Posted by Grundy County Speedway on 6/25/2005, 10:19 am
Board Administrator

SONTAG REPEATS WIN, MAHONEY FLIES OVER THE WALL AT THE GRUNDY COUNTY SPEEDWAY BY ANDY GROD Joliet driver, Brett Sontag, made it two in a row Friday night, winning the 30 lap late model feature on the final turn in his Terry’s Automotive Group – Rockdale Automotive Ford at the Grundy County Speedway, in Morris, Illinois. Scott Koerner took the lead from Chris Cooling on lap three, and appeared to be on his way to victory with five laps remaining, but Tom Knippenberg had a strong run going and challenged Koerner as Sontag moved to third from his ninth starting spot. On lap 27, Sontag slipped past Knippenberg and quickly caught up to Koerner, and with two circuits remaining, got Koerner sideways as they exited turn four. Koerner checked up as Sontag went to the high side of the track, and on the final turn, got enough power out of the Sontag Speed Supply engine to pull ahead at the checkered. “I got Scotty crossed up a little and I wasn’t sure if I had enough to pass him,” said Sontag. “He’s a good driver and he gave me enough room.” Late Model rookie Tom Knippenberg had his first top three finish in feature action, crossing the finish line just ahead of brother Billy Knippenberg Jr. Duane Pierson, from Lockport battled with Rob Werkmeister for most of the event to take home fifth money with Werkmeister sixth. In the running of the second Street Stock heat race, Ed Mahoney, from Joliet, had the throttle stick as he was racing wide open down the back stretch. He slammed the turn three wall, climbed the wall, hit the old score board and flew out of the speedway, landing some fifty feet beyond the track. As safety crews sped to the scene, Mahoney had already exited the race car which appeared to be a total loss. Mahoney was not injured. Another street stock accident saw Frank Sabella slamming the same spot that Mahoney hit as Sabella’s throttle also stuck while running the seventh lap of the feature event. Sabella’s car went into the air and flipped up-side-down on the speedway. Sabella was also uninjured. The same area collected Mid-American driver Ray Mooi, who may have had an engine let go on lap three of the Mid-Am feature. Mooi hit the wall hard and the field tried to avoid him, but Justin Wren slammed Mooi’s car as it sat against the wall in turn three. The gas tank busted open and gas poured from Mooi’s car, but the safety crew safely removed the car without any further incident. The ambulance crew had a busy night, but all drivers appeared unhurt. Jerry Einhaus Jr., from Seneca, continued his assault on the Mid-Am division, winning his third feature of the season at the Grundy oval. Einhaus, a two-time Mid-Am champion, passed Jimmy Becker for the lead on lap ten, then held off Jeremy Bloomberg to take the checkered by two car lengths over. Becker had a solid third place showing, with John Senerchia, from Orland Park, winning the battle for fourth over Josh Nelms. Rick Dawson, from Lemont, claimed his third street stock feature of the season and sits atop the points list in his Mad Dog Chassis – City-Suburban Auto Wreckers Monte Carlo. Guy Baumann, from Homer Glen, paced the field in the early goings, with two-time champion Randy Weese taking the top spot on lap 9, but the lead was short lived as Weese spun on the next circuit, handing the lead back to Baumann. Justin Claypool made it past Baumann for the front just past the half-way mark, with Dawson following Claypool for second. Dawson was able to take over the lead with one lap remaining, and with Claypool on his tail, went under the checkered for the win. There was a tight battle in the closing laps for positions three to eight, with Baumann holding off Chad Proctor, Kent Harmann, Bob Davis and last week’s feature winner Chris Sanda to take home third place money. Jason Kolbe, from Oak Lawn, drove his Chevy citation past Kris Koppers on lap three, then held off Nick Clubb to win his first Mini-stock feature of the season. Two-time feature winner, Jason Claypool took third, followed by Koppers, Todd Gladkowski and last week’s winner Chet Hartley. The 12 lap Street Stock Semi-feature sawRay Brackett, from Coal City, take the lead from Jake Popp on lap three, then held off Chad Bayuk and Jamie Deuloo for the win. Stock car racing continues every Friday night at the Grundy County Speedway, located just north of I-80, on Rt 47, at the Fairgrounds in Morris, Illinois. RESULTS 30 lap Late Model Feature: 1. Brett Sontag, Joliet, 2. Scott Koerner, Joliet, 2. Tom Knippenberg, Channahon, 4. Billy Knippenberg Jr., Plainfield, 5. Duane Pierson, Lockport, 6. Rob Werkmeister, Plainfield, 7. Tom Smith, Posen, 8. Gary Raven, Hometown, 9. Nick Baran, Plainfield, 10. Chris Cooling, Joliet 1st 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Brian Clubb, Morris, 2. P.J. Polcyn, Elwood 2nd 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Koerner, 2. Cooling LM Fast Time: Sontag: 15.492 25 lap Mid-American Feature: 1. Jerry Einhaus Jr., Seneca, 2. Jeremy Bloomberg, Hampshire, 3. Jimmy Becker, Burlington, 4. John Senerchia, Orland Park, 5. Josh Nelms, Bartlett, 6. Josh Higgins, Morris, 7. Nick O’Dell, New Lenox, 8. Jay Mikel, Oswego, 9. Mike Marden, Monee, 10. Jake Finney, Sycamore 1st 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Mike Yuris, Bolingbrook, 2. Nelms 2nd 10 lap MA Heat: 1. O’Dell, 2. Higgins MA Fast time: Einhaus: 15.974 20 lap Street Stock Feature: 1. Rick Dawson, Lemont, 2. Justin Claypool, Morris, 3. Guy Baumann, Homer Glen, 4. Chad Proctor, Kenosha, Wisconsin, 5. Kent Harmann, Braidwood, 6. Bob Davis, Coal City, 7. Chris Sanda, LaGrange Park, 8. Joe Graziano, Plainfield, 9. Brandon Clubb, Coal City, 10. Chuck Deutsch, Minooka 12 lap SS Semi-feature: 1. Ray Brackett, Coal City, 2. Chad Bayuk, Crest Hill, 3. Jamie Deurloo, Minooka, 4. Jake Popp, Big Rock, 5. Craig Matteson, Morris 1st 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Brackett, 2. Bayuk 2nd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Baumann, 2. Ron Vandermeir Jr., Joliet 3rd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Sanda, 2. Ricky Baker, Plainfield SS Fast time: Dawson: 17.887 12 lap Min-stock Feature: 1. Jason Kolbe, Oak Lawn, 2. Nick Clubb, Morris, 3. Jason Claypool, Morris, 4. Kris Koppers, 5. Todd Gladkowski, Channahon, 6. Chet Hartley, Joliet, 7. Alex Clubb, Morris, 8. Ken Schiradelly, Seneca, 9. Danny Heath, Seneca, 10. 24. Stephanie Kinzer