Sanders Rallies from 18th to Win Ralph Bloom Memorial and Freedom Cup Finale at CGS

Feature, Modified, News, Northern SportMod, Sport Compact

Matt Sanders celebrates with young fans after winning the fifth annual Ralph Bloom Memorial and clinching his third consecutive Freedom Cup title at Cottage Grove Speedway. Sanders started 18th and drove to his fifth win of the season at CG and 10th overall in 2025. (Photo by JDavenport Photography)

By Ben Deatherage

COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (July 5, 2025) — Matt Sanders came from 18th on the grid to win the fifth annual Ralph Bloom Memorial and clinch his third consecutive Freedom Cup title at Cottage Grove Speedway. The 33-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature paid $3,333 to win and served as the finale to the 2025 Freedom Cup.

Hunter Bloom led early before the race was slowed by a couple of quick cautions. Ray Comer moved into the top spot and set the early pace until 2023 Oregon State champion Trevor Points took over on a restart. Points built a comfortable margin as the field shuffled behind him during a caution-heavy middle portion.

Sanders, from Brookings, methodically picked his way through the pack. Just past halfway, he used a restart to drive around Points at the line and never looked back. He became the fifth different winner in as many editions of the Ralph Bloom Memorial and recorded his fifth CG win of the season and 10th overall in 2025.

Points finished second, followed by his teammate Ricky Ashley in the T.R. Points Trucking-owned no. 1185.

Killingsworth Charges to Modified Glory, Wins First Career Freedom Cup Title

Yreka, California’s Ethan Killingsworth surged from 13th to win the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature and claim his first Freedom Cup championship.

Lady Eagle racer Madilynn Ashley led the opening lap before two-time Oregon State champion John Campos took control. Following an early caution, 2013 state champ and three-time track titlist Curtis Towns powered into the lead and looked strong through the first third.

Killingsworth started to climb and eventually passed both Towns and Jake Mayden in a thrilling sequence to take the lead on lap 18. He began to check out but had to fend off the field again following a late caution with five laps to go.

Killingsworth stayed poised on the final restart and drove off for his second Cottage Grove win of the year and seventh overall in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Mayden finished second, while Nick Trenchard ran third in the Biehn Racing-fielded no. 54N.

Trissell Tames Sport Compact Field, Henderson Crowned Freedom Cup Champ

Charles Trissell of Springfield captured his third win of the season — all at Cottage Grove — in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact main event.

Matthew Bangle led early before Trissell took command on lap four and began to stretch his lead. Dusten Henderson closed the gap late and reached Trissell’s bumper as they took the white flag.

Henderson challenged hard on the final circuit, but Trissell held on at the stripe. Henderson’s runner-up result was enough to earn him the overall Freedom Cup title — the first of his career. Bangle completed the podium in third.

The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV affiliate Dirt Oval TV. Replay every lap with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available now for just $24.99/month. And don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.

Related Articles

Results

Braaten collects Willamette, Cottage Grove checkers 

By Ben Deatherage CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – It was a fantastic weekend of racing for Jorddon Braaten last Friday and Saturday night as the Central Point, Ore., chauffeur took home the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod winner’s checks on both nights at two different venues. The weekend kicked off July 27 at Willamette Speedway. The night started off by Braaten being third quick and finishing second in the heat. In the main event, Braaten seized the lead after a lap five restart. From there on he simply dominate the field for his fifth win of 2018 at Willamette. “This car is working well and that  really make job way easier,” commented Braaten. “The last half of the race I was having fuel pressure problems for some reason but other than that the car han­dled good and felt really good.” The team traveled south on Saturday to Cottage Grove Speedway on Saturday, where Braaten set quick time in time trials and was the runner-up in his heat race. He patiently worked his way to the front after starting toward the [Read More]

Feature

Wild West Shootout checkers fly for Williamson in round 5

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (Aug. 10) – The quarter-mile clay oval at Cottage Grove Speedway continued to be good to Jesse Williamson Tuesday night. Williamson sped to his second $1,000 win in five Wild West IMCA Modified Shootout starts. The four-time series champion now owns 14 career tour victories, with five coming a CGS.  Jake Mayden was the early leader in the 40-lap main event and held onto the position until being overtaken on lap nine.  Williamson prevailed despite multiple yellow flags. Collen Winebarger ended the race second with third going to Eston Whisler. Veteran Paul Rea was scored fourth with fifth going to Mayden.  The Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod main had several stoppages but one thing remained the same and that was that Ryan Peery was in fine and dominant form.  The California teenager took possession of the lead on the opening start. Peery successfully navigated the track to score his third Wild West win of the week and 11th feature on the year.  Ray Bloom and Matt Sanders were second and third, [Read More]

Modified

Williamson wows Bloom crowd at CGS

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (June 1, 2024) – After getting those vision issues taken care of, Jesse Williamson kept his eyes on the prize and raced back to the front of the field and all the way to the Ralph Bloom Memorial checkers Saturday at Cottage Grove Speedway. The Coburg chauffeur had taken the lead from the initial start of the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod 50-lapper but would have problems after part of his hood folded back and began to give him visibility issues. Williamson retired to the pit area following a lap five caution, had the hood removed and came back out restarting dead last. Ethan Killingsworth became the new leader. Several cautions prevented him from getting a significant lead but at the same time also prevented heavy lapped traffic. Around midway, Williamson was back in the top five and on lap 27, a three-car battle for second was waged between Williamson, Jorddon Braaten and Matt Sanders.  Williamson secured second on the 28th circuit and before long had his sights set on Killingsworth. [Read More]