HOFFMAN CLAIMS FIRST WIN AT
GRUNDY COUNTY SPEEDWAY
BY ANDY GROD
Two time track champion, Eddie Hoffman, from Wheaton, won the 30 lap late model feature event Friday night, becoming the fifth different driver to do so this season at the Grundy County Speedway, in Morris, Illinois.
Jeremy Spoonmore, from Somonauk, took the early lead, with Billy Knippenberg Jr running on Spoonmore’s tail and Hoffman a close third.
By lap seven, Knippenberg Jr moved past Spoonmore to take the point, but he only held the lead for one lap, as Hoffman was able to get a run on Knippenberg and take the top spot in his Feece Oil – Lisa Thomas Salons sponsored Chevy.
Defending champion and fast qualifier, Brett Sontag, was making his move through the nineteen car field and slipped into the number two slot with eleven circuits remaining and kept pace with Hoffman.
The final two circuits saw the two champions battle to the finish line, with Sontag able to get his fender along side Hoffman’s door as they took the checkered flag.
“I want to thank the lap counter for not counting to thirty-one,” said Hoffman after the event. “I’m not sure if I could have held Sontag off another lap.”
Hoffman also thanked Tony D’Ambrose, his crew chief this season, who was in the hospital having his gall bladder taken out. “I’m sure Tony would rather have been at the track tonight.”
The final finish saw the first five spots taken by past late model champions, with Hoffman, Sontag, Pat Kelly, Billy Knippenberg Jr, and Mike White crossing the line in that order.
The Mid-American 25 lap main event saw Mitch Garfield running away by nearly a half-lap over the field, but a late caution with ten laps remaining closed the gap, with Jeremy Bloomberg keeping close to Garfield as he sped under the checkered flag for this second win of the season.
“I really didn’t want to see that caution come out,” said Garfield, who saw his half-lap lead erased with the yellow. “The car was fast and I was able to keep Jeremy behind me to the finish.”
Both Garfield’s Lynch Chevrolet – Napa – Bloomberg Auto Body Chevy and Bloomberg’s car are out of the Ron Bloomberg stable, with Garfield making a strong challenge for Rookie of the Year in his first season of racing at the Grundy oval.
Finishing behind Garfield and Bloomberg were point leader Chad Proctor, Ron Vandermeir Jr and Mike Slabenak Jr.
The 25 lap Street Stock main event saw Karl Kwaz overtake race leader John Cary on the third go around, and build an eight car length lead while the fastest part of the field was caught behind a slower car.
Caution on lap sixteen bunched the pack, and when the green again flew, Kwaz had Chris Woodall from Calumet City, put on a challenge, with both drivers running side by side for three circuits before Woodall pulled his Dotter Race Cars sponsored Chevy ahead of Kwaz, taking the win by one car length.
Fast qualifier Chris Sanda finished in the third spot, followed by Chad Bayuk, Craig Matteson and Randy Weese.
The final feature of the night was in the 4 Cylinder division, with Shelby Eplin, from Morris, jumping out to a big lead at the drop of the green.
Cyle Lindemuth passed Matt Clemens on lap three and slowly began closing the gap on Eplin, but Eplin ran a flawless race, taking the checkered flag by four car lengths over Lindemuth. Jim Beasley took home third place money, followed by Mark Sontag Jr., Clemens and Kyle Carlson.
Racing continues next Friday night, July 3rd, with time trials at 6:45 and the drop of the green slated for 8 pm.
It is also FAIR week, running from Wednesday, July 1st through Sunday, July 5th, with UMARA Midgets and Mini-stocks running on Wednesday night, starting at 5 pm. The Illini State Truck and Tractor Pulls get underway at 6 pm on Thursday, July 2nd, and a full regular stock car program on Friday, July 3rd, starting at 8 pm.
On Saturday night, July 4th, the “FAIR TIME 250” Enduro gets underway with 250 laps of racing action starting at 7 pm.
The Grundy County Speedway is located just north of I-80, on Rt 47, at the Fairgrounds in Morris, Illinois.
RESULTS
30 lap Late Model Feature: 1. Eddie Hoffman Jr., Wheaton, 2. Brett Sontag, Joliet, 3. Pat Kelly, Seneca, 4. Billy Knippenberg Jr., Plainfield, 5. Mike White, Monee, 6. Scott Koerner, Joliet, 7. Jeremy Spoonmore, Somonauk, 8. Mike Heiss, Ottawa, 9. Steve Campbell, Lisle, 10. Jim Kachel JR., Willowbrook
1st 10 lap LM Heat: 1. D.J. Werkmeister, Braceville, 2. Michael Marden, Monee
2nd 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Knippenberg Jr., 2. Hoffman
Fast Time: Sontag: 15.424
25 lap Mid-American Feature: 1. Mitch Garfield, Gilberts, 2. Jeremy Bloomberg, Hampshire, 3. Chad Proctor, Winthrop Harbor, 4. Ron Vandermeir Jr., Joliet, 5. Mike Slabenak Jr., Joliet, 6. Chuck Yuris, Lockport, 7. Darrell Phillips, Esmont, 8. John Fiorita, Bartlett, 9. Frank Slabenak, Palos Park, 10. Roger Law, Sandwich
1st 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Garfield,
2nd 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Mike Slabenak Jr., 2. Vandermeir Jr
Fast Time: Ron Willems Jr., Aurora: 16.505
25 lap Street Stock Feature: 1. Chris Woodall, Calumet City, 2. Karl Kwaz, Joliet,
3. Chris Sanda, LaGrange Park, 4. Chad Bayuk, Joliet, 5. Craig Matteson, Morris,
6. Randy Weese, Morris, 7. Kevin Gentile, Elwood, 8. Mike Szekely, Steger, 9. John Ventrello, Morris, 10. Bob Davis, Coal City
1st 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Kwaz, 2. Logan Love, Plano
2nd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Mike Brandolino, Joliet, 2. Bayuk
Fast Time: Sanda: 17.934
12 lap 4 Cylinder Feature: 1. Shelby Eplin, Morris, 2. Cyle Lindemuth, Morris,
3. Jim Beasley, Plainfield, 4. Mark Sontag Jr., Shorewood, 5. Matt Clemens, Channahon,
6. Kyle Carlson, Morris, 7. Hank DeLair, Elwood, 8. Chet Hartley, Plainfield
1st 8 lap 4 Cyl Heat: 1. Beasley, 2. Sontag Jr
2nd 8 lap 4 Cyl Heat: 1. Eplin, 2. Hartley