Lenz, Ford, Whitaker Celebrate Christmas In July inYreka

Yreka, CA...July 21...Racing returned to Siskiyou Motor Speedway on Saturday night with a special Christmas in July event. This included Free Ride Alongs for the kids in the race cars and special gifts for the Junior Racing Club members. Feature wins were recorded by Dr Scott Lenz, Jimmy Ford and Mike Whitaker.

Scott Lenz picked up the win in the 30 lap Calculated Comfort Outlaw Pro Stock Main Event. This was his third win of the season in Yreka and his fifth victory of the year. Matt Harlow charged into the lead at the start ahead of Phil Pipgras. Lenz was already in fifth from his last starting spot on lap four, and he passed Bryan Hammond for fourth on lap five before the first of two caution flags in the race. Harlow led Pipgras on the restart as Lenz moved past Scott Flowers for third. Lenz made an inside pass on the backstretch to take second from Pipgras on lap seven and made an inside pass in Turn 3 on lap eight to grab the lead. Once Lenz got in front, he was never seriously threatened. 2016 champion Steve Borror made his move into second during the second half of the race, taking the runner-up position from Harlow on a lap 14 restart. However, Lenz set a rapid pace in winning by a straightaway, followed by Borror, Flowers, Harlow, Johnny Cobb, John David Duffie, Hammond, Dean Hackworth, Tom Hackworth and Pipgras. This was a clean sweep effort for Lenz as he won the four lap Trophy Dash and his eight lap heat race. Borror was the other heat winner.

Driving for Marty Burdine, Jimmy Ford made a charge from the back of the pack to win the 20 lap IMCA Sport Modified Main Event. Ford is now the ninth different winner in ten races. Rookie Ethan Killingsworth charged into the lead at the start and set a rapid pace up front. Ford made a front stretch pass on Gary Foster on lap six. Ford made a back stretch pass on point leader Trevor Tiffee for second on lap 14. Moments later, a caution flag flew. Ford enjoyed a side-by-side battle with Killingsworth for the next two laps before moving ahead with an inside pass in Turn 4. Ford brought it home to victory, with Killingsworth in close pursuit in second. Tiffee settled for third, followed by Ryder Boswell, Foster, Randy Wright and Richard Vanderploeg. Killingsworth won his eight lap heat race, and Ford claimed four lap Trophy Dash honors.

"Magic" Mike Whitaker picked up his first 20 lap Mini Stock Main Event win of the season. Whitaker enjoyed a battle of the two-time champions with current point leader Marilyn Yawnick in close pursuit. Yawnick made many attempts during the later stages of the race to get underneath Whitaker for the lead. However, he kept his cool and brought it home to a satisfying victory. Yawnick settled for second, and rookie Darek Alford enjoyed his best finish of the year with a strong third. Michael McLeod, Terry Kendrick and Zac McMurray rounded out the finishing order. Alford captured his first career Trophy Dash win, and Yawnick won the eight lap heat race.

With the Siskiyou County Fair coming up, the next race on the big track won't be until September 8th with a lineup that will include a non-point race for the IMCA Sport Modifieds, Mini Stocks, Outlaw Open Comp cars and the Calculated Comfort Outlaw Pro Stocks. For further information, go to www.siskiyoumotorspeedway.com.