8/2/2024
Southern Oregon Speedway
Boardman, Killingsworth, Fuller, And D. Medeiros Gain SOS Wins At Finish Line Real Estate Night
Boardman, Killingsworth, Fuller, And D. Medeiros Gain SOS Wins At Finish Line Real Estate Night
By Ben Deatherage
White City, Oregon—Southern Oregon Speedway hosted Finish Line Real Estate Night on Saturday, July 27th, and it was a night full of exciting action. Divisions on the card included the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, Mini Stocks, and Kona Bento Sport Compacts.
The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds race was a thrilling affair, with Central Point regular Manny Freeman initially taking the lead. The race saw a change in leadership, on lap two, as Medford motorist Monte Bischoff overtook Freeman. A fierce battle for second place ensued between Junior Boardman and Ray Kniffen Jr., adding to the excitement of the race with Kniffen eventually securing second.
It would be a short time later before Boardman, of Central Point, came back in the picture and got around Kniffen for the runner-up position. Things got spicy for third as Kniffen tried to fend off the seasoned veterans in Mark Wauge and Travis Peery. Catastrophe nearly struck when, on the eleventh circuit, Kniffen almost got into the wall, allowing Medford's Wauge to perform the overtake for third. Peery, making the journey from Yreka, California, tried to take evasive action but would briefly bang wheels with Kniffen. Thankfully, both parties were able to continue without any further issues.
On lap fourteen, Boardman's relentless effort to find the best racing line paid off, as he caught up with the leader, Bischoff. Despite a near-miss with the fence, Boardman regrouped, chased down Bischoff agian, and executed a daring pass on the outside line to take the lead on the eighteenth lap.
Once in the lead, Boardman took the torch and ran away with it. The third-place starter would go on to an incredibly emotional win, his first of the season and in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Bischoff and Wauge were second and third. Kniffen held on to fourth, and Freeman bounced back into the Top 5 to finish fifth.
When the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod finale commenced, Ty Williams, from Tulelake, California, capitalized on the initial green to grab the lead. He has his hands full when Butte Falls driver Daniel Taylor and Ryder Boswell of Yreka, California. Taylor powered his way around Williams to pace the field on the second lap with a fast Boswell in tow.
But around that time, a new threat emerged: Ethan Killingsworth. The Yreka, California gasser powered his way to third on the fourth circuit, dispatched Boswell for the runner-up position the next time around, and, on lap six, executed an incredible move outside the final corner to procure the race lead.
Also representing Yreka, Ryan Peery showed some spirit when he powered his way into second with eight laps completed. Killingsworth, who began the race seventh, was lights out fast, and despite hitting lapped traffic just past the midway point, he secured a dominating win with a margin of 7.131 seconds. It is the tenth time he has bested the competition in 2024 and the third occasion at SOS.
Peery was second, and the battle for third was entertaining. Landyn Philpott, of La Pine, grabbed the position on the eleventh trip past the flag stand but had to withstand several challenges. Brookings' Matt Sanders ended the race fourth, followed by Boswell in fifth.
Medford's Taylor Fuller took control of the lead on the opening lap of the Mini Stock main event. A couple of laps later, Fuller had issues and lost the top spot to Cameron Bogart of Eagle Point after losing some speed in the second corner. The same thing happened to Boggart in the second corner when fellow Eagle Pointer Trenton Breshears motored his way around him, only for Breshears to have an identical issue in turn four. Jim Wooldridge, also from EP, became the new trailblazer.
Shortly after the race's first restart, on the fifth circuit, Fuller got back to the front. Fuller held on the rest of the way despite many stoppages. It is his second win of 2024.
Wooldridge was second, followed by Marilyn Yawnick, from Yreka, California, in third. Medford motorists Dawn Rich and Wayne Cahill were fourth and fifth.
The Kona Bento Sport Compacts started with David Medeiros taking the initiative and jetting in front of the rest of the pack. The White City warrior tried to separate from the rest of the field but could not build a massive lead.
However, one thing that did remain the same was that he retained the top spot despite a couple of challenges at certain points of the race. Medeiros was first to the checkers to secure his third campaign win.
From White City, Jim Medeiros was a close second, with Medford's Bryce Barnes grabbing third. White City runners representing the House of Medeiros were fourth and fifth, with Andrew and Cristian.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage