Mayden, Bloom, Ashley find the right groove at The Grove

Checkers flew Saturday night at Cottage Grove Speedway for IMCA Modified winner Jake Mayden. (Photo by JRP Racing Photos)

By Stephanie Deatherage

COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (July 18) – For the second occasion in 2020, the engines roared at Cottage Grove Speedway with a full pit area at the historical ¼-mile clay oval Saturday night.

More than 30 IMCA Modifieds inhabited the house for their second race of the year and Jake Mayden had his way with the field in earning his first local checkers of 2020. 

John Campos wound up second with third going to Bricen James. 

The Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods would witness a giant-slaying as  Hunter Bloom was large and in charge of the main event.  The Eugene racer took control of the lead on lap one and remained there after the final circuit.  It marked the first occasion that Bloom has graced victory lane in the division at The Grove.

David Schmidt put in a second-place finish while behind him, in third, was Doug Coffman.

The Mach-1 Sport Compacts went caution-free in their main event, and it started with Joe Maricle going to the front at the drop of the green flag.  Maricle stayed in that position until getting passed on the third circuit. 

It was Ricky Ashley who managed to navigate his way past Maricle. Ashley stayed out in front the rest of the way to win his first race of 2020.