D.J. Weltmeyer didn't make it easy, nor did Pat Kelly. However, when the checkered flag flew in the 40-lap George Appleton Classic Friday night at the Grundy County Speedway it was Eddie Hoffman once again in victory lane.

Weltmeyer jumped out front from his front row starting spot and started to pull away from the field as Tracy Schuler, Hoffman and Kelly battled behind him for the second spot. Hoffman got around Schuler on lap 6 and tried running down the leader. Kelly wouldn't get by Schuler until lap 10, but once he did he would make it a three-car battle for the lead. By lap 15 Hoffman was on the back bumper of Weltmeyer and looking for opening. For more then 10 laps the leaders all ran nose-to-tail until finally on lap 27 Weltmeyer bobbled a little coming off turn two and Hoffman got underneath and grabbed the lead.

Kelly got by Weltmeyer on the next lap and would stay glued to Hoffman's rear bumper but couldn't make the pass for the lead. Dave Gentile and Tracy Schuler would round out the top five. Earlier in the evening Mark Sontag Jr. set fast time and Hoffman won the trophy dash.