Posted by Grundy County Speedway on 7/18/2005, 4:48 pm
Board Administrator

HEISS WINS FIRST LATE MODEL FEATURE AT THE GRUNDY COUNTY SPEEDWAY BY ANDY GROD Mike Heiss had made a name for himself driving open wheel car for a few years, but in 2004, he decided to also give stock cars a try, finishing in fifteen place in the final points list in the high-powered late model division in his rookie season. He currently sits in the eleventh spot in points, but after winning the 30 lap main event tonight, he showed he has the talent to become a champion stock car racer. “It’s my first big win here,” said Heiss after picking up his trophy. “We’ve been tweaking the car for the past several weeks and it has been getting a little better each time.” Heiss, who won his first heat race of the season earlier in the evening, started on the pole, and led every lap of the event, holding off a hard charging Rob Werkmeister for most of the race. The two front runners built up a ten car length lead over the field as they weaved their way through lapped traffic, while Scott Koerner, Duane Pierson, last week’s winner Billy Knippenberg Jr and Dave Weltmeyer ran nose to tail in a tight formation. With four laps remaining, Werkmeister lost the handle on his car as he challenged Heiss, and slammed the turn one wall with the back of his car, ending his hopes for victory. With the field again bunched for the restart, Heiss was able to keep his Heiss Driveline and Speed Shop – Lotz Trucking Dodge Intrepid at the front to the checkered flag. Koerner ran a close second, with Weltmeyer moving past Knippenberg and Pierson on the final laps to take home third. In the running of the 25 lap Mid-American feature, Jerry Einhaus Jr, from Seneca, continued his reign on the field, scoring his sixth feature flag of the season in the Millwrights Fabricators – Appleton Rack and Pinion Monte Carlo. After setting fast time, Einhaus lined up in the sixth starting spot at the drop of the green, with Josh Nelms, from Bartlett, showing the way. Nick O’Dell filled Nelms’ rear view mirror for the first ten circuits, but Einhaus caught the front runners, went to the high side of the track and moved past O’Dell for the number two position. Caution slowed the action on lap fourteen when Ryan Finley and Josh Higgins got together, and when the green again flew, it took Einhaus one lap to take over the lead from Nelms. Building up a five car length lead, the battle was for second place, with Jeremy Bloomberg moving past Nelms for the runner-up spot with five laps remaining. With Einhaus going under the checkered flag unchallenged, Nelms, John Senerchia and O’Dell ran on Bloomberg’s tail to the finish. Another first time feature winner was crowned in the Street Stock division as Karl Kwaz, from Joliet led flag to flag for the victory. Kwaz was challenged by Kent Harmann for most of the event, but Harmann’s efforts were wasted as he refused a tech inspection, something Harmann did a few weeks earlier. Harmann was DQ’d for the entire night of racing. Joe Graziano, from Plainfield, moved past Harmann on the final laps to take home a second place finish, with current point leader Rick Dawson claiming third. Jason Kolbe, from Oak Lawn, held off Alex Clubb and Jason Claypool to win his second Mini-stock feature event of the season. Kris Koppers finished fourth, followed by Nick Clubb. In the 12 lap Street Stock Semi-feature, Chad Bayuk and Charlie McDaniel pulled away from the seventeen car field and battled for the entire event, with Bayuk crossing the finish line one car length ahead of McDaniel. Ray Brackett, from Coal City claimed third, followed by Fred Mahr, Ben Hoffman and Pete Odell. Several drivers became a first time winner, with Heiss winning his first late model heat race and feature of the year, with Karl Kwaz winning his first street stock feature of the season. Tony Brutti, son of legendary Joe Brutti, captured his first ever heat race checkered flag in Mid-Am action. Doug Kimber won his first late model heat race of the season. Jamie Schmidt captured his first ever street stock heat race and Bob Davis made it to victory lane for the first time this season in the street stock ranks. Next Friday night, the Grundy County Speedway will host the Mid-Season Championship sponsored by Track Time Driving Schools. A 40 lap Late Model feature will top the card, along with a 35 lap Mid-American feature and a 30 lap Street Stock main event, with Double Championship Points being awarded for this special night of racing action. Visit our web site at www.grundycountyspeedway.com for further information, and also stop by TrackTime.com for more information regarding Track Time Driving Schools, located at the Autobahn Country Club, in Joliet. The Grundy County Speedway is located just north of I-80, on Rt 47, at the Fairgrounds in Morris, Illinois. The green flag on Friday night drops at 8pm, with time trials getting things started at 6:45pm. RESULTS 30 lap Late Model Feature: 1. Mike Heiss, Ottawa, 2. Scott Koerner, Joliet, 3. Dave Weltmeyer, Dyer, Indiana, 4. Duane Pierson, Lockport, 5. Billy Knippenberg Jr., Plainfield, 6. Tom Smith, Posen, 7. Scott Dunning, Bolingbrook, 8. Tom Knippenberg, Channahon, 9. Gary Raven, Hometown, 10. Chris Cooling, Joliet 1st 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Doug Kimber, Batavia, 2. P.J. Polcyn, Elwood 2nd 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Heiss, 2. Pierson Fast Time: Weltmeyer: 15.532 25 lap Mid-American Feature: 1. Jerry Einhaus Jr., Seneca, 2. Jeremy Bloomberg, Hampshire, 3. Josh Nelms, Bartlett, 4. Nick O’Dell, New Lenox, 5. John Senerchia, Orland Park, 6. Jake Finney, Sycamore, 7. Billy Tuckwell, Peoria, 8. Josh Higgins, Morris, 9. Ryan Finley, Big Rock, 10. John McMahon, Lockport 1st 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Tony Brutti, Manteno, 2. McMahon 2nd 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Nelms, 2. Senerchia Fast Time: Einhaus: 15.996 20 lap Street Stock Feature: 1. Karl Kwaz, Joliet, 2. Joe Graziano, Plainfield, 3. Rick Dawson, Lemont, 4. Brandon Clubb, Coal City, 5. Justin Claypool, Morris, 6. Chad Proctor, Kenosha, Wisconsin, 7. Bob Davis, Coal City, 8. Ricky Baker, Plainfield, 9. Chris Sanda, LaGrange Park, 10. John Ventrello, Morris 12 lap SS Semi-feature: 1. Chad Bayuk, Crest Hill, 2. Charlie McDaniel, Braidwood 3. Ray Brackett, Coal City, 4. Fred Mahr, Downers Grove, 5. Ben Hoffman, Morris 1st 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Jamie Schmidt, Arlington Heights, 2. Richie Woo, Evergreen Park 2nd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Pete Odell, Morris, 2. McDaniel 3rd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Davis, 2. Graziano Fast Time: Proctor: 17.688 10 lap Mini-stock Feature: 1. Jason Kolbe, Oak Lawn, 2. Alex Clubb, Morris, 3. Jason Claypool, Morris, 4. Kris Koppers, Morris, 5. Nick Clubb, Morris