Posted by Grundy County Speedway on 7/9/2005, 10:51 am
Board Administrator

KNIPPENBERG JR UNTOUCHABLE AT THE GRUNDY COUNTY SPEEDWAY BY ANDY GROD Once Billy Knippenberg Jr got in the lead in the 30 lap late model main event, the only time someone got close to him was when a yellow flag flew. “The car didn’t handle well during qualifying and the heat race, then we found a brake problem before the feature,” said Knippenberg. “We changed the rear brakes and the handling was beautiful. After starting from the fifth slot, the Plainfield driver battled with Gary Raven for the number two position as Scott Dunning showed the way, and on lap ten, Knippenberg took command of the event, pulling away by some five car lengths by the half-way mark. He increased his advantage by twelve lengths over Dunning by lap twenty, but caution closed the gap three circuits later when Don Mathews spun. Knippenberg pulled away by five lengths over the field when the green was displayed, but with three laps remaining, the yellow again flew for Mathews, bunching the field. The final circuits saw Knippenberg pull to seven car lengths as he sped under the checkered for this second feature win of the season in his Bill’s Speed Shop – Martin Racing – Judi’s Embroidery Plus sponsored Monte Carlo. For most of the race, the battle was for second place, with Dunning, who crashed a few weeks ago, finally working out the bugs and claiming the runner-up spot after dueling with Raven and Duane Pierson for the last ten circuits. Current point leader, Tom Smith, ran near the front in the early goings, but finished in the ninth spot, tightening up the points battle. With winning his heat race, Smith retained the point lead after the night’s events, but with Pierson’s fourth place feature showing, Pierson closed to within two points of Smith for the championship. Eddie Hoffman Jr. who was the early point leader, fell off the top when he missed an event but his sixth place finish brought him back, trailing Pierson by just three marks and five points behind Smith. In the 25 lap Mid-American feature, a great run by two newcomers showed they had what is takes to win, but not tonight. Jeff Olson and Jake Finney ran one and two for the first fifteen circuits, with Finney staying on Olson’s tail while the top qualifiers were trying to move through the pack. Ron Willems Jr was running a close third for the first half of the event, but current point leader Jerry Einhaus Jr began making his assault on the field, moving past Willems for the third spot. Einhaus moved to the outside line in his Al’s Garage – Millwrights Fabricators Chevy, and picked off Finney on lap sixteen, then stayed outside and shot around Olson to take over the point with seven laps remaining. “I like running the outside line,” said Einhaus after the event. “The car likes running up there, too and it’s been getting us to victory lane.” Fast qualifier, John Senerchia, followed Einhaus and finished in the runner-up spot, with Olson holding on for third, his best ever feature finish. On the final circuits, Jeremy Bloomberg and Josh Nelms moved around Finney to finish fourth and fifth, with Finney claiming sixth. In street stock action, Rick Dawson, from Lemont, claimed his fourth win of the season and sits atop the points list for the championship in his City Suburban Auto Wreckers – Matco Tools – Razor Image sponsored Monte Carlo. Dawson moved around Guy Baumann at the half-way point of the 20- lap event, then held off several early challenges from Justin Claypool. Dawson pulled away on the final laps to go under the checkered flag five car lengths ahead of Claypool. Kent Harmann ran his best feature of the season, holding on to the third spot at the end, followed by last year’s Rookie of the Year Joe Graziano, Brandon Clubb and fast qualifier Chad Proctor. The final event of the evening saw Nick Clubb, from Morris, score his first feature win in the mini-stock division that saw twelve cars take the green flag. Clubb was the seventh different driver to win a feature out of eight events run so far this season. Clubb was challenged early by Danny Heath, then saw Chet Hartley, Jason Kolbe and Jason Claypool battle for the number two spot as he raced across the finish line. Claypool moved past Hartley and Kolbe on the final few circuits to claim second place points, followed by Hartley, Kolbe and Alex Clubb. Racing continues every Friday night at the Grundy County Speedway, with the Mid-season Championship slated for July 22nd. As close as the points race is, this double-points night can be a big factor in winning or losing the championship. 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 Dunning, Bolingbrook, 3. Gary Raven, Hometown, 4. Duane Pierson, Lockport, 5. Scott Koerner, Joliet, 6. Eddie Hoffman Jr., Wheaton, 7. Pat Kelly, Morris, 8. Brett Sontag, Joliet, 9. Tom Smith, Posen, 10. Rob Werkmeister, Plainfield 1st 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Jim Olson, Seneca, 2. Doug Kimber, Batavia 2nd 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Smith, 2. Koerner Fast Time: Sontag: 15.534 25 lap Mid-American Feature: 1. Jerry Einhaus Jr, Seneca, 2. John Senerchia, Orland Park, 3. Jeff Olson, Seneca, 4. Jeremy Bloomberg, Hampshire, 5. Josh Nelms, Bartlett, 6. Jake Finney, Sycamore, 7. Ron Willems Jr., Aurora, 8. Dave DeFreece, Yorkville, 9. Nick O’Dell, New Lenox, 10. Josh Higgins, Morris 1st 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Justin Wren, Coal City, 2. John McMahon, Lockport 2nd 10 lap MA Heat: 1. O’Dell, 2. Einhaus Jr Fast Time: Senerchia: 16.058 20 lap Street Stock Feature: 1. Rick Dawson, Lemont, 2. Justin Claypool, Morris, 3. Kent Harmann, Braidwood, 4. Joe Graziano, Plainfield, 5. Brandon Clubb, Coal City, 6. Chad Proctor, Kenosha, Wisc., 7. Karl Kwaz, Joliet, 8. Chris Sanda, LaGrange Park, 9. Guy Baumann, Homer Glen, 10. Randy Weese, Morris 12 lap SS Semi-Feature: 1. Ron Vandermeir Jr., Joliet, 2. Chad Bayuk, Crest Hill, 3. Chuck Deutsch, Minooka, 4. Ben Hoffman, Morris, 5. Fred Mahr, Downers Grove, 6. Jamie Schmidt, Arlington Heights, 7. Trevor Tichy, Oswego, 8. Nick Odell, Morris, 9. Jacob MacPherson, Naperville, 10. John Farcus, Mazon 1st 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Pete Odell, Morris, 2. Chuck Deutsch, Minooka 2nd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Ed Mahoney, Joliet, 2. Weese 3rd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Ricky Baker, Plainfield, 2. Sanda SS Fast Time: Proctor: 17.738 12 lap Mini-stock feature: 1. Nick Clubb, Morris, 2. Jason Claypool, Morris, 3. Chet Hartley, Joliet, 4. Jason Kolbe, Oak Lawn, 5. Alex Clubb, Morris