---

Joey Tanner Poised to Defend 2025 Championship as NASCAR Era Begins at Willamette

LEBANON, OR —
Joey Tanner is locked in and ready to defend his 2025 Willamette Speedway track championship. Fresh off his fifth career title, the Troutdale resident has set his sights even higher for the 2026 season as the pilot of the Darren Coffell-owned #46 Rocket Chassis, backed by Driving Force Graphics, Eastside Paving, Pub Light, and BioMed.

Tanner delivered a masterclass in dominance during the 2025 season, collecting 13 feature wins in just 15 starts at the "fastest one-third mile dirt track on the West Coast." The partnership with Darren Coffell has proven to be a career-defining move for Tanner, who balances a demanding travel schedule with a young family to help maintain the team's two-car stable in Bend, Oregon.
"It’s a big commitment, especially with two kids under four years old," said Tanner. "Driving for Darren has been a real blessing. We’re both excited to run for the inaugural NASCAR track championship, as well as the state, regional, and national titles. We know the competition at Willamette is fierce, so we have to be on our A-game every single night."

A Legacy in the Making
With his 2025 performance, Tanner joined an elite "short list" of drivers with at least five titles at the historic venue. He now chases the records of regional legends like Trevor Glaser (seven titles) and Don Wilson (seven titles), the first to ever claim seven championships, and Rob Mayea, who owns five titles as well.

The Tanner/Coffell duo brings a combined nine championships to the dirt this year. Following a high-profile appearance at the Gateway Nationals in St. Louis, the team is shifting its full focus to:
NASCAR Weekly Racing Series (Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts)
I-5 Silver Bullet Series (Defending 2025 Champion)
Season Opener: The Dirty Diamond 60
The quest for a back-to-back title begins this Saturday, April 18th, at the season-opening Dirty Diamond 60. This event marks a historic milestone as the first green flag to fly at Willamette Speedway under the official NASCAR banner.

Event Schedule – Saturday, April 18:

Back to News