8/3/2021
Cottage Grove Speedway
Jesse Williamson Sweeps 2021 Mark Howard Memorial CGS Modified Nationals; Pope, Alberding, Desbiens, And B. Smith Also Collect Wins
Jesse Williamson Sweeps 2021 Mark Howard Memorial CGS Modified Nationals; Pope, Alberding, Desbiens, And B. Smith Also Collect Wins
(Photo Courtesy of JRP Racing Photos)
Cottage Grove, Oregon- Night two of the Mark Howard Memorial Cottage Grove Speedway Modified Nationals took place on Saturday, July 31st. Two Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing Program divisions topped the bill, including the IMCA Modifieds and Royalty Core Custom Grille & Truck Parts IMCA Northern Sport Mods. Additionally, they were accompanied by the Todd’s Auto Body Sprint Cars, Senior Sprints, and Hardtops.
The fifty-two lap $2600 to win feature started off with Jesse Williamson obtaining the lead on the initial start. After that, the Coburg chauffeur reigned supreme against the competition, but he did have to be smart on the restarts. As a result, eight total stoppages occurred, including four in the last dozen circuits.
There were points in which lapped traffic was caught, and Williamson was briefly challenged; he flexed his muscle against the field from those times on. Nevertheless, Jesse Williamson swept the weekend en route to his record leading seven Mark Howard Memorial Cottage Grove Speedway titles.
Jesse has amassed an impressive five straight wins to his credit, going back to Independence Day, on July 4th, when he was victorious for the first time in 2021. All triumphs have been earned in KMJ Performance Oregon State and Shaw Race Cars Western Region action.
Corbett’s Collen Winebarger was second with the Rich and Nikki Biehn owned entry, driven by Nick Trenchard of Klamath Falls, ending the race third. Stayton racer Grey Ferrando placed fourth over fifth finishing Jake Mayden from Springfield. Mayden won the consolation feature earlier in the evening.
A new face emerged victorious in the Royalty Core Custom Grille & Truck Parts IMCA Northern Sport Mods. Anthony Pope, from Roseburg, captured the lead on lap seven and didn't look back from there.
Racing for car owner Doug Coffman, Pope overtook Corbett youngster Skyler Winebarger on lap seven. Winebarger took control of the top place position on lap six earlier in the race when he maneuvered around Springfield’s Shawn Hand.
Pope dominated the rest of the way to earn his first career victory in the Royalty Core IMCA Northern Sport Mods and KMJ Performance Oregon State action. He is the third driver to win on the final night of the Mod Nationals in Sport Mod competition.
Fellow Roseburg racer Jordan Henry wound up second with Aaron Bloom, now living in Winston, grabbing third. Springfield’s Dustin Comer and Matt Sanders of Brookings were fourth and fifth in the finishing order.
It was to be a wild and crazy Todd’s Auto Body Sprint Car show. Tyler Thomspon, in the Brian Crockett equipment, took charge on the opening start. Thompson, from Harrisburg, was off to a dominating performance before a mechanical problem on lap twelve forced him to bow out early.
On the restart, Kyle Alberding was the new leader. Alberding of Roseburg held on the top place position despite a heavy challenge coming to the white flag. Kyle scored his second win of the year at CGS.
Junction City veteran Shane Forte was a close second while Justen McConville, from Dundee, ended his night third. Cottage Grove’s Justin Lemon was scored fourth, while Medford native Camden Robustelli finished the race fifth in the T.J. Winningham-owned machine.
Lebanon’s Brian Smith was the winner of the Hardtop main event. Kyran Greene and Jimmy Smith ended their weekend second and third. Zach Toll and Chuck Jacobs were the rest of the top five finishing order. Pat Desbiens put on a clinic in the Senior Sprint division. It is the Sutherlin driver’s first win in the class.
Cottage Grove Speedway returns to racing on Friday, August 6th, and Saturday, the 7th, for the return of the Marvin Smith Memorial Grove Classic. $4100 will be paid out to the winner of the 360 Sprint Car feature on Saturday evening. Late Models will be on hand both nights while Street Stocks appear on just Friday and IMCA Sport Compacts Saturday only. For more information, check out the track website and Facebook page.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage