GRUNDY FLASHBACK - August 4th 1996
Weltmeyer wins Wayne Carter 200
Morris- Dave Weltmeyer of Dyer, Ind., prevailed in a brief one-on-one battle with Tracy Schuler of Lockport on Sunday and went on to win the 22nd annual ARTGO Wayne Carter 200 at the Grundy County Speedway.
Weltemyer, only the second Chicago area driver to win the prestigous event, made a calculated move through the dirt and gravel in turn three on lap 180 to gain the advantage of the inside lane and wrestle the lead from Schuler two frantic laps later.
Weltmeyer went on to claim his third win in three days, having carried the checkered flag Friday night in the weekly card at Grundy and Saturday at the Illiana Motor Speedway.
Schuler, who recovered from a 71st lap spin, edged ARTGO season point leader and fast qualifier Sreve Carlson for second. They were followed by Bobby Blount, Larry Schuler of Minooka, Eddie Hoffman, J.R. Roahrig, Larry Middleton Jr, and Dudley Fleck.
Only twelve of the origianl starters finishe. Tony Stewart, in his first ever ARTGO start, was out after 57 laps with a faulty head gasket. Rick Beebe who ran second for most of the early stages of the race, was out after 65 laps with a stuck valve.
Weltmeyer led twice in the 200-lap event. Joe Walsh set the early pace, with Weltmeyer taking over the top spot on the 22nd lap.
At the 10-minute midway break, taken on lap 106, Weltmeyer maintained the lead over Carlson, Hoffman, Jim Weber and Matt Kenseth. Joe Shear who had won the previous three Carter Classics, did not return for the second half due to suspension damage received in a 13-th lap mixup that included Stewart and Ron Breese Jr.
Two laps after the pit stp, Carlson sailed around Weltmeyer on the outside, and he led for the next 23 laps, Hoffman, the leading rookie in the series and son of 13-time Chicagoland champion Ed Hoffman, used the difficult outside lane to pass Carlson in a surprise move. He lad from lap 131 through 139.
The next surprise move came When Kenseth, now a regular on the southern-based Hooters Cup Series, roared past Hoffman and loggeed 28 laps in front before Hoffman regained the lead briefly,
Then it was Tracy Schuler"s turn in front until Weltmeyer made his decision move on lap 180 and took the lead foro good on lap 182.
"My car was good at the end," Weltmeyer said."All the guys worked real hard. The additon of (former Grundy champion) Mike Varner to the crew took a big load off me."
