New winners At Orland Raceway

Orland, CA...July 15...Racing resumed at Orland Raceway with a Friday night event. It was Round #5 of the scheduled ten race season, but there is word of Promoter Rich Hood potentially adding a race or two and possibly adding divisions to some of the dates. On Friday night, Keith Ross won his first Mini Truck Main Event of the season, while Shannon Collins was the fifth different winner in five Hobby Stock races. Donovan Chilton won his second Mini Stock Main Event while Skyler Richter won the 600 Mini Sprint race ahead of reining champion Jeromie Crismon. The Local Girl Scout Troop, Daisy Troop #70359, was on hand to sell cookies and raise funds for their group. The girls also served as trophy kids for the night.


Since winning the Mini Truck championship last year, Keith Ross has struggled this season to get a win. A week earlier, he broke through to score a $500 victory in a race at Hayfork Speedway. On Friday night, he battled two time winner Dan Webster to get the victory. Webster beat Ross to win the heat race, but Ross was not to be denied the Main Event win. Webster was a strong second ahead of past champion Ross Vige, two time winner Olin Crane, William Fogle, Leroy Beck and Nathan Skaggs.


It seems like Steve Martin may not be winning all the Hobby Stock races this year, but the winners have to go through him to get the victory. One time winner Jeremy Langenderfer held off Martin to win the heat race. Shannon Collins was third in points last year, and he's competing for the Marysville championship this season. Friday night gave him an opportunity to come back to Orland, and he would battle Martin to become the fifth different winner of the season. Martin settled for another second ahead of Langenderfer, Cody Bundy and Mike Gomez.


Donovan Chilton had a great night in Mini Stocks, which started when he held off the Hornet of Dustin Hills to win his heat race. Jeff Bennett won the other heat ahead of Eric Hammond. Hills was feeling pretty racey in his Hornet, but Chilton came to win. Two races ago, he won for the first time this season, and Chilton returned to the winner's circle once more. Hills settled for a season best second ahead of past champion John Kirkpatrick. Bennett placed fourth ahead of previous winner Robert Hunt, Hammond and Seth Libbee.


Results are still forthcoming from the July 2nd event, but winners according to pictures were Skyler Richter (600 Mini Sprints), Andrew Love, (250 Karts), Brad Ray (Hobby Stocks), Dan Webster (Mini Trucks) and Robert Hunt (Mini Stocks). We're still working on getting more details. Racing resumes on Saturday, July 30th, with the regular divisions back in action. For further information, go to www.orlandraceway.org.