2019 FILE PHOTO – The 2022 season gets underway this weekend at Cottage Grove Speedway.
COTTAGE GROVE – Diehard racing fans don’t need any gimmicks or promotions to show up at their local track.
But let’s focus on everyone else for just a moment. It might take a little extra incentive to get Average Joe Fan to spend his Saturday afternoon at the track.
That’s where Joe Palumbo and Sandie Barker come in.
As event organizers with Variety Bazaars of Cottage Grove, they saw an opportunity – and they ran with it.
“Last December, the WOE had a Christmas festival and we had an event,” Palumbo said. “The track had been down due to Covid, and we thought this was a good time to try to make racing an event in Cottage Grove.
“I’d love to make it a regular RV stop for people. Then if the track starts doing better business, they’ll have to build a new grandstand – but that’s a win for everybody.”
Part of the new incentive plan is live music. The track opens Saturday at noon, with Palumbo’s own band, FOUR, scheduled to perform. The Fred May Band will play on March 26 and El Borko is scheduled to play on April 2. There will be a live band every Saturday, and Palumbo said he hopes to end the summer with a mega-show on the last weekend in August, with 5-7 local acts. There will be a fee for each car, with a portion of the money going toward education programs in Cottage Grove.
The grounds at Cottage Grove Speedway will also feature an artist’s village, with a variety of food vendors including Covered Bridge Brewing. The Elks Club will have a grill out there, too.
“The tagline for this project is: Make it a Day for a Night at the Races,” said Palumbo, who previously helped organize the BottleRock music festival in Napa Valley, Calif. “We really hope to make a positive impact on local education. This is a two- to three-year plan, but the more people who attend for the music and the food, the more who will come back after getting hooked on the racing.
“We just have to get them to come out here first.”
March 19
SEASON OPENER
360 Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, Street Stocks, IMCA Sport Compact
March 26
Late Models, Limited Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods
April 2
Limited Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Sport Compact
April 9
360 Sprints, Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Street Stocks
April 16
EGGSTRAVAGANZA EASTER
Wingless Sprints: WSS – Wingless Sprint Series, IMCA SportMods, Street Stocks, IMCA Sport Compact
April 23
GETTIN’ DIRTY ON EARTH
Late Models, Limited Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods
April 29
SPRING FLING NIGHT #1
360 Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, Street Stocks
April 30
SPRING FLING NIGHT #2
360 Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Sport Compact
May 7
MOM’S NIGHT OUT – MOMS FREE GENERAL ADMISSION
Limited Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, Street Stocks
May 14
FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT
Late Models, Limited Sprints, Street Stocks, IMCA Sport Compact
May 21
MARVIN SMITH MEMORIAL TUNE UP & ARMED FORCES NIGHT
360 Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, Dwarf Cars, IMCA Sport Compact
May 28
MARVIN SMITH MEMORIAL GROVE CLASSIC NIGHT #1
360 Sprints: Western Sprint Tour; Economy Midgets
May 29
MARVIN SMITH MEMORIAL GROVE CLASSIC FINALE NIGHT WITH FIREWORKS!
360 Sprints: Western Sprint Tour; Economy Midgets
June 4
FROGGY 44 TRIBUTE TO MEL WALKER
Late Models, Limited Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Compact
June 11
KID’S NIGHT (12 and under free general admission, bicycle giveaways)
Wingless Sprints: WSS – Wingless Sprint Series; Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods
June 18
KING OF THE WEST/NARC & MODIFIED SPEEDWEEK
410 Sprints – Winged: NARC King of the West Sprints
IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Stock Car
June 21
WILD WEST MODIFIED
IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Stock Car
June 25
WALLBANGER CUP
360 Sprints, Late Models, Street Stocks, IMCA Sport Compact
July 2
FREEDOM CUP NIGHT #1
Limited Sprints, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Sport Compact
July 3
FREEDOM CUP NIGHT #2
Limited Sprints, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Sport Compact
July 4
FREEDOM CUP FINALE – FIREWORKS
Limited Sprints, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Sport Compact
July 9
LADIES NIGHT – LADIES 18+ FREE GENERAL ADMISSION
360 Sprints, Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Street Stocks
July 16
CHRISTMAS IN JULY & THE RALPH BLOOM MEMORIAL– $10 GENERAL ADMISSION
Limited Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, Street Stocks
July 23
VIRGIL HANSON MEMORIAL LOGGER’S CUP
Late Models, IMCA SportMods, Dwarf Cars, IMCA Sport Compact
July 26
WESTERN SPRINT TOUR SPEEDWEEK
360 Sprints: Western Sprint Tour
July 27
WESTERN SPRINT TOUR SPEEDWEEK
360 Sprints: Western Sprint Tour
July 29
WESTERN SPRINT TOUR
360 Sprints: Western Sprint Tour; Street Stocks, IMCA Sport Compact
July 30
WESTERN SPRINT TOUR SPEEDWEEK FINALE
360 Sprints: Western Sprint Tour; IMCA Modifieds, Street Stocks
Aug. 5
MARK HOWARD MODIFIED NATIONALS NIGHT #1
IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, Hardtops
Aug. 6
MARK HOWARD MODIFIED NATIONALS FINALE
IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, Hardtops
Aug. 11
MID SEASON PRACTICE
Aug. 12
DWARF CAR NATIONALS
Dwarf Cars
Aug. 13
DWARF CAR NATIONALS
Wingless Sprints: WSS – Wingless Sprint Series; Dwarf Cars
Aug. 16
ISCS WEEK OF SPEED
Limited Sprints, Dwarf Cars
Aug. 17
ISCS WEEK OF SPEED
Limited Sprints, Dwarf Cars
Aug. 27
HERZ PRECISION PARTS WINGLESS NATIONALS & BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
Wingless Sprints: WSS – Wingless Sprint Series; Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Sport Compact
TICKETS
Adult general admission: $15; kids GA (6-12): $5; senior GA : $12; military GA: $12; family GA (2 Adults& 4 Youth 6-12): $40; Junior GA (13-17): $12
