5/19/2021
Cottage Grove Speedway
Bricen James Wins 2021 Wallbanger Cup; Linder, Mayden, And Kennerly Also Grab CGS Victories
Bricen James Wins 2021 Wallbanger Cup; Linder, Mayden, And Kennerly Also Grab CGS Victories
By Stephanie Deatherage
Cottage Grove, Oregon- Cottage Grove Speedway successfully held their biggest Street Stock race of 2021, the Wallbanger Cup. Additionally, two Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing program classes were on the card. IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sport Compacts were in attendance on Saturday, May 15th, as well as 360 Sprints.
The fifty-two-lap Street Stock main event paid tribute to the late Mark Howard. Monmouth’s Sam Potter took control of the lead on the first lap. After that, however, Potter had some fast company feeling a lot of pressure from Albany racers Dakota Godard and Bricen James. Nevertheless, the drivers battled hard, with James managing to overtake Potter on the fifteenth circuit to become the new pacesetter.
Bricen was by no means out of the woods as he had to deal with several restarts. A total of eight cautions took place during the main. However, as the race went on with drivers rising and falling out the top five, one thing remained the same: Bricen James leading the pack.
Bricen James went on to win the 2021 Wallbanger Cup and is his first Street Stock main event win of the season. Creswell’s Graig Osborne rallied to finish second, with third going to Chris West of Woodland, Washington. The rest of the top five consisted of Donald Schott, from Eagle Creek, and Sam Potter, in fourth and fifth. Forest Grove’s Joey Tardio was triumphant in the consolation feature.
For the thirty-lap 360 Sprint feature, Garen Linder seized the top spot right from the drop of the green. Unfortunately, like Bricen James in the Street Stocks, Linder too had to deal with many stoppages. There were nine incidents during the main event, but Linder kept his mount in front to win his first race of the new campaign.
Cottage Grove chauffeur Kinzer Cox wound up the runner-up, followed by Steven Snawder, from Roseburg, in third. Matt Hein, also of Roseburg and in the Brett Smith owned entry, ended the night fourth while fifth was credited to Grants Pass’ Jared Hood.
The twenty-five-lap IMCA Modified race witnessed Chad Groves lead the first elements of the affair. Groves, from Bend, was overtaken on lap five by Craig Cassell. The Albany racer battled hard just past the halfway mark with Jake Mayden for the top place position. Mayden of Springfield captured first place on lap fourteen but had to deal with four restarts.
Jake managed to master each restart and kept his machine ahead of all challengers to earn the victory. It is his first win of 2021 at Cottage Grove Speedway and in KMJ Performance Oregon State and Shaw Race Cars Western Region competition. Keizer’s John Campos ended the race second while Paul Culp, from Creswell, put in a third-place effort. Eugene veteran, Paul Rea, ran fourth while hometown racer Curtis Towns grabbed fifth. Finally, Craig Hanson of Albany got the job done in the B Main.
Lastly, the IMCA Sport Compacts had another dominating performance. This time it was from the likes of Michael Kennerly. The Oakland racer blazed the trail on every single circuit to win his second race at CGS and in KMJ Performance Oregon State action.
Seth Christian of Roseburg and Eugene’s Brad Moffett were second and third. Springfield pilot K.C. Scott hit the line fourth with fifth credited to Kerry Cooper, from Cottage Grove.
Cottage Grove Speedway will host Fan Appreciation Night on Saturday, May 22nd. Classes on the card include Todd’s Auto Body Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, Late Models, Royalty Core IMCA Northern Sport Mods, and IMCA Sport Compacts. For more news and updates, including ticket information, be sure and check out the track website or Facebook page.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage