7/6/2021
Cottage Grove Speedway
Burke, J. Williamson, And Braaten Crowned 2021 Freedom Cup Champions At Cottage Grove Speedway
Burke, J. Williamson, And Braaten Crowned 2021 Freedom Cup Champions At Cottage Grove Speedway
By Stephanie Deatherage
Cottage Grove, Oregon- The third and final night of the 2021 Freedom Cup would be an exciting one as the cars and stars of Cottage Grove Speedway battled it all out once more. On Sunday, July 4th, the Independence Day bout hosted the same three divisions from the two previous nights, including two Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing program classes. They included the Todd’s Auto Body Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, and Royalty Core IMCA Northern Sport Mods.
The Todd’s Auto Body Sprints got off to a quick start, with Scotty Fox taking control on the opening lap. Fox, originally from Oakland but now a resident of Newberg was involved in a vicious crash while leading on Friday night. He paced the field until being overtaken on the fifth circuit by Vern Scervers.
The Dixonville veteran of Scevers remained the pacesetter for a lengthy time. Finally, however, on lap nineteen, Bailey Hibbard completed the pass for first place. Hibbard, from Medford, remained there the rest of the distance to record his first win of the season at Cottage Grove.
Camden Robustelli, also from Medford and racing for car owner T.J. Winningham, posted a runner-up finish with third going to Eagle Point youngster Johnny Burke. Jacksonville teenager Carly Holmes was fourth, with the fifth-place being credited to Tyrell Mead, of Winston. Burke would have the most point by a narrow three marker over Hibbard when all the totals were accumulated.
Eric Ashley was the early race leader in the IMCA Modified main event. Ashley, from Jasper, was scored in that position until Chad Groves passed him on the eighth circuit. Groves inhabited the coveted position until lap thirteen.
Jesse Williamson was the one to seize control from Chad Groves. The Coburg native of Williamson had to deal with several restarts and challenges. Still, despite the pressure, he kept his cool and went on to score his first 2021 win at Cottage Grove and in KMJ Performance Oregon State competition as well as Shaw Race Cars Western Region action. His last win was on September 6th, 2020, at CGS.
Klamath Falls’ Nick Trenchard, in the Rich and Nicky Biehn, owned machine, was a close second over third finishing Jake Mayden of Springfield. The rest of the top five would be made up of fourth place Chad Groves and Springfield pilot Steven Sturdevant in fifth. Williamson and Trenchard would tie for the most points accumulated; however, the tiebreaker went to Williamson due to having a better finish of one position in the feature.
In the Royalty Core IMCA Northern Sport Mods main event, Jason Ferguson was the car to beat for most of the race. Originally from Meridian, California, but now calling nearby Yuba City home, Ferguson was at the front until lap seventeen. Unfortunately for Jason, that is the circuit in which Daniel Ray took over at the reigns.
The Springfield driver remained there until lap twenty in which Dustin Comer got around him. Comer, also out of Springfield, briefly lost the lead on lap twenty-five to Jorddon Braaten, only to regain it the next trip around the flag stand.
Dustin Comer remained the frontrunner the balance of the distance to score his third Cottage Grove Speedway and KMJ Performance Oregon State win. The last time he visited victory lane was on May 29th.
Central Point chauffeur Jorddon Braaten was second, with the third spot going to Daniel Ray. Atwater, California traveler Chase Thomas placed fourth while Matt Sanders, from Brookings, ended his fifth. Jorddon Braaten would win his second career, but first since 2018, Freedom Cup title by a healthy fourteen markers over Matt Sanders. Veneta veteran Kevin Ropchan won the lone consolation feature earlier in the program.
Cottage Grove Speedway’s next ¼-mile clay oval race will be Saturday, July 10th. It is billed as Ladies Night, so all ladies 18 years or older get into the races for FREE. Six classes will inhabit the pit area included the Todd’s Auto Body Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, Late Models, Royalty Core IMCA Northern Sport Mods, Street Stocks, and IMCA Sport Compacts. For more information, check out the track website or Facebook page.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage
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