The Dwarf Car Nationals Return
To Southern Oregon Speedway This Weekend

White City, Oregon...The start of August signals the return of the Western States Dwarf Car Association Nationals at Southern Oregon Speedway. The event is hosted annually by the locally-based Southern Oregon Dwarf Car Association. It brings some of the best drivers from throughout the West Coast to one place to enjoy some great competition.

It was over 20 years ago when then NorCal Dwarf Car Association President Frank Munroe saw the potential for big Dwarf Car events. He chose Marysville Raceway in California as the first track, and within a couple of years, there were over 100 Dwarf Cars competing. As the years went on, new tracks were added to the series, and eventually Southern Oregon Speedway got one of these dates.

Within the last 10 years, the format was changed just a bit to make things more competitive within the different groups. The Pro Division was created, and it pitted the very best drivers from the various associations against each other. Generally speaking, this is the category that gets the most entries at every race.

The Veterans Division is for the drivers who are a bit older. Many of these drivers would do well in the Pro class, but they run with the veterans and have some very good races as well.

Then, you have the Sportsman Division. Some drivers might be a little intimidated going to a big event like the Nationals when they just get started driving a Dwarf Car. This category was created for the drivers with just a few years of experience.

The format puts the emphasis on Saturday night while making Friday important as well. Drivers will run their heat races on Friday as well as a Preliminary Feature. If car count dictates, there will also be B Main events. The Top 10 finishers in the Preliminary Feature then earn spots in Saturday's Fast Dash to determine the front rows of the Main Event. That number can be adjusted from 10 cars depending on car count.

On Saturday, in addition to the Fast Dash, the remaining drivers run heat races and B Mains before running the Main Event.

Last season saw about 70 competitors come in from throughout Oregon, California and Nevada. Through the years, some very good drivers from the Medford area have tried to win a Nationals race. Last year, an unlikely winner stepped forward to claim the prize. Just a year earlier, Cody Peters was winning a Preliminary Sportsman Main Event. Last year, he made a last turn pass on NorCal Champion Danny Wagner to steal the victory. It was his first start in the Pro Division. Kevin Bender won a very competitive Veteran's Main Event that night as well.

From Southern Oregon, stars such as Cody Peters and his two-time champion father Brock Peters, Camden Robustelli, Kalvin Morton, Chad Cardoza, Fred Hay, Ryan Smith and two-time champion Josh King will be on hand. Randy Slater will be competing as well, but the club president will also find himself organizing the after race banquet and keeping things going behind the scenes.

From outside of the state, such noteworthy competitors as Danny Wagner, Ryan Winter, Shawn Jones, Scott Dahlgren, Buddy Olschowka, Kevin Bender and Mike Reeder will be coming from the NorCal group. South Bay will be represented by such champions as Gene Punky Pires, Mark Biscardi and reigning SBDCA champion Cameron Diatte. Other noteworthy drivers from outside the state, such as champions Matt Sargent and John Isabella, are anticipated. There will also be stars coming in from the north, such as James Brinster, Ryan Martinez and Jake Van Ortwick.

Getting back to the local Southern Oregon group, the car count has grown this season in part due to the new drivers on the roster. This means the Sportsman division may see such locals as Joe Sanders, Andrew Hall and young up and comers Ashleigh Strain and Michael Johnson out there going for their first wins. Some of the best Southern Oregon racers, such as Brock Peters, Camden Robustelli and Kaycee Sheeler, got their first wins in the Sportsman Division.

On Friday night, the Dwarf Cars will be joined in support by the JOAT Labs Hornets. The Hornets are the entry-level class at Southern Oregon Speedway, and they have been having a wide-open battle all season long. 2016 champion Tim Hedges gained the point lead from his two time Main Event winning son Ashtin Hedges by winning the most recent Main Event. With three second place finishes in a row, Bree Tritchler is on the verge of victory, and other drivers to watch this week include Jason Stoutenburgh, Dylan Irving, Chris Boynton and Zach Nelson.

The Kendall Oil Winged Sprint Cars will be there on Saturday night, and David Hibbard is on fire this year. He has won all but one of the Main Events held so far as he continues to stretch his point lead. Jeffrey Hudson and rookie Blaine Cory are on the verge of victory and providing Hibbard with his closest competition in the standings so far. David's son Bailey Hibbard is the only other driver to win a Main Event, but racers such as Charlie Thompson, Enrique Jaime and Aaron Miller will be out there giving it their best.

Rounding out Saturday's program will be the Valley Store All Late Model Lite. With three feature wins so far, Charlie Eaton is the point leader. He's getting pressure from one time winner Greg Arnold in the championship battle. However, 2016 champion Lee Doty and reigning champion Bob Burkett are shaking things up with second place finishes in recent weeks. The cars are fast and the competition is close.

Gates open at 5 p.m. on both nights with the first race scheduled to start at 7 p.m. General Admission for Friday is $12 with Seniors, Veterans and Juniors (7 to 12) $6. Children 6 and under are free. On Saturday, General Admission is $15 with Seniors, Veterans and Juniors (7 to 12) $10. Children 6 and under are free.

Dwarf Car Nationals Finale Top 5’s Since 2009
Pro       First                  Second             Third                Fourth                      Fifth
2009    Brian Quilty     Kevin Bender     Ryan Winter      Henry Corbin III         Patrick Weger
2010    Monte Morris    Ryan Winter     Patrick Weger      Gene Pires Jr.        Chance Damron
2011    Ronnie Williams    Ryan Diatte    Michael Grenert    Ryan Winter        Henry Corbin III
2012    Shawn Jones    Cameron Diatte    Ronnie Williams    C.J. Putnam        Ryan Diatte
2013    Ryan Winter    Josh King             Gene Pires Jr.       Michael Grenert        Shawn Jones
2014    Shawn Jones    C.J. Putnam         Ronnie Williams    Matt Sargent        Ryan Diatte
2015    Shawn Jones    Josh King            Joe Frock            Matt Sargent        Ronnie Williams
2016    Shawn Jones    Josh King           Gene Pires          Danny Wagner        John Isabella
2017    Cody Peters    Danny Wagner     Chad Matthias    Brock Peters        John Isabella

Vet.      First                   Second                Third                 Fourth              Fifth
2009    Kelly Gutches    Terry Kendrick    Stanley Meeks    Ted Stinson        Chuck Conover
2010    Kelly Gutches    Dan Van Acker    Mike Miller      Scott Dahlgren        Fred Hay
2011    Kelly Gutches    Fred Hay             Neil Stinson    Henry Corbin III        Leroy Kay
2012    Gilbert Toste    Kevin Bender      Kelly Gutches    Jerry Hauck        Don Mortensen
2013    Kevin Bender    Fred Hay            Dan Van Acker    Kelly Gutches        Mike Miller
2014    Kelly Gutches    Fred Hay            Kevin Bender    Angel Figueroa        Buddy Olschowka
2015    Angel Figueroa    Scott Dahlgren    Gary Tow Sr.    Buddy Olschowka    Jerry Hauck
2016    Tim Fitzpatrick    Kevin Miraglio    Scott Dahlgren    Mark Biscardi        Kevin Bender  
2017    Kevin Bender    Jack Haverty       Kevin Miraglio    Scott Dahlgren        Mark Biscardi

Sports.    First                  Second             Third                 Fourth                Fifth
2009    R.J. McGahuey    Chris Thresher    Dean Pires        Glen Perry          Jason Bartholomew
2010    Henry Corbin II    John Chrisman    Cecilia Dille    Igor Gradziuk       Mason Lewman
2011    Cecilia Dille         Brock Peters      Henry Corbin II    John Chrisman   Alicia Youngblood
2012    Brock Peters        Dylan Chrisman    Michael Quilty    Hannah Mayhew  Jeff Fitch
2013    Kaycee Sheeler    Tom Fitch           Randy Slater        Dylan Chrisman        Dan Geil
2014    Camden Robustelli    Kalvin Morton    Jesse Lorenz    Adam Teves        Sam Bender
2015    Joey Dale            Jesse Lorenz        Rob Gergel          Chris Kenner        Cody Peters
2016    Ben Wiesz           Cody Peters       Kyle Jones           Ken Radabaugh        Tim Reeder
2017    Josh Wiesz           Teagon Fisher    Clayton Parsons    Chris Wright        Travis Gergel