progress was hindered by a lapped car, creating an opening for James to pass him on the backstretch.
Trenchard managed to get beside James in turn four, and the two drag-raced to the finish line, with James edging him out by a few inches.
Trenchard was a respectable second, and the teenager Whisler earned third.
The only other Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly class on the card was the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods for the $3,069 to win Dwayne Melvin Clash, presented by Gage It Construction, ran in tribute to the former track champion who tragically passed away in 2021. Jordan Braaten was the one to accomplish the victory, his first at the event, and his third victory of 2024. It was also remarkable as the Central Point chauffeur earned his 100th career victory.
Like the IMCA Modifieds, the IMCA Northern SportMods battled it out for forty laps. Trevor Points paced the field in the early goings, only for Ryan Peery to procure the position on lap three with a pass out of the fourth corner.
A trio of cautions bogged down the race before the eighth circuit could be completed. On the restart, the front three runners separated from the main body, and the race stayed green for quite some time.
Peery hit lapped traffic on lap fifteen, and three laps later, Braaten got around Points for second. As Peery got through the congestion, it looked like he would go on to win, but a late caution came out to shake things up.
The yellow flag would be on display on the thirty-third circuit bunching the field up. Braaten pounced on the opportunity to challenge for the lead when things got back underway. The chance to overtake came on lap thirty-six when Braaten successfully lunged under and passed Peery. At the same time, Ethan Killingsworth got third from Points just before another caution came out.
Peery tried his best to reclaim the top position but got too high in the turns three and four and got into the wall bringing out the final stoppage before the checkered flag waved.
Braaten and Killingsworth battled it out on the green-white-checkered finish when the green banner was presented for the final time. Starting the race eighth, Braaten successfully navigated the bottom of the racing surface to hold on for the win.
Killingsworth and Matt Sanders were second and third, and both recovered nicely after going to the back earlier in the main event.
Also in action were the Coors Light Silver Bullett I-5 Late Model Series and Mini Stocks. James doubled his winning account on the night by winning the Late Model feature, and Cameron Bogart outlasted the competition to win the Mini Stocks.
California veteran Richard Papenhausen was initially the leader of the Late Model feature, but Jimmy Whisler motored around him via the high side of turn four to pace the field on the opening lap. Whisler remained in control of the position before he was challenged by Joey Tanner, in the Darren Coffell-owned car. Tanner got around Whisler on lap eight.
Four cautions were to be had in the race's first half, but the critical stoppage was the fifth and final yellow with seven circuits to go, just as James was pressuring in traffic. When the green light came on for the last time, James powered his way past Tanner on lap thirty-five. The Schram Motorsports entry stayed ahead to score the victory.
Tanner held on to second after successfully holding back the other Schram Motorsports entry piloted by Collen Winebarger.
Eagle Point youngster Cameron Bogart moved into first place in the beginning of the Mini Stock main and stayed there the whole time.
Marilyn Yawnick and David Marble were second and third in the finishing order.
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Submitted By: Ben Deatherage
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