5/4/2026
Willamette Speedway
Tanner Stays Hot as Willamette Speedway Celebrates 60th Season in Style
Lebanon, OR
The engines are louder, the stakes feel higher, and the history runs deeper in 2026 as Willamette Speedway roars through its 60th Anniversary season, and Week 2 proved this milestone year is shaping up to be one to remember.
Adding to the excitement this season is the new partnership with NASCAR Weekly Racing Series, powered by O'Reilly Auto Parts. Since opening night, NASCAR representatives have been on-site, reinforcing the Speedway’s place on the national grassroots racing stage. Their presence hasn’t gone unnoticed, and fans and teams alike have embraced the added prestige and structure the sanctioning brings. Simply put, this is local racing with a big-league feel.
Week 2 also featured the inaugural Anderson Enterprises Graffiti Night, and it absolutely delivered. A wide array of polished hot rods and custom classics filled the grounds prior to the racing program, drawing admiration from fans young and old. The highlight? Several of those pristine machines rolled out onto the track for exhibition laps, giving the crowd a roaring blast from the past.
When the show turned serious, it was all business on the racetrack.
In Late Model action, Joey Tanner (46) continued his early-season dominance behind the wheel of the Darren Coffel-owned machine. Tanner’s night wasn’t without a touch of anxiety, as an on-track mix-up with Rob Mayea (37) sent Mayea to the rear of the field. From there, Tanner flipped the switch.
With early race leader Kye Frick (08) setting the pace, Tanner went on the hunt, methodically closing the gap before making the decisive move for the lead. Once out front, he looked untouchable, but a late-race surge from Eston Whisler (82) kept things interesting right down to the checkered flag. Tanner held firm, capturing yet another victory in impressive fashion.
The final rundown saw Tanner take the win, followed by Whisler in second. Frick settled for third after leading early, while the always-entertaining duo of Kyle and Cory Yeack (47 & 71), better known as the “Yeack Attack”, rounded out the top five with strong fourth- and fifth-place finishes.
In Limited Late Model action, it was more of the same up front as Clay Debban (75x) proved that opening night was no fluke. Behind the wheel of the Darrel Blanchard-owned machine, Debban made it two-for-two on the young season, putting together a dominant performance that saw him simply check out from the field and cruise to his second feature win.
Once Debban found his rhythm on the high side, the rest of the field was left battling for second. Frank Elwess (04) put together a strong and consistent run to bring home a well-earned second-place finish, while defending champion Chad Slover (43) showed why he’s still a title contender, working his way to third after a hard-fought night.
Ed Roles (33R) quietly pieced together a solid run to finish fourth, and veteran Dave Bennett rounded out the top five after staying out of trouble in a competitive field.
With Debban now two-for-two, the Limited Late Model division is already starting to feel the pressure because right now, the 75x machine looks like the one everyone’s chasing.
The Modifieds didn’t just race in Week 2, they delivered a full-on clay track grudge match, and it all started earlier in the night.
Jacob Shandy (73) fired the first shot by taking the heat race win over Carter Patterson (47), setting the tone and letting everyone know he came to play. But if that was a statement, Patterson made sure the main event was the response.
After settling for second the week before, Patterson rolled into the feature with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. He drove like a man possessed, smooth, aggressive, and completely locked in, working his way to the front and flipping the script when it counted most. By the time the checkered flag flew, Patterson had turned heat race defeat into feature race redemption, parking it right where it matters most, victory lane.
Shandy stayed right there in the fight, pushing Patterson every lap and coming away with a strong second-place finish after winning his heat earlier in the night. Kelly Williamson (M80) delivered a steady, consistent run to claim third, while Scott Lehman (54) battled his way to fourth in another hard-fought Modified main event.
Heat race bragging rights are nice, but Patterson made it clear: it’s the feature that pays the bills.
The Street Stocks kept the energy high and the action tight, delivering one of the most entertaining battles of the night.
Tyler Pagel (27T) rolled into Week 2 making his first appearance and he made the most of it. Pagel put together a smooth, calculated drive, keeping his nose clean while staying right where he needed to be as the race unfolded. When the opportunity opened up, he pounced, driving past last week’s winner Shane Phillips (14P) and never looking back on his way to the checkered flag.
Phillips, fresh off his Week 1 victory, wasn’t about to give it up easy. He stayed glued to Pagel’s bumper for much of the race, applying pressure lap after lap, but ultimately had to settle for a hard-fought second-place finish.
Behind them, veteran Brad Gentry (2G) showed why experience still matters, putting together a smart, consistent run to claim third. Ronnie Speelman (41) kept things competitive all night long to bring home fourth, while Mason Myers (27M) rounded out the top five after battling through a tough field.
The Hornets showed up with a strong and week two proved once again they know how to steal the spotlight, and this time, it was a one-man show with a side of absolute chaos.
Matthew Bangle (29) didn’t just have a good night, he had a perfect one. Bangle swept the entire program, from heat race to feature, and along the way he laid down a blistering new track record in qualifying with a lightning-fast 17.907 lap. That number alone had the pits buzzing, and once the green flag dropped, Bangle backed it up by leading the charge and never looking back.
Behind him, Jesse Shanklin (69) put together a strong run to finish second, while James Skeslien (97S) battled his way to third. Loran Hadley Jr. (73) crossed the line in fourth, and James Nagel (18) made the haul down from Vancouver, Washington and drove to a respectable fifth-place finish.
But the Hornets weren’t done entertaining.
Midway through the race, rookie Julie Benton gave the crowd a moment they won’t soon forget when she tangled with the infield tractor tire in an unexpected one-on-one showdown. The tire won the battle, tipping Benton’s car onto its side in a dramatic moment that brought out a quick caution. Thankfully, Benton climbed out okay, giving a thumbs-up to the crowd.
In true Hornet fashion, it was fast, unpredictable, and unforgettable, and with Bangle setting the bar sky-high, the rest of the field now knows exactly what they’re up against.
Track owner Cory Penfold couldn’t hide his excitement about how the 60th Anniversary season is shaping up, especially with the added NASCAR presence:
“This is exactly what we hoped for coming into our 60th year. The energy has been incredible, from the fans to the drivers to having NASCAR involved every week. It’s raised the level of competition, and you can feel it in every class. Week 2 really showed what this place is all about.”
Cory also gave a nod to the fans and the packed program:
“You had everything tonight, hot rods on display, tight racing, a little bit of chaos, and some dominant performances. That’s short track racing. That’s Willamette Speedway.”
Meanwhile, promoter Sandy highlighted the community atmosphere and the entertainment value of the night:
“Graffiti Night did not disappoint, and the fans really showed up for it. Seeing those cars on display and then out on the track was something special. And then the racing… it just kept delivering all night long.”
She also touched on the unpredictable nature of the evening:
“You can’t script nights like this. From track records to cars on their side to last-lap battles, it’s why people keep coming back. It’s exciting, it’s real, and it’s our racers putting it all out there.”
With Week 2 in the books, both Cory and Sandy made it clear, the 60th Anniversary season is already living up to the hype, and there’s a lot more still to come.
This week's racing action feature five of the six NASCAR sanctioned divisions on the card.
• Albany Toyota Late Models
• J&K Auto Body & Collision Street Stocks
• Cabinet Guys Limited Late Models
• KRKT Cricket Country Hornets
• Moxie Media Modifieds
Gates open at 4:00
Qualifying at 4:30
Racing at 6:00
Get your tickets in advance at www.willamettespeedway.com
We'll see you at the races!
Submitted By: Larry Adams