Baran wins first Grundy Late Model Feature

Big night: Plainfield teenager holds off Hoffman Jr., Morris' Kelly Morris

Plainfield's Nick Baran led from wire to wire on Friday to win his first-ever Late Model feature at the Grundy County Speedway.

"I've got to thank Len Baran, who runs things and my dad Scott who is the crew chief on the car," Baran said. "Without their help, I wouldn't be here."

After qualifying 10th in the 23-car field, Baran 17, lined up on the outside of the front row and pulled ahead of Joliet's Pat McCabe to the take the point at the drop of the green.

By lap four, Baran had a four-car advantage as McCabe, Tom Smith and Lockport's Duane Pierson fought for the second spot, with Channahon's Tom Knippenberg a close fifth.

Eddie Hoffman Jr. made his presence known. He moved in behind Pierson by lap eight, then slowly picked off Pierson, Smith and McCabe to take over the number two spot at the half-way mark, but by the time that Hoffman was able to get clear of the pack, Baran had pulled away by some eight car lengths. Dicing through lapped traffic for the final ten circuits, Hoffman was able to close a little, but Baran was able to hold on to a five car length lead over Hoffman as he sped under the checkered flag.