Ashley, Schmidt collect Cottage Grove checkers

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (Aug. 24) – The top driver in Shaw Race Cars Western Region stand­ings raced to the top payday of his IMCA Modified career Saturday at Cottage Grove Speedway.  Bricen James got the best of 40-plus Mark Howard Memorial Modified Nationals foes from across the Pacific Northwest in earning the $2,600, 2020 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying vic­tory.  Collen Winebarger ended in second after running down and challenging the leader for the vast majority of the event. James took advantage of the pole start and put his mount in front of the rest of the field to lead the first lap. He had some fast company behind him but numerous cautions over the first 26 cir­cuits took lapped traffic out of the picture.    The second half of the feature became an all-out battle for the top spot.  James briefly lost the lead with a handful of laps remaining before reclaiming the position on the next corner. James held all challengers at bay to win his first career Mark [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage  COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (April 27) – Derik Young was the Mohawk Metal IMCA Modified winner Saturday, on night two of Cottage Grove Speedway’s season-opening Spring Fling.  Ray Bloom had a great start and paced the field the first three laps before being overtaken by Young.   Young had no issues once in front of the pack as the only things slowing him down were four cautions. Despite the stoppages, Young maintained the top place position to achieve his first win of the season.  Curtis Towns was yet again the runner-up while B.J. Wild posted a third-place finish.  In Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod action it was all about Matt Sanders.  The Brookings ace held onto the coveted top spot the entire race despite five cautions and a handful of challenges.  Buddy McHargue was second while grabbing third was the previous night’s winner Jorddon Braaten. 

By Stephanie Deatherage   COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (June 19) – The second and final night of the Father’s Day Weekend doubleheader at Cottage Grove Speedway was on Saturday, with three IMCA divisions on the card.  Paul Culp took charge at the start of the IMCA Modified main.  Unfortunately, Culp spun on lap seven, handing first place to Paul Rea, who then had to deal with several restarts from some fast drivers nipping at his heels.  Despite all the advances and the potential moves to overtake him, Rea held his composure to win his first race of the season. He joins the victor’s list in Cottage Grove Speedway, KMJ Performance Oregon State, and Shaw Race Cars Western Region competition.  It is his first IMCA Modified win since Sept. 19, 2020, also at Cottage Grove.  Chad Groves was runner-up with Jake Mayden third. Curtis Towns was fourth while fifth was Derick Young.  It would be a wild and crazy Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod main event.  On seven occasions, racing came to a halt due to incidents, including two red flag incidents. Salem [Read More]