Illiana regular expects good show during CRA tour race

• Reprints

Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

SCHERERVILLE — “Fast Eddie” Hoffman is itching to get back on the race track Saturday night as the newly-formed CRA/JEGS All-Star Tour comes to town.

Top drivers from five states and Canada will compete in a 100-lap main event at Illiana Motor Speedway. Hoffman finished second at the Tour’s first event at Toledo Speedway on April 23 after starting the race in the 16th position. There are 11 total events in the series in 2011.

“We had no practice at that race,” said Hoffman, who won the Super Late Model series race at Illiana last weekend. “We had some problems with the car and you can’t qualify better than 16th if you’re a second-round qualifier.”

The Wheaton, Ill., resident said he was having some suspension problems that wouldn’t allow him to turn the car. But he got it worked out in time for the race and put on quite a show for the people in Toledo, Ohio.

“We had a good car and slowly worked our way to the top,” he said. “There were two cars running ahead of us at the end but we had a re-start with three laps to go and I was able to pass Erik Jones. It was a good finish for the fans but I just couldn’t get past Brian Campbell. I’m sure he’ll be fast again this weekend too.”

Campbell, of Wyoming, Mich., took the lead from 14-year-old Erik Jones, of Byron, Mich., on lap 18 and never looked back to win the series’ first trophy. Jones ran second most of the race.

Hoffman participated in the special practice session on Wednesday to get ready for Saturday’s big event.

The veteran driver is expecting an exciting race and a good show for the fans.

“I think the fans should be a little bit educated before they watch the race,” he said. “It’s a pretty unique mix racing Saturday. There are a couple guys out there (like Jones) that aren’t old enough to drive on the roads legally and others that have plenty of experience. It’s a good mix of veterans and young guys and it really will be something to watch.

“There’s some potential for these younger guys to go on to something big someday like Landon Cassill, who raced here a couple years ago, and is now running in the Sprint Cup Series.”

Illiana owner Mike Mikuly is excited about this weekend’s main event too.

“There is a lot of excitement about this new series; it is the talk of late model racing right now,” he said. “Between the series’ regulars and all our local crate motor cars, we should have a huge car count and very exciting race.”

CRA has been at Illiana in the past with the CRA Super Series, which had a total of six events there. Hoffman has the most wins with two. Other drivers who went to victory lane in the CRA events include former Illiana champions Dave Weltmeyer and Boris Jurkovic.

Other Illiana drivers competing this weekend will be Josh Nelms, Wes Griffith, Jr., and Marc Hankosky.

First race begins at 7 p.m.