Posted by Grundy County Speedway on 8/29/2005, 11:05 am
Board Administrator

SMITH WINS AND CLOSES IN ON TITLE AT THE GRUNDY COUNTY SPEEDWAY By Andy Grod The battle for the 2005 late model championship will come down to the final week of racing on Labor-Day Week-end, with three title contenders separated by a mere eleven marks at the Grundy County Speedway, in Morris, Illinois. Point leader, Duane Pierson, from Lockport, had a 34 point cushion going into tonight’s racing action, but a crash involving Pierson and Rob Werkmeister on the start of the fast heat race took away any advantage Pierson had. With Smith’s win in the 30 lap main event and Pierson, driving Chris Cooling’s racer to a thirteenth place finish, Smith trails Pierson by just three points going into the final week-end of racing. Third place is held by Billy Knippenberg Jr, who’s fourth place showing in the feature event puts him just eight points behind Smith and eleven out of first place. A possible seventy points can be earned by a driver next Friday night and one-hundred ten points possible on Sunday’s Night of Features, it’s anyone’s guess who will walk away with the title of Late Model Track Champion this season. In tonight’s late model feature, Tom Knippenberg, from Channahon, started from the pole position and took the front at the drop of the green, with Smith and Pat Kelly fighting for the number two spot. Smith and Kelly traded positions twice before Smith settled in for second, with Kelly slowing on the speedway after ten circuits. Fast qualifier, Brett Sontag, from Joliet, moved in behind Smith and tried to take the position away, allowing Knippenberg to pull away by three car lengths. Smith was able to hold off the challenge of Sontag and catch Knippenberg as the threesome drove through lapped traffic. On the final go around, Knippenberg drove in turn one, and Smith gave him a shove, getting the leader sideways as they exited turn two. Knippenberg was able to hold on to the car, but Smith was able to pull along side, and as they shot down the back stretch, Smith was able to get the nose of his Smitty’s Landscaping - Sherwin Williams Paint – County Packaging Chevy in front of Knippenberg and held on for the win by a fender. “I put the pressure on him[Tom Knippenberg]”, said Smith. “I didn’t want to spin him, but I got him to open the door and I took it.” It was the second feature win of the season for Smith, who held the point lead earlier in the season. Sontag claimed the third spot, with Billy Knippenberg Jr running a strong fourth at the finish. Robbie Pyle, from Bolingbrook finished in fifth, with last week’s winner, Mike Heiss rounding out the top six positions. In Mid-American action, point leader Jerry Einhaus Jr., from Seneca, returned to victory lane for the first time since July 29th. Josh Higgins led the 20 car field in the early goings, followed by Jay Mikel and Josh Nelms. By lap five, Nelms had taken command of the event, with Higgins trying to hold off Dave DeFreece for the number two spot, with Jake Finney running ahead of Einhaus in fourth. Einhaus just got past Finney, when, on unlucky lap thirteen, Finney got turned sideways, causing a big pile-up involving Finney, Jeremy Bloomberg, Kellen Arnold, Billy Tuckwell, Stacy Kelley, Mikel and Ron Willems Jr., with Bloomberg returning to the speedway less front end sheet metal. After the track was cleared, the green again flew with Nelms leading Higgins, DeFreece and Einhaus around the one-third mile paved oval. Einhaus went to the outside line as he as done nearly every night, and overtook DeFreece and Higgins, but by then, Nelms had built up an eight car length lead with just five laps remaining. Caution erased Nelms’ advantage on Einhaus when Jeff Olson slid up to the wall, making it a four-lap dash to the finish. As the green came out, Nelms and Einhaus broke away from the field, and with two laps remaining, Einhaus again went to the outside line and the two drivers raced side by side under the white flag. It was a drag race around the track, with Einhaus pulling off the win on the final turn to claim his eighth feature win of the season in the Al’s Garage – WMC-Millwrights Fabricators – Oval Engineering – Appleton Rack and pinion sponsored Chevy. “It’s still about getting the chassis right, but I’m sure glad we had a B & B race engine in there,” said Einhaus. “We needed the power on that final lap.” Nelms held on for second place money, followed by DeFreece, Higgins, Tuckwell and Kelley. In the running of the twenty-lap street stock feature, Chad Proctor, from Kenosha, Wisconsin and current point leader Rick Dawson, from Lemont, battled to the wire, with Proctor able to get past Dawson on the final lap to take his fourth feature win of the season in his Cyclone Graphics car built by Bill’s Speed Shop. “I raced with a heavy heart tonight,” said Proctor. “My grandmother, Freda, died last night. I dedicate this win to her memory.” Dawson went under the checkered flag in second, followed by Randy Weese, Ricky Baker, Justin Claypool and Chris Sanda. The 12 lap Mini-stock division saw twenty-two cars take to the speedway, with Joel Kozlowski, from Calumet City taking the lead from Nick Clubb on lap four. Don Lindemulder, from Cedar Lake, Indiana, passed Kozlowski for the front on lap eight, but Kozlowski was able to put his Honda Civic back in front on the final laps to claim the victory. Lindemulder was second, followed by Justin Claypool, who was tied for the points lead with Nick Clubb going in to tonight’s action. Clubb finished just behind Claypool for fourth, followed by Brian Kuc and Alex Clubb. Next Friday night is the final Friday night of Stock Car racing for the season, with Fan Appreciation Night topping the night’s program. Along with a full schedule of racing, several gifts will be given out to the fans in attendance, including color TV set, hats, flags and free popcorn to the kids entering the speedway. Two days later, on Sunday, September 4th, Labor Day week-end, the Grundy County Speedway will host the twenty-ninth running of the NIGHT OF FEATURES, along with FIREWORKS to close the stock car season. Topping the card will be the 50 lap Late Model Lee Schuler Memorial Classic, along with a 40 lap Mid-American feature, a 35 lap Street Stock feature sponsored by Bailey’s Carpet in Morris, and a 15 lap Mini-stock main event. All events will award double-championship points and the 2005 track champions will be announced. The UMARA Midgets will also invade the speedway with a 30 lap Midget Championship. Fireworks that you can feel by the Mad Bomber will help close the season. An earlier starting time will be needed for Sunday’s full night of racing action, with time trials beginning at 5pm and the first race slated for a 6:30 pm start. Admission is $12.00 for adults on Sunday, with children 11 and under always free, and free parking makes this the best racing show anywhere for your entertainment dollars. The Grundy County Speedway is located just north of I-80, on Rt 47, Morris, Illinois RESULTS 30 lap Late Model Feature: 1. Tom Smith, Tinley Park, 2. Tom Knippenberg, Channahon, 3. Brett Sontag, Joliet, 4. Billy Knippenberg Jr., Plainfield, 5. Robbie Pyle, Bolingbrook, 6. Mike Heiss, Ottawa, 7. Scott Koerner, Joliet, 8. Joe Einhaus Jr., Seneca, 9. Ken Polcyn, Elwood, 10. Gary Raven, Hometown 1st 10 lap LM Heat: 1. P.J. Polcyn, Elwood, 2. Brain Clubb, Morris 2nd 10 lap LM Heat: 1. Heiss, 2. Smith Fast Time: Sontag:15.304 25 lap Mid-American Feature: 1. Jerry Einhaus JR., Seneca, 2. Josh Nelms, Bartlett, 3. Dave DeFreece, Yorkville, 4. Josh Higgins, Morris, 5. John McMahon, Lockport, 6. Stacy Kelley, Minooka, 7. Jeff Olson, Seneca, 8. Justin Wren, Coal City, 9. Darrell Phillips, Esmont, 10. Jeremy Bloomberg, Hampshire 1st 10 lap MA Heat; 1. Ray Mooi, New Lenox, 2. Ron Willems Jr., Aurora 2nd 10 lap MA Heat: 1. Nelms, 2. Higgins Fast Time: Einhaus Jr: 16.032 20 lap Street Stock Feature: 1. Chad Proctor, Kenosha, Wisconsin, 2. Rick Dawson, Lemont, 3. Randy Weese, Morris, 4. Ricky Baker, Plainfield, 5. Justin Claypool, Morris, 6. Chris Sanda, LaGrange Park, 7. Craig Matteson, Morris, 8. Ed St Pierre, Channahon, 9. Joe Graziano, Plainfield, 10. John Ventrello, Morris 12 lap SS Semi-feature: 1. Ron Vandermeir Jr., Joliet, 2. David Einhaus, Seneca, 3. Frank Sabella, Joliet, 4. Dave Gage, Grand Ridge, 5. Ben Hoffman, Morris 1st 10 lap SS Heat: 1. David Einhaus, Seneca, 2. Vandermeir Jr. 2nd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Chuck Deutsch, Minooka, 2. Ben Hoffman 3rd 10 lap SS Heat: 1. Dawson, 2. Proctor Fast Time: Proctor: 17.498