Posted by Grundy County Speedway on 8/21/2005, 9:12 pm
Board Administrator

HEISS CLAIMS TOP HONORS AT THE GRUNDY COUNTY SPEEDWAY BY ANDY GROD Ottawa Illinois driver Mike Heiss held off a hard charging Eddie Hoffman Jr for the final twelve circuits to score his second late model feature of the season Friday night at the Grundy County Speedway, in Morris, Illinois. Heiss, who also runs UMARA Midgets, started from the pole position in the Heiss Welding – Van Drunnen Ford – sponsored racer and had his hands full trying to keep the top spot from Rob Werkmeister, who applied heavy pressure from the drop of the green. Fast qualifier, Pat Kelly, from Morris, slid his car into the turn four wall on lap four, bringing our the first of two cautions. When action resumed, Heiss still had Werkmeister to contend with, as current point leader Duane Pierson held on to third. Hoffman was able to get around Pierson on lap eleven and began working on Werkmeister for the number two spot, with Brett Sontag challenging Pierson for fourth. With ten laps remaining, Sontag took over the third slot from Werkmeister and quickly closed on the leaders. With one lap remaining, the caution again waived when P.J. Polcyn spun, leaving a green, white and checkered remaining in the event. When Hoffman saw Jimmy Taylor’s green flag waiving, he shot to the inside of Heiss and took the front as they crossed the starting line, but Taylor threw the yellow for Hoffman jumping the start. Again the green waived, and Hoffman pulled along side Heiss as the white flag flew, but Heiss fought back and was able to keep the nose of his car in front of Hoffman at the finish line. “My car had a problem, so John Ferry let me drive his car tonight.” said Heiss. “This lefthander chassis really got the job done tonight.” Sontag came home in third, followed by Werkmeister, Tom Smith and Billy Knippenberg Jr. In the Mid-American 25 lap feature, a battle that we’ve seen a few times this season between Jeremy Bloomberg and point leader Jerry Einhaus Jr had the fans standing as Einhaus got Bloomberg sideways on the final lap. Bloomberg was ale to keep control and take home his fourth feature of the season in his Hein and Son Landscaping - Bloomberg Auto Body – Troy Shear Racing Chevy Monte Carlo. Ron Willems Jr., from Aurora, looked as if he was on his way to victory, after taking the lead from Erik Pierce on the first go around and held on to the top spot for the next nineteen circuits. Pierce was on Willem’s tail for every lap, running within inches of the leader, but Willems was able to hang on to the lead until lap 21, when Pierce got the advantage and took the front. Bloomberg and Einhaus knocked Willems back to fourth on the next go around, and with two laps remaining, Pierce slid high in turn four, allowing Bloomberg to make a pass for the lead and Einhaus to move to second. Einhaus tried to get the inside line on Bloomberg and after getting him sideways, Einhaus went for the lead on the line lap, but Bloomberg was able to straighten the car out and hold off Einhaus to the checkered flag. In the 20 lap street stock feature, John Ventrello, from Morris, led from start to finish, holding off a hard charging Justin Claypool for several circuits. Claypool went to the high side and stayed outside of Ventrello for six circuits, both cars running door handle to door handle around the 1/3 mile Grundy oval. Chad Proctor joined in the chase, moving in behind Ventrello and on the inside of Claypool, with none of the drivers giving an inch. On the final go around, Proctor was able to clear Claypool for the number two spot, but came up short on his challenge on Ventrello, giving Ventrello his first feature win of his career in his A Affordable –Al’s Garage – Bailey’s Carpet One sponsored Chevy. Claypool came home in third, followed by fast qualifier Chris Sanda, Randy Weese and point leader Rick Dawson. In the mini-stock feature event, Donnie Richardson, from Rensselaer, Indiana, visited the speedway for the first time and went home with the trophy, winning the main event by a large margin over Shane Hildreth. Racing continues every Friday night at the Grundy County Speedway, located at the Fairgrounds in Morris, Illinois, just north of i-80, on Rt 47, with time trials at 6:45 and the first race slated for an 8pm start. RESULTS 30 lap Late Model Feature: 1. Mike Heiss, Ottawa, 2. Eddie Hoffman Jr., Wheaton, 3. Brett Sontag, Joliet, 4. Rob Werkmeister, Plainfield, 5. Tom Smith, Posen, 6. Billy Knippenberg Jr., Plainfield, 7. Duane Pierson, Lockport, 8. Tom Knippenberg, Channahon, 9. Scott Dunning, Bolingbrook, 10. Pat McCabe, Joliet 1st 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Gary Raven, Hometown, 2. Scott Koerner, Joliet 2nd 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Werkmeister, 2. Hoffman Fast Time: Pat Kelly, Morris: 15.406 25 lap Mid-American Feature: 1. Jeremy Bloomberg, Hampshire, 2. Jerry Einhaus Jr., Seneca. No further results available 1st 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Brian Conley, Plainfield, 2. Dean Patterson, Orland Park 2nd 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Jake Finney, Sycamore, 2. Ryan Finley, Big Rock 3rd 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Nick O’Dell, New Lenox, 2. Einhaus Fast Time: Einhaus: 16.000 20 lap Street Stock Feature: 1. John Ventrello, Morris, 2. Chad Proctor, Kenosha, Wisconsin, 3. Justin Claypool, Morris, 4. Chris Sanda, LaGrange Park, 5. Randy Weese, Morris, 6. Rick Dawson, Lemont, 7. Brandon Clubb, Coal City, 8. Joe Graziano, Plainfield, 9. Karl Kwaz, Joliet, 10. Craig Matteson, Morris 1st 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Chad Bayuk, Crest Hill, 2. Ed Mahoney, Joliet 2nd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Weese, 2. Ray Brackett, Coal City 3rd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Claypool, 2. Proctor Fast Time: Sanda: 17.889 12 lap Mini-stock feature: 1. Donnie Richardson, Rensselaer, Indiana, 2. Shane Hildreth, Hammond.