RACE RESULTS

BY: Andy Grod

JULY 2, 2004
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HOFFMAN CONTINUES, AVILA AND KWAZ

ARE WINNERS AT GRUNDY COUNTY SPEEDWAY  

 


BILL JACOBS CHEVROLET LATE MODELS

At the half-way point of the season, Eddie Hoffman Jr., from Wheaton, ran his string of late model feature wins to three and five wins so far this season at the Grundy County Speedway, in Morris, Illinois.

With rain washing out the first three nights of racing, seven events have been run, with Hoffman sitting atop the point standings at the track he won the championship at in 1997.  

In late model action, two Scotts battled for the lead as Scott Dunning, from Bolingbrook and Joliet's Scott Koerner battled up front. On lap seven, Koerner took command of the event, as Dunning fell to second and held of a hard charging Rob Werkmeister. Hoffman, who set fast time of the night, went to the outside and from his 12th starting spot, moved into the top six by the ninth go around.

A big crash  stopped the action on lap later, reportedly when Billy Knippenberg Jr broke a radiator hose, sending him spinning into the turn two wall.  Pat McCabe also slammed the wall hard, with Doug Kimber also sliding into the melee.

When racing resumed, Hoffman again took to the high side of the track as Werkmeister and Tom Smith fought for the number two spot.  It took Hoffman two circuits to get around both Smith and Werkmeister for second place as Koerner pulled away from the pack.

Koerner's seven car-length lead was erased when Werkmeister and Smith got together, bringing out the yellow and allowing Hoffman to close in on Koerner.

The two drivers raced side-by-side for the next four go arounds, with Gary Raven closing in on the duel, running on Koerner's bumper as Hoffman kept to the high side. Hoffman got the nose of his Feece Oil - Appleton Rack and Pinion - Lisa Thomas Salons Ford  ahead of Koerner with seven laps remaining, and took the lead, with Koerner keeping it close to the finish. Raven had a fine run, taking home third place money, with Duane Pierson and Dunning rounding out the top five positions.

"Koerner ran good tonight," said Hoffman.  He only gave me the outside line, so I had to run up there.  The car was just a little off, so it wasn't easy running on top."  

NAPA AUTO PARTS MID AMERICAN DIVISION

Juan Avila, from Joliet, returned to action at the 1/3 mile Grundy oval last week, set fast time on his first outing, then tonight, captured the 25 lap mid-American feature, leading every circuit. Avila started from the pole position and was able to hold off Brandon Norris for all twenty-five circuits, winning the event by two car lengths in his Rizzuti Race Engines - Bill's Speed Shop Chevy.

It was a five-car nose to tail race for the first fourteen circuits, with Bill Neering, Ryan Finley and Tom Knippenberg in close formation around the Grundy oval.

Caution flew on lap later when Neering got turned sideways on the back stretch, sending Dave Gentile into the dirt. Jerry Einhaus Jr had no place to go and slammed the side of Neering's Olds, ending his night early.

The last ten circuits saw Norris challenging Avila to the checkered, with Knippenberg following Finley to the finish.  

In the 12 lap Mid-Am Semi-feature, Dean Patterson, from Orland Park, scored his first win at the Grundy County Speedway, keeping ahead of Ron Willems, Chuck Yuris and Jim Terrafino.  

BP AMACO / DELI SHOP STREET STOCK DIVISION

In the Street Stock 20 lap main event, Karl Kwaz, from Joliet, won his first feature race since 1999.  

Street Stock action saw Phil Bertoglio and Joe Graziano taking a turn as the leader, but on lap six, Kwaz took command.

Brandon Clubb, from Coal City, took second from Graziano, who moved to the high side of the track,, allowing Randy Weese, Rick Dawson and Andy Marchiniak to fill the top five positions.

Kwaz held a good line and was able to hold on to a two car-length lead to the finish in his K-D Service - Merichka's - Dick Shoe Repair Chevy.

In the 12 lap Semi-feature, Brad Shoudis was overtaken by Jammie Deurloo for the lead on the fourth go around and built up a big lead to the finish. Frank  Sabella came in second, followed by  Caleb Koger, Tom Chismarick and Shoudis.  

RESULTS

30 lap Late Model Feature: 1. Eddie Hoffman Jr., Wheaton, 2. Scott Koerner, Joliet, 3. Gary Raven, Hometown, 4. Duane Pierson, Lockport, 5. Scott Dunning, Bolingbrook, 6. Joel Pejkovich, Channahon, 7. Rob Werkmeister, Plainfield, 8. Tom Smith, Posen, 9. Jonathan Smith, Monee, 10. Larry Brevitz, Oak Lawn

1st 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Kevin Anderson, Dwight, 2. Jonathan Smith

2nd 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Koerner, 2. Dunning

LM Fast Time: Hoffman: 15.344

 

25 lap Mid-Am Feature: 1. Juan Avila, Joliet, 2. Brandon Norris, Ottawa, 3. Ryan Finley, Big Rock,   4. Tom Knippenberg, Channahon, 5. John Senerchia, Orland Park, 6. Jeremy Spoonmore, Sycamore, 7. Greg Thorson, Morris, 8. Josh Higgins Jr, Morris 9. Steve McCartney, Montgomery, 10. Ron Willems, Aurora

1st 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Dean Patterson, Orland Park 2. Jake Carter, Marsailles

2nd 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Josh Higgins, Morris, 2. Dave DeFreece, Yorkville

3rd 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Finley, 2. Knippenberg

12 lap MA Semi-feature: 1. Dean Patterson, Orland Park, 2. Willems, 3. Chuck Yuris, Lockport, 4. Jim Terrafino, Elmhurst, 5. Stacy Kelly, Minooka

MA Fast Time: Gentile:15.999

 

20 lap Street Stock Feature: 1. Karl Kwaz, Joliet, 2. Brandon Clubb, Coal City, 3. Randy Weese, Morris, 4. Rick Dawson, Lemont, 5. Andy Marchiniak, Joliet, 6. Dave Dotter, Lynwood, 7. Chris Sontag, Joliet, 8. Justin Claypool, Morris, 9. Chad Proctor, Kenosha, Wisc, 10. Bob Davis, Coal City

1st 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Frank Sabella, Joliet, 2. Brian Nolte, Morris

2nd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Davis, 2. Dan Janjanin, Blue Island

3rd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Claypool, 2. Joe Graziano, Plainfield  

12 lap SS Semi-feature: 1. Jammie Deurloo, Minooka, 2. Sabella, 3. Caleb Koger, Morris, 4. Tom Chismarick, Morris, 5. Brad Shoudis, Morris, 6. Mike Brandolino, Joliet

SS Fast Time: Sontag: 17.920  

 

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The Grundy County Speedway is located just North of I-80, on Rt 47
at the Fairgrounds in Morris, IL