7/10/2024
Cottage Grove Speedway
CGS Wraps Up 2024 Freedom Cup With Outstanding Racing
CGS Wraps Up 2024 Freedom Cup With Outstanding Racing
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Jason Davenport Photography)
Cottage Grove, Oregon—Cottage Grove Speedway was in action for the third and final night of the 2024 Freedom Cup mini-series on Saturday, July 6th. The Independence Day Weekend tripleheader featured the returns of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds presented by Wheeless Trails Sales Service & RV Repair, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods presented by Roadhouse Billiards & Brew, Todd’s Auto Body Limited Sprints, and the Junior divisions.
The race was off to a thrilling start as Steven Sturdevant of Springfield and Cottage Grove’s Braedon Hand engaged in a fierce battle in the opening corner on the first lap of the feature for the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified presented by Wheeless Trailer Sales Service & RV Repair. Kevin Williamson, from Coburg, added to the excitement as he made it three-wide for first place in turns three and four, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.
Hand, in the Frank and Judy Brewer mount, was first at the line on the opening lap. Curtis Towns, also from Cottage Grove, made a blitzing move towards the front to grab second just before a lap two yellow occurred. Towns quickly chased Hand after the restart with several challenges underneath the leader. As the frontrunners battled, Paul Rea of Eugene tried to capitalize for a double overtake but was unsuccessful in obtaining additional positions at that time.
The caution would come out again with nine circuits completed. Hand would have issues shortly after the green flag returned, allowing Towns to take over the top spot. Defending track champion Jake Mayden would put a serious bid for the lead after moving up into second.
A little bit of lapped traffic was hit with ten to go, but the final caution came out, giving the field an open race track to run on. When the green light was turned on for the final time, Williamson would make an impressive move around Mayden to get into second. Mayden wouldn’t go away quietly as the two battled hard for the runner-up position.
Towns dominated the rest of the way to win for the third win of the season at CGS and in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region after starting eighth. Mayden was finally able to retake second, with Williamson in third. Springfield’s Aaron Sheelar was fourth, followed by fifth, finishing Rea. Towns would also win the Freedom Cup championship, the first time in his decorated career.
The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, main event, presented by Roadhouse Billiards & Brew began with Veneta’s Garrett Craig jetting out to the point. The first stoppage took place with one lap complete, setting things up for a restart. Bloom Family Racing would occupy the top three spots, with Springfield chauffeur Hunter and Ray Bloom of Creswell moving into second and third.
Hunter Bloom's strategic moves were a sight to behold as he tracked down Craig on lap five to overtake him and become the new race leader. Coburg standout Jesse Williamson also displayed his skill as he tried to navigate into third. The battle was intense, but a yellow on the seventh circuit halted the action.
Williamson was great on the restart and propelled the Jerry Schram-owned entry into second. Defending Oregon State moved into third with twenty-five to go after a short battle with Craig. Tragedy struck on the twelfth circuit when Hunter Bloom got sideways, giving Williamson the top spot.
Williamson was good on the restart, but as the green flag developed, Points began to reduce the leader’s advantage. 2022 Oregon State champion Matt Sanders was wonderful, too, when things got back to green when he put his car into third.
Points did his best to keep things close with Williamson, but despite coming up on the tail end of the field, Williamson was just a tad bit quicker. A caution came out with eight laps remaining, taking lapped traffic out of the equation. From Brookings and trying to pull off the weekend sweep, Sanders got around Points for second and began to chase down Williamson.
Things got interesting when the final stoppage occurred with a pair of circuits left to cover. Starting the race fourteenth, Williamson would outrun Sander on the restart to score his third win of 2024, all at Cottage Grove. Sanders was an impressive second, also overtaking thirteen cars, with the podium being rounded up by defending track champion Jordan Henry from Roseburg, who made a successful late charge to third. Corvallis’ Jacob Shandy was fourth, and Hunter Bloom rallied to end the night fifth. Sanders was the overall Freedom Cup champion for the second straight year.
Shane Forte sprinted out to the race lead with a fantastic takeoff at the drop of the green flag. A red and two caution flags were the only things to slow down the former champion from Junction City in the first ten circuits. Steven Snawder, aboard the Brian Crockett-fielded entry, challenged and overtook Forte out of turn two on the twelfth lap. Snawder of Roseburg began to feel pressure around the hallway mark from Cottage Grove’s Tim Minter.
Minter’s patience paid off when he got around Snawder for the lead with two to go to pick up a massive win at “The Grove”. Snawder was second, followed by Ryan Hirschbcok, from Klamath Falls, in third. Forte ended the night fourth with fifth going to Medford’s Skyler Caster in the Don Waddell-owned entry. Hirschbock would win the weekend’s Freedom Cup points.
The Junior ranks witnessed Rowan Lancaster take control of the lead at the start of the main event. The Eugene youngster hauled the mail to the post box to return to his winning ways. Springfield’s Tynlee Mayden was behind him in second, followed by Shane Dowtee of Eugene in third. Mayden was the overall Freedom Cup champion.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage
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