CRA Heads to Grundy

Short track racing at Grundy County Speedway is about to make history as the fastest Super Late Model Series in the country prepares to invade the locals for a $5000 to WIN payday on Sunday June 12 th. Champion Racing Association, otherwise known as the Sunoco Super Series has been sanctioned by the Appleton Promotions Group for the 7 th annual George Appleton Memorial 125 to be presented by Rod Baker Ford of Plainfield, IL.

History, tough competition, and a big pay day have always attached itself to this event in memory of George Appleton. George was a long time innovator in the field of late model stock car chassis and components. Appleton, who passed away in 1998, was the founder of Appleton Rack and Pinions, Inc. in Minooka, a sponsor with the CRA Super Series this season. Appleton built numerous stock cars during his lifetime, but set the Midwestern stock car racing scene on its ear when he debuted his state-of-the-art "Junkyard Dog Camaro" with Larry Schuler handling the driving chores in 1976. Featuring coil over shocks and rack and pinion steering among other new racing ideas, the Appleton creation carried Schuler to three track championships in three states with the young champion winning a season-high 43 main events during the year.

The Sunoco Super Series is the toughest series in the country, states APG promoter John Brolick.

The Midwest drivers have been making their presence known in Short Track Racing all over the United States this year and this race will be putting the Nations best up against our Midwest Locals. Appleton Promotions Group, consisting of past Late Model standout John Brolick, Fred Appleton owner and proprietor of Appleton Rack and Pinion, and Steve Einhaus General Manager/Promoter of Madison International Speedway in Oregon, WI.

It’s going to be a pleasure to go home and promote this race for our local fans, states Einhaus. Last year we put together an awesome show for the fans and this year we will be setting the bar. Einhaus formerly of Seneca has a name that has been in the local racing spotlight for many years at Grundy County Speedway. While only having two years of Promotional experience in the Auto Racing Business it seems that he has given off an extreme amount of energy to the local racing scene. “I was given a one of a kind opportunity by Chicagoland businessman and Madison International Speedway track owner Terry Kunes to promote and manage one of the biggest and most well known racing facilities in the country”. (Coincidentally MIS leads the nation in the number of drivers that have raced weekly at the facility and then moved on to Nextel Cup.) “I have so many friends from the Grundy County Speedway area and that makes it very special to go back and give our local fans the show they deserve.

This event, marked by a 125 lap Super Late Model feature event is becoming one of the richest paying races in the Midwest for Asphalt racing. What is also interesting about this event is the Promoters sell each individual lap to area business sponsors for a specified amount. “This is what really helps us make this race happen and it allows us to keep the gate price reasonable so a whole family can attend and enjoy themselves”, stated Brolick.

So what makes this event so appealing to everyone? It’s about the competition, the challenge, and knowing that you are racing against America’s best Asphalt Stock Car Drivers, states current CRA Point Leader and Grundy favorite Eddie Hoffman Jr of Wheaton, IL. Grundy is my home track and I get around that place pretty good but when you bring in all of the big shots for this event it makes it pretty darn tough on everyone, stated the second generation driver.

Also on the card for the evening is a special 40 lap event for Grundy’s action filled Street Stock Division and Illiana Motor Speedways Street Stock Division. These cars are so similar and they enjoy competing against each other at both tracks, states Einhaus. We are assembling a rule committee to let the drivers decide what the fairest way possible is for both divisions to compete. This is what they look forward to every year, “A big payday”. A special treat to the fans will be in support of all of the female fans and spouses, as a Ladies Powder Puff event will highlight intermission. Spectator Gates open at 1pm with qualifying at 2:30 and racing begins at 4:00 pm. Group tickets pricing can be obtained by contacting John Brolick at 312-907-5957 ppleto