Chicago Whispers
by Stan Kalwasinski
Chicago , Ill. —Keith Sterkowitz won the 75-lap Howe Racing Enterprises late model sportsman headliner Sunday afternoon at Indiana ’s Plymouth Speedway as the Champion Racing Association (CRA) opened its season and hosted the inaugural Cabin Fever 200.
The 38-year-old Sterkowitz, who started 10th in the 28-car field, pushed his Midnight Blue Towing-sponsored Impala SS passed Midwestern stock car veteran Brian Ross on lap 42 and never looked back, taking the checkered flag with a comfortable margin over Joe Beaver, Al Cook, Jr., fastest qualifier Derrick Griffin, Steve Stacy and Ron Maynard, Jr.
“We were just cruising and trying to work our way to the front,” said Sterkowitz, who was the third fastest qualifier. “We’d find a lane here and there and move up. I had to pass a couple of good guys, including Brian Ross, who has been a super late model champion here for years. He didn’t make it easy for me, but we made it work.
“I have to thank the car owner John Marshall for giving me a ride,” added Sterkowitz, who hails from Cedar Lake , Ind. “I was out of racing for a while, but John gave me a ride. This is the first time in four years my wife has been able to come to a race, and my kids were here also, so it is a special day to win.”
The victory was the first CRA sportsman win for Sterkowitz, who was the series’ champion in 2006. Other sponsors of Sterkowitz’s winning No. 17 include Alpine Valley Water, Precision Cut Lawn and McGunegill Engine Performance.
Veteran racer Lou Stremme, son of NASCAR ‘Cup star David Stremme, was shaken up in a wild, hard-hitting crash on lap 61 that also involved Brett Robinson and Rick Rinehart. Stremme got out of his car on his own power and walked to the ambulance for a precautionary check-over.
Versatile Josh Nelms of Lockport made his first start in CRA street stock competition a successful one as he won the division’s 75-lap main event. Nelms and his Monte Carlo bested Scott Neal, Bret Miles, Jr., Eddie Wolf and Chad Poorman.
“I have to thank Dave Dotter for giving me a great car.” Nelms stated. “I sort of got out front and just rolled around. The street stocks can be wild and crazy. I got out there and eased up some to save the tires and then the 17 car (Neal) was coming at the end. I really needed my tires then.”
Nelms’ winning ride carried the sponsorship of Markham Cycle & Machine Shop, Joliet Auto Parts and Shreffler Harley Davidson.
Closing out the afternoon of racing, David Bice of Fort Wayne , Ind. was the winner of the CRA FWD Compacts 50 lapper over Dan Reimersma and Tim Dilg.
Over 80 cars crowded the pits for the event at the 3/8’s-mile paved oval, which is promoted by Tom Smith and Bobby Blount. Randy Pressler set a new track record for the CRA Street Stocks with a time of 15.037 seconds. Lat year’s Plymouth sportsman division champion Derrick Griffin then set a new track record for the CRA late model sportsman division with a time of 13.813 seconds. Plymouth kicks off its regular season on Saturday evening, May 8
Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, Ind. hosted an “open house” practice session on Saturday with perhaps the largest field of cars ever showing up for a “test and tune” day in the history of the northwest Indiana speed plant. Illiana is set to open for its 63rd year of auto racing action on Saturday evening, April 17.
Super late model competitors Boris Jurkovic, Eddie Hoffman, Anthony Danta, Blake Brown, Robbie Pyle and Wisconsin visitor Matt Kocourek were among those on top of the speed charts during the afternoon runs on the half-mile paved oval. Other late model speedsters on hand included Bobby Gash, Andy Marchiniak, Danny Darnell, Keith Tolf, Jeremy Spoonmore, Brad Plunkett and newcomer Tim Woodin. Defending super late model titlist Jeff Cannon was on hand, hot lapping his Wayne Govert-owned Chevrolet, which he will race in the Schepel Performance limited late model ranks. Scheduled to do “double duty” during the season, Cannon will be going after his third career super late model championship.
David James “DJ” Weltmeyer was on hand shaking down his Impala SS No. 23 before embarking on his rookie season in the super late model ranks at Illiana. The 17-year-old Weltmeyer is the son of long-time Chicago area late model stock car front runner Dave Weltmeyer, who has won his fair share of championships and feature races since getting behind the wheel of a stock car for the first time almost 40 years ago.
“I just want to get started, get the feel for it and get ready to race,” the young Weltmeyer said. “I just want to do the best I can for myself and everybody. I’m just excited to be here. I always wanted to race a car from the first day I remember seeing my dad race.”
Chris Czaszwicz of Alsip won the season-opening 200-lap Enduro at the Rockford Speedway this past Saturday. Czaszwicz has been a regular in Illiana Pure Stock ranks for the past several years, finishing 11th last season in the points with three feature wins to his credit.
The high-banked quarter-mile paved Rockford oval presents its 33rd annual Spring Classic this coming Sunday afternoon. The day’s action will be highlighted by a 58-lap feature race for the BRP Big 8 Series late models and a Mid American Stock Car Series 50-lap headliner. Rockford begins its 63rd season of weekly stock car action on Saturday, April 24.
If you are an open-wheel, United States Auto Club (USAC) sprint car fan, Indiana’s Kokomo Speedway will be the place to be next Sunday evening. Street stocks and thunder cars are also on the program at the quarter-mile clay oval, which hosts non-wing sprint car racing on a weekly basis during the summer months.
Other season-opening dates: Grundy County Speedway, Morris , Ill. – April 30, LaSalle Speedway – May 1, Sycamore Speedway – May 1, Shadyhill Speedway, Medaryville , Ind. – May 1, Kankakee County Speedway – May 7.
The address for news and comments is 9618 Cypress Ave. , Munster , Ind. 46321-3418 or e-mail to skalwasinski@yahoo.com.
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