MORRIS, Ill. — Grundy County Speedway hosted its Carter Memorial Mid Season Championship stock car racing program Friday night with Anthony Danta coming home the winner of the 50-lap championship run for late model stock cars.
The event was held in honor of the Carter Family, which has been involved in automobile racing in the Grundy County area since the 1920s.
Danta, from Beecher, Ill., drove the Indiana-based Trgovich Racing-owned, Attorney Ray Szarmach-sponsored, Ford No. 11 to the victory. It was the second win of the season for the 34-year old racer, who was the speedway’s 2016 late model track champion but missed the entire 2020 racing season because of back problems.
Danta, who was the evening’s fourth fastest qualifier – coming from a fifth row starting spot, held a 1.349-second lead over two-time track titlist Ricky Baker at the checkered flag. Paul Shafer Jr., points leader Eddie Hoffman, Dave Gentile Jr. and Larry Schuler rounded out the “top six” in the 17-car field.
From his outside front row starting position, Baker wrestled the lead from Schuler during the first lap and began to set sail with Scott Koerner, Schuler and Joe Vinachi giving chase.
Eleven laps were complete when fastest qualifier Keith Tolf spun in turn one with the yellow caution flag appearing for the first time. On the restart, it was Baker in control with Danta working his way into second place as the race wore on.
With 39 laps in the record books, the second and final caution flag flew as Jim Weber and Clay Curts got together coming off of turn two. Baker, who had a pretty decent lead before the caution light flashed, saw his lead disappear with Danta on his bumper for the restart. Danta wasted no time and took the lead from Baker in a lap or two.
“I thought we were going to get to him (Baker) without the yellow flag,” said Danta. “It definitely helped us out. I think Ricky’s motor was missing there at the end. I think we had the better car. I was running him down. It’s cool to get one (a win).”
The 30-lap Mid American sportsman feature race saw Aaron Shelton score the victory. Shelton, from Seneca, Ill., scored his second win of the season at the third-of-a-mile paved oval as he held off Kenny Benson for the victory. Current division leader Blake Brown, Kevin Murphy and Tristan Batson finished in the top five.
Looking for another class title, Chicago’s Eddie Ligue copped the 30-lap street stock main event. On top of the current street stock standings, Ligue, with three Grundy titles to his credit, defeated Scott Gardner and Randy Weese after Ligue’s crew rebuilt the winning car after a heat race accident.
A fourth-generation competitor, Zach Legner of Verona, Ill., claimed top honors in the 15-lap four-cylinder headliner. Legner wheeled his Dodge Stratus to the win over Cameron Preisler and Zach Orts. Eleven-year-old Jacob Senerchia, son of many-time Grundy track champion, John Senerchia, won the 15-lap Super Cup Series feature race, giving the youngster two wins for the season. Alex Ertmann finished second with Carter Appleton third.
The finish:
Anthony Danta, Ricky Baker, Paull Shafer Jr., Eddie Hoffman, Dave Gentile Jr., Larry Schuler, Scott Koerner, DJ Weltmeyer, Larry Middleton Jr., James Gregait, Jim Weber, Steve Seligman, Keith Tolf, Clay Curts, Joe Vinachi, Ryan Hill, Matt Chester.