Catchfence

SCHERERVILLE, IN – The ASA Late Model Series North Division Presented by
GM Performance Parts had a great weekend at Illiana Motor Speedway. At
times it was a marathon, and at times it was a sprint. But regardless of
the type of race, Brett Sontag was the man to beat.

In front of a jam-packed and enthusiastic Chicagoland crowd, the Orland
Park, Illinois driver stormed to the lead early and held off all comers
after a late-race restart to claim the checkers in Saturday night’s
Illiana Derby “Run for the Roses” 100 at the Illiana Motor Speedway.

Sontag, who started 4th, worked the high-side of the fast half-mile early
to find his way to second on lap number ten. Sontag would tussle with
outside pole sitter Griffin McGrath for six laps before taking the point
on the frontstretch. New track record holder Anthony Danta would also make
his way by McGrath with Sontag and claimed the runner up spot. As the
field hit the corner on lap 16, the first yellow of the night would fly as
former track champion John Nutley would find the Turn 3 wall.

After the clean up and restart, Sontag and Danta would break away from the
field. Behind them, a red hot third place battle would rage on for 21
laps. McGrath, still clinging to third would hold off several challenges
from Joey King for the spot. King would work to the inside of McGrath,
only to fall back behind McGrath’s black #64 each time. Finally on lap 56
King would muscle to the bottom and move to the third spot. Defending ASA
Late Model Series North Division Champion Eddie Hoffman would follow King,
hustling into fourth.

King would sprint away from Hoffman and company, and for a time, chased
down the lead duo of Sontag and Danta. Behind King, Hoffman would break
away from the developing fifth place rumble between McGrath and Brian
Campbell. Campbell would clear McGrath and begin to chase Hoffman for the
second straight week. Campbell, the Michigan veteran, would eventually
track down Hoffman and claim the fourth spot.

All this action took place during a 73 lap Green Flag run, which ended on
lap 89, as Chris Koslek’s car spun to a stop on the exit of Turn 2. The
yellow would set up a dash between Chicagoland aces Sontag and Danta,
along with King. On the restart, King wasted little time going after
Danta. King would clear Danta but not advance any further than the runner
up spot. Danta would try to run King back down to repay the favor, but
would settle for third. Campbell would take fourth and Colorado’s Chris
Eggleston would come across the line in fifth.

The next race for the ASA Late Model Series Northern Division will be
Memorial Day Weekend, Sunday May 24th at the Grundy County Speedway in
Morris, Illinois for the 11th Annual Appleton Memorial 125. Running in
support of the ASA Late Model Series Northern Division that day will be
the United State Super Trucks.

The ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division will open their season Sunday
May 17th at “America’s Legendary Oval,” The Milwaukee Mile. The event in
Milwaukee will feature a full day of ASA Late Model Series racing,
culminating in the “Badgerland 150.” Former ASA Late Model Series stars
Landon Cassill and Stephen Leicht have already filed entries for the
Milwaukee event, which will feature drivers from all across the United
States.

Race Results

Position Number Name Laps Completed

1. #5 Brett Sontag (100)

2. #29 Joey King (100)

3. #51 Anthony Danta (100)

4. #20 Brian Campbell (100)

5. #22 Chris Eggleston (100)

6. #8 Eddie Hoffman (100)

7. #64 Griffin McGrath (100)

8. #25 Ross Kenseth (100)

9. #99 Jordan Sims (100)

10. #0 Josh Nelms (100)

11. #33 Wes Griffith (99)

12. #72 Andy Marchiniak (99)

13. #52 Ricky Baker (99)

14. #90 Becca Kasten (99)

15. #31 Brent Brevak (98)

16. #6 Dave Gentile (98)

17. #34 Troy Hintzche (98)

18. #63 Brad Plunkett (96)

19. #89 Matt Byrne (90)

20. #23 Chris Koslek (90)

21. #96 John Nutley (15)

22. #58 Matt Minnifield (1)

- ASA Late Model Series Press Release