4/25/2022
Cottage Grove Speedway
Forte, Rea, Augustine, And I. Sander Win April 23rd Features At CGS
Forte, Rea, Augustine, And I. Sander Win April 23rd Features At CGS
Cottage Grove, Oregon- After a few weeks of inclement weather, Cottage Grove Speedway finally returned to racing on Saturday, April 23rd. Four divisions were at the historic ¼-mile oval, including two Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing program classes. They included the Todd’s Auto Body Limited Sprints, Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Late Models, and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods presented by Royalty Core Custom Grille and Truck Parts.
The Todd’s Auto Body Limited Sprint main event began with Ryan Hirschbock leading the pack. The Klamath Falls teenager was making his debut in the Kinzer Cox-owned entry. However, he would be overtaken by Junction City’s Shane Forte on lap two. In the Kyle Adams-fielded mount, Forte pulled away and built a decent size interval over second place.
As the race continued to stay green, Austin Sause began to reel in the pacesetter. But Shane Forte managed to reestablish a healthy gap over Sause when they got into traffic. Despite a lap twenty-one stoppage, there was nothing to slow Forte down.
Shane Forte recorded his first win of the campaign and became the third different winner in as many races in the class this season. Austin Sause was a respectable second, while Ryan Hirschbock settled for third. Shady Cove’s David Marble placed fourth over fifth finishing Pat Desbiens from Sutherlin.
The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature started with Paul Rea seizing the lead. However, the Eugene veteran did have to deal with four cautions which kept everyone close to him. On the fourth and final restart on lap eighteen, Springfield’s Jake Mayden tried to seize the coveted position from Paul.
Mayden obtained P1 briefly, but Rea counterattacked to reclaim the position. Paul Rea went on to win the race and earn his second victory in 2022. Both wins have come at CGS and in KMJ Performance Oregon State and Shaw Race Cars Western Region competition.
Springfield veteran Aaron Sheelar wound up second in the finishing order, with Curtis Towns of Cottage Grove in the Frank Brewer-owned car in third. Jake Mayden hit the line fourth while Thurston’s Ricky Ashley got fifth.
Rob Williams moved into the race lead on the opening start of the Late Model main event. Williams, from Cottage Grove, held the position for the first few laps before he, unfortunately, spun on the third circuit. After that, Nathan Augustine took control of first place and took off from the rest of the pack.
The La Pine pilot of Augustine had to deal with one caution, but he had no issues being the trailblazer. Nathan again reconstructed a significant lead over second place. On the final corner of the last lap, he nearly went off the top of the track but had such a massive interval over the next car that he could hold on for the victory.
Nathan Augustine is the second driver in two races to grace victory lane in 2022 at “The Grove.” Jason Johnson from Gresham and Albany’s Randy Barley were second and third. Of Cottage Grove and racing for his brother Ed, Mike Peters placed fourth in the order, followed by Rob Williams in fifth.
The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods presented by Royalty Core Custom Grille and Truck Parts had an incredible race. Springfield’s Ray Comer was the car to beat in the early stages. Comer held on to the position until overtaken on the tenth circuit by his son Dustin. Dustin Comer, also from Springfield and running the Art Hiatt-owned machine, was passed shortly after the second and final caution on lap fifteen.
Isaac Sanders of Brookings was the driver to become the new trail boss as he searched for his first Cottage Grove win. However, Sanders’ advantage was narrowed down to a few car lengths by his brother Matt when they got into some lapped traffic.
The battle for supremacy came down to the final lap, with Isaac beating Matt for the win by a narrow 0.097 seconds. It is Isaac’s first career CGS victory and his first of the year. The triumph opens up his winning account in KMJ Performance Oregon State action.
Matt Sanders was a close second, followed by Dustin Comer in third. Ray Comer and Roseburg racer Jordan Henry were fourth and fifth in the finishing order.
Cottage Grove Speedway returns to racing for a doubleheader weekend, the Spring Fling, on Friday, April 29th, and Saturday, the 30th. 360 Sprints and Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds will be on the card for both evenings. Racing Friday only will be the Street Stocks, while joining the card for just Saturday will be the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods presented by Royalty Core Custom Grille and Truck Parts and the Mach-1 Racing Solutions IMCA Sport Compacts. For more information, log on to www.cottagegrovespeedway.com.
Race Results:
Saturday, April 23rd, 2022
Cottage Grove Speedway
Cottage Grove, Oregon
Todd’s Auto Body Limited Sprints
A Feature: 1. 8-Shane Forte; 2. 07-Austin Sause; 3. 1K-Ryan Hirschbock; 4. 4M-David Marble; 5. 4D-Pat Desbiens; 6. 37-Brandon Governor; 7. 93-Tim Minter
Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds
A Feature: 1. 33-Paul Rea; 2. 45S-Aaron Sheelar; 3. 16-Curtis Towns; 4. 5M-Jake Mayden; 5. 85-Ricky Ashley; 6. 02B-Ron Brewster; 7. 4Y-Jimmy Lipke; 8. 83R-Jeffrey Hudson; 9. 22J-Jake Ferguson; 10. 4TH-John Player
Late Models
A Feature: 24-Nathan Augustine; 2. 76-Jason Johnson; 3. 13B-Randy Barley; 4. 78P-Mike Peters; 5. 16-Rob Williams
Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods presented by Royalty Core Custom Grille and Truck Parts
A Feature: 1. 12I-Isaac Sanders; 2. 2M-Matt Sanders; 3. 26-Dustin Comer; 4. Ray Comer; 5. 60J-Jordan Henry; 6. 4-Kevin Williamson; 7. W4-Ron Wilson; 8. 01-Daniel Ray; 9. E3-Ray Bloom; 10. 5T-Theran Trissell; 11. 79-Brandon Norton; 12. 3-Garrett Craig; 13. 69-Kasi Comer; 14. 61-Dean Prather; 15. 42-Chuck Carson; 16. 19-Madilynn Ashley; 17. 33-Dalton Bloom
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage
