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RYAN GRIM CAPTURES FIRST CAREER 358 MODIFIED FEATURE VICTORY AT BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY…By Gary Lileck
Forestville, PA-August 17, 2007- Ryan Grim drove the M & D Motorsports #17 racing entry to his first career victory Friday night at Big Diamond Raceway. The racer from Laurys Station PA was victorious in the 25-lap 358 Modified main event, becoming the ninth different winner of the season.
Grim started his Big Diamond career a few years back in a Sportsman-Modified car and later moved into the 358 Modifieds. Last season, Grim competed in a part-time BDR schedule and is currently concentrating on his first full season of 358 Modified action at the Forestville PA clay track.
Mohnton’s Jeff Strunk, the current 358 Modified points leader, won Friday’s popular Pepsi Challenge. Brad Brightbill of Sinking Springs registered his second Sportsman feature win of the season, while Jeremy Becker of Pottsville earned his first Roadrunner win of the year. Rounding out the evening sponsored by McCann School of Business, Steve Nederostek of Walnutport won the 25-lap Central PA INEX Legends Regional Qualifier.
Ryan Grim started outside pole in the 358 Modified feature. Grim wasted no time in taking the race lead on the opening lap. On a lap three restart, Shawn Fitzpatrick powered into the runner-up spot driving his self-owned #102. After eight laps had been completed, several cars stacked up in the second corner bringing out a caution.
On a lap eleven restart, Fitzpatrick worked to the outside of Grim and passed him for the race lead. Grim held his ground on the inside groove and fought past Fitzpatrick on the twelfth lap, reclaiming the front spot. At the event’s half-way point the top four cars literally ran beneath a blanket. Grim led Fitzpatrick, seventh starter Ryan Watt, and fifteenth place starter Jeff Strunk.
Strunk, driving the Glenn Hyneman owned #126, began his journey to the front. On lap fourteen, Strunk stormed to the inside of Watt to gain control of third. On lap fifteen, Strunk raced past Fitzpatrick for the second spot. The caution flag was unfurled with just ten laps remaining. Just before the green flag, Strunk’s right front wheel locked up due to a broken pin in the brake caliper and he eventually stopped on the ensuing restart. Strunk would suffer a rare DNF.
The final caution free ten-laps found Grim in complete control of the field. Grim began to place some distance between himself and runner-up Fitzpatrick as the final laps clicked away. Grim powered to his first ever 358 Modified feature victory of the season in convincing fashion.
Fitzpatrick (Pottsville) earned the second spot while Terry Meitzler (Kutztown) had taken third on lap nineteen and remained in the spot. Watt (Boyertown) drove the Fran Purcell-6 to a fourth place effort, while twenty-first place starter Meme DeSantis (Temple) drove the Hiester-11 to a final finish of fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Doug Manmiller (finishing side-by-side with DeSantis), Jimmy Reppert, John Willman, Rick Laubach, and Gary Wagner Jr.
Earlier in the evening, three qualifying heat races were contested. Winners were Meitzler, Grim, and Keith Hoffman. The B-main was won by Manmiller.
Three-time feature winner, Craig Von Dohren, was unable to start the main event. During a hot lap session for the Pepsi Challenge, Von Dohren’s machine suffered mechanical problems with emerging smoke. He pitted and was through for the evening.
The Pepsi Challenge is an exciting and unique event in which the top eleven in points competed in a series of match races. Ray Swinehart won the opening pair of races until he was unseated by John Willman, who then called out Jeff Strunk as his competitor. Strunk continued on to win that race and defeated every other challenger en route to the overall win. Strunk scored $1250 for his winning efforts in the challenge. The fans certainly enjoyed the Pepsi Challenge and this event has become a yearly and very popular event at BDR.
Driving a new car this week, Chris James Jr. led the Sportsman field to their opening green flag. Brad Brightbill, who started fourteenth, worked through the field and maneuvered into second on lap five. Tom Brennan, from thirteenth, followed Brennan into the third spot on the sixth circuit. The second generation racing Brightbill caught James during the next several laps and passed him on lap ten. Brennan grabbed second from James on the twelfth lap.
During a caution period with thirteen laps complete, James relinquished his third place effort as he retired pitside. The restart with six laps remaining found Brightbill in command over Brennan, Corey Renninger, first ’07 starter Gary Butler, and second generation driver Frank Cozze Jr. Butler moved to the inside of Renninger on lap sixteen for third. The event’s final caution took place with seventeen laps on the counter.
Under green conditions, Brightbill, Brennan, and Butler continued to show the way. Cozze and Jordan Umbenhauer rounded out the front running five. Umbenhauer advanced one position into fourth on lap nineteen. Brightbill, meanwhile, remained in front to claim his third career Sportsman feature win. Former track champion Brennan (Pottsville) finished second ahead of Butler (Phillipsburg NJ), Umbenhauer (Richland), and Cozze Jr. (Nazareth).
Renninger finished sixth ahead of Mike Taylor, Josh Biever, Ray Woodall Jr., and Patrick Cozze. Heat race winners earlier in the evening were Biever, Renninger, and James.
Twenty entrants aligned for battle in the 15-lap Roadrunner feature. Third starter Elvin Brennan cruised into the lead on the opening lap. Jeremy Becker, originally started fourth, passed Brennan for the top spot on the second lap. Eric Pinkerton worked into second on a lap six restart and remained close to the lead throughout the remainder of the contest.
Despite a green restart with four laps remaining, Becker continued to set the pace. Becker kept his challengers in check and powered to his first win of the season, and second of his career. Pinkerton (Tower City) finished second ahead of points leader Tom Hablett (Schuylkill Haven), four-time winner Kevin Olenick (Pottsville) and Andy Zvorsky (Orwigsburg). Heat winners were Chris Holland and Eric Pinkerton.
The Central PA INEX Legends made their second appearance of the season. A fine field of 31 cars entered the pit area, and all 31 started the feature. Nederostek passed early race leader Greg Burd on lap seven. Nederostek raced closely with several competitors throughout the event’s remaining laps.
Nederostek held on to capture his second overall triumph of the season and first ever at BDR. Tim Henry finished a close second followed by Josh Morrow, Burd, and Tyler Bear. This event was a regional qualifier which paid $350 to the winner plus lap money.
Racing continues this weekend (Sunday August 19) with a visiting three-division card. The Winged Super Sportsman, Limited Late Models, and Pro Stocks are in competition this Sunday at Big Diamond. Incidentally, BDR Roadrunners are welcome to join the Pro Stocks. Warm-ups are set for 5:30PM with racing beginning at 6:00PM.
Friday August 17, 2007 – Complete Big Diamond Raceway Results
358 MODIFIED FEATURE (25-laps): 1) #17-Ryan Grim, 2) #102-Shawn Fitzpatrick, 3) #81-Terry Meitzler, 4) #6-Ryan Watt, 5) #11-Meme DeSantis, 6) #00-Doug Manmiller, 7) #97-Jimmy Reppert, 8) #91-John Willman, 9) #14-Rick Laubach, 10) #47-Gary Wagner Jr., 11) #44-Danny Erb, 12) #w9-Colt Harris, 13) #27-Troy Wink, 14) #F15-Dale Hartz, 15) #42-Corey Sechrist, 16) #901-Jamie Schwartz, 17) #126-Jeff Strunk, 18) #11D-Billy Pauch Jr., 19) #29-Kenny Eckert Jr., 20) #3-Miek Nicholas, 21) #19-Tom Umbenhauer, 22) #33-Ray Swinehart, 23) #1-Keith Hoffman, 24) #R6-Dale Roth. DNS: #1c-Craig Von Dohren. DNQ: #221-Ryan Beltz, #318-Jeff Sechrist, #S1-Bobby Gunther-Walsh.
SPORTSMAN FEATURE (20-laps): 1) #19B-Brad Brightbill, 2) #26-Tom Brennan, 3) #00-Gary Butler, 4) #19-Jordan Umbenhauer, 5) #44-Frank Cozze Jr., 6) #KT3-Corey Renninger, 7) #2T-Mike Taylor, 8) #46-Josh Biever, 9) #72-Ray Woodall Jr., 10) #61-Patrick Cozze, 11) #99-Craig Whitmoyer, 12) #84-Leroy Long, 13) #0-Kevin Brady, 14) #32-Conrad Fitch, 15) #M7-Shane Moser, 16) #123-Roy Wiest, 17) #14x-Rick Raisner, 18) #6JR-Kevin Beach, 19) #17-Billy Moyer Jr., 20) #1-Chris James Jr., 21) #71J-Codie Berk, 22) #33E-Earl Paules, 23) #88x-Andy Fayash Jr., 24) #42-Doug Stepanchuk, 25) #7-Dave Mace.
ROADRUNNER FEATURE (15-laps): 1) #97-Jeremy Becker, 2) #37-Eric Pinkerton, 3) #22-Tom Hablett, 4) #450-Kevin Olenick, 5) #z71-Andy Zvorsky, 6) #555-Elvin Brennan, 7) #29B-Ricky Bender, 8) #11-Dan Strenkoski, 9) #93-Rob Pyle, 10) #66-Chris Holland, 11) #11K-Kirby Schlappich, 12) #8-Davey Nester, 13) #909-Neil Bressler, 14) #93X-Del Herner, 15) #1-Dave Miller, 16) #14D-AJ DeSantis, 17) #11x-Joe Hendricks, 18) #72-Mark Paine, 19) #17-Bud Vidal, 20) #2-Gary Willard Jr. DNS: #201-Brian Johnson. |
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