8/25/2020
Cottage Grove Speedway
Crockett, Campos, Coffman, J. Whisler, Clay, And R. Ashley Collect August 22nd CGS Wins
Crockett, Campos, Coffman, J. Whisler, Clay, And R. Ashley Collect August 22nd CGS Wins
By Stephanie Deatherage
(Photos Courtesy of JRP Racing Photos)
Cottage Grove, Oregon- For the fifth time of the 2020 season, Cottage Grove Speedway was back in action on Saturday, August 22nd. Six divisions were on the card including the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods, Late Models, Street Stocks, IMCA Sport Compacts, and Senior Sprints. The Senior Sprints made their first-ever appearance and consisted of Sprint Car racers over the age of fifty.
In Senior Sprint action, Brian Crockett paced the field in the first three circuits. By lap four Shady Cove’s David Marble put his mount forth and into the lead. But Crockett, of Creswell, navigated his way past Marble to reobtain the lead.
Brian would stay out in front and would earn the inaugural Senior Sprint main event. It is the first time that the veteran racer has won in the state of Oregon and at Cottage Grove. It is also the one-hundred-eightieth victory of his decorated career. David Marble was second while the Ed and Monica Sim owned entry, driven by Cottage Grove’s Chris Rolfe, got third. The rest of the top five consisted of Springfield chauffeur Kevin Journey, in fourth, and fifth finishing Gene Ashley, from Jasper.
For the IMCA Modified division, restarts would be a premium. But Keizer’s John Campos would rise to the occasion. Campos took the lead on the opening start and tried his best to construct a large lead but had to deal with six cautions through the course of the feature.
Eston Whisler, from the coastal city of Otis, briefly scooted past Campos on lap nineteen. But John was able to blaze back Whisler to regain supremacy. John Campos led the rest of the distance to win his second race of the 2020 season at CGS. He is the first driver to become a repeat winner at “The Grove” and is tied for the most Modified victories in the state of Oregon this year.
Eston Whisler ended the race in second but unfortunately was disqualified. Springfield’s Jake Mayden, despite spinning to the start/finish line, was recorded in the runner-up spot while third went to Steven Sturdevant, also of Springfield. Aaron Sheelar, from Springfield, and Eugene veteran Paul Rea was fourth and fifth.
The IMCA Sport Mod feature witnessed a whopping nine stoppages. Despite all of the stop and go action it turned out to be an exciting race. Roseburg’s Jordan Henry paced the field on the opening lap but on a restart, he would be overtaken by Dustin Comer. Comer, of Springfield, was on a mission and showed a lot of speed but suffered mechanical issues on lap thirteen that put him out of action for the rest of the night.
Doug Coffman took over the honors as the race leader. The Roseburg racer had to fend off a couple of contenders but none the less maintained the top spot. Coffman went on to win the race to earn his third victory at three different racetracks in 2020. He now leads the state of Oregon for the most overall feature wins.
Eugene’s Hunter Bloom hit the wire second with Jordan Henry claiming third. Steven Sanders, of Brookings, posted a fourth-place result while fifth went to Springfield regular K.C. Scott, via the B Main. Winning the consolation feature earlier in the program was Daniel Ray, from Springfield.
The Late Model feature was a wild and wacky endeavor. Chad Groves, in the Jerry and Mandee Casey owned machine, led early. A couple of cautions took its toll on the car count, but Groves stayed out front. On lap eleven a change of the top position would be witnessed with Jimmy Whisler getting to the front. Despite heavy damage from an earlier incident the Otis racer held on the rest of the way to becoming the first Late Model repeat winner at CGS as he recorded his second win.
Chuck Christian, of Eugene, beat out Chad Groves for second while Groves settled for third. The rest of the top five consisted of Bellfountain driver Willie Sutton, in fourth, and Bruce Rayburn Jr., of Eagle Point, in fifth.
In Street Stocks, four leaders change occurred throughout the main. Marc Farrar, of Sherwood, led lap one while the second circuit was trailblazed by Creswell’s Garrett Barth. Barth was overtaken on lap three by double-duty driver Jake Mayden. Mayden’s role as the point man was short-lived as Barth reclaimed the honors.
However, lap twelve witnessed the final change of first place when Junction City’s Kolby Clay made his way past Garrett Barth. Clay, racing for car owner Adam Applebee, kept the car out in front of the rest of the field to become the fifth different winner in as many races at Cottage Grove. Garrett Barth got second while third place was Cottage Grove driver Eric Freeman. Jake Mayden placed fourth with fifth going to Anthony Prather, of Keizer.
Finally, in the IMCA Sport Compacts, Ricky Ashley showed dominance. Barry Cannon, of Dexter, beat the field to the line on the opening start while lap two was led by Mark Milligan, of Eugene. Milligan stayed in the front until the sixth trip past the flag stand. That is when Ricky Ashley worked his way into the top place position.
Ashley, of Thurston and in the Randy Kuhl entry, checked out from the rest of the pack. Ricky went on to win his second race in the class and became the first repeat winner of the year. Eugene’s Brad Moffett scored a second-place finish over third-place Mark Milligan. Barry Cannon was fourth while fifth went to Cottage Grove newcomer Jeremy DeGrout.
Cottage Grove Speedway returns to racing on Saturday, August 29th for another round of exciting action. Classes in action include Limited Sprints, Wingless Sprints, Northwest Focus Midget Series, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods, and IMCA Sport Compacts.
Race Results
Saturday, August 22nd, 2020
Cottage Grove Speedway
Cottage Grove, Oregon
Senior Sprints
A Feature: 1. Brian Crockett; 2. David Marble; 3. Chris Rolfe; 4. Kevin Journey; 5. Gene Ashley; 6. Dave Button
IMCA Modifieds
A Feature: 1. John Campos; 2. Jake Mayden; 3. Steven Sturdevant; 4. Aaron Sheeler; 5. Paul Rea; 6. Wayne Sturdevant; 7. Brody Sim; 8. Tom Lawson; 9. Roy Kirk Jr.; 10. Dick Wright; 11. Jason Begley; 12. Eric Ashley; 13. Chad Groves; 14. Ray Bloom; DQ Eston Whisler
IMCA Sport Mods
A Feature: 1. Doug Coffman; 2. Hunter Bloom; 3. Jordan Henry; 4. Steven Sanders; 5. K.C. Scott; 6. David Schmidt; 7. Travis Pruitt; 8. Shawn Hand; 9. Aaron Bloom; 10. Gavin Ropchan; 11. Chuck Carson; 12. Matt Brown; 13. Jeff Clough; 14. Jayson Nelson; 15. Dustin Comer; 16. Daniel Ray; 17. Matt Sanders; 18. Mike DeSilva; 19. Joby Shields; DNS Kevin Ropchan
B Feature: 1. Daniel Ray; 2. K.C. Scott; 3. Shawn Hand; 4. Joby Shields; 5. Jim Smith; 6. Dalton Bloom; 7. Roger Bell
Late Models
A Feature: 1. Jimmy Whisler; 2. Chuck Christian; 3. Chad Groves; 4. Willie Sutton; 5. Bruce Rayburn Jr.
Street Stocks
A Feature: 1. Kolby Clay; 2. Garrett Barth; 3. Eric Freeman; 4. Jake Mayden; 5. Anthony Prather; 6. Braedon Casto; 7. Marc Farrar
IMCA Sport Compacts
A Feature: 1. Ricky Ashley; 2. Brad Moffett; 3. Mark Milligan; 4. Barry Cannon; 5. Jeremy DeGrout; 6. Cole Trissell; 7. Jason Loucks; 8. Tim Meltibarger; 9. Bradley Martin; 10. Tyler Fagen; 11. Kerry Cooper; 12. Nick Egbert; 13. Dusten Henderson; 14. Kimberly Cannon; 15. Scarlett Drake
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage