4/20/2014
NW Extreme Late Models
Shaun Mayea Scores Northwest Extreme Late Model Series Opener At Cottage Grove
Shaun Mayea Scores Northwest Extreme Late Model Series Opener At Cottage Grove
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Madman Photography)
Despite some afternoon showers at Cottage Grove Speedway all action was conducted at the historic ¼-mile clay oval as the Northwest Extreme Late Model Series opened up their 2014 campaign. Sixteen cars were on hand to bring in the new season and fans were treated to an exciting show. At the end of the night Shaun Mayea would emerge victorious to become the feature winner and the thirteenth different main event winner with the Northwest Extreme Late Model Series.
The feature was a thriller with Salem’s Jacob Myers leading early. Myers, chauffeuring his “Captain America” themed Baxter’s Auto Parts/Blasen & Blasen Lumber Corp/Powell Motors #9 Rayburn, would battle to retain the top spot but would be overtaken by Jason Johnson from Gresham. Johnson, in his “Incredible Hulk” Jackhammer Trucking/T&G Trucking/Walters Racing #76 Rayburn, would lead the second lap and looked like the car to beat in the first half of the main event.
Johnson, who also was making his racing debut after a nasty wreck at CGS last September, would surrender the lead on lap twelve to Brad Martin of Warren. Martin, Johnson, and Bend’s Shaun Mayea would put on one heck of a race for the lead as all three battled for the top spot in and out of lapped traffic.
The Reser’s Fine Foods/Wayne Martin Floor Covering/Competitive Edge Sign & Design #99 MasterSbilt of Martin in his “Cheetah” themed car would keep all contenders in check for quite some time before a handful of cautions would occur to bunch the field up. On a lap fourteen restart Shaun Mayea would really apply some pressure and managed to pass Martin for the lead on lap eighteen only to give it right back due to a caution coming out shortly after he made the pass.
Martin would retain the lead despite a couple more cautions only to be passed by the Cold Springs Resort/R.G. Remanufacturing/Driving Force Graphics #36 Rocket of Mayea on lap twenty-one. However the two would battle side-by-side for several laps before Mayea secured the lead on lap twenty-three. The remaining laps would see Mayea stretch his legs and get out to a comfortable lead to open up the 2014 season for the Northwest Extreme Late Model Series with a victory and become the thirteenth different winner with the series in the tour’s fifth campaign.
Brad Martin was second followed by the three-time and defending Northwest Extreme Late Model Series champion Greg Walters from Banks, in the T&G Trucking/Warpaint Motorsport Graphix/Duncan Automotive #97 Victory Circle, in third. In fourth was Jerry Schram of Vancouver, Washington in the Schram Brothers Excavating/Century III Stables/Bodies by Steve-O #16 MasterSbilt and the Eugene Gutter Service/EBM Pro Floors/Real Deals Home Decorum #03 Swartz of Veneta’s Kevin Ropchan was fifth.
Shaun Mayea was fast time of the night at 13.945 seconds while Jerry Schram won the trophy dash. Heat race winners were Mayea and Greg Walters.
The Northwest Extreme Late Model Series will be back in action on Saturday April 26th at Sunset Speedway Park in Banks for their second race of 2014. For the latest information including news and stories log on to latemodel.nwextremeseries.com.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage