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Cottage Grove to host three NSCS races
Andrew Kunas, NSCS Publicist
COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. – Bob and Russell Leach’s Cottage Grove Speedway has always been an exciting stop for the Northwest’s traveling 360 sprint car racers and has long been a fan favorite. That tradition will continue in 2007 as Cottage Grove will be host to the new Northwest Sprint Challenge Series on three occasions.
Cottage Grove, a large ¼-mile, semi-banked clay oval located a short drive south of Eugene, is known for its scenic setting as well as its intense racing. Even on the sunniest and warmest days of the year, fans on the main grandstands on the front stretch get to sit in the cozy shade as the track is almost completely surrounded by trees. That makes for a near perfect setting for people to watch the sprint car action on one of the country’s fastest ¼-mile clay ovals.
All three events will also be in their usual days as in years past, the traditional Sunday show on Memorial weekend, a Tuesday show in July, and the annual Saturday show in September.
“The Grove – West” will first welcome the NSCS on Sunday, May 27 as the series concludes its three-day Memorial Weekend swing through Oregon. Last year’s event under Northern Sprint Tour sanction was lost to rainfall that wiped out the entire Memorial Weekend slate for the series. In 2005, Travis Rutz of Langley, British Columbia delivered one of the most dominating performances ever seen in the Northwest, lapping everyone but second place finisher and eventual series champion Billy Nutter of Central Point, Ore.
As in the past with the Northern Sprint Tour, Cottage Grove will also be a part of Northwest Speed Week. Cottage Grove will again host the Tuesday night race on July 24. Hometown racer and reigning series champion Danny Horner sent Cottage Grove’s local fans home very happy as he won last year’s Speed Week race en route to the title. Horner also captured the 360 sprint car title at Cottage Grove in 2006. In 2005 California legend Brent Kaeding earned his second straight win of the week and in 2004 it was Roger Crockett who earned the victory in a curfew-shortened event on his way to his fourth straight NST championship.
Cottage Grove will host the final Oregon event on the inaugural NSCS season schedule on Saturday, September 8. Unlike the prior two events this race will award double points, making it even more important for the front runners to finish well and creating the potential for more competitive racing.
Seth Bergman of Snohomish, Washington captured his first series victory in last September’s event at Cottage Grove. In 2005 Andy Forsberg, who won last year’s Civil War Series championship in California, picked up his first Northern Sprint Tour win ahead of Crockett. The 2004 race was rained out and in 2003 it was Crockett who picked up the victory over Washington’s Jayme Barnes.
Grandstand admission to NSCS events at Cottage Grove Speedway is $15 for adults. More information on the Northwest Sprint Challenge Series can be
found online at http://www.racenscs.com and Cottage Grove’s website can be found at http://www.cottagegrovespeedway.com.
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2007 Northwest Sprint Challenge Series events at Cottage Grove Speedway –
Cottage Grove, Oregon
Sunday, May 27 (Memorial Weekend finale)
Tuesday, July 24 (Northwest Speed Week)
Saturday, September 8 (Double-points)
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NSCS: The Northwest Sprint Challenge Series
http://www.racenscs.com
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