Hand completes Freedom Cup weekend sweep

Braedon Hand swept the Freedom Cup weekend at Cottage Grove Speedway, winning all three Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod features. (Photo by Stephanie Deatherage)

By Ben Deatherage

COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (July 6) – Braedon Hand completed a 3-for-3 weekend with his Satur­day night Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod victory at Cottage Grove Speedway’s Hoppes Construc­tion Freedom Cup.

Californian Jason Ferguson got out to the early race lead and resided there until getting passed on lap four by Gavin Ropchan. Ropchan kept back many challenges but was eventually over­taken on the 13th circuit, shortly after a restart, by Travis Pruitt.

Pruitt had the car to beat for much of the race. He constructed a sizable lead that was erased due to a lap 20 stoppage.  Hand made the decisive pass on Pruitt on the 23rd trip past the flag stand. 

The hometown driver won the race to sweep the entire Freedom Cup weekend and win the point fund title. Pruitt was second over Matt Ruf, Ropchan and Matt Sanders.

In the Mohawk Metal IMCA Modifieds, the party got started with Andy Freeman leading the first lap.  Gus Cooper made it around Freeman on lap two to take control of the field. Cooper re­mained in front until the eighth circuit.

Taking over the position was Nick Trenchard, who was then passed on the following lap by Collen Winebarger.

From there on Winebarger set sail.  He led the rest of the distance for his first win of the weekend and enough points to win the Freedom Cup. It was his fourth win at Cottage Grove this season. 

Trenchard finished second while Bricen James posted another third-place result.  Fourth in the rundown was Grey Ferrando with Curtis Towns in fifth.