09/07/2026
Tanner Holds Off Walters in Traffic for Sixth I-5 Silver Bullet Win
By Nikki Gamell
Photos: Nikki Gamell & Austen Howard
LEBANON, Ore. (Sept. 5, 2026) — Defending I-5 Silver Bullet Series presented by Knuckle Buster Machine, Joey Tanner navigated heavy lapped traffic and held off a late charge from Greg Walters to score the 40-lap Product 41 and Zamp Racing feature victory at Willamette Speedway on Saturday night.
Ian Whisler initially raced into the lead on the opening start, but a multi-car crash on the backstretch brought out the caution. On the second restart, 2019 Southern Oregon Speedway champion Trent Elliott took command and quickly began to pull away.
Tanner, aboard the Darren Coffell Racing No. 46, wasted little time tracking down Elliott. He challenged for the top spot and powered his way into the lead on lap four.
A caution occurred just ahead of Tanner later that circuit. As Tanner slowed, a trailing car made contact with the back of the No. 46, but Tanner was able to continue with the lead.
Tanner quickly pulled away on the restart and encountered lapped traffic for the first time on lap eight. He effectively worked his way through traffic and built a sizable advantage while Walters, driving the Schram Motorsports No. 97, battled Elliott for second.
Walters grabbed the runner-up spot on lap 18, but a caution that same circuit gave Elliott the position back. Tanner again checked out following the restart before another caution slowed the field on lap 21.
Walters finally secured second on lap 25, but Tanner had once again built a healthy advantage. The leader returned to traffic on lap 28 as the nine-time and defending Doug Walters Memorial winner, Walters, began trying to reel him in.
Heavy traffic during the closing laps gave Walters the opportunity he needed to close the gap, but Tanner had just enough breathing room to keep the No. 97 behind him and race to the checkers.
The victory was Tanner’s sixth of the series season and 13th of his career, moving him within one of Collen Winebarger for the most in I-5 Silver Bullet Series history. It was also Tanner’s sixth career series victory at Willamette Speedway.
Walters finished second, with Elliott third. McLain Beaudoin bounced back from a mid-race incident to finish fourth in the Ray Mitchell-owned No. 18, while 2019 Cottage Grove Speedway champion Brian Smith charged from 15th to complete the top five.
Tanner added the Driving Force Graphics $100 Fastest Feature Lap bonus and Bio-Med Testing Service $100 Halfway Leader bonus to his winnings, and also received a $100-off certificate from Penske Racing Shocks.
Smith’s 10-position charge earned him the James Gang Pizza $150 Hard Charger bonus. He also received the Swift Springs Lucky 5 free spring and Ho**er Harness Hooked in 5th $50-off certificate.
John Gamell was the J & N Trucking King of the B, while Randy Boyd received the Pratum Co-op Never Quit $100 bonus. Beaudoin and Boyd earned Hoosier Tire awards, and Craig Hanson received the Keizer Racing Wheels Back-Up $100 certificate.
Tanner, Whisler, Elliott, and Hanson were Left Coast Motorsports heat race winners. Cory Yeack earned the Jeremy Brehmeyer Locked-In $50 bonus, while Tanner set fast time at 14.722 seconds to collect the Discount Race Car Parts $100 Fast Time award.
