Stewart Finds the Grip, Finds the Glory
- Tim Scrogham
- Sep 15
- 3 min read
The 64th Annual Bettenhausen Memorial, presented by CDE Collision Centers, brought 30 strong to Grundy County Speedway and delivered one of the season’s best shows. In the end, it was Timmy Stewart (#18) who claimed the crown, edging Kevin Murphy (#427) by just 0.076 seconds after 35 laps of side-by-side, hard racing.
Qualifying set the tone with James Dean (#86) turning fast time at 15.905 seconds (74.693 mph), locking in 14 drivers on time. The rest had to fight their way in through heats and the LCQ.
Heat Race 1 (Non-Qualified): Cody Clubb (#23) and Bobby Gash (#76) transferred into the feature.
Heat Race 2 (Non-Qualified): Jason Kolbe (#37K) and Kyle Brick (#3B) raced their way in.
Heat Race 3 (Qualified Drivers): Marqus Hoover (#00) stole the spotlight with a win, though he was already safely in from time trials.
Heat Race 4 (Qualified Drivers): Timmy Stewart (#18) picked up a heat win of his own.
LCQ: Mike Moore (#8M) and Phil Speciale (#6) survived the last-chance race to claim the final transfer spots.
That gave us 20 cars, and provisionals filled out the rest: Ron Vandermeir Jr. (past champion’s provisional), Mike Gerike (fan vote), Andrew Meyerhofer (points provisional), and rookie Landon Hocking (promoter’s choice). The result — a full 24-car starting field.
From the drop of the green, the fans were treated to rows of 2-by-2 racing for 4–5 rows deep. Hoover muscled his way to the front early, showing speed and grit, while Stewart and Murphy traded the lead with clean, professional racing that had the crowd on its feet.
As the laps wound down, Timmy Stewart (#18) found the grip he needed when it mattered most, keeping his momentum strong to fend off Kevin Murphy (#427) in a clean, hard-fought duel. At the stripe, Stewart edged Murphy by just 0.076 seconds — marking the second consecutive Mid-Am feature decided by mere hundredths of a second.
Jeremiah Senko (#42) charged to third, with Scotty Gardner (#13) and Josh Nelms (#0N) rounding out a stacked top five.
Victory Lane carried extra significance thanks to the support of Oval Engineering and owner Dave Gentile, whose contribution provided additional purse money and highlighted the continued commitment of partners who make events like the 64th Annual Bettenhausen Memorial possible.
Adding extra intrigue to the Bettenhausen Memorial were the CDE Duels — head-to-head matchups where drivers scored points in qualifying, heats, and the feature. The rivalries gave fans a second race to watch inside the main event.
Jeremiah Senko (#42) vs. Scotty Gardner (#13): Both had strong nights, but Gardner’s consistency across qualifying, his heat, and a 3rd-place feature finish edged Gardner’s solid 4th-place run. Duel winner: Gardner.
Matt Clemens (#99) vs. Josh Nelms (#0N): This duel had the most drama. Clemens showed speed early but was spun in the feature and collected in secondary contact, forcing him to settle for 17th. Nelms capitalized with a clean run into the top five. Duel winner: Nelms.
Daniel Calhoun (#4) vs. Kevin Murphy (#427): Murphy’s night-long speed — from qualifying through his heat and a dramatic runner-up finish in the feature — carried him past Calhoun’s steady 7th-place run. Duel winner: Murphy.
The duels added an extra layer of intensity to the Bettenhausen, giving fans even more storylines to follow throughout the night.
CDE Collision Centers Hard Charger: Landon Hocking (#40h) stormed from 24th to 11th, a gain of 13 positions in just 35 laps.
U-Haul Villa Park Mover of the Race: Hocking’s breakout drive also earned him this honor, cementing his night as one to remember.
With a 30-car entry list, 24 starters, and just one winner, the Bettenhausen once again delivered on its reputation as a Midwest classic. Timmy Stewart’s victory, the professionalism of his battle with Murphy, and the breakout runs from Senko, Hoover, and rookie Hocking showed the depth and heart of the Mid-Am Racing Series.
Special thanks to CDE Collision Centers for presenting the event, to Oval Engineering and owner Dave Gentile for enhancing Victory Lane, to U-Haul Villa Park for backing the Mover of the Race, and to all of our lap sponsors who made the purse possible.
The Mid-Am Racing Series also extends its gratitude to the entire team at Grundy County Speedway — especially Mike, Rich, and the grounds crew — along with all the staff who worked tirelessly to prepare the facility and ensure a smooth, memorable night of racing.
