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BECHTELSVILLE, PA August 12, 2007 . . . Craig VonDohren probably feels like a yo-yo sometimes. His season has been one of ups and downs. Saturday night at Grandview Speedway VonDohren, a six-time track champion, had an up when he drove the Stauffer Construction/Felty Farms No.1c to victory in the 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All American Series Modified stock car feature race.
Randy Stoudt won the Annual Memorial Classic for Late Models, a 30-lap feature race dedicated to the memory of racers, officials and track employees who have passed away during the 45 year history of the Berks County clay oval.
Don Norris Jr. charged to the front of the 28-car starting field at the drop of Ray Kemp’s green flag. At the four lap marker Sean Merkel, a two feature winner this season, took command but Craig VonDohren was on the move from his eighth place starting spot.
At 8 laps VonDohren was in second and put heavy pressure on the leader. On the next circuit Jeff Strunk and Duane Howard, both involved in a close battle for the championship, made some quick moves to avoid an accident on the front straightaway. On the tenth circuit Strunk slowed on the edge of the front straightaway and was done for the night with mechanical woes.
With 11 laps in the record book Oley based VonDohren was in front with Meme DeSantis giving him some strong competition while Howard, coming from 12th, now in third.
At the 20-lap marker VonDohren still was the man to beat and Duane Howard had replaced DeSantis in second spot.
Howard (Oley), who took over the point lead in the chase for the lucrative NASCAR Modified track championship by virtue of his second place finish, was not able to real in VonDohren who went on to win and pick up the $2,200 first place money.
Kevin Hirthler (Boyertown) had a strong finish to grab third followed by DeSantis (Temple) and Ryan Watt (Bechtelsville).
The 30-lap Late Model feature had to be another disappointment for Greg Hoffmaster and his Schaeffer’s Harley Davidson No. 69 team. The veteran driver went to the front at the start and that saved him from getting involved in a massive multi-car wreck in the first turn of the first lap. Buddy Wharton flipped but was not injured and several racers were not able to continue.
Kyle Merkel gave Hoff master “fits” for more than half of the 30-laps even going side-by-side a couple of times.
At 20-laps Hoffmaster looked comfortable in first but his close friend and also his nemesis Randy Stoudt have now moved into a position to challenge for the win.
The final 10 laps saw Stoudt pressure Hoffmaster and with just two laps remaining Stoudt was able to charge by the leader coming off the fourth turn and ride to his fifth win of the season. The Pottstown racer and the TP Trailers/Paradise Road Slot Track No.10 team picked up $1,000 for their efforts. Hoff master (Pottstown) was forced to settle for his third second place finish in the last month. Brian Shuey (Shoemakersville), the current Late Model point leader, grabbed third followed by Ron Kline (Salford) and Chuck Schutz (Pottstown).
Qualifying races for the Late Models were won by D.D. Keely, Hoffmaster and Stoudt. The Kochel Equipment Cash Dash in Memory of the late Chuck Sennott was won by Chuck Schutz.
In the Modified qualifiers wins went to Duane Howard, Ryan Watt, Sean Merkel and Mark Kratz. Consolation races were won by Tommy Scheetz Jr. and Kerry Kratz.
Veteran track photographer Don Marks and track announcer Ernie Saxton (now into his 39th year) were honored with Grandview Speedway “stars” in recognition of their long service to the track. The stars will be hung on the back of the grandstands along with stars of a number of other honorees.
The Cornerstone Auto Sales of Fleetwood, PA Hard Charger Awards went to Tom Umbenhauer in the Modifieds for going from 27th to ninth gaining 18 spots in the Modified feature. In the Late Models Eric Kauffman went from 22nd to 8th in the 30-lap feature.
USG Night is up next on August 18th featuring the NASCAR Modifieds, Late Models and 600 Modifieds. Dover International Speedway will also be offering some prizes to fans with their “Monster on the Prowl” traveling road show. Fans are invited to test their skills on the pit-stop tire challenge and sign up for great prizes. Two pit passes for the September 23rd NASCAR Nextel Cup “Chase Race” will be given away.
NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Night coming up on Tuesday, August 21st at 7:30 p.m. will feature the 358 Modifieds, 410 Sprints, 600 Micro Sprints, Rolling Thunder Legends and 600 Modifieds. There will be no time trials, no qualifying heats just five 25-lap features.
Mid-Lantic Machine sponsors the August 25th show and will have free Komatsu Racing hats for the first 100 people through the main gate. Featured will be the NASCAR Modifieds and Late Models. They will also raffle off a variety of Komatsu Die Cast Models.
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 ALL AMERICAN SERIES MODIFIEDS (30 LAPS) 1. Craig VonDohren 2. Duane Howard 3. Kevin Hirthler 4. Meme DeSantis 5. Ryan Watt 6. Terry Meitzler 7. Sean Merkel 8. Cliff Quinn 9. Tom Umbenhauer 10. John Tschudy 11. Shawn Reimert 12. Rick Schaffer 13. Mike Bailey 14, Mark Kratz 15. Don Norris Jr. 16. Bobby Gunther Walsh 17. Mike Laise 18. Doug Manmiller 19. Marc Fehr 20. Danny Erb 21. John Willman 22. Glenn Owens 23. Kenny Gilmore 24. Chris Esposito 25. Jeff Strunk 26. Jon Kellner Sr. 27. Tommy Sheetz Jr. 28. Brad Missimer
MEMORIAL RACE NASCAR LATE MODEL FEATURE (30 LAPS):1. Randy Stoudt 2. Greg Hoffmaster 3. Brian Shuey 4. Ron Kline 5. Chuck Schutz 6. Wayne Pfeil 7. John Giesler 8. Eric Kauffman 9. Doug Walton 10. Dean Stoudt 11. Kyle Merkel 12. Jon Kellner Sr. 13. Jim Bahz 14. D.D. Keely 15. Mike Kellner 16. Carl Mertz 17. Billy Graham 18. Bryon Sipe 19. Chad Rae 20. Harry Neiman 21. Buddy Wharton 22. Rick Todorow 23. Rick Schaffer 24. Ray Deemer 25. Bill Henning
UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS FOR NASCAR MODIFIEDS
AS OF AUGUST 11, 2007
1. Duane Howard, Oley, PA #114/4 4143****
2. Jeff Strunk, Mohnton, PA #126 4072***
3. Terry Meitzler, Kutztown, PA #81 3205
4. Doug Manmiller, Wyomissing, PA #14/00 3115
5. Shawn Reimert, Oley, PA #41 3073
6. Craig VonDohren, Oley, PA #1C 2878*****
7. Kevin Hirthler, Green Lane, PA #117 2865
8. Mike Gular, Harleysville, PA #53 2810
9. Meme DeSantis, Temple, PA #11 2804
10. Danny Erb, Boyertown, PA #44 2797
11. John Willman, Birdsboro, PA #74W 2739
12. Rick Schaffer, Woxall, PA #357 2682
13. Kerry Kratz, Bechtelsville, PA #87 2579
14. Jason Hamilton, Erwinna, PA #16 2531*
15. Ryan Watt, Phoenixville, PA #14W 2349
16. Kyle Weiss, Hamburg, PA #21K 2247
17. Tom Umbenhauer, Richland, PA #19U 2087
18. Sean Merkel, Gilbertsville, PA #118 1982**
19. Don Norris, Douglassville, PA #976 1796
20. John Tschudy, Birdsboro, PA #2 1611
Other Feature Winners: Tommy Scheetz Jr.,
UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS FOR NASCAR LATE MODELS
AS OF AUGUST 11, 2007
1. Brian Shuey, Shoemakersville, PA #5X 4224*
2. Ron Kline, Salfordville, PA #3 4144**
3. Randy Stoudt, Pottstown, PA #10 4098*****
4. Chuck Schutz, Pottstown, PA #ONE 3976***
5. Dean Stoudt, East Greenville, PA #5 3964
6. Mike Kellner, Lansdale, PA #57 3869**
7. Wayne Pfeil Jr., Mohnton, PA #72 3438
8. Kyle Merkel, Gilbertsville, PA #117 3413*
9. Bryan Sipe, Leesport, PA #33 3108*
10. Rick Todorow, Quakertown, PA #93 3052
11. John Giesler, Aston, PA #ZT1 3042
12. Buddy Wharton, Birdsboro, PA #7B 3023
13. Greg Hoffmaster, Pottstown, PA #69 2935
14. D.D. Keely, Linfield, PA #707 2759
15. Dean Schaeffer, Douglassville, PA #39 2597
16. Chad Rea #8 2307
17. Eric Kauffman #307 2300
18. Bill Henning, Lansdale, PA #80 1967
19. Carl Mertz, Boyertown, PA #00 1937
20. Jamie Undercoffler. Pennsburg, PA #1J 1866
* denotes feature win
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