From Gary Thomas
COTTAGE GROVE, OR (July 15, 2024) — Tyler Thompson has been logging many valuable laps with the Main Motorsports team over recent weeks and on Monday night at Cottage Grove Speedway, the Oregon driver snagged his initial Sprint Car Challenge Tour triumph.
Thompson, driving the H.A.M. Construction No. 35KM mount battled early with Andy Forsberg, before cruising at the end to open SCCT Speedweek in victorious fashion.
“I’ve always wanted to win one of these NW Speedweek races and it feels great to finally get it done at Cottage Grove Speedway tonight,” Thompson said on the front stretch. “I have to think Adam Main and this entire 35KM team for giving me a great car as always. We have had a lot of speed, so it’s nice to pick up another win in front of the home crowd.”
The front row for the 35-lap Elk Grove Ford Sprint Car Challenge Tour main event was comprised of High Sierra Dash winner Andy Forsberg and Thompson. At the waving of the green flag the duo fought for the top-spot in exciting fashion, as Forsberg ran high, and Thompson rode the low line.
Thompson eventually began to pull away, as the rest of the field battled for position on the quarter mile. With the Harrisburg, Oregon wheelman having his way up front, Forsberg drove a smooth race in second picking his way through lapped cars as well.
Some of the best action came between SCCT point leader Braden Chiaramonte of El Cajon, Placerville’s Shane Hopkins, Roseville’s Colby Copeland and Oakley’s Dylan Bloomfield. The four drivers raced high and low while exchanging positions towards the end.
Thompson held a steady lead as he crossed under the checkered flag ahead of Forsberg. Chiaramonte solidified third with just a few laps remaining and was the night’s Pit Stop USA Hard Charger after starting 11th. Hopkins and Copeland rounded out the top-five.
Completing the top-10 on Monday were Bloomfield, Oregon’s Bailey Hibbard, Langley, BC driver Levi Klatt, Hanford’s Ryan Rocha and Yuba City’s Seth Standley.
As noted, Forsberg captured the High Sierra Industries Dash. He also claimed the Tiner-Hirst Ent. opening heat race. Bailey Hibbard won BR Motorsports/ King Racing Products heat two, while Drake Standley won A.R.T. Speed Equipment heat three.
Colby Copeland began the evening by earning the Sierra Foothills Wine Services Fast Time Award with a lap of 11.637.
The Elk Grove Ford Sprint Car Challenge Tour will continue Western Sprint Speedweek at Coos Bay Speedway in Oregon on Tuesday July 16th.
WST/SCCT Speedweek
Sprint Car Challenge Tour / Western Sprint Tour
Cottage Grove Speedway
Cottage Grove, Oregon
Monday, July 15, 0224
Qualifying
1. 5V-Colby Copeland[9]
2. 35KM-Tyler Thompson[1]
3. 21-Shane Hopkins[5]
4. 92-Andy Forsberg[10]
5. 77-Levi Klatt[4]
6. 33-Kyle Alberding[8]
7. 94R-Corbin Rueschenberg[11]
8. 1H-Bailey Hibbard[17]
9. 54S-Drake Standley[3]
10. 83V-Dylan Bloomfield[16]
11. 94TH-Braden Chiaramonte[13]
12. 5R-Ryan Rocha[18]
13. 14-Mariah Ede[15]
14. 25S-Seth Standley[14]
15. 87-Ashlyn Rodriguez[7]
16. 26F-Shane Forte[12]
17. 34-TJ Richman[6]
18. 21B-Johnny Burke[2]
Heat Race #1 (10 Laps)
1. 92-Andy Forsberg[1]
2. 5V-Colby Copeland[4]
3. 83V-Dylan Bloomfield[3]
4. 94R-Corbin Rueschenberg[2]
5. 14-Mariah Ede[5]
6. 26F-Shane Forte[6]
Heat Race #2 (10 Laps)
1. 1H-Bailey Hibbard[2]
2. 35KM-Tyler Thompson[4]
3. 25S-Seth Standley[5]
4. 94TH-Braden Chiaramonte[3]
5. 77-Levi Klatt[1]
6. 34-TJ Richman[6]
Heat Race #3 (10 Laps)
1. 54S-Drake Standley[2]
2. 5R-Ryan Rocha[3]
3. 21-Shane Hopkins[4]
4. 33-Kyle Alberding[1]
5. 87-Ashlyn Rodriguez[5]
6. 21B-Johnny Burke[6]
Dash (6 Laps)
1. 92-Andy Forsberg[1]
2. 21-Shane Hopkins[2]
3. 35KM-Tyler Thompson[4]
4. 5V-Colby Copeland[5]
5. 1H-Bailey Hibbard[3]
6. 54S-Drake Standley[6]
A Main (35 Laps)
1. 35KM-Tyler Thompson[3]
2. 92-Andy Forsberg[1]
3. 94TH-Braden Chiaramonte[11]
4. 21-Shane Hopkins[2]
5. 5V-Colby Copeland[4]
6. 83V-Dylan Bloomfield[8]
7. 1H-Bailey Hibbard[5]
8. 77-Levi Klatt[14]
9. 5R-Ryan Rocha[7]
10. 25S-Seth Standley[9]
11. 87-Ashlyn Rodriguez[15]
12. 33-Kyle Alberding[12]
13. 21B-Johnny Burke[18]
14. 14-Mariah Ede[13]
15. 54S-Drake Standley[6]
16. 26F-Shane Forte[16]
17. 34-TJ Richman[17]
18. 94R-Corbin Rueschenberg[10]