By Ben Deatherage
COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (July 25, 2026) — Matt Sanders continued his outstanding 2026 season Saturday night, capturing the $3,000-to-win second annual Frank Brewer Memorial G-60 Classic for the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds at Cottage Grove Speedway.
The 60-lap feature was contested in two segments with a midway break. Defending race winner Ethan Killingsworth, the reigning Southern Oregon Speedway champion and National Rookie of the Year, paced the opening circuits before an early caution on lap two.
Fresh off his IMCA Wild West Speedweek championship in June, Sanders moved into second on the restart and began applying pressure to Killingsworth. The Brookings driver made his first serious bid on lap six but was denied before using the low groove to complete the pass on lap nine.
A caution on lap 10 erased Sanders’ advantage, but he quickly rebuilt his lead. Lapped traffic came into play on lap 17 before another yellow one lap later brought the field back together. Dustin Cady moved into second on the ensuing restart, but Sanders again drove away and dominated the opening segment.
Bricen James, the 2019 DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region champion, challenged Sanders when racing resumed for the second segment, but Sanders maintained the point. Cautions on laps 34 and 41 failed to slow his momentum as he repeatedly pulled away on each restart.
Lapped traffic once again tightened the field beginning on lap 51, allowing James, a two-time Oregon State champion and IMCA Wild West Speedweek champion, to mount one final challenge. James made another bid on lap 53, but Sanders held him at bay before pulling away over the closing laps.
Starting third, Sanders earned his eighth DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region victory of the season, including his third at Cottage Grove Speedway in 2026.
The race was a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying event to be held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. Sanders was already on the eligibility list.
The 2019 Western Region champion, James, charged from 10th to finish second in the Schram Motorsports-owned No. 13, while Austin Petray advanced from ninth to third. Two-time Oregon State and IMCA Wild West Speedweek champion Collen Winebarger earned hard charger honors after transferring from the B Main and advancing from the tail of the field to fourth in the Steven Sturdevant-owned No. 11. Eighteen-year-old Ian Whisler completed the top five.
Friday night’s Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature belonged to Jesse Williamson.
Five-time Cottage Grove Speedway champion Jake Mayden led the opening laps before 2017 track champion Grey Ferrando grabbed the lead following a lap-three restart. Ferrando built a comfortable advantage before a pair of cautions near the midway point brought the field back together.
Williamson, aboard the SDMF Race Cars house car, steadily closed the gap over the final 10 laps and repeatedly challenged Ferrando for the lead. A caution with five laps remaining set up a dramatic sprint to the finish, and the two battled fiercely before making incidental contact with a few laps left.
Ferrando suffered a flat left rear tire, allowing Williamson to take over the lead and score his second DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region victory of the season, with both wins coming at Cottage Grove Speedway.
Mayden finished second, while James stormed from 17th to third. Despite the flat tire, Ferrando held on for fourth, and Nick Trenchard advanced from 15th to fifth in the Biehn Racing No. 54N.
Lancaster Back in Sport Compact Winning Form
The Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts were also in action Saturday night, where 14-year-old Rowen Lancaster earned an impressive victory in the 20-lap feature.
Jared Stice led the opening lap before becoming involved in a multi-car incident, handing the lead to Mark DeLange. Shortly after the restart, Randy Kuhl raced into the top spot before another caution on lap three kept the field tightly bunched.
Lancaster, from Eugene, steadily reeled in Kuhl throughout the second half of the race. After falling just short on a challenge on lap 15, Lancaster completed the winning pass three laps later and drove away to earn his third victory of the season and first since May 2.
Starting seventh, Lancaster crossed the finish line ahead of Kuhl, who charged from ninth to second and earned hard charger honors. Charles Trissell finished third, Joshua Shaw advanced from 10th to fourth, and DeLange rounded out the top five.
The entire event was broadcast live on IMCA TV affiliate Dirt Oval TV. Full replays are available with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription for $25.99/month. Don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
