Rea, Sanders top Cottage Grove openers

By Ben Deatherage 

COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (March 26, 2022) – Saturday marked the beginning of the 66th campaign of action at the historic ¼-mile clay Cottage Grove Speedway. 

Paul Rea put in a shift of dominance for much of the IMCA Modified main event. The Eugene veteran pounced in front of the rest of the pack on the initial start then went practically uncontested for the entire distance. 

Paul eventually felt some pressure after the third and final restart when Brad Martin came to call to call. Martin would fall short however and Rea emerged victorious for his first win of the season . 

Martin was second and Steven Sturdevant third. 

In the IMCA Northern SportMods, Ray Comer Jr. on the first circuit. Comer remained there until lap four when Matt Sanders got around him. Sanders, making the long journey from the Southwestern Oregon coastal city of Brookings, had a fast hot rod once in the front. 

Sanders mastered each restart and cruised to his first win of the year. Isaac Sanders was second over California transplant Jason Ferguson.