KANKAKEE, Ill. — Chad Osterhoff was the winner of the season-opening DIRTcar Pro Late Models 20-lap feature race at Kankakee County Speedway Friday night.
After two previous rainouts, new track promoter Billy Knippenberg was able to get a full program of racing into the record books. In his first year as a promoter, Knippenberg was last year’s Pro Late Models champion at the quarter-mile Kankakee oval.
Osterhoff, the veteran racer from Kankakee, wheeled his Osterhoff Racing, Country Flower Market/Dralle Chevrolet Buick-sponsored No. 19 to the $1,000 win, holding off the challenges of Matt Hammond in the closing laps. Osterhoff was pressed by his son, Chase, with less than six laps to go, only to see the second-generation driver spin between turns one and two, which brought out the yellow flag with four laps remaining.
Rounding out the top six among the 15-car feature field were Torin Mettille, Ben Kirschner, Jace Owens and Michael Marden.
“I don’t know if he was trying to do a slide job on me or not,” said winner Chad Osterhoff about his son, Chase. “He did it a little too soon. He was faster and he could have had me. He’ll learn.”
Brooks got by leader Jason Hastings on the final lap to score the $1,000 win in the 20-lap main event for DIRTcar modifieds. The 33-year-old driver pushed his Great Lakes Lifting Solutions/Dralle Chevrolet Buick/Lethal Chassis-sponsored No. 5 into the lead on the final circuit to post the victory.
Hastings, who had passed early race leader Mike McKinney for the top spot, hung on for second with Justin Gregory, Austin Friedman, Dave Baldwin and Mike Mosier making up the rest of the top six in the 16-car field. A slowing McKinney retired to the pits before the finish.
“We went for it (the lead) with two (laps) to go and a lapper got in the way,” said Brooks. “We’ve had a rough year. I haven’t won in a while. I’ve taken some elbows this year and I know I gave Jason an elbow there.”
Veteran Lee J. Hall was the winner of 15-lap factory stock feature race. Hall defeated Randy Smyser, Sheldon Oberle, David Hurst and Nathan Arterberry.
The 15-lap stock car feature saw Zane Reitz score the win ahead of Jerrad Krick, Shaun Wiltjer, Don Hilleray and Cody Clubb.
Deece Schwartz was the winner of the yellow flag-plagued 15-lap headliner for DIRTcar Pro Modifieds. Mark Rhoades, Kirby McCormick, Luke Gebhardt and Pete Arigianus chased Schwartz to the checkered flag.
The final race of the evening was the 12-lap sport compact (four-cylinder) headliner with Jake Momper piloting his trusty Dodge Neon to the win.