7/7/2019
Cottage Grove Speedway
B. Hand, C. Winebarger, And Cox Win Hoppes Construction Freedom Cups; B. Hand, Winebarger, And Hood Collect July 6th CGS Wins
B. Hand, C. Winebarger, And Cox Win Hoppes Construction Freedom Cups; B. Hand, Winebarger, And Hood Collect July 6th CGS Wins
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Stephanie Deatherage)
Cottage Grove, Oregon- The third and final night of the 2019 Hoppes Construction Freedom Cup took place on Saturday, July 6th. The three same divisions that had raced all Independence Day weekend long including the IMCA Sport Mods, Mohawk Metal IMCA Modifieds, and the Todd’s Auto Body Sprints. Around eighty total cars would make the trip representing Oregon, Washington, California, North Dakota, and Colorado.
Meridian, California’s Jason Ferguson got out the early race lead in the IMCA Sport Mod race. There he resided until getting passed on lap four by Veneta youngster Gavin Ropchan. Ropchan kept back many challenges but was eventually overtaken on the thirteenth circuit, shortly after a restart, by Travis Pruitt.
Pruitt, from Molalla, was the car to beat for much of the race. Constructing a sizable lead over the rest of the field he would see it evaporated due to a lap twenty stoppage. Braedon Hand made the decisive pass on Pruitt on the twenty-third trip past the flag stand. Hand, of Cottage Grove, won the race to sweep the entire Hoppes Construction Freedom Cup weekend and win the point fund title. Travis Pruitt was second over third finishing Matt Ruf, from Grand Junction, Colorado. The balance of the top five finishing order consisted of Gavin Ropchan and Brookings native Matt Sanders in fourth and fifth, respectively.
In the Mohawk Metal IMCA Modifieds, the party got started with Central Point’s Andy Freeman leading the first lap. Gus Cooper, the veteran racer from Creswell, made it around Freeman on lap two to take control of the field. The Cooper remained until he himself lost possession of the coveted top spot on the eighth circuit.
Taking over the position on lap eight would be Klamath Falls standout Nick Trenchard, racing for car owners Rich and Nikki Biehn. But Trenchard got passed on the following lap by Corbett’s Collen Winebarger and from there on Winebarger set sail. Collen led the rest of the distance for his first win of the weekend and enough points to win the 2019 Hoppes Construction Freedom Cup. It is his fourth total win at CGS this season.
Nick Trenchard finished a respectable second while Albany’s Bricen James posted another third-place result. Fourth in the rundown was Grey Ferrando, of Stayton, with Curtis Towns, from Cottage Grove, finishing behind him, in fifth.
When it came to the Todd’s Auto Body Sprint Cars it was utter dominance from Grants Pass native Jared Hood. Hood took full advantage of starting up front and despite six cautions he managed to master every restart. The cautions ended up playing to Jared’s advantage as they were spaced out enough to where lapped traffic was not a factor, unlike the previous two nights.
Brett McGhie, of Arlington, Washington, took home the runner-up position followed by Kinzer Cox, from Cottage Grove, in third. Eugene’s Raquel Ivie ended her weekend in fourth while Roseburg native Jake Waddell completed the top five, in fifth. The only driver not to win a main event all weekend but still winning the Hoppes Construction Freedom Cup, was Kinzer Cox posting a second, fifth, and a third in three straight nights of action.
Cottage Grove Speedway returns Friday, July 12th and Saturday, the 13th for the final two races of Speedweek Northwest featuring some of the best 360 Sprint Cars in the Western United States. The Late Models and Hornets will be the two support classes both nights.
The schedule for Friday and Saturday is as follows with the Pit Gates open at 1:00 PM, Front Gates 3:30, and Time Trials at 5:30 with Racing beginning at 6:00. Tickets per race are $15.00 for Adults, Seniors/Juniors/Military $12.00, Youths (6-12) $5.00, and Children (5 & Under) are FREE. For more information and updates log on to www.cottagegrovespeedway.com or check out the official Facebook page.
2019 Cottage Grove Speedway Sponsors/Marketing Partners
Archer Floor Covering
Bonanza Drive-Up
Boyce & Sons Landscape & Building Materials
Columbia Distributing
Comfort Suites of Creswell
Farmlands Market
Giant Burger
Goofy's Muffler, Customs, & More
James Heating & Air Conditioning
Maximus Unlimited
Mohawk Metal
O'Reilly's Auto Parts
Pink House
Todd's Auto Body
Welt & Welt
Wenzel's Farm Sausage
Dot’s Trophy Shop
Todd’s Auto Body
Mohawk Metal
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage
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