4/2/2014
Cottage Grove Speedway
Getting Up To Speed With...Mike Peters
Getting Up To Speed With...Mike Peters
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Madman Photography)
Cottage Grove Speedway for the last six seasons has hosted regular Late Model action at the historic ¼-mile clay oval. One of its regulars for the last few seasons has been Mike Peters. Peters is originally from McKinleyville, California but now calls Cottage Grove, Oregon his home. He also is a second generation driver following in the footsteps of his father Ron who raced back in California.
Mike would start his career back in 1999 on pavement down in the Golden State at Eureka’s Redwood Acres Raceway and would also race at Shasta Speedway in Anderson. He would move up to Oregon around 2010 and since 2011 has been a regular fixture at “The Grove”.
Peters will be back in 2014 and hopes to contend for the Late Model championship as he enters his fourth career season on dirt. We got a chance to talk to him about his racing background, why he appreciates his family so much, and what some of his goals are in racing. Now let’s get up to speed with Mike Peters
Driver: Mike Peters
Home Track: Cottage Grove Speedway
Hometown: Cottage Grove, Oregon
Occupation: Freight Broker
Age: 46
Years Racing: 15
Classification: Late Model
Team: Peters Brothers Racing
Car: 88
Chassis: Swartz Race Cars
Sponsors: Send Transportation, Interstate Cargo, Sierra Ridge Cabinets, Ron Peters Cabinets, Bispo Masonry, Cottage Grove Taco Bell, Graphics by Carol Lee
Special Thanks: Azure Schinkel (Fiancée), Elle Peters (Daughter), Family
BD: Well Mike do you know what your plans for 2014 are?
MP: I’m going to run all the races at Cottage Grove this season and go to Lebanon a couple of times and maybe visit Coos Bay and Madras one time this year.
BD: How did you get your start in racing?
MP: My dad raced since I was two down in California and he even ran here a couple of times. I played sports when I was younger and that was my thing so I didn’t really work on the cars.
I started on pavement at Redwood Acres Raceway in Eureka and also raced at Shasta Speedway. Back then I was in the Real Stocks and raced a couple of times in the Asphalt Late Models with my dad’s old car. I moved up here four years ago and I heard one of our neighbors with a motor making some noise and that sound kind of got me back into it.
So I got a Late Model and have been at it ever since. I’ve got to really thank my family especially my fiancée Azure and my daughter Elle because without them I wouldn’t be able to do this.
BD: How fun is it to race at a place like Cottage Grove?
MP: I love it, it’s the funnest track I’ve ever ran on in my entire life. The cars are fun to drive and no matter if I finish first or last I’m still having a good time.
BD: Is there a story for choosing to run the #88?
MP: That was my dad’s number he ran since 1972. The colors on my car and the number is my way of honoring him.
BD: Do you have any goals that you’ve set for yourself for this season?
MP: My goal is every year to be faster than I was the year before and finish every race. This dirt stuff is still new to me so I’m still figuring it all out.
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.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage