HULBERT PICKS UP FIRST CAREER NATIONAL MIDGET VICTORY, ANDERSON WINS FIRST ILLINI RACE FOR DAD

By: Michael J Guglielmucci

Morris, IL- It took almost 5 years for Billy Hulbert to find victory lane in the D’Arcy GMC Short Track Auto Racing Series, and on Saturday night in the 8th Annual Carter/Anderson Classic, the 22 year old veteran ended that drought by picking up the win in the 36 lap feature event. Hulbert started on the outside of row number one and never had to fight for that top spot. He had built up a half straightaway lead until Brad Greenup slowed down the backstretch on lap 28. On the restart, things got a little scary. Entering turn 3 the eighth place car of Tom Schnabel had a throttle stick and collected Jimmy Anderson sending them both into the wall. Schnabel ended up and over the turn 4 wall and Anderson sat up against it. Both drivers got out under their own power uninjured. After the accident was cleared up, it was back to racing and Hulbert maintained his lead for the final 7 laps. Austin Prock finished a career best, second, with Tyler Cottongim, Tyler Trainor, and Ryan Probst rounding out the top five. Probst also posted a career best finish. Cottongim was the winner of the Hot Rod Barn Trophy Dash with Kyle O’Gara and Anderson picking up heat race wins.

The Illini Racing Series returned to Grundy County for their second time in 2012, and a familiar name sat in victory lane. Mike Anderson, the 2010 dwarf car champion and Illini rookie, started on the outside of row number one and led 19 of the 20 laps. Anderson, in his first season piloting a midget owned by Roger Engstrom, had a battle from Patrick Bruns and Sean Murphy for most of the race but never gave up the lead. The win was Anderson’s first career win and it came on a night where he wanted it most, the night where his father was remembered for his many years in midget racing.

Greg Ihrke cleaned house in the Town and Country Lanes Classic Modified division by picking up fast qualifier, winning the Hot Rod Barn Trophy Dash and heat race all before taking his first feature win of the season. Ihrke passed Scott Struthers on lap 4 and led the final 16 laps, finishing ahead of George Pershey. Gregg Willis, Paul Boris, and Ken Nona completed the top five.

The INEX Legends series saw a familiar face in the Winner’s Circle with Andy Jones passing Rachael Pinkerman on lap 2 and leading the final 19 laps to take his fourth win of 2012. Jones also had a complete sweep of the night by picking up the Hot Rod Barn Trophy Dash and heat race, and was fast qualifier on the night. Pinkerman, Brian Tedeschi, Johnny Kringas, Ricky Plunge completed the top five.

In CSR Super Cup action, Austin Kunert took the checkers for the first time in 2012. Jordan Caskey and Mike Harrold completed the podium. Jaret James took the top spot in the heat race, with Dallas Freuh picking up the Hot Rod Barn Trophy Dash.

The D’Arcy GMC Short Track Auto Racing Series will have a week off before returning to action at the Grundy County Speedway on July 28th. Pit gates open at 2:00 pm with spectator gates opening at 5:00 pm and the first race taking place at 6:30 pm. For more information on the D’Arcy GMC Short Track Auto Racing Series, visit www.stars-racing.com, “Like” them on Facebook, www.facebook.com/shorttrackauto or follow them on Twitter @shorttrackauto.

QUALIFICATIONS- 1. Austin Prock, 41, Prock/TSR- 14.353; 2. Jimmy Anderson, 36, Guess- 14.422; 3. Brad Greenup, 4G, Greenup- 14.464; 4. Tyler Cottongim, 28, Cottongim- 14.464; 5. Patrick Wilda Jr., 33, Wilda- 14.514; 6. Tom Schnabel, 20S, Schnabel- 14.544; 7. Kyle O’Gara, 67, SFHR-14.548; 8. Aaron Andruskevitch, 5, Domark-14.636; 9. Billy Hulbert, 88, Hulbert- 14.646; 10. Tyler Trainor, 25, 14.791; 11. Ray Seach, 6, A&G- 14.798; 12. Terry Ahern, 6T6, Ahern- 15.140; 13. Ryan Probst, 99, Probst- 15.150; 14. Bob Shreffler, 21, Shreffler-16.549; 15. Tom Eyman, 2, Eyman- NT; 16. Mike Anderson, 36T, Guess- NT

TROPHY DASH (4 laps)- 1. Cottongim 2. Anderson 3. Prock 4. Greenup

FIRST HEAT (8 laps)- 1. O’Gara 2. Seach 3. Hulbert 4. Greenup 5. Prock 6. Probst 7. Wilda

SECOND HEAT (8 laps)- 1. Anderson 2. Andruskevitch 3. Trainor 4. Schnabel 5. Cottongim 6. Ahern 7. Shreffler (DNS)

FEATURE (36 laps)- 1. Billy Hulbert 2. Austin Prock 3. Tyler Cottongim 4. Tyler Trainor 5. Ryan Probst 6. Ray Seach 7. Terry Ahern 8. Kyle O’Gara 9. Patrick Wilda 10. Jimmy Anderson 11. Tom Schnabel 12. Brad Greenup 13. Aaron Andruskevitch 14. Mike Anderson 15. Bob Shreffler

LAP LEADERS: Hulbert- laps 1-36

*Schnabel flipped on lap 28