9/15/2019
Cottage Grove Speedway
Championship Night Victories Go To R. Ashley, Campos, Smith, M. Sanders, McDonald, And Cooper
Championship Night Victories Go To R. Ashley, Campos, Smith, M. Sanders, McDonald, And Cooper
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of JRP Race Photos)
Cottage Grove, Oregon- The final night of racing at Cottage Grove Speedway was battled out on Saturday, September 14th. The historic ¼-mile clay oval hosted another full six class-card for the second consecutive night. Divisions in action were the Todd’s Auto Body Sprints, Mohawk Metal IMCA Modifieds, Late Models, IMCA Sport Mods, Street Stocks, and Hornets.
Melissa Solesbee, from Cottage Grove, was the car to beat early in the Todd’s Auto Body Sprint main. She held the position until getting passed on lap ten by Tanner Holmes. Holmes, of Jacksonville, cruised right along but unfortunately suffered a flat right rear tire and gave the top spot to Ricky Ashley. The Thurston racer, Ashley, held on the rest of the way to close the year out with his first win of the season.
Eugene’s Raquel Ivie ended her night in second while Melissa Solesbee scored a third-place finish. Albany teenager Brody Sim crossed the wire in fourth followed by Scott Fox, of Newberg, in fifth. Junction City’s Shane Forte was crowned the track champion in the division for the second straight season and the third time overall.
Cottage Grove youngster Evan Britton paced the Mohawk Metal IMCA Modified feature for much of the race. Unfortunately, Britton went off of the top on lap eleven, giving the lead to John Campos. Campos held on to the top spot, despite his hood panel folding back and hampering his vision slightly. It was the second straight victory at “the Grove” for the Keizer chauffeur.
Springfield’s Jake Mayden took home second while Bricen James, of Albany, came across the finish line third. James started dead last and tagged the back of the field after finishing second at Willamette Speedway earlier in the night. Otis teenager Eston Whisler ended his weekend fourth while Derick Young, from the Central Oregon city of Hines, placed fifth. Jake Mayden won his second straight track championship in the class.
The Late Models had an action-packed main event. Jimmy Whisler looked to park his mount in victory lane for the second straight night. The Otis racer took control of first place on the opening lap but ended up getting passed on the fourth circuit. Mike Peters, from Cottage Grove, obtained the coveted position and held on to it for some distance.
Peters continued to blaze the trail for the field until lap eight when he has overtaken by Brian Smith Smith, of Sweet Home and racing for car owner Jerry Casey, took over and didn’t look back as he went on to cruise to the winner’s circle. Brian managed to capture his third checkered flag, making him the most winning driver in the division in 2019. He also emerged as the Late Model track champion his third title in three different divisions at three different track.
Teammate Chad Grove, of Bend, posted a second-place finish with Mike Peters taking home a robust third-place result. Longtime Veneta racer Tom Lawson was fourth and Chuck Christian, from Eugene, completed the top five, in fifth.
A wild and crazy IMCA Sport Mod ensued. Tharen Trisell, from Springfield, had a great early run in the first few circuits. Trisell would be overtaken on the fifth lap by K.C. Scott. Scott, also from Springfield, held on the position for a couple of trips past the flag stand before Matt Sanders made a power move around him on lap seven.
Sanders would tame the field the rest of the way. The only thing to slow him down was three restarts, including a massive seven-car pile up on the front stretch. Matt Sanders, of Brookings, went on to win his fifth IMCA Sport Mod race of the season at CGS which made him the most winningest driver in the division.
Jordan Henry, of Roseburg, squeaked by Isaac Sanders, also from Brookings, to end the night third. K.C. Scott was fourth over fifth finishing Steve Hopkins, from Roseburg. Despite getting caught up in the lap eight maelstrom on the front stretch David Schmidt, now living in Roseburg, earned his first career Cottage Grove championship.
Kelly McDonald put in one last dominating shift in the Street Stocks to close the year out. The Cottage Grove veteran, running for car owners Tom and Joan Langan, governed the field the entire distance. He went on to win for the sixth time this year and also put together a clean sweep of the whole weekend. McDonald also earned his first career track championship at CGS after racing at the facility for over three decades.
Eugene’s Adam Applebee was a respectable runner-up while David Schmidt, pulling double duty, placed third. Richard Clink, from Eugene, ended the race fourth with fifth place going to Keizer youngster Anthony Prather.
Lastly, the Hornets had an incredible final race of the campaign. Veneta driver Josh Linville set the tone early by leading the first four laps. He would be overtaken on the fifth circuit by Kerry Cooper, of Cottage Grove. Cooper would battle it out with Pleasant Hill’s Adam Keegan only for Keegan to pass for the lead on lap eight.
Keegan felt a lot of pressure and slipped back to second when Jasper ace Eric Ashley overtook him on the thirteenth lap. Unfortunately, Ashley, racing for car owner Randy Kuhl, lost a tire and wheel on lap sixteen giving the lead back to Keegan. The race for the win came down to the final corner of the final circuit when Kerry Cooper made his way past Keegan for the victory. It is the first time Kerry Cooper has hit pay dirt this year, and he became the sixth different winner in eighteen Hornet.
Adam Keegan was a close second while Isaac Stere, of Cottage Grove, posted an incredible third-place finish. Ricky Ashley, pulling double duty and running for Randy Kuhl, came across the line fourth over fifth finishing Brad Moffett, from Eugene. Moffett may not have won the battle, but he bested the competition as he earned his first track championship.
Cottage Grove Speedway may be complete with racing, but they have one last event on the calendar. Monster Trucks will invade the facility on Friday, September 20th, and Saturday, the 21st. Tuff Trucks and Trash Cars will also be on the card. For more information, log on to www.cottagegrovespeedway.com.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage