Posted by Grundy County Speedway on 7/2/2005, 10:12 am
Board Administrator

HOFFMAN, EINHAUS JR AND CLUBB WIN AT GRUNDY COUNTY SPEEDWAY BY ANDY GROD Eddie Hoffman Jr and Jerry Einhaus Jr have several things in common. First, they are both talented race drivers. Second, they both have won championships in their respective divisions, Hoffman in late model and Einhaus in Mid-American. They both won the feature events Friday night at the Grundy County Speedway, and they both have a B & B Race Engine under their hood. Hoffman claims he has the power to get to the front and win, but Einhaus says that while the engine is powerful, the chassis is what is getting the job done. “Oval Engineering has got this car set up perfectly,” said Einhaus after taking his fourth feature of the season in the Al’s Garage – Millwright Fabricators Monte Carlo. “I can driver the car high or low and it handles like it’s on a rail.” In the 30 lap late model main event, current point leader Tom Smith took the lead from Scott Koerner and began running away from the field as Koerner fought off Duane Pierson and brothers Tom and Billy Knippenberg Jr for the number two spot. By lap ten, Smith had a five car length advantage and made it eight car lengths as Hoffman broke into the top five from his ninth starting and slowly made his way to the second spot in the Feece Oil – Advance Energy – Lisa Thomas Salons Ford. Once Hoffman got clear, he began closing the gap between himself and Smith, and with five circuits left to go, was on Smith’s tail. With Smith’s car beginning to slide up in the turns, Hoffman went to the inside line and took the lead away from Smith with two laps remaining. Smith was able to run close to Hoffman as they raced to the checkered, with Smith one car length behind Hoffman at the flag. Koerner held off Pierson to claim third place, with Tom Knippenberg fifth and Doug Kimber sixth. Ron Willems Jr., from Aurora, jumped to an early lead in the 25 lap Mid-American feature, with Nick O’Dell and Josh Higgins in closed pursuit. Einhaus went to the outside line and went around Higgins and O’Dell to close on Willems’ bumper, and on lap nine, Einhaus took the lead and was never challenged, winning by eight car lengths. Jeremy Bloomberg, from Hampshire, moved past Willems on lap sixteen for the number two spot, with Higgins staying with Bloomberg to the finish for third place points. O’Dell finished in the fourth spot, followed by Jimmy Becker, Dave DeFreece and Willems. In Street Stock action, Brandon Clubb, from Coal City, was able to get past leader Chris Sanda on lap thirteen, then held off a hard charge from Justin Claypool to win his first feature of the season in his Brickley Heating and Cooling – Broadway Dance Center – Ellis and Son Excavating Chevy. Sanda and current point leader Rick Dawson got together while going through lapped traffic, sending Sanda spinning and both drivers to the rear of the field on the restart. Ricky Baker, from Plainfield, ran strong and finished third, followed by Chad Proctor, Karl Kwaz and Randy Weese. In the running of the 12 lap Street Stock semi-feature, Wayne Meirhofer, from Joliet, ran away from the field to win by twelve car lengths to advance to the feature event. The battle was for the number two spot, with Ben Hoffman keeping in front of a hard charging Chad Bayuk to claim the runner-up spot. Todd Gladkowski, from Channahon, captured his first Mini-stock feature after holding off repeated challenges from Jason Claypool. Jason Kolbe, from Oak Lawn took third ahead of Alex Clubb and Chet Hartley. 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. Eddie Hoffman Jr., Wheaton, Tom Smith, Posen, 3. Scott Koerner, Joliet, 4. Duane Pierson, Lockport, 5. Tom Knippenberg, Channahon, 6. Doug Kimber, Batavia, 7. Scott Dunning, Bolingbrook, 8. Mike Heiss, Ottawa, 10. Gary Raven, Hometown 1st 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Jim Olson, Seneca, 2. Ken Polcyn, Minooka 2nd 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Smith, 2. Billy Knippenberg Jr., Plainfield Fast Time: Rob Werkmeister, Plainfield: 15.356 25 lap Mid-American Feature: 1. Jerry Einhaus Jr., Seneca, 2. Jeremy Bloomberg, Hampshire, 3. Josh Higgins, Morris, 4. Nick O’Dell, New Lenox, 5. Jimmy Becker, Burlington, 6. Dave DeFreece, Yorkville, 7. Ron Willems Jr., Aurora, 8. Billy Tuckwell, Peoria, 9. Josh Nelms, Bartlett, 10. Jeff Olson, Seneca 1st 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Jake Finney, Sycamore, 2. Olson 2nd 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Willems Jr, 2. Stacy Kelley, Minooka Fast Time: Einhaus: 16.028 20 lap Street Stock Feature: 1. Brandon Clubb, Coal City, 2. Justin Claypool, Morris, 3. Ricky Baker, Plainfield, 4. Chad Proctor, Kenosha, Wisc., 5. Karl Kwaz, Joliet, 6. Randy Weese, Morris, 7. Bob Davis, Coal City, 8. Joe Graziano, Plainfield, 10. Craig Matteson, Morris 12 lap SS Semi-feature: 1. Wayne Meirhofer, Joliet, 2. Ben Hoffman, Morris, 3. Chad Bayuk, Crest Hill, 4. Trevor Tichy, Oswego 1st 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Meirhofer, 2. Mike Lynch, Pontiac 2nd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Guy Baumann, Homer Glen, 2. Bayuk 3rd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Rick Dawson, Lemont, 2. Davis Fast Time: Claypool: 17.746 12 lap Mini-stock feature: 1. Todd Gladkowski, Channahon, 2. Jason Claypool, Morris, 3. Jason Kolbe, Oak Lawn, 4. Alex Clubb, Morris, 5. Chet Hartley, Joliet