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BECHTELSVILLE, PA APRIL 22, 2007. . . Past champions Duane Howard and Jeff Strunk, young talent Mike Kellner and visitor Jason Rochelle kicked of the Grandview Speedway 2007 season, officially, with victories on Saturday night at the Berks County oval.
In the opening event of the night, the completion of the 40-lap NASCAR Whelen All American Series Modified feature race that was stopped because of rain the previous Saturday, three time track champion Duane Howard was able to take the lead on the 26th lap and take the Maverick’s Motorcycle Club owned #114 Modified to victory lane.
Mike Gular led the field for the restart with 13 laps in the record book Jeff Strunk, a five time track champion, applied pressure as did Doug Manmiller. The pressure caught up to all of them on the 23RD circuit, in the second corner of the one-third-mile, banked clay oval, when all three tried to fit in a space made for, perhaps, just one. The end result was that Gular’s THProperties entry was out for the night, Strunk was restarting at the back and Manmiller, who had survived the accident, was sent to the rear for causing the melee.
On the restart Kevin Hirthler was able to take command but that was short lived with Howard moving to the front and that is where the Oley, PA veteran stayed until the checkered flag came out. It was the second year in a row that Howard collected the $3,000 first prize money for winning the opener.
Second spot went to Meme DeSantis (Temple) followed by Craig VonDohren (Oley), Kevin Hirthler (Green Lane) and Shawn Reimert (Oley).
The 30-lap NASCAR Modified feature race saw Jeff Strunk bringing the Gold Rush Custom Trailers/Touch of Green Landscaping #126 Modified to victory lane. The Mohnton, PA racer chased Rick Schaffer for the first half of the race getting by him on the 13th circuit only to have Schaffer take it back on the 14th lap. At the 18th marker Strunk went to the front and stayed until the checkered flag dropped. Doug Man miller (Wyomissing) was putting pressure on Strunk at the finish but had to settle for second followed by Meme DeSantis (Temple), Rick Schaffer (Woxall) and Duane Howard (Oley).
The second and third place finishes for the night put Meme DeSantis in front of the NASCAR Modified point standings with 588 counters compared to second place Duane Howard with 577.
The Late Model 20-lapper had Mike Kellner going to the front early and holding off strong early race challenges from defending champion Chuck Schutz. The Lansdale teenager led just about all the laps in grabbing the win. Schutz (Pottstown) finished a strong second followed by past champion Ron Kline (Green Lane), Dean Stoudt (East Greenville) and Kyle Merkel (Gilbertsville).
Randy Stoudt, the leading feature winner in Late Models of the active drivers, was working his way toward the front, trying to get win number 38 when he spun, He came back to finish 9th.
Jason Rochelle of Schnecksville, PA came from 8th starting spot to grab the lead late in the 15-lap feature for the Rolling Thunder Legends cars and go on to grab the victory. Keeping it in the family Paul Rochelle finished second followed by Steve Nederostek, Randy Kissinger and Tim Henry.
Heat wins for the Legends went to Jason Rochelle, Ronnie Dunstan and Tom Mayberry while the consolation victory went to Tyler Bear.
Qualifying heat wins for the Late Models were earned by Chuck Schutz, Mike Kellner and Dean Stoudt.
Heat wins for the Modifieds, leading up to the 30-lap feature, were taken by Duane Howard, Kevin Hirthler, Donny Erb, Meme DeSantis and Jeff Strunk. Consolation wins went to Larry Soloman, Danny Erb and Jon Kellner Jr.
The Cornerstone Auto Sales of Fleetwood, PA Hard Charger Awards went to Danny Erb in the 40-lap Modified feature for gaining 21 spots to finish 6th after starting 27th. In the 30-lap Modified feature race the Cornerstone award went to Kyle Weiss gaining 18 spots after staring 25th and finishing 7th. Mark Malcomb earned the $50 Cornerstone Hard Charger Award in the 20-lap Late Model feature coming from 17th to 10th.
NASCAR Whelen All American Modifieds and Late Models will be in action on Saturday April 28th with at least 13 events of stock car racing action. Two 20-lap features for Late Models and a 30-lap Modified feature will top the program. The spectator gates open at 5 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. Adult admission price is $12 with children 6 through 11 admitted for $5. Under 6 admitted FREE with a paying adult. Always free parking on the speedway grounds.
Fans are reminded that they are free to visit with the racers in the pits after the racing action has been completed to collect autographs, take pictures and see the race cars up close. Many of the race teams do have FREE photo cards for fans and also offer t-shirts and other souvenir items for sale.
Grandview Speedway is located on Passmore Road, just off Route 100, in Bechtelsville, PA, 10 miles north of Pottstown. For race information telephone 610.754.7688 or visit their website at www.grandviewspeedway.com.
NASCAR WHELEN ALL AMERICAN SERIES 358 MODIFIEDS (40 LAPS): 13 laps of this race were run on April 14th and then rain brought the race to a halt. 1.Duane Howard 2. Meme DeSantis 3. Craig VonDohren 4. Kevin Hirthler 5. Shawn Reimert 6. Danny Erb 7. Terry Meitzler 8. Jason Hamilton 9. Kerry Kratz 10. Doug Manmiller 11. Jon Kellner Js. 12. Tom Umbenhauer 13. Jeff Strunk 14. Kyle Weiss 15. Don Norris Jr. 16. Ray Swinehart 17. Rich Wisdo 18. Todd Smith 19. Cliff Quinn 20. John Willman 21. Todd Marburger 22.Randy Bailey 23. Mike Gular 24. Brad Missimer 25. John Tschudy 26. Sean Merkel 27. Steve Swinehart 28. Ryan Watt 29. Rick Schaffer 30. Chris Esposito
NASCAR WHELEN ALL AMERICAN SERIES 38 MODIFIEDS (30 LAPS):1.Jeff Strunk 2. Doug Manmiller 3. Meme DeSantis 4. Rick Schaffer 5. Duane Howard 6. Jason Hamilton 7. Kyle Weiss 8. Danny Erb 9.John Tschudy 10. Tom Umbenhauer 11. Todd Smith 12. Ryan Watt 13. Rich Wisdo 14. Steve Swinehart 15. John Willman 16. Tommy Sheetz 17. Donny Erb 18. Jon Kellner Jr. 19. Larry Soloman 20. Amanda Spotts 21. Terry Meitzler 22. Ryan Beltz 23. Kevin Hirthler 24. Cliff Quinn 25. Ray Swinehart 26. Craig VonDohren 27. Kerry Kratz 28. Shawn Reimert 29. Sean Merkel
NASCAR WHELEN ALL AMERICAN SERIES LATE MODELS (20 LAPS):1. Mike Kellner 2. Chuck Schutz 3. Ron Kline 4. Dean Stoudt 5. Kyle Merkel 6. Dean Schaeffer 7. Buddy Wharton 8. Jamie Undercoffler 9. Randy Stoudt 10. Mark Malcomb 11. Brian Shuey 12. D.D.Keely 13. Rick Todorow 14. John Giesler 15. Wayne Pfeil 16. Mike Myers 17. Eric Kauffman 18. Chad Rae 19. Billy Graham 20. Carl Mertz 21. Greg Hoffmaster 22. Brian Sipe 23. Ray Deemer 24. Bill Henning
UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS FOR NASCAR MODIFIEDS
AS OF APRIL 22,2007
1. Meme DeSantis, Temple, PA #11 588
2. Duane Howard, Oley, PA #114 577*
3. Doug Manmiller, Wyomissing, PA#14 519
4. Jeff Strunk, Mohnton, PA #126 498*
5. Jason Hamilton, Erwinna, PA #16 498
6. Danny Erb, Boyertown, PA #44 488
7. Kyle Weiss, Hamburg, PA #21K 419
8. Tom Umbenhauer, Richland, PA#19U 411
9. Terry Meitzler, Kutztown, PA #81 357
10. Craig VonDohren, Oley, PA #1C 347
11. Todd Smith, Hatfield, PA #39 344
12. Jon Kellner Jr., Lansdale, PA #67 340
13. Rich Wisdo, Souderton, PA #10 334
14. Rick Schaefer, Woxall, PA #357 306
15. Shawn Reimert, Oley, PA #41 305
16. John Tschudy, Birdsboro, PA #2 296
17. John Willman, Birdsboro, PA #74W 285
18. Kevin Hirthler, Green Lane, PA #117 280
19. Kerry Kratz, Bechtelsville, PA #87 272
20. Ryan Watt, Phoenixville, PA #14W 235
UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS FOR NASCAR LATE MODELS
AS OF APRIL 22, 2007
1. Mike Kellner, Lansdale, PA #57 310*
2. Chuck Schutz, Pottstown, PA #ONE 300
3. Ron Kline, Green Lane, PA #3 289
4. Dean Stoudt, East Greenville, PA #5 280
5. Kyle Merkel, Gilbertsville, PA #117 268
6. Dean Schaeffer, Douglassville, PA #39 257
7. Buddy Wharton, Birdsboro, PA #7B 247
8. Jamie Undercoffler. Pennsburg, PA #1J 236
9. Randy Stoudt, Pottstown, PA #10 229
10. Mark Malcolm, Hatfield, PA #55 215
11. Brian Shuey, Hamburg, PA #5X 208
12. D.D. Keely, Linfield, PA #707 197
13. Rick Todorow, Quakertown, PA #93 185
14. John Giesler, Aston, PA #ZT1 175
15. Wayne Pfeil Jr., Mohnton, PA #72 166
16. Mike Meyers, Reading, PA #7 150
17. Eric Kauffman #307 140
18. Chad Rea #8 130
19. Billy Graham #92 120
20. Carl Merz #00 110
* denotes feature win |
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