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Winebarger and Tanner Split Silver Bullet Wins at Grays Harbor

Winebarger and Tanner Split Silver Bullet Wins at Grays Harbor
Photos by 4-Ever Moments Photography & Nikki Gamell
By Ben Deatherage
ELMA, Wash. (July 19, 2025) – The I-5 Silver Bullet Late Model Series, presented by Knuckle Buster Machine and All In Property Investments, put on a pair of thrilling 35-lap features over the weekend at Grays Harbor Raceway, with Oregon heavyweights Collen Winebarger and Joey Tanner each scoring a victory on the high-speed 3/8-mile clay oval.
Ian Whisler shot out to the early lead in Saturday’s main event and looked to be the car to beat early. Behind him, Bricen James and Winebarger traded haymakers for second, allowing Whisler to stretch his advantage.
After a caution on lap 10, James grabbed the lead on the restart—but Whisler countered immediately to reclaim the top spot. Winebarger eventually cleared James for second and began closing on Whisler as the race hit lapped traffic on lap 20.
On lap 22, Winebarger threw a daring slider in turn one to briefly take the lead, but Whisler returned the favor exiting turn two to maintain command.
Winebarger wasn’t done yet. The Corbett, Oregon native timed another slide job perfectly with just three laps to go, taking the lead for good in turns one and two on lap 33 and holding it through the final corners to the checkers. It marked Schram Motorsports no. 14’s third series win of the year—each at a different track—and his first-ever at Grays Harbor. He now owns 11 career I-5 Silver Bullet Series victories.
Whisler held on for second in the Whisler Motorsports entry, while Tanner brought the Darren Coffell-owned no. 46 home in third.
Winebarger also earned the $150 James Gang Pizza Hard Charger Award for advancing from fifth to first, and pocketed another $100 from Discount Race Car Parts as the Fast Time Award winner.
Bricen James, piloting the Schram Motorsports no. 13, was the Driving Force Graphics Fastest Lap recipient, earning $160 thanks to a $60 bonus from Baxter Racing and Pruett Racing.
Friday’s feature saw Joey Tanner get the early jump, leading the opening circuits until catching lapped traffic by lap 8. Collen Winebarger began to pressure in thick traffic and made what appeared to be the pass for the lead on lap 13, only to see it negated by a caution for a spinning car on the backstretch.
On the restart, Tanner reasserted control, navigating traffic and holding off Winebarger through a series of late-race cautions, including one with just three laps to go. Despite Winebarger’s best efforts to challenge in the closing laps, Tanner was strong on restarts and never gave up the bottom line, sealing his fifth career series win and second at Grays Harbor, having last won there in 2023.
Winebarger settled for second while also earning the Fast Time Award again with Discount Race Car Parts. Bricen James charged from 19th to fifth, securing the James Gang Pizza Hard Charger honor.
Jeremy Brehmeyer’s $100 Bonus Challenge for any Late Model to beat the fastest 410 Sprint Car lap of 15.929 was met and exceeded—Winebarger clocked a blistering 15.817, and Tanner a 15.879, both cashing in on the bonus.
Preston Luckman, John Dees, Ian Whisler, and Rob Campos each earned wins in Hoosier Tire giveaways during the weekend.
The I-5 Silver Bullet Late Model Series returns to action August 15–16 at Southern Oregon Speedway for the most southern trip of the 2025 campaign. So far, 14 different teams have competed in the opening eight races, showcasing depth and parity across the field.
The I-5 Silver Bullet Series is presented in part by Knuckle Busters Machine, All-In Property Investments, Discount Race Car Parts, James Gang Pizza, Driving Force Graphics, Velocita USA, Hoosier Racing Tire, Product 41, Coors Light, Fusion Graphix, Moxie Media, and Schram Motorsports.
Award plaques, banners, and signage provided by the team at Fusion Graphix — keeping us looking sharp on and off the track.

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