8/31/2024
Cottage Grove Speedway
Eston Whisler Beats Bricen James To The Line At CGS Driver Appreciation Night
Eston Whisler Beats Bricen James To The Line At CGS Driver Appreciation Night
By Ben Deatherage
Cottage Grove, Oregon (August 30th, 2024)—It was a nail-biting thriller at Cottage Grove Speedway as Eston Whisler, starting the race fourth, clinched a massive victory in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds presented by Wheeless Trailer Sales & RV Center. In the S.D.M.F. Race Cars house car, the Otis driver seized the lead on the final lap, edging out Bricen James in a heart-stopping finish. This was his second victory of 2024 at Cottage Grove Speedway and in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region.
While Bricen James took the lead in the early stages of the feature, the race for third was a fierce affair between Jacob Mallet Jr. and Trevor La Barge. Though it seemed the outcome was uncertain, Mallet eventually gaining the upper hand in this intense conflict.
As the race entered the final ten circuits, things got interesting. Whisler would give chase to James and caught the pacesetter with six to go.
As James stuck to the high side, Whisler was making strategic moves down low. The two engaged in a tactical duel for the first-place position, with Whisler gaining a slight advantage as they approached the finish line. The two front runners would switch lanes on the final circuit, and Whisler would once again put car owner Dustin Comer in victory lane.
James was a respectable second, with the Californian Mallet ending his evening third.
Two other Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly divisions were on the docket, including the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, locally sponsored by Roadhouse Billiards & Brew, and the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts supported by Kiefer. Daniel Ray and Melissa Bryant were the winners of those main events.
Four other local divisions were in the house, including the Todd's Auto Body Limited Sprints, Late Models, Street Stocks, and Junior Compacts. Tim Minter, Preston Luckman, Shannon Collins, and Kasey Simmons got the victories in those classes.
Ray Bloom was the trailblazer in the early goings of the IMCA Northern SportMod finale. Despite having to deal with being challenged and restarts, Bloom stayed ahead of the competition. Trevor Points briefly got by the leader, but the pass was negated due to a yellow flag coming out before the lap could be completed.
A three-car dogfight ensued at the point as Bloom, Points, and Jordan Henry all duked it out, with each driver making daring moves and strategic maneuvers. Henry performed a magisterial double overtake on the eleventh circuit to become the new leader. As that took place, Matt Sanders began to enter the fray.
Sanders eventually got up into second, ran down Henry, and tried to challenge, but the two ended up getting together, resulting in both spinning. Aaron Bloom inherited the top spot.
Unfortunately, Aaron Bloom had issues, got sideways on the restart, and returned the lead back to his father, Ray.
Daniel Ray put together a great run when the race finally got back to green and moved into first place on lap fourteen. Despite having to deal with a late-race restart, the Creswell chauffeur, who started eighth, went on to win his first race of the season at CGS and his second overall victory of 2024.
A dogfight ensued for the runner-up position. David Schmidt would win the drag race to the wire for second, followed by Jacob Shandy in third.
When the IMCA Sport Compact main event got underway, Bryant blitzed to the front. The race was practically a non-stop affair despite a lap one incident. During the race, Bryant built a massive gap ahead of second place running Charles Trissell. However, the race hung in the balance as she began to experience excessive smoke puffing out of her powerplant. She ended up staying the course, hitting pay dirt for her third victory at "The Grove" this season.
Melissa's father, Burnie, performed an incredible double overtake in the final set of corners to earn second. Scarlett Drake completed the podium in third.
Shane Forte lit the way on lap one of the Limited Sprint feature. Winning the race to the line the first time around, he would be overtaken on the following circuit by Melissa Solesbee. Solesbee set a rapid pace, but all her advantages were taken away when the yellow came out with thirteen down.
Cottage Grove's Tim Minter made a wonderful pass shortly after the green flag returned and would hold on for the victory to earn his third win of the current campaign.
Forte and David Marble were second and third.
The Late Models would have a wild one. Rob Williams led early, only to be passed by Mike Peters the next time around the historic ¼-mile clay oval. Jimmy Whisler eventually ran down Peters to get him on the sixth circuit.
After a number of slowdowns due to stoppages, it became a father-son affair when Whisler tried to fend off his son Eston, who was pulling double duty. Eston's persistence paid off on lap twenty-four when his father briefly went over the cushion.
Eston Whisler tried to escape from the rest of the contenders, but Luckman came to call late. The Coos Bay challenger, who recovered from an early race spin on lap ten, powered under the younger Whisler to procure the race lead and win the race to the checkers. It is the third time he has mastered the field at Cottage Grove.
The House of Whisler was second and third, with Jimmy beating his son Eston.
Adam Applebee had a magnificent run in the Street Stock final. He had his hands full with Andrew Langan in the Josh Linville-provided mount, and the two jockeyed with each other for several laps. Unfortunately, the two would get together on the fifteenth time past the flag stand.
Shannon Collins, originally from Magalia, California but has since relocated to Camas Valley, inherited the lead, checked out on the restart, and won the main event.
Langan and Applebee recovered to finish second and third respectively.
Kasey Simmons dominated the Junior Compact feature by getting the race lead after the top runner spun out. The Creswell chauffeur skillfully navigated the racing surface to collect his fourth straight win in the class.
Rowen Lancaster was second, while Shane Dowty recovered from an early race caution to grab third.
The event was broadcasted on IMCA TV affiliate Dirt Oval TV.
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Submitted By: Ben Deatherage