Stephanie Deatherage/Special to The Chronicle
Despite only two classes on the card for the Friday, June 14, event at Cottage Grove Speedway, fans were treated to exciting racing. The Interstate Sprint Car Series opened up its 2019 season after the first weekend was rained out a month ago. Also in attendance were the Mohawk Metal IMCA Modifieds.
Harrisburg’s Tyler Thompson was dominant for much of the Interstate Sprint Car Series main event. Thompson held onto the race lead until lapped traffic briefly held him up. It was just enough for Jacksonville teenager Tanner Holmes to put himself in a position to win. Holmes made the key move in turns three and four to edge his way past Thompson on the final corner. It is the first career ISCS victory for Holmes and crew.
Thompson was second and Kinzer Cox of Cottage Grove was third. Roseburg drivers Jake Waddell and Vern Scevers were fourth and fifth, respectively. Earlier in the evening, Junction City’s Shane Forte won the consolation feature.
In the Mohawk Metal IMCA Modifieds the action would be just as intense in its main event. Springfield’s Steve Sturdevant set the tone early until getting shuffled back to second on lap six by Curtis Towns of Cottage Grove. Towns had a fast race car, but Collen Winebarger made a decisive move on a restart to eventually take over the top spot.
Winebarger, from Corbett, had to deal with a lot of restarts himself and managed to execute them flawlessly. However, on the final green flag run, Winebarger and Albany’s Bricen James would duke it out on the final lap. Winebarger held on by a half-car length to score the win and become the first multi-feature victor in the class this season.
James was second over third-finishing Jake Mayden of Springfield. Keizer’s John Campos placed fourth and Towns was fifth. Redmond veteran Mark Carrell was triumphant in the B Main earlier in the program.
