|
BECHTELSVILLE, PA JULY 22, 2007 . . . For the third time this season Jeff Strunk, the current point leader in the chase for the NASCAR Modified track championship, won the 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All American Modified Series feature race at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night. The 20-lap Late Model feature saw Kyle Merkel win giving the teenager his first career victory. Josh Morrow of Hamburg, PA was able to win the 15-lap Central Pennsylvania Legends race.
Mike Laise, a recent high school graduate, was the leader for two laps before Randy Bailey took command. Early in the 30-lapper Duane Howard, a four feature winner locked in a tight battle for the Modified championship, was sent to the rear of the 28-car field for a rule infraction.
Bailey, a sometimes retired racer, set the pace until the seventh lap when a caution saw Mike Laise, the early leader, drop out. On the restart Rich Wisdo charged to the front . At the one third mark in the feature race Craig VonDohren, a six time champion, headed to the pits after running with the leaders.
At the 12-lap marker Wisdo and Rick Schaffer were locked in a tight battle while Duane Howard was working his way toward the front. Schaffer even put his Norm Hansell No. 357 in front of the pack briefly.
Wisdo and Schaffer continued the battle until the 21st lap when Schaffer, who had not been to victory lane since June, 2004, went to the front. Two laps later Jeff Strunk, who came up from 11th spot, was knocking on Schaffer’s rear bumper.
With just five laps remaining Strunk charged in front of the pack with Schaffer and Howard now battling for second. Howard went to second and was gaining on Strunk when he hit the third turn wall giving second back to Schaffer. On the final lap Howard (Oley) came back to gain second but time had run out for him to make a charger toward the leader and that is where he finished as Strunk was able to bring the Gold Rush Trailers No. 126 home first.
The Mohnton racer dedicated the win to Chad Miller, a youngster who worked on the crew and was killed in a single car auto accident a couple weeks back. Chad’s dad, Donnie, continues to be the crew chief on the winning car.
Third place went to Rick Schaffer (Woxall) followed by Mike Gular ( Green Lane) coming from 23rd starting spot, and Kevin Hirthler (Boyertown).
Rich Wisdo, an early race leader, finished in fifth spot but was disqualified for having an illegal carburetor on his race car.
In the 20-lap main event for the NASCAR Late Models three time past champion John Giesler went to the front of the 21 car starting field at the drop of the green. Giesler set the pace for five laps before Kyle Merkel, a teenage racer who watched his brother Sean win the Modified feature at Grandview the week before, took control of the race.
Once in front Merkel (Gilbertsville), in the family owned Gouldey Meats/ Merkel Rebar No. 117, had a relatively easy time of it leading all the remaining laps though past champion Ron Kline did put some pressure on in the final laps but the Salford racer had to settle for second. John Giesler (Aston), an early race leader, finished third followed by all time leading feature winner Jon Kellner Sr. (Lansdale) and Wayne Pfeil (Mohnton).
Steve Nederostek had the early lead in the 15-lap main event for the Central PA Legends but just could not hold back the strong challenges of Josh Morrow who finally went to the front with about one-third of the race complete. Once in front Morrow (Hamburg) was able to hold off the strong efforts of Nederostek and Tim Henry to grab his first feature win at Grandview Speedway. Second spot went to Nederostek following by Tim Henry, Brian Weitzel and Andy Lupfer. Ronnie Dunstan put on an impressive display of driving talent coming from 23rd starting spot to finish sixth,
The Legends will return to action at Grandview on August 11th.
Qualifying heat races for the Modifieds were won by Danny Erb, Randy Bailey, Doug Manmiller and Rich Wisdo. The consolation victories were earned by Shawn Reimert and Kevin Hirthler.
In the Late Model qualifiers wins went to Dean Stoudt, Brian Shuey and Chuck Schutz.
Legends qualifiers were won by Randy Kissinger and Tom Mayberry.
The Cornerstone Auto Sales of Fleetwood, PA Hard Charger Awards went to Mike Gular in the Modified feature starting 23rd and finishing 4th for a gain of 19 positions. In the Late Models it was Jon Kellner Sr. going from 17th to 4th for a gain of 13 positions.
A tripleheader card of stock car racing action comes to Grandview Speedway on Saturday, July 28th with the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Modifieds, Late Models and Xcel 600 Modifieds being seen starting at 7:30 p.m.
Stauffer Construction will sponsor the big Forrest Rogers Memorial for Modifieds on Saturday, August 4th with $10,000 going to the winner of the 50-lap feature. In addition the Late Models will see action. The first 200 youngsters, 6 thru 11 years of age, will be admitted free courtesy of Stauffer Construction.
Beer City of Quakertown, PA has announced that they are posting $125 for the Hard Luck driver in the Stauffer Construction Forrest Rogers Memorial and $125 for the First Alternate (provided that he is not added to the starting field) for the same race. Beer City, operated by Bert Jones, will also post the same awards for the T.H. Properties Freedom 76.
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.
Early arriving fans get the chance to win an opportunity to be the honorary flagman for a session of NASCAR Modified stock car warm-ups.
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 MODIFIEDS (30 LAPS): 1. Jeff Strunk 2. Duane Howard 3. Rick Schaffer 4. Mike Gular 5. Kevin Hirthler 6. Shawn Reimert 7. Sean Merkel 8. Danny Erb 9. Ryan Beltz 10. Todd Marburger 11. Kerry Kratz 12. Ryan Watt 13. Terry Meitzler 14. Chris Esposito 15. Chris Gambler 16. Larry Solomon 17. Randy Bailey 18. Ryan Grim 19. Donny Erb 20. Tom Umbenhauer 21. Jason Hamilton 22. Craig VonDohren 23. Kyle Weiss 24. Mike Laise 25. John Tschudy 26. Don Norris 27. Doug Manmiller 28. Rich Wisdo (finished 5th, disqualified for illegal carburetor).
NASCAR LATE MODEL FEATURE (20 LAPS):1. Kyle Merkel 2. Ron Kline 3. John Geisler 4. Jon Kellner Jr. 5. Wayne Pfeil 6. Mike Kellner 7. Dean Stoudt 8. Brian Shuey 9. Bryon Sipe 10. Greg Hoffmaster 11. Chuck Schutz 12. Rick Todorow 13. Bill Henning 14. D.D. Keely 15. Eric Kauffman 16. Chad Rae 17. Billy Graham 18. Dean Schaeffer 19. Buddy Wharton 20. Carl Mertz 21. Randy Stoudt
CENTRAL PA LEGENDS CARS FEATURE (15 LAPS): 1. Josh Morrow 2. Steve Nederostak 3. Tim Henry 4. Brian Weitzel 5. Andy Lupfer 6. Ronnie Dunstan 7. Rodney Kistler 8. Tyler Bear 9. Tim Bauer 10. Ed Wentz
UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS FOR NASCAR MODIFIEDS
AS OF FINISH OF RACING ON JULY 21, 2007
1. Jeff Strunk, Mohnton, PA #126 3416***
2. Duane Howard, Oley, PA #114/4 3369****
3. Shawn Reimert, Oley, PA #41 2686
4. Doug Manmiller, Wyomissing, PA #14/00 2597
5. Terry Meitzler, Kutztown, PA #81 2595
6. Mike Gular, Harleysville, PA #53 2435
7. Danny Erb, Boyertown, PA #44 2338
8. Meme DeSantis, Temple, PA #11 2272
9. Kevin Hirthler, Green Lane, PA #117 2268
10. John Willman, Birdsboro, PA #74W 2225
11. Rick Schaffer, Woxall, PA #357 2107
12. Kerry Kratz, Bechtelsville, PA #87 2097
13. Kyle Weiss, Hamburg, PA #21K 2093
14. Craig VonDohren, Oley, PA #1C 2060***
15. Jason Hamilton, Erwinna, PA #16 1976
16. Ryan Watt, Phoenixville, PA #14W 1761
17. Tom Umbenhauer, Richland, PA #19U 1478
18. Todd Marburger, Pottstown,, PA #18 1369
19. John Tschudy, Birdsboro, PA #2 1361
20. Tommy Scheetz Jr., Boyertown, PA #37X 1343*
Also Feature Winners, Sean Merkel**
UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS FOR NASCAR LATE MODELS
AS OF FINISH OF RACING ON JULY 21, 2007
1. Brian Shuey, Shoemakersville, PA #5X 3486*
2. Ron Kline, Salfordville, PA #3 3367**
3. Mike Kellner, Lansdale, PA #57 3364**
4. Randy Stoudt, Pottstown, PA #10 3203***
5. Dean Stoudt, East Greenville, PA #5 3169
6. Chuck Schutz, Pottstown, PA #ONE 3121**
7. Wayne Pfeil Jr., Mohnton, PA #72 2816
8. Kyle Merkel, Gilbertsville, PA #117 2749*
9. Bryan Sipe, Leesport, PA #33 2678*
10. Rick Todorow, Quakertown, PA #93 2601
11. John Giesler, Aston, PA #ZT1 2561
12. Buddy Wharton, Birdsboro, PA #7B 2498
13. Dean Schaeffer, Douglassville, PA #39 2472
14. D.D. Keely, Linfield, PA #707 2163
15. Greg Hoffmaster, Pottstown, PA #69 2037
16. Jamie Undercoffler. Pennsburg, PA #1J 1866
17. Chad Rea, Reading, PA #8 1856
18. Eric Kauffman #307 1775
19. Bill Henning, Lansdale, PA #80 1655
20. Carl Mertz, Boyertown, PA #00 1400
* denotes feature win
|
|
