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By Dan Jones Mail Tribune September 03. 2015 6:14PM Stars out for Lon Skinner Memorial WHITE CITY — The 20th annual Lon Skinner Memorial — one of the region's biggest modified dirt track races — is set for this weekend at Southern Oregon Speedway. The $5,000-to-win A-Main final is Sunday. Gates open at 2 p.m. with racing at 4. Other racing that day includes sport modified, dwarf cars and pro stocks. Preliminary racing starts Saturday, with gates opening at 4 p.m. and racing at 6. The 100-lap feature event is a valuable one: Second prize is $2,500, third $1,500 and fourth $1,000. Those who simply start receive $500. The field is a powerful one, track promoter John Skinner said. All but four of the previous Lon Skinner Memorial winners will be on the track. Headlining the group is Bobby Hogue IV of Salinas, Calif., who secured three straight Lon Skinner Memorial crowns from 2008-10. Another three-time winner, Medford's Brian Poppa, is also racing, along with popular two-time champion Rich Papenhausen of Chico, Calif. Other contenders include Eugene's Jesse Williamson, Jacksonville's Mark Wauge and Gold Hill's Jon Debenedetti. Poppa most recently captured a Skinner title in 2011. Matt Duste won in 2012, Williamson in 2013 and Nick Trenchard of Klamath Falls last summer. Trenchard, who dominated both nights of racing in 2014, will attempt to defend his championship. Skinner said he anticipates 50 cars, with 22 getting to advance to the finals. "My big deal is if a guy from from North Dakota, British Columbia, Oklahoma — places like that — if they are fast, they'll get plenty of chances," he said of qualifying. Come Sunday, drivers in the final will stop at the 50-mile mark as their crew members run across the track with tires and fuel to quickly give their drivers help. "I have the crowd do a countdown and then they come and run and do as much as they can in 15 minutes," Skinner said. "It's a lot of fun." A two-day pass is $30 ($25 for seniors, $22 for children ages 6-12, children 5 and under free). Single-day pass Saturday is $15 ($12 for seniors, $10 for children 6-12, children 5 and under free), and single-day pass Sunday is $20 ($18 for seniors, $15 for children 6-12, children 5 and under free). Those who are interested can purchase tickets in advance at Skinner Autoplex in Medford. Reserved seats are $5 extra. For more information, visit sospeedway.com or call 541-772-6264. Reach reporter Dan Jones at 541-776-4499, or email [email protected]. Find him online at twitter.com/danjonesmt LON SKINNER MEMORIALWHEN: Saturday and Sunday.WHERE: Southern Oregon Speedway, 6900 Kershaw Road in White City.COST: A two-day pass is $30 ($25 for seniors, $22 for children ages 6-12, children 5 and under free). Single-day pass Saturday is $15 ($12 for seniors, $10 for children 6-12, children 5 and under free), and single-day pass Sunday is $20 ($18 for seniors, $15 for children 6-12, children 5 and under free). http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20150903/SPORTS/150909826 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->