Orland Raceway Holds Successful Playday

Orland, CA...With all of the rain falling during the week leading up to the scheduled playday at Orland Raceway, promoter Rich Hood made a decision on Friday to move the playday to Sunday afternoon. The result was a turnout of roughly 30 racers to get laps on the 1/5 mile dirt oval.

Drivers encompassing all of the track's regular divisions, Pure Stocks, Mini Stocks, Mini Trucks, Micro Sprints and Wingless Gas Sprints, made laps. Also taking advantage of the opportunity to practice were several racers from the California Hardtop Association and the B Modified division. The latter two divisions have each been booked for two special visits.

It's been about eight years since Orland Raceway had Modifieds on the track. About a half a dozen drivers came for the special race back in 2010. On Sunday, 2016 Yreka champion Jimmy Lipke and Justin Faux made their very first laps on the track. Both remarked that they enjoyed the practice and look forward to coming back later this season. Faux was testing his brand new race car. Also making practice laps was another Yreka area competitor, Trevor Tiffee.

When both of the California Hardtop racing events were rained out at Chico and Marysville last weekend, several of their competitors decided to come to Orland to practice for their two upcoming events. Leading the charge were Ken Clifford, Joe Shenefield, Joe Hopp, Roger MacShain and Larry Wells. Wells purchased his car during the offseason and was making his first laps. The California Hardtop drivers remarked after their visit last season about how much they enjoyed racing at Orland.

Several Pure Stock competitors took advantage of the opportunity to give their cars shakedown runs, including 2017 champion Jeremy Langenderfer and runner-up Shannon Collins. A field of about ten drivers from this division were making their practice in anticipation of the season opener on April 28th.

Reigning Mini Stock champion Tom Davis and reigning Mini Truck champion Keith Ross we're both in attendance among a group of roughly a dozen competitors combined in the two groups. Several Micro Sprint and Wingless Gas Sprint racers made laps, including multi-time Wingless Sprint Car champion Josh Jacobo.

The racers can hardly wait for the season to begin. If weather permits, there will be another practice on April 21st before the season opener, which will feature Pure Stocks, Mini Stocks, Mini Trucks, Wingless Gas Sprints and Micro Sprints. For further information, go to www.orlandraceway.org or look the track up on another site.