Tanner’s big season

Saturday was a special night for Joey Tanner with his championship-clinching victory in the Coors Light I-5 Silver Bullet Series finale at Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, Ore.

The 36-year-old Portland, Ore., driver’s 12th Willamette victory of the season paid a season-high $5,000 during a campaign when he has unofficially clinched the $47,000 NASCAR Local Racing Series championship, the first such title for a dirt racer since Gary Webb in 2000.

"What a night. What a year,” Tanner said after outrunning Bricen James in the rain-postponed finale. “Thank you (track owners) Cory and Sandy (Penfold) for going NASCAR, giving us this platform, this opportunity to do something special. We had a really good year and just didn’t miss, tonight was just the capper.”

Tanner’s sixth I-5 Tour victory of the season, including four at Willamette, put him in a tie with Collen Winebarger atop the tour’s all-time list with 14 victories. He had to repel challenges from James to finish off his title.

“It got a little sketchy there, I knew Bricen was catching me in traffic, I couldn’t really do nothing about it. I was trying to pass them respectfully and not run over anybody, but man, what a night,” Tanner said. "I was gonna do whatever I needed to do to win that race and the car was there, just like it has been all year. So man, what a night.”

Team owner Darren Coffell, who competed in the team’s other No. 46, joined Tanner in victory lane, praising Rocket Chassis for providing the title-winning equipment.

“They're awesome cars,” said the 65-year-old Coffell, a former Willamette champion. “I got to drive this one this weekend, and as soon as I jumped in it last night, I'm going, OK, I understand why he wins. This car's fast.”

Tanner is grateful to Coffell for the “opportunity of a lifetime” to drive his car, thanking also Coffell’s daughter Alexis, who makes the long haul from Spokane to join the team for each event.

“She's the motor that keeps it going,” Tanner said.

Tanner recalled when Coffell “kicked my butt when I was a kid,” but now he’s glad to be part of the team.

"These last three years have been probably the most fun I've ever had racing in my career,” Tanner added, “so I am damn proud that I can bring a national championship to this man, the Coffell family and Driving Force Graphics.” — Track and staff reports

Among upcoming Dirt Late Model special and sanctioned events available via live streaming:

Thursday, Sept. 17

• Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn. (The Thrill TV)

• Speedway Motors 40th annual WISSOTA 100 prelims at I-94 EMR Speedway in Fergus Falls, Minn. (Dirt Race Central)

Friday, Sept. 18

• American Crate Late Model Series at ArkLaTex Speedway in Vivian, La. (RaceON)

• Cotton Pickin’ Super Late Model prelims at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss. (Hunt the Front TV)

• Speedway Motors WISSOTA 100 prelims at I-94 EMR Speedway in Fergus Falls, Minn. (Dirt Race Central)

• Rogers-Dabbs Crate Racin’ USA 604 Series prelims at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, Ala. (Crate Racin’ USA TV)

• Great Lakes Nationals Super Late Model prelims at Crystal (Mich.) Motor Speedway (Crystal Motor Speedway TV)

• Alabama State Championships at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, Ala. (Crate Racin’ USA TV)

Saturday, Sept. 19

• Cotton Pickin’ Super Late Models at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss. (Hunt the Front TV)

• Speedway Motors WISSOTA 100 at I-94 EMR Speedway in Fergus Falls, Minn. (Dirt Race Central)

• Southern Thunder Super Dirt Series at Modoc (S.C.) Speedway (Hunt the Front TV)

• Alabama State Championships at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, Ala. (Crate Racin’ USA TV)

• MARS Championship Series at Highland (Ill.) Speedway (FloRacing)

• I-5 Silver Bullet Late Model Series at Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, Ore. (Speed Union TV)

• Great Lakes Nationals Super Late Models at Crystal (Mich.) Motor Speedway (Crystal Motor Speedway TV)

• Best Plumber 604 Crate Late Model Series at Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway (Tazewell Speedway TV)

• 4 State Late Model Series at Springfield (Mo.) Raceway (Springfield Raceway TV)

• Wabam Dirt Kings Tour at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, Wis. (FloRacing)

• American Crate Late Model Series at ArkLaTex Speedway in Vivian, La. (RaceON)

• Ozark Limited Late Model Series at Nevada (Mo.) Speedway (ArrowVision Live)

• Rogers-Dabbs Crate Racin’ USA 604 Series prelims at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, Ala. (Crate Racin’ USA TV)

Sunday, Sept. 20

• Alabama State Championships at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, Ala. (Crate Racin’ USA TV)

• Midwest LateModel Racing Association at Quincy (Ill.) Raceway (RaceON)