Photo Credit: Steve Curtis/RaceImages.net

LEBANON, Ore. -- Mark Wauge won the thrilling USRA Modified feature on Saturday, May 19, at the Willamette Speedway to earn his first career victory at the historic oval. The driver from the southern Oregon town of Jacksonville took the lead on lap six after a restart to lead the rest of the distance in the Skinner Autoplex Special/Rodgers Racing Engines #1M Loose Gruff. It marked the first race of the season at the Lebanon track which has lost quite a few events due to the weather.

Albany’s Craig Cassell was the early race leader, in his Esterlee Motel/Mid Valley Farms #25 Rocket, from the initial start but lost it on a restart to Scott Byrum of Lebanon in the #34 Western Metal Fab/Tobber who in turn lost the lead to Dayton driver Bubba Foster in the Alien Race Cars/Busy B Cleaning #68 on the following restart. A total of five cautions occurred throughout the course of the race and concluded with a green-white-checker finish.

Mark Wauge, the five-time Southern Oregon Speedway Modified champion, added to his three wins accumulated in 2012 including two at his home track down south. The Esterlee Motel/TR Points #3 Trakstar Race Cars entry of Justin Dittman from Albany finished second and appeared to be gaining ground on Wauge but the leader mastered the final restart. Bubba Foster finished in third place while Robert Hoefs in the Newport Candy Shoppe #57 BMS from Newport was fourth and Gresham driver Trent Croy completed the top five in his John’s Frame Shop/Pro Built Chassis #4.

Mark Wauge was fastest in qualifications with a time of 16.006 seconds and Craig Hanson in the Virgil Hanson Automotive Machine/Larry Shaw Race Cars #33C won the trophy dash. Heat race winners that evening were Craig Cassell, Lebanon’s Justin Evans in the Albie’s Medical Transport/X-Factor Race Cars #17, and Mark Wauge.

The USRA Modifieds will be back in action at the Willamette Speedway this Saturday and Sunday, May 26-27 for the Clair Cup.

For more information log on to the track website at www.trophymotorsports.com.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

OFFICIAL RESULTS
American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series
Willamette Speedway, Lebanon, Ore.
Saturday, May 19, 2012

USRA MODIFIEDS

Fast Time: Mark Wauge, 16.006 seconds.

Trophy Dash: Craig Hanson.

Heat race winners: Craig Cassell, Justin Evans, Mark Wauge.

Main Event: 1. Mark Wauge, 2. Justin Dittman, 3. Bubba Foster, 4. Robert Hoefs, 5. Trent Croy, 6. Craig Cassell, 7. Jeffrey Rivers, 8. Curt Coggins, 9. John Campos, 10. Craig Hanson, 11. Scott Byrum, 12. Jonathan Lewis, 13. Dustin Dittman, 14. Brett James, 15. Tom Yeack, 16. Phil Robinson, 17. Kyle Yeack, 18. Justin Evans, 19. Jesse Williamson, 20. Les Williamson.

Lap leaders: Cassell 1-3, Byrum 4, Foster 5, Wauge 6-15.