Grundy
Scott Koerner holds the checkered flag in victory lane after scoring the late model stock car feature win at Illinois’ Grundy County Speedway Saturday night. (Chris Goodaker Photo)

Koerner Wins Grundy Late Model Main

MORRIS, Ill. —Scott Koerner won the 30-lap late model feature race at the Grundy County Speedway with track champions being crowned at the third-mile paved oval Saturday on Fan Appreciation Night.

The 49-year-old Koerner, from Joliet, scored his first stock car feature victory of the season, after winning his sixth open-wheel midget racing title this year again with the Illini Racing Series. Koerner wheeled his Advanced Powder Coating-sponsored Camry to the win over late model newcomer Tristan Batson with a commanding 3.277-second margin of victory at the checkered flag.

Fast qualifier Larry Schuler came home third, followed by DJ Weltmeyer, who wrapped up the late model crown at the speedway, joining his dad, Dave, on the speedway’s champions’ honor roll. Seven-time track champion Eddie Hoffman finished fifth with Blake Brown sixth. 

David Einhaus secured his sportsman track championship by winning the division’s 25-lap main event. Einhaus captured his third win of the year ahead of Kevin Murphy, Rickey Mathis Jr., Matt Clemens and Timmy Stewart. 

Driving Vince Van Vossen’s car, Clay Curts came home the winner of the 25-lap street stock headliner, giving Curts feature wins this season in three racing divisions – sportsman, pure stocks and street stocks. Curts finished ahead of division champion Scotty Gardner, who saw his dad, Scott, win the title last year.  Cameron Preisler, James Dean and Chad Bayuk rounded out the top five.

Rookie racer Ethan Wolf posted his first four-cylinder pure stocks feature win, defeating Zach Chanda, Matt Lee and Jonathan Stevens, this year’s pure stock titlist, in the 20-lap chase. Another first-time winner, Landon Hocking won the Super Cup 20 lapper ahead of Rob Baaske and Jacob Senerchia, who wrapped up the division crown.