cottagegrovespeedway Archives

Williamson Wires Cottage Grove Modified Midweek Mayhem

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (July 30, 2025) — Kevin Williamson dominated Wednesday night’s 25-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Cottage Grove Speedway, becoming the third different winner in as many rounds of the 2025 Midweek Mayhem Series. Piloting the Superior Fuel Cells-backed no. 42, the Coburg racer scored his second victory of the season at CGS and in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Williamson grabbed the lead on the opening start and quickly separated himself from the rest of the field. He encountered light lapped traffic on lap eight but didn’t skip a beat as he built a commanding advantage. Things got interesting late as heavier traffic came into play with just three laps to go, but the five-time and reigning track champion Jake Mayden, wheeling the Dustin Brooks-owned no. 5M, couldn’t close the gap. Jesse Williamson, a multi-time IMCA Wild West Speedweek champion and older brother to the winner, finished third aboard the SDMF Customs no. W5 house car. Ashley Keeps SportMod Streak Alive at CGS Ricky Ashley continued his Midweek [Read More]

Killingsworth Edges James in Inaugural Frank Brewer Memorial G60 Classic Thriller

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (July 26, 2025) – Ethan Killingsworth came out on top of a thrilling duel with Bricen James to win the inaugural Frank Brewer Memorial G60 Classic at Cottage Grove Speedway. The special-format Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature, split into two 30-lap segments and paying $3,000 to win, honored longtime racer and track tire vendor Frank Brewer. The victory marked Killingsworth’s third win at CGS this season and his eighth overall in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Five-time and reigning track champion Jake Mayden set the tone early, leading the opening lap aboard the Dustin Brooks-owned no. 5M. A caution on lap two brought the field back together, and on the ensuing restart, Killingsworth mounted a challenge. He stayed close through a second yellow on lap seven, then capitalized in turns one and two on the 12th circuit to take over the lead. Traffic became a factor on lap 18, but Killingsworth held tough to lead at the halfway mark ahead of Bricen James and Mayden. The second segment began [Read More]

Inaugural Frank Brewer Memorial G60 Classic Headlines July 26 Program at Cottage Grove

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (July 22, 2025) — A special night of racing is in store at Cottage Grove Speedway this Saturday, July 26, as the historic 1/4-mile clay oval hosts the inaugural Frank Brewer Memorial G60 Classic. The event, honoring longtime tire vendor and Cottage Grove fixture Frank Brewer, will feature the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds in a unique and lucrative format — and serve as a qualifier for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, to be held at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s later this summer. Modified drivers will qualify through single-car time trials, with heat races lined up straight off the stopwatch. The only exception is that the fastest car in each heat will start fourth. Winners of each heat race, along with the fastest car that finishes high enough to qualify for the A Main, will advance to the Dash. Any car that starts fourth and wins its heat is automatically awarded the best starting spot possible in the dash, while remaining dash participants will draw [Read More]

David Schmidt, Two-Time Cottage Grove Speedway Champion, Passes at 45

ROSEBURG, Ore. (Jul. 19, 2025) — David Schmidt, a beloved member of the Oregon racing community and two-time Cottage Grove Speedway track champion, passed away unexpectedly from natural causes on Thursday, July 3, at Cottage Grove Speedway. He was 45. Born on May 4, 1980, David’s life was filled with a deep passion for racing and family. He was a dedicated competitor in many divisions he had become a fixture in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod division, claiming track titles at Cottage Grove in both 2019 and 2024. Known for his steady hand behind the wheel and warm heart in the pits, he earned the respect of fellow drivers. Away from the racetrack, David was a devoted husband, father, and stepfather. He is survived by his wife, Melinda Schmidt; daughter, Sierra Schmidt; and stepchildren, Devin, Taylor, and Sierra Krussow. He also leaves behind his loving parents Ron and Cindy Burton, who supported his racing journey from the very beginning. A celebration of life will be held at noon on Sunday, July 27, at Cottage Grove [Read More]

Muth Masters Modified Midweek Mayhem at Cottage Grove

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (July 16, 2025) –– Brett Muth thrilled his hometown fans with a determined 25-lap victory in Wednesday’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Cottage Grove Speedway, the second race of the 2025 Midweek Mayhem Series. The triumph marked his second win of the season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Muth grabbed the lead on the opening lap and looked strong early before the caution waved on lap two. When racing resumed, Kevin Williamson—the wheelman of the Superior Fuel Cells no. 42 machine—began chipping away at Muth’s advantage and caught him by lap 12. What followed was a dramatic side-by-side battle between the pair for several circuits, with Williamson momentarily getting the better of it—only to be forced to relinquish the lead due to a yellow on lap 15. That opened the door for five-time and reigning Cottage Grove Speedway track champion Jake Mayden, who methodically worked the high side aboard the Dustin Brooks-owned no. 5M and surged into the lead on lap 17. But Muth wasn’t done yet—he [Read More]

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

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 [Read More]

Whisler Wires IMCA Wild West Speedweek Modified Field at Cottage Grove

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (Jun. 19, 2025) — Eston Whisler wasted no time establishing control of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event at Cottage Grove Speedway on Thursday night during IMCA Wild West Speedweek. The 20-year-old racer from Otis, took the lead at the drop of the green and never looked back. A caution on lap two bunched the field early, but Whisler mastered the lone restart and quickly rebuilt his advantage. As the race stayed green, he encountered lapped traffic by lap 13 and spent the remainder of the 35-lap contest slicing through slower cars. Behind him, a spirited battle for second unfolded between Kevin Williamson, piloting the Superior Fuel Cell-owned No. 42, and Bricen James in the Schram Motorsports No. 13. James finally cleared Williamson on lap 26, but the 2019 Shaw Race Cars Western Region champion and 2022 Speedweek king was too far back to mount a charge. Whisler went unchallenged to score his first career Speedweek victory, and his third Shaw Race Cars Western Region triumph of 2025 — [Read More]

Curtis and Tiffany Towns: Together in Victory on a Fairytale Night

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (Jun. 6, 2025) — May 17 was more than just a night of racing at Cottage Grove Speedway. For Curtis and Tiffany Towns, it was magic — a shared dream realized. Racing in front of their hometown crowd, both husband and wife picked up wins in their respective IMCA divisions: Curtis in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, and Tiffany in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. It marked Tiffany’s first career feature win, and for the Towns family, it was unforgettable. As she climbed out of her car and pumped her fists into the air, the crowd roared. Within seconds, Curtis sprinted into victory lane, wrapped her in a hug, and raised her arm in triumph. “I said once that my biggest dream was to win on the same night as Curtis,” she said. “To have it actually happen still doesn’t feel real.” A Journey From Skybox to Speedway Curtis began his racing career in 2006, following in the tire tracks of his uncle Don Muth — a local legend at [Read More]

2025 IMCA Wild West Speedweek Set for Seven Races in Eight Nights Across Oregon

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 22, 2025) — The best of the West will once again converge in the Pacific Northwest as the 2025 edition of IMCA Wild West Speedweek returns for a thrilling stretch of racing from June 14 through June 21, featuring seven races at six tracks over eight nights, all within the borders of Oregon for the first time in several years. The tour opens Saturday, June 14 at Southern Oregon Speedway, then heads northwest to Coos Bay Speedway for a two-night stay on June 15 and 16. The action continues Tuesday, June 17 at the Douglas County Dirt Track, followed by a midweek break on Wednesday, June 18, for a Pit Party at Cottage Grove Speedway. The engines fire back up on Thursday, June 19, at Cottage Grove, then roll into Willamette Speedway on Friday, June 20, before the grand finale at Sunset Speedway Park on Saturday, June 21. This year’s tour features Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, and Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods. Speedweek has been sanctioned [Read More]

Matt Sanders Surges from Ninth to Score SportMod Victory at CGS

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (May 10, 2025) — Matt Sanders charged from ninth to take command of the 25-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod main event at Cottage Grove Speedway. The 2022 Oregon State and track champion steadily worked his way through the pack, eventually slipping past Garrett Craig for the lead on the backstretch of lap 10. Once in front, Sanders set a blistering pace and opened up a comfortable gap over the field. Craig, who led the opening laps, maintained a strong run in second, fending off multiple challengers as Sanders pulled away. The race for third became the focal point in the closing laps, with Aaron Bloom and Isaac Sanders battling door-to-door until Bloom secured the spot in the final circuits. For the Brookings native, the victory was his second of the season — both coming at the historic ¼-mile oval. Craig and Bloom completed the podium in an exciting SportMod feature. Henderson Hustles to First Sport Compact Win of 2025 Dusten Henderson delivered a determined drive to win the 20-lap [Read More]