8/2/2024
Cottage Grove Speedway
July 31st CGS Midweek Mayhem Wins Go To Rea, Points, Trissell, And Applebee
July 31st CGS Midweek Mayhem Wins Go To Rea, Points, Trissell, And Applebee
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Heather Boyce)
Cottage Grove, Oregon—The third installment of the highly anticipated Midweek Mayhem event took place at Cottage Grove Speedway on Wednesday, July 31st, marking a thrilling end to the month at the 1/4-mile clay oval. The event featured four exciting divisions, including the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds presented by Wheeless Trailer Sales Service & RV Repair, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods presented by Roadhouse Billiards & Brew, Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts presented by Kiefer, and Street Stocks.
Paul Rea, a seasoned Eugene veteran, wasted no time in asserting his dominance. Seizing the lead on the first lap, he faced a formidable challenge from Otis teenager Ian Whisler. Despite Whisler's best efforts, he couldn't find a way past Rea, who maintained his lead by skillfully navigating the middle of the track and consistently outpacing the competition.
The race had a major twist when the lone caution flag waved with ten to go, eliminating a comfortable gap between first and second. The restart was a heart-pounding moment, as Rea remained the trailblazer, and reigning track champion Jake Mayden got into second. The Springfield racer tried to catch up, but Rea was a bit faster, and Whisler got back around Mayden on lap twenty-one, adding to the excitement of the race.
Whisler mounted a serious charge, but he fell just a little short as Rea the entirety. It was Rea's first victory of the year at Cottage Grove and in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Whisler was a strong second, with Mayden collecting third. Brett Muth, of Cottage Grove, and defending Oregon State champion Carter Patterson, from Lebanon, were fourth and fifth.
The stoppage-free Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, presented by Roadhouse Billiards & Brew, the main event kicked off with Jacob Shandy taking over the duties as the race leader right off the bat. Originally from Arlington but now residing in Corvallis, he immediately constructed a healthy advantage. At the same time, the Points Racing teammates, Trevor Points of Salem and Thurston's Ricky Ashley got around Matt Brown from Cottage Grove to propel themselves to second and third on lap three.
Ashley tried his best to get around Points, but Points denied him access to perform the overtake. Both drivers started to make positive gains and caught up to Shandy beginning a three-car tussle for the top spot.
Points, who had an excellent run on the high side, made a strategic move on the ninth circuit out of the second corner. Ashley, on the other hand, stalked Shandy to secure second place, a position he would eventually claim on lap eleven.
Some traffic would come into the mix with ten trips around the historic 1/4-mile clay oval, but it was no obstacle for Points, who began the race in third. The defending Oregon State champion held on the rest of the way to score his fifth victory of 2024 and the third time he has succeeded at CGS this year.
Ashley was a respectable second while third went to Battle Ground, Washington's Dalton Bloom, in the Schram Motorsports-fielded mount. Shandy ended the night fourth, followed by Creswell veteran Jason Kocks in fifth.
When the green flag fell, Randy Kuhl pounced out in front of the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact, presented by Kiefer, competition. The Springfield driver simply took off from all contenders, while second place was a melee between Sutherlin's Melissa Bryant and Roger Bell from Marcola.
Bell successfully kept Bryant in check, but suddenly, a new threat emerged, with the likes of Charles Trissell. Trissell, another Springfield runner, battled hard with Bell and eventually got past him around the halfway mark.
Trissell then chased the leader, Kuhl, as the race stayed incident-free. With five circuits remaining, the runner-up had a really good run and began to mount a strong challenge. The two would go side by side, coming to the white flag, with Trissell edging Kuhl at the wire and holding off Kuhl to score the triumph.
Starting the race seventh, it was Trissell's first win of 2024 in his rookie campaign in the class. Kuhl and Bell balanced the podium to finish second and third. The House of Bryant comprised fourth and fifth, with Burnie and Melissa earning the positions.
Eugene's Adam Applebee was a dominant force in the Street Stock finale. He took over the lead and peddled out to a major advantage over the rest of the competition. H would have to slow down due to the lone stoppage of the race on lap eight.
On the restart, he would feel some pressure from Cottage Grove chauffeur Jared Simmons. Applebee withstood all challenges and held on to win for the second time at Cottage Grove in 2024.
Simmons was second, followed by Shannon Collins of Camas Valley in third. Brad Hicks, from Creswell, completed the finishing order in fourth.
The event was broadcasted on IMCA TV affiliate Dirt Oval TV.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage
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