4/2/2014
Cottage Grove Speedway
CGS Excited To Host Late Model Action In 2014
CGS Excited To Host Late Model Action In 2014
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Madman Photography)
Cottage Grove, Oregon- Cottage Grove Speedway has hosted regular Late Model action since 2007 when it replaced the Sportsman class. Since then the historic ¼-mile clay oval has produced some memorable races over the years. In the last three years there have been three different champions and in the seven seasons of the division’s existence there have been five different title winners. In 2014 ten races are scheduled for the Late Models at “The Grove”. On April 19th and May 10th the regulars of Cottage Grove will go up against the likes of the Northwest Extreme Late Model Series.
“Our Late Model count isn’t the largest in the area but they are competitive,” commented Cottage Grove Speedway General Manager Heather Boyce, “there are a few times this year I hope some Willamette Speedway guys come and run down here when they have a week off. A couple of times in 2014 the crate series will run with our cars and I enjoy them when they run together and I think they put on a good show.”
The past three seasons there have been some very entertaining point battles with the eventual champion winning by less than one hundred points. Mark Carrell held off Casey Vitale by twenty-six points in the final race of the season to win his second career CGS Late Model title in 2011 and in 2012 Rob Mayea won his championship by thirty-two markers over Trent Elliott. Last year Paul Culp won his first career crown by ninety-three points, won two main event features, and posted seven top five finishes in nine starts.
In the last few seasons the wins have been spread around as nine different drivers have won in the last sixteen races. Trevor Glaser has won four main events in that two year span including three last season as well as the 2013 Firecracker 100. Collen Winebarger managed to earn three wins last year while drivers with two victories between the years 2012-13 include Tony Brakeall and Paul Culp. Last year was also memorable with Trent Elliott breaking the track record at 12.380 seconds on May 18th.
The Cottage Grove Speedway is set to host a test and tune play day on Saturday April 5th while the first race of the year is planned for the following Saturday on the 12th. Log on to www.cottagegrovespeedway.com for news stories and articles related to the upcoming 2014 campaign.
Former Cottage Grove Speedway Late Model Track Champions
2007- Ricky Ashley
2008- Don Muth Sr.
2009- Don Muth Sr.
2010- Mark Carrell
2011- Mark Carrell
2012- Rob Mayea
2013- Paul Culp
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage