Taylor Ferns is the first female driver to win the Joe James/Pat O'Connor Memorial Race.
The 65th running of the Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial Race came back with lightning speed and was a history making event at Salem Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 7. The cars rounded the track at an average speed of 125 mph., coming down the straightway at higher speeds.
This is the first time the sprint cars have been on the track since 2010, and they came back strong. The fastest qualification time was posted by Kody Swanson at 15.734, just shy of the track record 15.181 set by Tracy Hines in 2000.
The elapsed total race time was 21.12 minutes with one yellow for a total green lap time of 18.34 minutes.
Becoming the first female to win in this series, Taylor Ferns led flag to flag and was definitely followed closely by Kody Swanson and Davey Hamilton.
Swanson, the winner of the last five Joe James/Pat O’Connor races, got beside her but couldn’t make it stick. His wins were in the more powerful and longer wheel base USAC Silver Crown cars. This win streak period was from 2016 to 2020. In fact, he was the last winner to race at Salem and win this prestigious race. Also, the fastest qualifier.
Swanson settled for second place; with Davey Hamilton, third; and Bobby Santos, fourth.
It was Ferns’ first feature win in the 500 Touring Sprint Cars series.
In victory lane she said, “I was without brakes most of the race and had to go high on the banks to help slow it down.”
Supporting classes for race day were the USSA Kenyon Midgets and the Legend series.
The midgets, compared to the sprints, have a shorter wheel base and are equipped with a 4-cylinder 1200 cc Yamaha engine vs. the V-8 Chevy 410 cubic inch engine in the sprint cars. All are the same, keeping down the price of racing.
The 25-lap Kenyon Midget race was won by Dameron Taylor; second was Ryan Haggler; and third was Landon Brown. Taylor also won one of the ten-lap heat races. The race was caution free.
This series was started by the brothers Mel and Don Kenyon. Mel is a retired midget champ and Indianapolis driver. Mel, at ninety-one years old, and his brother still come out for the races and to work on the cars.
Also on the small track were the Legend cars. The 25-lap feature was won by Eddie Fosnight; second, Max Olmsted; and bringing home third place for a podium finish was Johnny Weaver.
Ferns is pictured with members of the O'Connor family.
Kody Swanson, placing second in the memorial race, is pictured with members of the Bohanon family, owners of Salem Speedway.
Sprint cars use distinctive tires.
This 1200cc four-cylinder Yamaha engine is standard in the Midget cars.
Dameron Taylor was the winner of the Kenyon Midget race.