Cottage Grove, Sports Zone

CGS honors Deatherage; six added to ‘Wall’

Steven Snawder and one of his biggest fans celebrate a Sprint Car victory. Photo provided/JRP Racing Photos

Cottage Grove Speedway’s busy weekend got started on Friday, July 19 with the fifth Kart race of 2019. On Saturday, July 20, the quarter-mile clay hosted the Curt Deatherage Memorial along with the annual Historical Night. Classes on the card Saturday included the Todd’s Auto Body Sprints, Mohawk Metal IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods, Street Stocks and Hornets.
In addition to racing on Saturday, some lucky individuals were inducted into the Cottage Grove Speedway Wall of Fame. A big round of congratulations to the Class of 2019: Billy Nutter, Bruce Ray, Gary Hilgendorf, Kay Vinge, Randy McClendon and Gene Powell.
Austin Ellertson, of Cottage Grove, won his fourth race of 2019 in the Pee Wee division. In the 5HP Intermediate/Box Stock division, Roseburg’s Karson Crisp was victorious for the first time this season. In 250cc action, Carter Patterson, from Lebanon, swept the competition en route to his fourth CGS triumph in the current campaign.
Patterson wasn’t done with his winning ways as he carried his success into the Open Kage ranks to ”park it” in victory lane for the first occasion in that class. Lastly, David Connor got the job done in the Flat Karts.
On Saturday night in the Todd’s Auto Body Sprints, it was utter domination by one individual. Roseburg’s Steven Snawder capitalized after starting up front and flexed his muscle against the field. Snawder built a sizable lead, only for the caution to come out around the halfway mark. Mastering the final restart, the recent newcomer to Sprint Cars went unchallenged to the checkered flag for his first win of the season.
Ricky Ashley, of Thurston, rallied to finish second while Winston’s Kyle Alberding was third. Fourth went to Junction City veteran Shane Forte and grabbing fifth was Ian Bandey, of Cottage Grove.
The Mohawk Metal IMCA Modifieds had quite the physical battle with many cautions to accompany the action. A total of eight stoppages befell the field, which took lapped traffic out of the equation and put pressure on drivers on the restarts.
Jesse Williamson was the master and commander for much of the race. Williamson, of Eugene and running his younger brother Kevin’s automobile, paced the field every lap until the release of the white flag. On the final circuit, Bricen James made a bold and daring move to get past Williamson and win the race. It is the second occasion that the Albany youngster has bested the field at CGS this year.
Williamson was a respectable second and third was Ryan Baker, of Coquille. Justin Duty, now residing in Mulino and piloting the Brian Thompson-owned entry, placed fourth while Paul Rea, of Eugene, completed the top five, in fifth.
Justyn Ryker set the tone for much of the IMCA Sport Mod feature. The Cottage Grove pilot, racing for car owners Shawn and Robert Hand, was the trailblazer for the first 11 laps. However, on lap 11 David Schmidt made a key move to get to the front. Schmidt, now living in Roseburg, motored to the checkered flag for his second win of the season.
K.C. Scott, of Springfield, was a respectable second and third was Ryker. The top five was rounded out with Roseburg’s Steve Hopkins, in fourth, and Shawn Hand, of Springfield, in fifth.
In Street Stock action, several lead changes occurred in the main event. McKenzie Lockhart, of Albany, paced the field early only to get passed on the fourth circuit by Garrett Barth.
Barth, of Creswell, soon had his hands full with a fast Kelly McDonald. McDonald, from Cottage Grove and racing for car owners Joan and Tom Langan, took the lead on lap seven only to lose it to Barth on the following lap. McDonald made a decisive move on the ninth circuit and never looked back en route to his second CGS Street Stock win of 2019.
Garrett Barth was second while Schmidt finished third. Lockhart took fourth while Adam Applebee, of Eugene, crossed the wire in fifth.
In the Hornet class, Melissa Abston showed jungle cat quickness on the opening lap. Brad Moffett got in front of Abston, of Cottage Grove, on the second circuit and dominated the rest of the distance, scoring his third triumph of the season.
Cottage Grove’s Kerry Cooper finished second and grabbing third was Mark Milligan of Eugene. Eugene’s Joel Hazen was fourth and fifth went to Jim Simmons, of Cottage Grove.
Cottage Grove Speedway again has a double this coming weekend. Just like last week, the Karts will kick off the party on Friday, July 26 while Saturday, July 27 will be reserved for the quarter-mile. Saturday will feature a sensational lineup with the return of the annual Loggers’ Cup featuring a $2,000-to-win Late Model main event.
The cars and stars of the Interstate Sprint Car Series make their return; also in action will be the IMCA Sport Mods, Street Stocks and Hornets. Since it’s the Loggers’ Cup, all folks involved in the timber industry get into the races for just $10.
For more information and updates, log on to www.cottagegrovespeedway.com or check out the official Facebook page.

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