7/31/2024
Cottage Grove Speedway
Bricen James Wins Virgil Hanson Memorial Logger's Cup; Ian Whisler, Langan, And Robustelli Also Pick Up Victories
Bricen James Wins Virgil Hanson Memorial Logger's Cup; Ian Whisler, Langan, And Robustelli Also Pick Up Victories
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Jason Davenport Photography)
Cottage Grove, Oregon—Cottage Grove Speedway hosted one of the biggest Late Model races on the West Coast with the $4,200.00 to win the Virgil Hanson Memorial Logger's Cup. Also on the card were the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds presented by Wheeless Trailers Sales Service & RV Repair, Street Stocks, and Dwarf Cars.
The forty-two lap Logger's Cup main event started off with Portland pilot Joey Tanner, in the Darren Coffell-owned entry, getting to the front on the opening start. However, the first ten laps were caution-plagued, with five of the eight total stoppages occurring in that period. Despite challenges from the Jimmy Schram-fielded machine of Collen Winebarger, from Corbett and Coos Bay sensation Preston Luckman knocking on the door, they all would be kept in check by Tanner.
On the tenth lap, Albany's Bricen James motored the Jerry Schram-owned car around the top side of the historical 1/4-mile clay oval to obtain the lead. Shortly after the overtake, a yellow would come out, but James would keep the lead as everyone was able to come across the stripe.
Several instances of lapped traffic entered the mix. In the second half of the race, it would be intense as Luckman chased James to try to get the lead.
In the final six laps, both parties experienced a close call in heavy traffic when a couple of cars got together and nearly collected them. On the restart, Luckman kept James honest, but James's sheer determination and skill outlasted him to win his second straight Logger's Cup.
Luckman was a respectable runner-up, while Otis' Eston Whisler came in third. Winebarger was fourth, and Lebanon's McLain Beaudoin earned fifth.
The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified finale, presented by Wheeless Trailer Sales Service & RV Repair, witnessed intensity and dominance. Things began with Lebanon driver Carter Patterson powering to the front on the opening lap. Behind him, Eston Whisler, in his second shift of the night, duked it out with the Dustin Comer-owned entry, piloted by double-duty driver Bricen James for second. James secured the runner-up position only to have his night end when mechanical problems ended his night early and brought out a caution. John Campos, from Scio, and Whisler inherited second and third.
When the restart got the field back up to speed, Ian Whisler, also from Otis and the younger of the two Whisler brothers, showed his competitive spirit as he blitzed towards the front and captured the race lead by the completion of the third circuit. While he tried to establish a sizable gap, a fierce competition for second occurred: Patterson, Eston Whisler, and Campos all going at it, adding to the suspense and anticipation of the race.
Campos rose to prominence when the green light returned and moved into second place on the restart. Ian Whisler again got out to a healthy lead but was slowed down with eight laps remaining due to the main event's final caution.
As Ian Whisler dominated the closing stages, the race for second was a close one. Campos and Nick Trenchard, aboard the Biehn Racing machine, had a see-saw battle in the final laps. Ian Whisler, who began the race fourth, hit pay dirt for the first time in 2024 in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region.
Campos held off Trenchard at the line to finish second. The rest of the Top 5 consisted of Springfield chauffeurs, with Aaron Sheelar and Jake Mayden grabbing fourth and fifth, respectively.
The Street Stock main event saw Tahlan Rogers, from Albany, seize control of the race lead from the get-go. Rogers came under heavy fire on the second circuit from Jasper's Andrew Langan. Langan, racing for car owner Josh Linville, made a sweeping pass around the outside of Rogers to obtain the lead.
The lone caution occurred with four laps successfully scored. Langan was excellent on the restart and walked away from the competition. However, things would intensify as Phil Lovorn, from Corvallis, mustered a late race charge, closed down on Langan, and challenged him in the closing laps. Langan kept back Lovorn and held on to win the main event for his first win at CGS in 2024.
Lovorn finished a respectable second, while Rogers ended his evening third. Eugene's Adam Applebee was fourth at the line, followed by Jared Simmons of Cottage Grove.
When the green flag was released, Josh Rodgers took control of the race lead in the Dwarf Car main event. Three laps into the contest, the Lowell driver would receive a significant challenge from Tanner Curr from Albany, with Astoria's Robert Rush adding to the ingredients to make it a three-car battle for the top spot.
Curr would obtain the lead on the fifth circuit, only for Rush to get to the point the next time around. A pair of cautions around the halfway mark disallowed Rush from running away with it.
Camden Rosbustelli, originally from Medford but now a Roseburg resident, came to call and got around Rush on lap fourteen. Josh King, of Medford, reeled in Rosbustelli and tried to put some pressure on him, but he was unable to perform the overtake.
Robustelli scored the triumph while King and Rush were second and third. Rogers ended up being fourth followed by fifth finishing Rod Glenney.
The event was broadcasted on IMCA TV affiliate Dirt Oval TV.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage
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