Sauk Centre, Minnesota (July 5, 2003)—Eddie Hoffman, of Wheaton, Illinois, won the NASCAR Elite Division, International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series July Spectacular 150, Saturday night at I-94 (MN) Raceway. The win was his third of the season and moved him within nine points of championship point leader Ron Breese, Jr.
Hoffman used lap traffic to hold off a determined Brian Hoppe, of Madison, Wisconsin, by .210 seconds. Greenfield, Minnesota’s Jon Lemke, Sparta, Wisconsin driver Tim Schendel and Wausau, Wisconsin’s Jeremy Lepak rounded out the top five.
“I knew they were coming at the end,” said Hoffman. “Sure enough, they were.”
Hoppe pulled even with Hoffman on several occasions over the final 10 laps, but Hoffman held strong in the high groove. Hoppe’s final bid for the lead happened as the pair raced to the white flag. Hoppe got a great run off of turn four and pulled even with Hoffman, again. It looked as though he would have enough momentum to carry him past Hoffman, but the veteran was able to pin Hoppe behind the lapped car of Sycamore, Illinois driver Dave Finney.
“I was really hoping that lapped car would slide up in front of the leader for a change instead of all the lapped cars being in front of me,” said Hoppe. “I can’t say enough about this team though, we had to pull out the backup car because I messed up the primary car earlier today. So I guess we’ll take this second place and go to the next race.”
The Midwest Series travels next to Gateway International Raceway in suburban St. Louis for the running of the Gateway 125, Friday, July 18.
Sauk Centre, MN - Unofficial race results for the NASCAR Elite Division, Int'l Truck and Engine Midwest Series
Saturday night, July 5, at I-94 Raceway with start position in parentheses,
driver, hometown, car make, laps completed, money won and status:
1 (12) Eddie Hoffman Wheaton, IL Chevrolet 150 $3,950 running
2 (5) Brian Hoppe Madison, WI Chevrolet 150 $2,550 running
3 (10) Jon Lemke Greenfield, MN Chevrolet 150 $2,175 running
4 (18) Tim Schendel Sparta, WI Chevrolet 150 $2,550 running
5 (6) Jeremy Lepak* Wausau, WI Chevrolet 150 $1,650 running
6 (3) Justin Diercks Davenport, IA Chevrolet 150 $1,550 running
7 (15) Steve Carlson West Salem, WI Chevrolet 150 $1,850 running
8 (14) Nathan Haseleu Marshall, WI Ford 150 $1,275 running
9 (11) Ryan Hanson Beloit, WI Ford 150 $1,300 running
10 (9) Josh Vadnais White Bear Lake, MN Chevrolet 150 $1,000 running
11 (8) Dave Finney Sycamore, IL Chevrolet 149 $1,125 running
12 (1) Ron Breese, Jr Dekalb, IL Chevrolet 149 $1,450 running
13 (2) Bryan Roach Becker, MN Chevrolet 148 $1,025 running
14 (17) Pete Moore McFarland, WI Chevrolet 148 $1,000 running
15 (7) Eric Fransen* West Bend, WI Chevrolet 148 $1,025 running
16 (13) Jeff Way Burlington, WI Chevrolet 148 $900 running
17 (22) A.J. Rhoads* Hastings, MN Chevrolet 146 $850 running
18 (20) Dan Bedard* Prior Lake, MN Chevrolet 146 $850 running
19 (24) Todd Hansen Minneapolis, MN Chevrolet 145 $650 running
20 (16) Mark Voigt* Marine, IL Chevrolet 145 $850 running
21 (21) Dave Bean* Westby, WI Chevrolet 140 $650 running
22 (19) Les Ferris Northfield, MN Chevrolet 107 $850 vibration
23 (4) Clint Bowyer* Emporia, KS Chevrolet 84 $850 accident
24 (23) Tim Rothe Appleton, WI Chevrolet 79 $650 handling
*Denotes Victory Circle Chassis Rookie of the Year Contender
1 Cautions for 10 Laps:
(84-94)
5 Lead Changes Among 5 Drivers:
Ron Breese, Jr (grid), Bryan Roach 1, Breese 2-54, Justin Diercks 55-88, Breese 89-93, Steve Carlson 94-104, Eddie Hoffman 105-150
Time of Race: 48 minutes, 43 seconds
Average Speed: 69.278 mph.
Margin of Victory: .210 seconds
Bud Pole Winner: Jon Lemke, K.C. Colors/Certified First Chevrolet, 16.899 seconds (79.886 mph)
POWERade Power Move of the Race Award: Tim Schendel, Mathews Archery Chevrolet
25-Lap Last Chance Qualifier: 1) Pete Moore; 2) Tim Schgendel; 3) Les Ferris; 4) Dan Bedard
Failed to Qualify: (1) Tim Olson
Next Race: Gateway International Raceway, Madison, Illinois, Gateway 125, Friday, July 18, 2003
