:::CRA Super Series:::

Chicago International Trucks 250

at the

40^th ANNUAL NATIONAL SHORT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

ROCKFORD SPEEDWAY

Contact: Kevin Ramsell (kmrpr17@charter.net)

HOFFMAN DOMINATES NSTC CRA SUPER SERIES 250

By: Kevin Ramsell

Saturday, October 29, 2005 (Loves Park, IL) - Eddie Hoffman simply dominated the main event in the 40th Annual National Short Track Championships presented by Chicago International Trucks. Hoffman led wire-to-wire without power steering to earn his win.

Hoffman grabbed the lead as Tom White waved the green flag for the 250-lap

main event. The first caution flew on lap 2 when Jerry Cowan spun in turns one and two. Jeremy Spoonmore, Mike Strupp, Jeff Way and Landon Cassill were also collected in the spin. Spoonmore would lose a lot of laps as he broke his trailing arm. Cassill sat on pit road having repairs done to his car and would go down many laps.

On the re-start, Hoffman would continue to lead over Eddie Van Meter and

fast qualifier Brian Johnson Jr. Current CRA point leader Jeff Lane worked his way past Johnson for third on lap 26. The second caution flew on lap 27 when Ricky Bilderback spun and made contact with the wall coming out of turn four. Bilderback would be able to continue.

During the caution, CRA officials sent Hoffman to the pits to check for a leak from his Lisa Thomas Salon Chevrolet. Officials inspected the car and discovered that the power steering hose was dripping but officials felt it would not be a problem on the track. But, it could mean a long day for Hoffman. Hoffman was able to re-establish his top spot.

On the re-start, Jack Smith spun coming out of turn four to bring out the third caution on lap 36. Hoffman continued to lead until the caution flew again on lap 71 when Rich Loch spun in turns one and two and collected Matt Kocourek. Both were able to continue. It was a scenario of caution breeding cautions as Rick Turner spun on lap 77 then Cowan spinning on lap 82.

Hoffman paced the field while being closely challenged by Van Meter and Johnson at the 100-lap mark of the 250-lap event. The caution flew on lap 117 as Rick Turner lost power and couldn't get off the track.

Johnson Jr. tried to get on the inside of Van Meter on lap 123 for second by Van Meter was able to hold off Johnson for the spot. Kenny Tweedy brought out another caution as he stalled on the front stretch on lap 124.

Van Meter attempted to make a pass for the lead on lap 134 but got loose coming off of turn two and fell back to sixth. Johnson Jr. took over the second spot. Van Meter was challenging Jeremy Miller for battling for the seventh position and the two got together in turns one and two on lap 137 to bring out another caution. Both were sent to the rear for the incident. Rich Loch was also involved and he was taken off on the hook.

CRA officials decided that to have the ten-minute break at lap 142 to allow the teams to change tires and re-fuel the cars for the final 108 laps of the race.

During the break, Hoffman admitted that he has lost his power steering and his crew is working on trying to fix the problem. 23 cars took the green flag for the last 108 laps of the 250 lap main event with Hoffman in the lead.

Johnson Jr. was looking for a way to get past Hoffman but stated during the break that he was going to be patient. Jeremy Miller and Tony Strupp got together in turn two causing both to spin and bring out another caution.

Smoke poured from Brian Johnson Jr.'s car on lap 163 going into turn one.

Johnson went high and fell back to fifth. Lane took over the second spot. The caution flew on lap 165 when Bilderback and Chris Gabehart spun in turns three and four. During the caution, Johnson Jr. went to the pit to replace a flat right rear tire.

On the re-start, Hoffman would pull away to a two-car length lead over Lane.

With 35 laps to go, Rubeck moved up to battle with Hoffman and Lane for the top spot. Rubeck spent most of the race getting past Tom Hernly Jr. Once he got him, he had to make up ten-car lengths.

With 30 laps to go, Rubeck challenged Lane for second on the high side but Lane was able to hold him off for the position. The battle didn’t allow Hoffman to pull away.

The caution flew with 14 laps to go when Johnson Jr. and Jeremy Miller made contact in turns one and two causing Miller to spin. Both were able to continue.

Hoffman would go on to hold off Lane and Rubeck to win the race, leading wire-to-wire. Ryan Mathews and Hernly Jr. rounded out the top five.

The 59th season of racing at the Rockford Speedway will begin on April 1-2, 2006. For more information, please visit the track’s website at www.rockfordspeedway.com.

Official Results

Photos from NSTC

Chicago International Trucks 250 Lineup

Last Chance Race Results

Last Chance Race Lineup

Practice Results #1

Practice Results #2

Rain Postpones Chicago International Trucks 250

Photos from Day 1

Rockford, IL (September 25, 2005) - Sunday’s Chicago International Trucks 250 CRA Super Series event at the 40^th Annual National Short Track Championships at Rockford Speedway was shaping up to have several interesting races within the race. Eddie Hoffman had seen his luck turn at the series last event at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway with a Top 5 finish after a DNF at the Winchester Speedway event, which was his first finish outside the Top 10 so far this season. His good luck seemed to continue at Rockford when he qualified third and was placed on the pole after fast qualifier Brian Johnson, Jr. drew a three for the inverted start. With his teams lead in the series Owner points chase down to 17 points, and him still stuck in fourth place in series Drivers points, Hoffman needed a good day.

Jeff Lane had been running well, after a start to the season that included a few DNF’s and several finishes outside the Top 10, Lane had put together several consecutive finishes in the Top 5 to climb to first in the Driver’s points and second in Owners points. Then an off day at Mansfield Motor Speedway dropped him from first to third, and second to fourth. But a good qualifying time and starting from the outside of the second row made this race look like it could become a good day to climb back up the rankings.

Eddie Van Meter is still-hunting his first CRA Super Series presented by Spray Power victory. He has been very close this year finishing second in a couple of races, and running out of gas while leading with only a few laps left at Berlin in June. This has still been Van Meter’s best season ever with the CRA Super Series, he is currently second in Driver’s points and third in Owner’s points. Second fast time this weekend put him on the outside of the front row, at a track with a very fast high groove, giving Van Meter a chance to get out front and stay there.

But the rain came instead. After working through a 4-hour rain delay during the events on Saturday, Sunday started wet and kept getting wetter. After two short rain showers Sunday morning, and with the radar and forecast showing the rain lasting until late in the evening, Rockford Speedway officials reluctantly made the decision to postpone the day’s events until Saturday, October 29^th.

The 26 cars already locked into the Chicago International Trucks 250 will start in the spots they earned via qualifying, the qualifying race on Saturday, and the series two-owner point provisionals. The final two spots in the event are currently scheduled to be filled by a 15-lap Last Chance Race and a Lucky Dog draw during the rescheduled program on October 29^th.

The rescheduling of the event will now make the Chicago International Trucks 250 the season championship event for the CRA Super Series presented by Spray Power. The series still has point events scheduled for October 1^st at I-70 Speedway and October 23^rd at Salem Speedway. More details, including a schedule of events, will be released at a later date for the rescheduled events on October 29^th.

Brian Johnson, Jr., in only his third CRA race, took the fast time with a new track record of 13.105 seconds beating the old record by .010 of a second. He then drew a three putting third fastest qualifier Eddie Hoffman on the pole for the race, with second fast qualifier Eddie Van Meter on the outside of the front row. Jeff Lane was fourth fastest and Tom Hernly, Jr. was fifth fastest only .075 of a second behind Johnson.

Frank Kreyer started on the pole of the qualifying race and led all 25 laps to win and put himself into the race. Nathan Haseleu was running second when he had a tire go down taking him out of the race. John Nutley, who had been challenging Haseleu finished second. Dan Lensing had worked his way up to a transfer spot, but had his hood come loose and flop back onto his windshield forcing a yellow flag as he could not see out of the car. Jeff Way started in 10^th place in the race, finished third and Mike Strupp captured the last transfer spot.

Rick Turner was attending his son’s Senior Night high school football game on Saturday, Jack Smith practiced and qualified his car, but failed to make the top 20 in qualifying. Turner will start in the 25^th position as the highest point provisional. Series rookie Billy Crane is in the 26^th position also via a point provisional.

The next CRA Super Series presented by Spray Power event will be the World Cup 150 with the Kenny’s Tile World Cup Weekend Presented By Price Chopper and Racing Limo’s of K.C. at I-70 Speedway this Saturday, October 1^st. For more information click here.

Kreyer Wins the Qualifying Race

Frank Kreyer took the lead on the first lap and held on to win the 25 lap qualifying race to make the Chicago International Trucks 250. John Nutley finished second, with Jeff Way and Mike Strupp finishing in the top 4 to make the race.

Qualifying Race Results

Qualifying Race Lineup

Partial Lineup

Brain Johnson, Jr. drew a 3 to put Hoffman on the pole for the Chicago International Trucks 250 on Sunday.

Here is a partial lineup for the Chicago International Trucks 250. There will be two more starters added on Sunday morning. One through the last chance race and one from the "Lucky Dog Draw".

Partial Lineup

New Track Record

Brian Johnson, Jr. set a new track record with a time of 13.105 seconds, 68.676 mph. on the tight quarter mile at Rockford Speedway to win the Bicycle Clay Poker Chips/Menards Fast Qualifier Award. Eddie Van Meter was second, and Eddie Hoffman was third. Jeff Lane was fourth with Tom Hernly, Jr. rounding out the top 5.

Qualifying Results

After a 4 hour rain delay, practice resumed for the CRA Super Series. Eddie Van Meter was the fastest in practice with Rockford regulars Steve Rubeck second, and Ricky Bilderback third, Tommy St. John fourth and Kenny Tweedy in fifth.

Practice Results

Qualifying Order