Collins First Repeat Hobby Stock Winner At Orland Raceway

Orland, CA...July 30...Orland Raceway closed the month of July with another four division program on the one-fifth mile dirt oval, and some familiar names returned to the winner's circle. Shannon Collins won his second straight 20 lap Hobby Stock Main Event to become the first repeat winner in the class. Dan Webster gained significant ground in the Mini Truck championship battle with his third win of the season, while Tom Davis also won his third Mini Stock Main Event of the year. Reigning 600 Micro Sprint champion Jeromie Crismon won their 20 lap Main Event.


Point leader Steve Martin opened the evening with another eight lap heat race win over reigning 250 Kart champion Jess Garland. Martin only has the one feature win this season, but he has been the model of consistency. To win at Orland, you have to go through him to do it. Shannon Collins cleared a path and won another battle with Martin for his second straight feature triumph. Martin settled for his division leading fourth second place finish ahead of Garland, newcomer Amanda Koop and Cody Bundy.


Despite missing the opener, Dan Webster has been gaining steady ground on point leader William Fogle in the Mini Truck division. Webster battled reigning champion Keith Ross all night, starting with his win in the eight lap heat race. Ross has things dialed in much better lately, but he was still no match for Webster in the Main Event as Webster won for the third time this year. Rich Hood made his first start of the season with a nice third place finish ahead of point leader William Fogle, who leads Webster by just ten points in the championship battle. Brent Allinger finished fifth ahead of Jeremy Callen and Jeff Bennett.


After winning the first two races of the season in the Mini Stock class, Tom Davis disappeared. He recently resurfaced at Susanville, where he was Main Event winner. Davis returned to Orland and won his heat race ahead of point leader John Kirkpatrick. Davis continued that momentum with his third Main Event win ahead of title contender Robert Hunt. Barbara Crane took the wheel of the team's #23 car that had been piloted by Jeff Bennett this season and drove to a solid third place finish ahead of Steven Spears, Kirkpatrick and Seth Libbee.


The 600 Micro Sprint action found Rick Gutzke winning the eight lap heat race ahead of point leaer Jeromie Crismon. Crismon won the battle with Gutzke for the Main Event victory. 2500 Kart point leader Andrew Love was third as Rick Alonzo was a feature scratch.


Saturday night, August 13th is the Thomas Schmite Memorial Race. Thomas was a beloved Orland resident who lost his fight with cancer in 2010. He left behind a daughter, Lexi, who was only two years old at the time. Every year, the family holds a fund raising event in his honor where they give back to the community. The Schmitke Memorial has donated to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Fight for Chris, Prayers for Paislee and Ty Roenspie. Divisions on the card this week include the Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks, Mini Trucks and 600 and 250 Micros. For further information, check out www.orlandraceway.org.