Posted by Grundy County Speedway on 6/4/2005, 12:16 pm
Board Administrator

KNIPPENBERG JR CLAIMS LM FEATURE AT THE GRUNDY COUNTY SPEEDWAY BY ANDY GROD With one hundred-eleven race cars filling the pits, it was a full program of racing at the Fairgrounds, in Morris, Illinois, with Billy Knippenberg Jr, from Plainfield, taking home the lion share of the purse after winning the 30 lap Late Model feature Friday night a the Grundy County Speedway. After finishing second in points last season behind Eddie Hoffman Jr., Knippenberg, the 1997 late model Rookie of the Year and the 2000 Mid-American Champion was able to overcome old tires and a sticking throttle pedal to win his first feature of the season. “We were a little short on money, so we put on used tires and we didn’t qualify well, which gave up the front row starting spot,” said Knippenberg after the event. “I would have liked to win this after coming from the back of the field, but the car ran good enough to keep the lead.” Duke Nalon III ran his best event of the year, challenging Knippenberg for the first twenty-four circuits before Scott Koerner was able to take over the number two position, but by then, Knippenberg had built up a seven car length lead. Tough battling in the middle of the field also helped Knippenberg take the victory as Hoffman had his hands full battling with Pat Kelly, from Morris, who got past Hoffman on lap seventeen, but with no caution flags from that point forward made it almost impossible for Kelly to mount a serious challenge on Knippenberg’s Bill’s Speed Shop – Judi’s Embroidery Plus – NAC Engines Chevy Monte Carlo. Fast qualifier, Brett Sontag continued to have bad luck as his Number 5 Chevy slowed on the track and then was hit from behind by Ken Polcyn, ending his chance at the checkered by exiting the event. It was a good thing to have a last name starting with K tonight, as it was Knippenberg, Koerner and Kelly taking the top three positions. Fourth went to Nalon, followed by Hoffman, Tom Smith with a solid performance by Pat McCabe, who finished seventh. On lap four, Rookie Chris Cooling had suspension problems, sending the Joliet driver hard into the turn three wall. His car climbed the wall and with the driver’s side against the track, rode the wall almost to turn four before righting itself. A minor wrist pain was reported, with no further injuries. In the 25 lap Mid-American feature, the outside line again was the line of choice for Jerry Einhaus Jr, from Seneca, who captured his second feature of the season in his Al’s Garage – WMC-Millwrights Fabrication – Appleton Rack and Pinion –GM Auto sponsored Chevy. “The chassis set-up won this race thanks to Bob Johansson from Oval Engineering,” said Einhaus. “High or low, the car handled great.” With Ryan Finley leading and Nick O’Dell all over him in second, Einhaus Jr went to the top of the speedway and passed third place driver Bill Neering, then stayed up high and shot past both O’Dell and Finley to take the lead at the half-way mark of the twenty-five lap event. Neering then went to the high line and moved into second, but by then, Einhaus had built a ten car length gap on the field. A caution with three circuits remaining for a Mike Marden spin erased the advantage for Einhaus, but on the restart, he was able to pull out by four lengths as he went under the checkered flag. Neering finished in the number two spot, with Finley holding off a hard charging Josh Higgins to take home third, and O’Dell had a solid fifth place showing. In the 20 lap Street Stock feature, early leader Craig Matteson ran away from the field in the early stages of the event, pulling away by ten car lengths as tight racing bunched the pack. By lap five, Rick Dawson, from Lemont, went past Mike Brandolino for the number two spot, then began eating up Matteson’s lead. By lap nine, Dawson pulled his City-Suburban Auto Wreckers – Razon Image – Matco Tools Chevy into the lead and never looked back, winning the event be ten lengths over Matteson. Chad Proctor, from Kenosha, Wisconsin, had a battle for position with Chris Sanda for most of the event as they moved through traffic, with Proctor and Sanda finishing third and fourth respectively. In the mini-stock division, Tim Cronin, from Steger, shot past Nick Odell on the second go around, then held the lead to the checkered flag to claim his first feature of the season in his four-cylinder Neon. Nick Clubb was able to hold on for a second place showing, followed by Danny Heath, Kris Koppers and Jason Kolbe. In Semi-feature action, Mike Monroe, from Pell Lake, Wisconsin took home the checkered in the fifteen lap late model semi, followed by Mike Donoho and Doug Kimber. Mid-American semi action saw Jake Finney, from the famous Finney racing family win his first checkered flag, followed by Mike Marden and Chuck Yuris. In the Street Stock Semi-feature, Frank Sabella, from Joliet, outraced Tim Erdman and Ed Mahoney for the win. Next week-end, the Grundy County Speedway will see stock car action on two nights, with their regular full race program on Friday night. Then the George Appleton Memorial will take to the speedway on Sunday, June 12th, with a start of 4.m. for this seventh annual event, presented by Rod Baker Ford, with a 125 lap late model feature event topping the card along with last chance races and a powder puff event for the ladies of racing. Time trails for Sunday’s special event begins at 2:30, with a big field of cars expected for this $5000 to win, $500 to start show. 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. Billy Knippenberg Jr., Plainfield, 2. Scott Koerner, Joliet, 3. Pat Kelly, Morris, 4. Duke Nalon III, Joliet, 5. Eddie Hoffman Jr., Wheaton, 6. Tom Smith, Posen, 7. Pat McCabe, Joliet, 8. Duane Pierson, Lockport, 9. Gary Raven, Hometown, 10. Rob Werkmeister, Plainfield 15 lap LM Semi-feature: 1. Mike Monroe, Pell Lake, Wisconsin, 2. Mike Donoho, Edelstein, 3. Doug Kimber, Batavia 1st 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Monroe, 2. Donoho 2nd 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Raven, 2. Scott Dunning, Bolingbrook 3rd 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Hoffman, 2. Koerner Fast Time: Brett Sontag, Joliet:15.497 25 lap Mid-American Feature: 1. Jerry Einhaus Jr., Seneca, 2. Bill Neering, Cedar Lake, Indiana, 3. Ryan Finley, Big Rock, 4. Josh Higgins, Morris, 5. Nick O’Dell, New Lenox, 6. Jeremy Bloomberg, Hampshire, 7. Jeremy Spoonmore, Somonauk, 8. John Senerchia, Orland Park, 9. Jimmy Becker, Burlington, 10. Dave DeFreece, Yorkville 15 lap MA Semi-feature: 1. Jake Finney, Sycamore, 2. Mike Marden, Monee, 3. Chuck Yuris, Lockport 1st 10 lap MA Heat: 1. John McMahon, Lockport, 2. Justin Wren, Coal City 2nd 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Craig Amptmeyer, Lansing, 2. Ray Mooi, New Lenox 3rd 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Spoonmore, 2. O’Dell Fast Time: Einhaus Jr: 16.048 20 lap Street Stock Feature: 1. Rick Dawson, Lemont, 2. Craig Matteson, Morris, 3. Chad Proctor, Kenosha, Wisc., 4. Chris Sanda, LaGrange Park, 5. Randy Weese, Morris, 6. Justin Claypool, Morris, 7. Charlie McDaniel, Braidwood, 8. Ricky Baker, Plainfield, 9. Chad Bayuk, Crest Hill, 10. Guy Baumann, Homer Glen 12 lap SS Semi-feature: 1. Frank Sabella, Joliet, 2. Tim Erdman, Aurora, 3. Ed Mahoney, Joliet 1st 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Scott Schick, Oak Forest, 2. Sabella 2nd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Mike Hanlon, Morris, 2. Mahoney 3rd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Matteson, 2. Sanda Fast Time: Dawson: 17.712 10 lap Mini-stock: 1. Tim Cronin, Steger, 2. Nick Clubb, Morris, Danny Heath, Seneca 4. Kris Koppers, Morris, 5. Jason Kolbe, Oak Lawn

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