COTTAGE GROVE, Oregon — This Friday and Saturday the weekend will see many firsts for the Cottage Grove Speedway. It will be the first time that the American Sprint Car Series-Northwest Region will open their season at the historic ¼ mile after a pair of races was rained out in the state of Washington. It will also be the first time the Grove Classic will be sanctioned by any series and will also be the first time it will be held in the month of May. Adults attending both night of action can get a two day pass for $25.00 and see both nights for a discounted rate.
The defending champion of the race is Roger Crockett of Medford who is also the two-time and defending Cottage Grove Speedway track champion. Also the 2009 series champion for the region Crockett will look to add two more wins to his nine straight Grove Classic victories dating back to 2004 and his thirty-seven total feature wins he has received at “The Grove”. Crockett finished second at the season opener for the American Sprint Car Series-National Tour event at the Tulare Thunderbowl in California.
Chadd Noland of Central Point the 2010 Southern Oregon Speedway champ and third in points at Cottage Grove last year finished in second place in the final night of action in 2010. Noland has two 360 feature wins since making regular visits to the venue.
Washington’s Mitch Olson finished second on the first night at a place that he has yet to win. The Puyallup driver has finished in the final top ten in the points standings for two consecutive seasons including a fourth place finish last season. Olson is also in search for his first career series victory and we will see if it will be this weekend.
Garen Linder of Central Point finished in fourth place on the final night of action in 2010. Linder has found the checkers twice in his career at the Cottage Grove Speedway. He also finished in the top ten in points with the series in 2010 finishing tenth in points while also winning the year end Shark Racing Engine at the awards banquet.
Three-time Grove Classic main event winner Dale Smith will represent his hometown of Cottage Grove in his brother Marvin’s car. After taking an entire year off Dale will look to start the season with the bang and show the regional travelers that he hasn’t slowed down. Dale Smith is a great attribute to the race as Mike Burdett was his longtime car owner.
The race will also mark the first 360 race of 2011 as the Easter Cup on April 23rd only got as far as heat races. With limited action in the Northwest in general due to uncooperative weather it will be interesting who will come out on top and will the Grove Classic trophy leave the state of Oregon for the first time. Hornets will support the Sprints on the first night while the second will be Modifieds and All-American Street Stocks.
“We truly are excited to get our first 360 Sprint races in the books after all the foul weather we have had,” said Brian Crockett General Manager of the Cottage Grove Speedway, “the Grove Classic is more and more becoming a staple of the Northwest scene and we’re anxious to open the ASCS regional series this weekend we hope everyone can make it.”
The American Sprint Car Series-Northwest Region will visit the Cottage Grove Speedway on two more occasions (July 13th for Speedweek and September 17th) with an addition of two dates which will feature the National Tour along with the Northwest Region those two races taking place on July 22nd and 23rd.
So come join us for an evening full of quality entertainment on one of the most prestigious facilities in the country. It will be a new year in which anything can happen and we want you to not miss a minute of the action. Be sure to pack warm clothes and a blanket as the first few weeks have some cold weather occur once the sun goes down.
The Cottage Grove Speedway is a ¼ mile high banked clay oval located in Western Oregon. The track hosts several sanctioning bodies and series throughout the season including the World of Outlaws, American Sprint Car Series, I-5 DirtCar Late Model Series, and the Interstate Sprint Car Series to name a few. Be sure and keep in touch by logging on http://www.cottagegrovespeedway.com or the popular social networking sites of Facebook and Twitter.
Are you a business looking to expand your reach to customers abroad? The Cottage Grove Speedway host tens of thousands of fans and potential consumers every season and through advertising you can reach them directly. For a free quote you can call Ben Deatherage at (541) 598-6643 or Brian Crockett at (541) 510-0757 today, it’s cheaper than you think.
Additional Information-
What: Race #4 (American Sprint Car Series-Northwest Region Race #1)
When: Friday, May 13th, 2011
Pit Gates Open- 3:00 PM
Gates Open- 5:00 PM
Racing- 7:00 PM
Where: Cottage Grove Speedway Address- 2150 North Douglas Street, Cottage Grove, OR, 97424 Office- (541) 942-7561
Other:
Adults- $15.00
Seniors/Students- $12.00
Children (Ages 6-11)- $5.00
Children (Ages 5-Under)- FREE
Pit Pass- $30.00
What: Race #5 (American Sprint Car Series-Northwest Region Race #2)
When: Saturday, May 14th, 2011
Pit Gates Open- 3:00 PM
Gates Open- 4:00 PM
Racing- 6:45 PM
Where: Cottage Grove Speedway Address- 2150 North Douglas Street, Cottage Grove, OR, 97424 Office- (541) 942-7561
Other:
Adults- $15.00
Seniors/Students- $12.00
Children (Ages 6-11)- $5.00
Children (Ages 5-Under
Past Grove Classic Winners:
6/28/02 Rained Out
6/29/02 Dale Smith
8/29/03 Dale Smith
8/30/03 Dale Smith
4/23/04 Bill Nutter
4/24/04 Roger Crockett
4/22/05 Roger Crockett
4/23/05 Rained Out
4/21/06 Roger Crockett
4/22/06 Roger Crockett
2007 Rained Out
4/25/08 Rained Out
4/26/08 Roger Crockett
4/24/09 Roger Crockett
4/25/09 Roger Crockett
4/23/10 Roger Crockett
4/24/10 Roger Crockett
Past ASCS-Northwest Region Race Winners:
6/07/08 Rained Out
7/15/08 Roger Crockett
7/14/09 Jesse Hockett
7/24/09 Shane Stewart*
7/25/09 Jason Johnson*
8/14/09 Roger Crockett
7/03/10 Roger Crockett
7/04/10 Roger Crockett
7/23/10 Jason Johnson*
7/24/10 Brady Bacon*
*- Denotes National Events Which Also Involved The Regional Series
