8/24/2013
Cottage Grove Speedway
Taunton Swaim Scores CGS Hornet Victory
Taunton Swaim Scores CGS Hornet Victory
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Madman Photography)
It was all smiles for Taunton Swaim and his car owner, or should I truck owner, Randy Kuhl in victory lane on Friday August 23rd. Swaim would win his first race of the year at the Cottage Grove Speedway in the Hornet division.
The main event started out with Veneta’s Joe Maricle as the car to beat. Maricle took full advantage from his inside pole position start in the Ram Jack Foundation Repair #11 entry. Maricle built a decent lead in the early goings but just before the halfway mark Matt Cordell of Springfield would put the pressure on.
Cordell, in his Cartwright Automotive & Welding/Secure Transportation #51 entry, would catch and actually pass Maricle several times but Maricle would get the position right back. A caution on lap ten would give Maricle a little bit of a break from holding back Cordell and company off for the much desired lead.
Shortly after the ensuing restart Matt Cordell would get caught up in an incident that would end his night as he made heavy contact on the front stretch wall. Maricle would stay in the lead but on the ensuing restart Taunton Swaim would come into the picture as a potential contender.
A few laps after the restart Swaim would pass Maricle for the lead but Swaim was not out of the woods just yet. As several laps remained it gave Cottage Grove’s Chris Pierce an opportunity to reel in Swaim and potentially make a late race pass. Pierce, in the Material Fabrication/Meineke Car Care #28, ran out of laps though and the win would go to Swaim. Swaim became the eighth different point race winner after he put the Big Dog Recycling/A-1 Auto Supply #17 in the winner’s circle.
Chris Pierce would finish a respectable second followed by Joe Maricle in third. The balance of the top five would consist of the Rapid Delivery/Big Dog Recycling #48 entry of Mike Swaim from Dexter in fourth and K.C. Scott from Springfield driving the Dalton Carpet/T.L. Morgan Motors #30. Matt Cordell was fastest in qualifying and won both the heat race and trophy dash.
The Cottage Grove Speedway will be back in action on Saturday night August 24th. Classes competing include Late Models, Northwest Extreme Sprints, Street Stocks, and Hornets. For more information www.cottagegrovespeedway.com.
Race Summary:
Friday August 23rd, 2013
Cottage Grove Speedway
Cottage Grove, Oregon
Hornets
A Feature: 1. 17-Taunton Swaim[4]; 2. 28-Chris Pierce[5]; 3. 11-Joe Maricle[1]; 4. 48-Mike Swaim[2]; 5. 30-K.C. Scott[8]; 6. 34-Mike Simmons[3]; 7. 51-Matt Cordell[6]; 8. 89-Jim Simmons[7]
Dash: 1. 51-Matt Cordell; 2. 28-Chris Pierce; 3. 11-Joe Maricle; 4. 17-Taunton Swaim
Heat 1: 1. 51-Matt Cordell[4]; 2. 28-Chris Pierce[2]; 3. 17-Taunton Swaim[3]; 4. 34-Mike Simmons[6]; 5. 48-Mike Swaim[5]; 6. 11-Joe Maricle[1]; 7. 89-Jim Simmons[7]; 8. 30-K.C. Scott[8]
Qualifying: 1. 51-Matt Cordell; 2. 17-Taunton Swaim; 3. 28-Chris Pierce; 4. 11-Joe Maricle; 5. 48-Mike Swaim; 6. 34-Mike Simmons; 7. 89-Jim Simmons; 8. 30-K.C. Scott
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage