By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. – Cottage Grove Speedway will utilize RACEceivers during the 2014 race season. The one-way communication device will be required in all classes that compete at the historic ¼-mile clay oval. “We feel this move will benefit the track, teams, and fans immensely,” said CGS General Manager Heather Boyce. “People are going to see that it will cut down time to get the lineup correct after a stoppage a lot quicker because we can tell drivers where to go over the RACEceiver communications. We look forward to seeing everyone back in 2014.” Cottage Grove Speedway has hosted fast and exciting action as far back as 1956. Regular classes include 360 Sprints, IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, NW Extreme Winged Sprint Cars, Late Models, Street Stocks, and Hornets every Saturday night from April to October. For more information be sure and visit the venue’s homepage www.cottagegrovespeedway.com or call the new Northwest Tracks Hotline at 360 699-RACE.

FERNLEY, Nev. – Track championship trophies came in two types in 2013 for the Natenstedt Race Team: His and hers. Shawn Natenstedt won the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified title at his hometown Reno, Tahoe Fernley Speedway for the third time in his career. His wife Melissa topped point standings at Rattlesnake Raceway in Fallon, in just her first full season in the open-wheeled division. A couple for 20 years, married for 15 and the parents of daughters Kayla and McKenzie, the Natenstedts traveled together much of the season utilizing a stacker trailer. Shawn won eight of his 19 starts – including two outings at Canyon Speedway Park in Arizona and another pair at Southern Oregon Speedway – while Melissa took the checkers in two of her 20 shows. “I take more pride in Melissa’s track championship than I do in my own by far. It was a big deal for me because I set up her car,” Shawn said. “I knew what kind of driver she was and had encouraged her to race a [Read More]

FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. – When the green flag drops on the 141 Speedway in 2014 race fans and competitors will be greeted with many new changes. The most notable will be the new ownership of Dan and Scott Ratajczak along with Toby Kruse. The ¼-mile Saturday night speedplant, located some 20 miles southeast of Lambeau Field, has proven to be one of the strongest Wisconsin tracks under the leadership of Bruce and Renee Conard for the past five years. “I went up there three years ago and absolutely fell in love with the place,” said Kruse, who will continue promoting Marshalltown Speedway in Iowa and Beatrice Speedway in Nebraska. “The upcoming season is going to be very exciting. It’s going to be a busy summer.” IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods return to weekly race programs on the clay oval, along with Street Stocks, Grand Nationals and Sport Fours. “I had first conversed with Bruce about purchasing 141 about a year and a half ago,” Kruse said. [Read More]

By Edward Anschutz STURGEON BAY, Wis. – Driver contingencies will be the name of the game in 2014 at Thunderhill Raceway as the total amount reaches a staggering $10,000. In a time of tracks changing promoters, ownership or even closing, Thunderhill has raised the bar with several hefty driver giveaways. “I couldn’t have dreamt in only one week we‘d go from $6,500 in contingencies to $10,000,“ said Thunderhill promoter Woody Wodack, “The support from all these great businesses is exciting to say the least. I‘m confident this will only get bigger and better.” A brand new IMCA Modified Brinn transmission will be given away courtesy of Billy LeMieux Racing. Fast Ed Distributors is donating a full race version GM HEI Distributor that can be used in anything from a Modified to a Hobby Stock. The Bull Pen Bar & Grill will give out several gift certificates for food and drinks. David Kohn at AMSOIL will be giving away synthetic oil and lubricants. All awards will be presented at the 2014 awards banquet. Tentatively, plans are [Read More]