By Ben Deatherage
COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (June 24, 2026) — One of Cottage Grove Speedway’s newest and most cherished traditions gets even bigger in 2026 as the Frank Brewer Memorial expands to a two-night format on July 24-25.
The event honors longtime racer, car builder, sponsor, and tire distributor Frank Brewer, a fixture in the Cottage Grove racing community for decades. Brewer competed for more than 60 years, building and driving his own race cars. He began constructing race cars at age 14 and continued doing so until building his final car at age 90. In his later years, Brewer remained active as a car owner while sponsoring and assisting numerous competitors throughout the region.
The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds will headline the weekend, with Friday’s opener utilizing a standard race format and purse structure before Saturday’s marquee program takes center stage.
The Saturday portion of the event will serve as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier, with the winner earning eligibility to try and qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational held during the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National, Oregon State, DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region, and Cottage Grove Speedway track points will be awarded.
Defending event winner Ethan Killingsworth, the 2025 National Rookie of the Year, will look to add his name to the Frank Brewer Memorial record book for a second consecutive season.
Saturday’s format will begin with single-car qualifying. Heat races will be lined up directly from qualifying times, with the fastest qualifier in each heat starting from the fourth position. Heat race winners, along with the fastest qualifier who transfers through a heat race into the A Main, will advance to the Dash.
Any driver who starts fourth and wins their heat race will automatically earn the best available starting position in the Dash. The remaining Dash participants will draw for their starting spots.
Drivers who fail to transfer through their heat races will compete in B Mains, which will be lined up according to heat race finishing positions. Remaining A Main starters will also be determined from heat race results.
The weekend’s centerpiece will be a 60-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature paying $3,000 to win. Second place receives $1,500, third pays $800, and all starters will earn at least $160.
In a fitting tribute to Brewer’s longtime role as Cottage Grove Speedway’s tire distributor, every A Main starter, up to 20 competitors, will receive a complimentary Hoosier G-60 tire.
For additional event information, visit the Cottage Grove Speedway website or follow the track on Facebook.
Fans unable to attend can catch all the action live on IMCA TV affiliate Dirt Oval TV.
