7/11/2015
Cottage Grove Speedway
Curtis Towns Wins Night #1 Of Mark Howard Memorial Cottage Grove Speedway Modified Nationals
Curtis Towns Wins Night #1 Of Mark Howard Memorial Cottage Grove Speedway Modified Nationals
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Northwest Racing Productions)
Cottage Grove, Oregon- Friday July 10th would be the opening night of the 2015 Mark Howard Memorial Cottage Grove Speedway Modified Nationals. The race is named in honor of the late Mark Howard who was a champion on the track and a mentor to countless drivers off the track. A total of thirty IMCA Modifieds would be in the pit area from the states of Oregon and Washington.
Jeremy Richey from Phoenix was in control of the top spot for a good part of the main event. Driving his Rapp Racing/Big Time Repair & Shine/Jahnke Heating & Air Conditioning/Chrome Incorporation #15J J-Rich, Richey, would briefly lose the lead only for the caution to come out just in time for him to get it back. On lap fourteen Richey had contact with another car while contesting for the lead resulting in Richey coming to a halt. That would give the lead to Medford's Tom Berry Jr. in the Berry Oak Grove Storage/BRE Chassis/GaryMorganGraphics.com #11X BRE.
Berry would have the field covered but was unable to develop too big of a lead because of several cautions. Seven total yellow flags took place in the main event and Berry kept all challengers in check. Unfortunately on the final lap a crash occurred in turns three and four which prompted a yellow/checkered situation. Coming to the finish line Cottage Grove driver Curtis Towns would beat out Berry for the win in his Superior Fuel Cells/Valley Rose Construction/IBEW Local 280/West End Performance #24 X-Factor.
The Mark's Autobody #27 GRT by Phillips of Mark Carrell from Redmond also edged out Tom Berry Jr. for second. Finishing behind third place Berry in fourth was Nick Trenchard from Klamath Falls in the Biehn Racing/Nature's Images/Klamath Falls Lithia Dodge-Ford #54N Shaw by JT for car owners Rich and Nicky Biehn while the Todd's Auto Body/D&D Automotive/Vintage Inn Family Restaurant/S.D.M.F. Customs #5 S.D.M.F., driven by Cottage Grove's Braedon Hand, was fifth.
Braedon Hand was fast time of the night during time trials. Heat races were won by Hand, Nick Trenchard, Curtis Towns, and Jesse Williamson of Eugene in his NexGen Race Cars/S.D.M.F. Customs/Furniture Options/Housing Options #W5 NexGen. The Esterlee Motel of Lincoln City/Corvallis Seed & Feed/Dr. Mary Harada Breast Cancer Specialist/Debra Herndon Family Nurse Practitioner #25 Rocket by Ruhlman driven by Albany native Craig Cassell won the consolation feature and Jesse Williamson was the victor in the Race of Champions.
The top ten in overall points from night one are locked into the feature on Saturday July 11th for the scramble and will start no worse than tenth. The ten drivers are (in order of points) Mark Carrell, Nick Trenchard, Braedon Hand, Curtis Towns, Tom Berry Jr., Collen Winebarger, Kinzer Cox, Mark Wauge, John Campos, and Jesse Bailey. The rest of the field will participate in heat race action and will try again to make it into the $2,600.00 to win main event.
Admission prices are Adults $13.00, Juniors/Seniors/Military $10.00, Youths (Ages 6-12) $5.00, and 5 & Under FREE. Pit Gates open at 2:00 PM, Front Gates 4:00, Qualifying 5:30, and Racing begins right around 6:45. Be sure and keep up to date with the latest news and information on CGS by logging on to www.cottagegrovespeedway.com or call the Northwest Track Hotline at (360)-699-RACE. Don't miss out on the Facebook fan page by logging on to your account, search Cottage Grove Speedway, and hitting “Like”.
Race Summary:
Mark Howard Memorial Cottage Grove Speedway Modified Nationals
Friday July 10th, 2015
Cottage Grove Speedway
Cottage Grove, Oregon
A Feature : 1. 24-Curtis Towns; 2. 27-Mark Carrell; 3. 11X-Tom Berry Jr.; 4. 54N-Nick Trenchard; 5. 5-Braedon Hand; 6. 1M-Mark Wauge; 7. S-Collen Winebarger; 8. 1K-Kinzer Cox; 9. 36-John Campos; 10. 11-Steven Sturdevant; 11. 77-Kreg Britton; 12. 16-Jerry Schram; 13. 68-Jesse Bailey; 14. 5M-Jake Mayden; 15. 25-Craig Cassell; 16. 33C-Craig Hanson; 17. W5-Jesse Williamson; 18. 15J-Jeremy Richey; 19. 98-Bruce Ray; 20. 30-Jeremy Shank
B Feature : 1. 25-Craig Cassell; 2. 77-Kreg Britton; 3. 5M-Jake Mayden; 4. 16-Jerry Schram; 5. 45-Aaron Sheelar; 6. 44-Greg McDonald; 7. 89-Albert Gill; 8. 50-Justin Ryker; 9. 21C-Curt Coggins; 10. 81-Gary Silacci Jr; 11. 9M-Jordan McDonald; 12. 57-Ethan Landers; 13. 12Y-Derick Young; 14. 13B-Donald Bandfield
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage