By Ben Deatherage
COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. – The pit area at Cottage Grove Speedway will be filled with Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds for the 2016 edition of the Mark Howard Memorial Nationals.
The event will cover two nights of action beginning Friday, July 22 and concluding Saturday, June 23. The main event winner on Saturday will receive $2,600 along with a spot on the ballot for the 2017 fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot.
Tickets each night are adults $13, juniors and seniors $10, kids ages 6-12 $5 and five and under free. Family passes are $30. In honor of the track’s 60th anniversary the 60th fan through the front gate gets in free. A two-day adult pass will be $20.
Pit gates open at 2 p.m., the grandstand opens at 4 p.m. and racing starts at approximately 6:30 p.m. both nights.
Howard was a successful racer in the Pacific Northwest before opening his own race shop in Eugene, Wash., Pro Auto Racing, and spending countless time helping drivers stay on the race track. He was a mentor and inspiration to the many lives and is dearly missed. He also was the Cottage Grove Speedway parts and tire vendor for several years. Howard’s long-time race number was 26 and that is why the event is $2,600 to win.
The full format for the weekend is posted on the track website.