COTTAGE GROVE, Oregon — After a year hiatus the always much anticipated Speedweek Northwest date is back for this Wednesday (July 13th) sanctioned by the American Sprint Car Series-Northwest Region to the Cottage Grove Speedway. 2011 Is very unique being that it will be ran on a Wednesday evening instead of its traditional Tuesday slot and also it will be the second time the facility will host both a Speedweek date and a two day National Tour event (July 22nd and 23rd). Since 1998 there have been three separate sanctioning bodies that have hosted Speedweek Northwest (Northern Sprint Tour 1998-2006, Northwest Sprint Challenge Series 2007, and ASCS-Northwest Region 2008-Present) and there have only been two years there has not been a Speedweek race at “The Grove”, 2001 and 2010.
“It’s great to have Speedweek back we heard a lot of feedback that it just wasn’t Speedweek without Cottage Grove and now with its return fans have just poured out there gratitude that we were able to make it happen,” stated General Manager of the Cottage Grove Speedway Brian Crockett, “several National teams plan to make it here to get some extra laps before the National Tour dates coming up here in a week, that will definitely make it worthwhile for any fan to make it out.”
Indeed the American Sprint Car Series-National Tour is gaining in its popularity as it gives a chance for a local to literally be completive and in the same ball park with all the 360 Sprint Car races that Cottage Grove hosts. In eleven Speedweek races since 1998 there have been seven different winners and it is rather touching as the defending of the champion of the race unfortunately won’t be on hand the late Jesse Hockett of Warsaw, MO who tragically lost his life last year. It’s a two-way tie for most Speedweek victories between Campbell, CA’s Brent Kaeding (2000, 2002, 2005) and Medford’s Roger Crockett (2003, 2004, 2008) at three a piece and they are the only two drivers to win more than once. Other winners include Jason Solwold of Burlington, WA (1998), Brad Furr of Pleasanton, CA (1999), Danny Horner of Cottage Grove (2006), Shane Stewart of Bixby, OK (2007), and Jesse Hockett (2009).
Already this season Roger Crockett has proved he is going to be one of those potential party crashers for the National Tour. The driver from Southern Oregon has won all but one race at Cottage Grove; two ASCS-Northwest wins, three Interstate Sprint Car Series wins, and Non-Wing feature victory last month. The only time he has not won is when he finished second at the Welt & Welt 30 earlier this season. The two-time and defending Cottage Grove Speedway track champion comes into Monday’s Speedweek opener in second place in point only four markers behind the leader.
Jason Solwold the defending series champion looks to defend his title and his point lead going into Speedweek. The last two events for the series Solwold swept at the Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, WA to tie Crockett for most wins this season. Solwold finished second at CGS for the first night of the Mike Burdett Memorial/Grove 360 Classic in early May.
Third place in points was the big winner of the ISCS Welt & Welt Inc 30 event earlier this month Seth Bergman of Snohomish, WA. The National Tour pilot and defending Grays Harbor Raceway champion has won on three occasion at Cottage Grove and will look for his first Speedweek and potentially National Tour victory at Cottage Grove. At the Mike Burdett Memorial Bergman finished third on both occasions.
Henry Van Dam of Enumclaw, WA comes into the week fourth in the points standings despite never winning at Cottage Grove. He finished second on the final night of action of the Mike Burdett Memorial while finishing fifth in both nights at the Gray Harbor Raceway late in May. Van Dam also has two wins at his home track GHR and the current point lead.
Garen Linder of Central Point rounds up the top five points after four races for the series. Linder finished has one top five this season (a third at GHR) in series competition. While scoring a weekly feature win at GHR Linder also has a second and a fifth credited to his name in ISCS action.
The remainder of the top ten are as follows; 6. Trey Starks Puyallup, WA, 7. Mitch Olson Tacoma, WA, 8. Rick Fauver Everett, WA, 9. Reece Goetz Snohomish, WA, 10. Jake Waddell, Roseburg.
The breakdown for the ASCS Speedweek Northwest is thus Monday July 11th Southern Oregon Speedway in White City followed by Coos Bay Speedway on Tuesday the 12th. The 13th will be here at Cottage Grove Speedway while Thursday will close out the Oregon portion of the races at the Willamette Speedway in Lebanon. The Speedweek will close out with the annual Fred Brownfield Memorial at the Grays Harbor Raceway.
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, 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 #17 (ASCS-Northwest Region Race #7)
When: Wednesday July 13th, 2011
Pit Gates Open- 3:00 PM
Gates Open- 4:00 PM
Hot Laps- 6:45 PM
Racing- 7:30 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- $25.00
Speedweek Winners
1998-Jason Solwold
1999-Brad Furr
2000-Brent Kaeding
2002-Brent Kaeding
2003-Roger Crockett
2004-Roger Crockett
2005-Brent Kaeding
2006-Danny Horner
2007-Shane Stewart
2008-Roger Crockett
2009-Jesse Hockett
