MORRIS, Ill. — Larry Schuler, the seemingly ageless Illinois late model stock car veteran beat a host of younger driving talent on his way to winning the 40-lap NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series main event at the Grundy County Speedway Friday night.
Warm weather, a bit of rain and a scary-looking Midwest dust storm couldn’t stop the weekly program from being held with the 72-year-old Schuler guiding his Rod Baker Ford-sponsored No. 30 to the victory.
Schuler, who scored his first late model feature win in 1973 at the old Illiana Motor Speedway in Indiana, led the 40-lapper from flag to flag after starting on the outside of the front row of the 12-car field.
The victory was Schuler’s 79th career win at Grundy – the third-mile paved oval in Northern Illinois, giving Schuler late model victories during the past six decades.
Schuler took starter Greg Kuntz’s checkered flag with a healthy margin of 3.135 seconds over second place finisher Blake Brown. Third and fourth place finishers Anthony Danta and D.J. Weltmeyer, along with Brown, are all in their 30s.
Two-time Grundy titlist Ricky Baker finished fifth with nine-time track champion and fastest-qualifier Eddie Hoffman grabbing sixth.
“I think it’s been at least five years (since I won a feature), said Schuler. “It (the car) was running.  I don’t mind the outside (groove).  It ran pretty good out there.  That’s what it needed.”
“They’re all important,” added Schuler.  “I’ve won a few races and I enjoyed everyone.  There wasn’t a good one or a bad one.  You come out here – each lap, each corner, you do your best.  We came out tonight with the win and that’s some big fun.”
Matt Lee was the winner of the 20-lap street stock main event. Lee bested fast qualifier Kellen Arnold and Kristi Odom. Jerry Legner captured the 20-lap “Crown Vic” division feature race, while Jacob Slusarczyk won the 20-lap “Sixers” class headliner.
Zach Senerchia came home the winner of the 15-lap Super Cup main event.  It was the first career Super Cup victory for the 11-year-old.
