PORTLAND, Oregon — Joey Tanner has been away from Yakima Speedway long enough and is using this weekend’s Fall Classic super late model event as motivation to return to Central Washington and defend the biggest win of his short asphalt driving career.
With several tough outings on the asphalt tracks of the Northwest earlier this season, Tanner returned to his roots and ran across the region in his dirt late model. Those starts produced success but also provided plenty of motivation to get his No. 36 Jody’s Bar & Grill Chevrolet ready for the opportunity to defend his win in the prestigious Fall Classic.
“I wouldn’t say we have more confidence (having success over the summer with the dirt late model), but it does help heading into the Fall Classic.
Running on dirt most of the year has made me more anxious to get back in the seat on the asphalt and I am very confident I will be able to return to my highest level of driving,” Tanner said.
Some changes to the team including new insight from atop the pit box can only build the Engage Pure Adrenalin pit crew’s confidence, he added.
BJ Tidrick had guided Tanner’s foray into asphalt racing but with Tanner returning to dirt Tidrick went in another direction. As the Fall Classic approaches Tanner has found solid leadership from one of the West Coast’s premier chassis tuners-Travis Bennett of Short Track Enterprises.
“We made the switch over from the Tidrick’s to STE and Travis for this race. I have known Travis for many years and he and his team at Short Track Enterprises are preparing the car as we speak,” Tanner explained.
“Considering their background with all the success they’ve had with different race teams and drivers I know we’ll have a very good car for the weekend.
“It’s always tough to switch mid-season with the crew but we’re all moving forward and we all want to make it back-to-back Fall Classic championships.”
Having STE behind his efforts means a clean slate entering the famed half-mile’s signature event.
“Travis and his guys have put their touches on the car so it won’t be the same No. 36 that has run at Yakima from the beginning of the year in their late model shows. I’m letting the boys from STE do their thing to the car and hopefully it will end with success for all of us.”
With motor troubles on several occasions at Yakima Speedway this year expectations for the 200-lap showdown set for Sunday afternoon are an all or nothing approach, Tanner added.
“I want to win! Nothing else matters to me at this point after the way our season has gone on the asphalt. The goal for our team is to qualify on the pole and check out. Some may say those goals are far fetched but I am more determined then ever to win another Fall Classic.”
Tanner tempers his enthusiasm just a bit when taking into consideration that some of the region’s top late model talent will be out to dethrone him from atop the Fall Classic mountain, he noted.
“It’s going to be tough to win this race but I want to win it again real bad. I have been looking forward to it for some time now. Thoughts come into my head about last year’s race that I won and I’m gonna need to be even better this year to win a second Fall Classic,” Tanner said.
Qualifying and position races for the 23rd Annual Yakima Speedway Fall Classic are set for Saturday afternoon with the 200-lap finale scheduled for Sunday, October 3. To learn more about the final late model race in the Northwest log onto www.yakimaspeedway.us
For more information on Joey Tanner Racing head to the driver’s website at www.joeytanner.com
