Posted by Grundy County Speedway on 7/25/2005, 12:48 pm
Board Administrator

WELTMEYER, BLOOMBERG AND PROCTOR WINNERS AT MID-SEASON AT THE GRUNDY COUNTY SPEEDWAY by Andy Grod The “Dyer Flyer”, Dave Weltmeyer, from Dyer, Indiana, returned to victory lane for the first time this season after winning the 40 lap late model mid-season championship at the Grundy County Speedway, in Morris, Illinois. Making only limited appearances for the past several seasons, Weltmeyer isn’t a stranger at the Fairgrounds oval, capturing track championships in ’82 and ’86. The years haven’t slowed down “The Bear” as he bested the twenty-two car field in his Rhyne Competition Engines – Marco Supply Company – DeNovi Heating and Cooling Monte Carlo. “I saw that [Tom] Smith was moving up a little high near the end of the race and I got a little aggressive and I knew I had to go, so I went under him and got the lead,” said Weltmeyer. “I’ve got to give a lot of credit to Joe Rhyne. I’ve run his engines for a long time and they make the power when I need it.” Scott Dunning, from Bolingbrook took the lead at the drop of the green, with Brian Clubb and Gary Raven on his tail as the rest of the field was sorting itself out. By lap thirteen, Smith moved into the number two spot and was able to take over the point from Dunning two circuits later. Following Smith were Raven, Billy Knippenberg Jr and Pat Kelly, with Weltmeyer moving into fifth from his twelvth starting position. Weltmeyer began picking off the competition one car at a time, and by lap thirty, was running on Smith’s bumper, and six circuits later, was able to make the pass and go on to win by two car lengths. The battle for the 2005 track champions have shuffled things up after the running of the double-points mid-season championship in both the late model and street stock divisions Pierson, who finished in the eighth position, retained the point lead by a mere one mark over Smith, with Knippenberg just nine points behind Pierson. In the Mid-American 35 lap mid-season championship, Jeremy Bloomberg, from Hampshire, held off a hard charging Jerry Einhaus Jr and Josh Nelms to win his second feature of the season. Jay Mikel led the twenty-five car field around the 1/3 mile oval at the drop of the green, with Mike Marden, Jeff Olson and Jake Finney filling his mirror. A big crash on lap 6 heavilly damaged the car of Nick O’Dell when five cars tangled in turn one. Mike Yuris also sustained damage, needing the tow truck assistance. On the restart, Marden was able to keep pace with Mikel, as Bloomberg and Nelms were making their way through the field. Bloomberg moved past Marden on lap fourteen, then moved into the lead one circuit later. Nelms was able to take the number two spot from Mikel, but was unable to run with Bloomberg as Bloomberg built up a ten car length lead with ten laps remaining. Einhaus got stuck in heavy traffic as he moved past Nelms for the number two spot, and tangled with Mikel, bringing out the yellow. The caution took away the leader’s advantage, but with the green again flying, Bloomberg was able to hold off Einhaus to the checkered flag. Nelms crossed the finish line in third, followed by John Senerchia, Dave DeFreece and Marden. In the 30 lap street stock mid-season championship, Chad Proctor, from Kenosha, Wisconsin ran away with the event, winning by fifteen car lengths in his Bill’s Speed Shop – Oxbo Racing – Judi’s Embroidery Plus Chevy. Proctor, who brought out a new car a few weeks ago prepared by Bill’s Speed Shop, has been on a roll ever since, setting fast time the last three weeks and now has a feature win on his resume. Ed St. Pierre, from Channahon, made his first appearance of the season and took the lead from Ben Hoffman on lap three, with Karl Kwaz taking over the point three circuits later. Kwaz built up a six car length lead as Proctor battled to get around St Pierre, but when Proctor did get past St Pierre, he quickly began closing the gap on Kwaz. The current point leader, Rick Dawson, made contact with St Pierre as he was trying to move to third, causing a cut tire and ending his hopes of victory. Caution came out for Dawson, erasing the big lead Kwaz had built. On the restart, Proctor was able to jump into the lead and pull away from the field to take home the victory. Both Ricky Baker and Chris Sanda made late race charges, finishing two and three in the final tally, with Kwaz holding on for fourth place money. Dawson was able to retain his point lead after his thirteenth place finish, with Justin Claypool just thirteen marks behind Dawson. Proctor jumps up to third place in the points race, fifty-one points behind the leader. In the Mini-stock feature event, Jason Claypool, from Morris, scored his third feature win of the season in this new division that has seen the field growing each week. It was a three car race for the entire twelve laps, with Joe Mosier, from Morris and Nick Clubb, from Coal City running nose to tail to the checkered flag. The 12 lap street stock semi-feature saw Jerry Daniel take the lead away from Brad Shoudis on lap eight. Pete Odell moved into the number two spot and closed in on Daniel, but was unable to get an advantage, finished two car lengths behind Daniel. Racing continues every Friday night at the Grundy County Speedway, with the green flag slated to fly at 8pm at the Fairgrounds, just north of I-80 and Rt 47, Morris, Illinois. RESULTS 40 lap late model mid-season championship: 1. Dave Weltmeyer, Dyer, Indiana, 2. Tom Smith, Posen, 3. Billy Knippenberg Jr., Plainfield, 4. Brett Sontag, Joliet, 5. Pat Kelly, Morris, 6. Gary Raven, Hometown, 7. Tom Knippenberg, Channahon, 8. Duane Pierson, Lockport, 9. Pat McCabe, Morris, Joliet, 10. Chris Cooling, Joliet 1st 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Doug Kimber, Batavia, 2. Dan Odell, Morris 2nd 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Scott Dunning, Bolingbrook, 2. Raven 3rd 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Tom Knippenberg, 2. Weltmeyer Fast Time: Sontag: 35 lap Mid-American Mid-season Championship: 1. Jeremy Bloomberg, Hampshire 2. Jerry Einhaus Jr., Seneca, 3. Josh Nelms, Bartlett, 4. John Senerchia, Orland Park, 5. Dave DeFreece, Yorkville, 6. Mike Marden, Monee, 7. Josh Higgins, Morris, 8. Jay Mikel, Oswego, 9. Chuck Yuris, Lockport, 10. Jake Finney, Sycamore 1st 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Yuris, 2. Ray Mooi, New Lenox 2nd 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Mikel, 2. Billy Tuckwell, Peoria 3rd 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Ryan Finley, Big Rock, 2. Einhaus Fast Time: Einhaus: 16.017 30 lap Street Stock Mid-Season Championship: 1. Chad Proctor, Kenosha, Wisconsin, 2. Ricky Baker, Plainfield, 3. Chris Sanda, LaGrange Park, 4. Karl Kwaz, Joliet, 5. Jason Claypool, Morris, 6. Brandon Clubb, Coal City, 7. Ed St Pierre, Channahon 8. Joe Graziano, Plainfield, 9. Guy Baumann, Homer Glen, 10. Bob Davis, Coal City 12 lap SS Semi-feature: 1. Jerry Daniel, Braidwood, 2. Odell, 3. Doug Ferrara, Mazon, 4. Chad Bayuk, Crest Hill, 5. Brad Shoudis, Morris, 6. Fred Mahr, Downers Grove, 7. Tim Erdman, Aurora, 8. Frank Sabella, Joliet, 9. Trevor Tichy, Oswego, 10. Caleb Koger, Morris 1st 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Pete Odell, Morris, 2. Frank Sabella, Joliet 2nd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Doug Ferrara, Mazon, 2. Kwaz 3rd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Sanda, 2. Rick Dawson, Lemont Fast Time: Proctor: 17.610 12 lap Mini-stock feature: 1. Jason Claypool, Morris, 2. Joe Mosier, Morris, 3. Nick Clubb, Coal City, 4. Stephanie Kinzler, Morris, 5. Todd Gladkowski, Channahon, 6. Chet Hartley, Joliet, 7. Danny Heath, Seneca, 8. Debbie Schweir, 9. Brandy Werkmeister, Plainfield, 10. Justin Heath, Seneca