VICTORIA, BC – The 2022 Wild West IMCA Modified Speedweek kicks off this Friday, June 17th at Southern Oregon Speedway in Medford and wraps up Saturday, June 25th at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Washington.  Lane Zerbin and his father Ted have officially entered the Northern Provincial Pipelines Ltd./C-Force Marine #81 Modified in the eight race, six-track tour.  “It’s me and my dad and that’s it,” exclaims Zerbin, “we haven’t done the whole tour before.  Hopefully we can run all the races without breaking something.”

Lane Zerbin last competed in the United States in September of 2019.  Coronavirus restrictions (border/travel), which have officially been lifted, kept the father and son team from racing in the USA.  “It’s quite a long time to be away from running in the States (994 days).  We’re jumping back in with both feet right off the bat.”  Two of the tracks on this years Wild West tour schedule Zerbin has never raced at.  “I haven’t run Southern Oregon or Coos Bay before.”  Zerbin is particularly looking forward to a return visit to Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, Oregon on June 23rd.  The Victoria, British Columbia driver recorded his first ever Modified Feature win at this track in July of 2016.  “Can’t wait to get back there.  This track goes dry slick and that’s my forte’.  You gotta drive it.  You can’t just man handle it.”

Zerbin admits he’ll be a little cautious kicking off the Wild West tour this Friday night in Medford, Oregon after a two and a half year absence from running his Modified on dirt.  “I’ll probably be rusty for the first couple of laps but hopefully shake that rust off.”

2022 WILD WEST IMCA SPEEDWAY SCHEDULE
Friday, June 17           Southern Oregon Speedway – Medford, Oregon
Saturday, June 18       Cottage Grove Speedway – Cottage Grove, Oregon
Sunday, June 19          Coos Bay Speedway – Coos Bay, Oregon
Monday, June 20        Coos Bay Speedway – Coos Bay, Oregon
Tuesday, June 21        Cottage Grove Speedway – Cottage Grove, Oregon
Thursday, June 23       Willamette Speedway – Lebanon, Oregon
Friday, June 24           Sunset Speedway – Banks, Oregon
Saturday, June 25       Grays Harbor Raceway – Elma, Washington

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= = RACE UPDATES = =

MEDFORD, OR (Friday, June 17) –  Lane Zerbins first race in the United States since September 2019 has been delayed by rain.  Race #1 of the 2022 Wild West IMCA Modified Speedweek has been rained out.  Track/race officials at Southern Oregon Speedway made the call to cancel Friday nights race just after 12 Noon.  Rain has been falling for most of the day and was not expected to let up in the evening hours.  IMCA Modified teams gather at Cottage Grove Speedway on Saturday, June 18 with hot laps at 5pm and racing at 7pm.

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COTTAGE GROVE, OR (Saturday, June 18) – Race #2 of the 2022 Wild West IMCA Modified Speedweek at Cottage Grove Speedway has been rained out.  Teams will return to Cottage Grove on Tuesday, June 21st.  Back-to-back race nights are next on the Speedweek schedule.  IMCA Modified teams compete at Oregon’s Coos Bay Speedway on Sunday and Monday June 19th and 20th.

UPDATE (as of 3:00pm): Many IMCA Modified teams, including Team NPP’s Lane Zerbin, are back at Southern Oregon Speedway in Medford for a ‘bonus’ Saturday night race.  This is a not a ‘Speedweeks’ race but a regular track night after track management sent out a special invitation. Teams will use this as an opportunity to get in some track time before resuming the tour on Sunday. 
Hotlaps at 5:00pm/Racing at 7:00pm.

UPDATE 2: Lane Zerbin qualified the Team NPP #81 Modified in 11th Saturday evening at Southern Oregon Speedway. Zerbin finished 4th in his Heat race. In his first Modified Feature in the United States since September of 2019, Zerbin finished 7th.

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COOS BAY, OR (Sunday, June 19) – Race #3 of the 2022 Wild West IMCA Modified Speedweek saw 30 teams in the pits at Coos Bay Speedway.  Lane Zerbin, finished 6th in his Heat race.  Top 4 cars from each Heat race automatically transfer to the 20 car ‘A’ Feature.  Zerbin would be forced to run the ‘B’ Feature and needed to finish 4th or better to transfer to the ‘A’ Feature.  Zerbin finished 3rd.  In the 35-lap ‘A’ Feature Zerbin finished 16th.  Race #4 of Speedweek goes Monday night also at Coos Bay Speedway.  Racing starts at 6:30pm.

COOS BAY SPEEDWAY
>Sunday, June 19th
HEAT RACE  – FINISHED 6th
FEATURE –  FINISHED 16th

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COOS BAY, OR (Monday, June 20) –  Race #4 of the 2022 Wild West IMCA Modified Speedweek had a promising start for Team NPP’s Lane Zerbin.  The Victoria, British Columbia driver piloted the Northern Provincial Pipelines/C-Force Marine #81 to a Heat race victory Monday night at Coos Bay Speedway.  In the 35-lap Feature Zerbin ran as high as 7th.  While running 10th, with 6-laps to go, Zerbin clipped the wall puncturing his right front tire. While slowing Zerbin was struck from behind by another car. Zerbin retired from the race and was credited with a 17th place finish. Race #5 of the Shootout is scheduled for Tuesday night at Cottage Grove Speedway.  Racing starts at 7pm.

COOS BAY SPEEDWAY
>Monday, June 20th
HEAT RACE – WIN
FEATURE – FINISHED 17th

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COTTAGE GROVE, OR (Tuesday, June 21) –  Race #5 of the 2022 Wild West IMCA Modified Speedweek was back at Oregons Cottage Grove Speedway on Tuesday night.   Victoria, BC’s Lane Zerbin kicked off the night finishing 6th in his Heat race.  The 35-lap Feature event had a frightening incident involving Zerbin and Grey Ferrando which brought out the Red flag.  On Lap 4, Ferrando had a left rear tire go flat on his #13 Modified.  While trying to exit to the pits, the Stanton, Oregon driver came to a stop on the track.  Zerbin, running the high line of the track, slammed into the back of Ferrando’s car.  The collision ruptured the ‘full’ fuel cell of Ferrando’s car.  A brief flash of flame enveloped Zerbins Team NPP #81 Modified.  Zerbin scrambled to safety.  Both drivers were uninjured in the crash.

COTTAGE GROVE SPEEDWAY
>Tuesday, June 21st
HEAT RACE – FINISHED 6th
FEATURE – CRASHED OUT 20th

UPDATE: Zerbins IMCA Modified is too damaged to continue and he will miss the final 3-races of the Wild West Speedweek.

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