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KEVIN HIRTHLER AND RICK TODOROW WIN NASCAR FEATURES AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY
VERY CLOSE POINT BATTLES IN MODIFIEDS AND LATE MODELS
BECHTELSVILLE, PA August 26, 2007 . . . Young Kevin Hirthler drove the family owned Green Lane Wm. Penn/Four Star Lettering No. 117 Modified to victory Saturday night in the 30-lap MidLantic Machinery NASCAR Whelen Modified feature race at Grandview Speedway. For the Green Lane, PA racer it was his first career Modified win at the Berks County clay oval.
In the 20-lapper for NASCAR Late Models Rick Todorow had to wait out a 90-minute rain delay before being able to win his first feature race since June, 2004.
The finishes of the Saturday night events set up one of the closest point battles in the history of the track as Jeff Strunk takes a 12 point lead over Duane Howard into the September 1st Modified race. Brian Shuey has a one point edge over Ron Kline in the chase for the Late Model championship on the final point night.
Glenn Owens put his mount in front of the 29-car starting field and set the pace, surviving some early race skirmishes, for the first three laps. Hirthler, coming from 11th starting spot, took command of the race on the fourth circuit of the one-third-mile, banked clay oval.
At the ten lap marker Jon Kellner Jr. came up to challenge Hirthler for the top spot and the two stayed in those positions throughout the final 20-laps leading to starter Ray Kemp’s checkered flag.
The final laps of the feature race were uneventful with Hirthler a comfortable margin in front of Kellner (Lansdale) at the finish. Third spot went to Kerry Kratz (Bechtelsville) for one of his best efforts of the season. Mike Gular (Green Lane) came from 19th to finish fourth with Doug Manmiller (Shoemakersville) taking fifth after starting 21st.
In the battle for the lucrative NASCAR Modified title Jeff Strunk, with a sixth place finish after starting 24th, was able to gain the lead with a 12 point edge going into the final point events of the season coming up on Saturday, September 1st. Duane Howard, the point leader going into the night’s events, got caught up in an on track incident that may have caused some handling problems in the car, had to settle for a 12th place finish dropping him to second in the standings.
When action resumes on Saturday night Strunk will be going for his sixth track title while Howard will be trying for his fourth. Of course the fact that there is about $15,000 in point fund money and a Champion’s Trip to the Panama up for grabs will make the battle even more interesting.
Rick Todorow started on the pole and finished in first in the 20-lap Late Model feature. It sounds pretty easy but it took the veteran Quakertown, PA racer a 90-minute rain delay and more than three years to get the victory.
Early in the race Todorow was challenged by Wayne Pfeil but at the six lap marker young Mike Kellner charged from sixth to grab second and put some heavy pressure on the leader.
At 11 laps Kellner charged to the front coming off turn four when Todorow bobbled. At 13 laps Billy Graham spun creating a multi car tangle that eliminated the point leader Brian Shuey and a couple of others.
On the 17th circuit Todorow was back in front as a result of a “bobble” by Kellner and that is where he stayed to grab the win.
In victory lane the low key Juniper Auto Body Shop owner said it seemed like “ten years since he last won.”
Second spot went to four time Late Model kingpin Dean Stoudt (East Greenville) for what may have been his strongest effort of the season. Third place went to Mike Kellner (Lansdale) followed by Ron Kline (Salford) and Jon Kellner Sr. (Lansdale).
With Brian Shuey out early and credited with a 16th place finish and Ron Kline finishing fourth the battle for the Late Model title goes into the final night of point events with Shuey holding just a one point edge in his quest for a first championship.
Qualifying events for the NASCAR Whelen Modified racers went to Glenn Owens, Kevin Hirthler, Marc Fehr and Sean Merkel. The consolation races were won by Doug Manmiller and Rick Schaffer. In the Late Model preliminaries wins were earned by Brian Shuey, Dean Stoudt and Kyle Merkel.
The Cornerstone Auto Sales of Fleetwood, PA Hard Charger Awards went to Jeff Strunk in the NASCAR Modifieds going from 24th starting spot to finish 6th and Chuck Schutz in the Late Models going from 18th to 6th in the 20-lap feature.
The final point race event of the season takes place on Saturday, September 1, 7:30 p.m. featuring the NASCAR Modifieds, Late Models and Legends. The night is sponsored by Green Lane William Penn/Four Star Lettering.
The annual THP Freedom 76 Golf Classic is set for Thursday, September 6th, 9 am at the Blackwood Golf Course. Registrations are limited to 72 players. For information telephone Kenny Rogers at 610.754.6420. Entry fee is $75 and includes steak dinner, golf, prizes and shirt.
Advance tickets for the rich THP Freedom 76 Modified Classic, September 8th, are now on sale at the speedway on race nights. Adult tickets sell for $25.00, youngsters 6 thru 11 pay $7 and kids under 6 are free when accompanied by a paying adult. Pit admission will be $40. Outsiders that are planning to race include Jimmy Horton, Kenny Brightbill, Keith Brightbill, Joey Grammes, David VanHorn and others to be announced.
Spectator gates will open for advance ticket holders at 3 pm on September 8th with ticket windows open at 3:30 pm. No one will be allowed in the spectator areas before 3 pm.
In close balloting for the Grandview Groove Most Popular Driver Awards Jeff Strunk has moved in front in the Modifieds and Rick Todorow is on top in the Late Models. Voting continues until the end of September.
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.
MIDLANTIC MACHINERY NASCAR ALL AMERICAN SERIES MODIFIEDS (30 LAPS) 1. Kevin Hirthler 2. Jon Kellner 3. Kerry Kratz 4. Mike Gular 5. Doug Manmiller 6. Jeff Strunk 7. John Willman 8. Meme DeSantis 9. Terry Meitzler 10. Tom Umbenhauer 11. Jason Hamilton 12. Duane Howard 13. Craig VonDohren 14. Danny Erb 15. Todd Smith 16. Glenn Owens 17. Rick Schaffer 18. Brad Missimer 19. Todd Marburger 20. Cliff Quinn 21. Bobby Gunther Walsh 22. John Tschudy 23. Marc Fehr 24. Chris Esposito 25. Vince Gagliardo 26. Shawn Reimert 27. Kenny Gilmore 28. Sean Merkel 29. Troy Wink
MIDLANTIC MACHINERY NASCAR LATE MODEL FEATURE (20 LAPS):1. Rick Todorow 2. Dean Stoudt 3. Mike Kellner 4. Ron Kline 5. Jon Kellner Sr. 6. Chuck Schutz 7. Kyle Merkel 8. Randy Stoudt 9. Buddy Wharton 10. Greg Hoffmaster 11. Dallas Breidenbach 12. Bryon Sipe 13. Carl Mertz 14. Chad Rae 15. Wayne Pfeil 16. Brian Shuey 17. Bill Henning 18. Johnny Favinger 19. Billy Graham 20. Jamie Undercoffler 21. Eric Kauffman 22. John Giesler
UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS FOR NASCAR MODIFIEDS
AS OF FINISH OF RACING ON AUGUST 25, 2007
1. Jeff Strunk, Mohnton, PA #126 4636****
2. Duane Howard, Oley, PA #114/4 4624****
3. Terry Meitzler, Kutztown, PA #81 3649
4. Doug Manmiller, Wyomissing, PA #14/00 3638
5. Kevin Hirthler, Green Lane, PA #117 3442*
6. Mike Gular, Harleysville, PA #53 3362
7. Danny Erb, Boyertown, PA #44 3221
8. Shawn Reimert, Oley, PA #41 3224
9. Rick Schaffer, Woxall, PA #357 3127
10. Craig VonDohren, Oley, PA #1C 3113*****
11. Kerry Kratz, Bechtelsville, PA #87 3104
12. John Willman, Birdsboro, PA #74W 3090
13. Meme DeSantis, Temple, PA #11 3085
14. Jason Hamilton, Erwinna, PA #16 2778*
15. Ryan Watt, Phoenixville, PA #14W 2349
16. Tom Umbenhauer, Richland, PA #19U 2305
17. Kyle Weiss, Hamburg, PA #21K 2257
18. Sean Merkel, Gilbertsville, PA #118 2178**
19. Jon Kellner Jr., Lansdale, PA #67 2036
20. Don Norris, Douglassville, PA #976 1971
Other Feature Winners: Tommy Scheetz Jr.,
UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS FOR NASCAR LATE MODELS
AS OF FINISH OF RACING ON AUGUST 25, 2007
1. Brian Shuey, Shoemakersville, PA #5X 4650*
2. Ron Kline, Salfordville, PA #3 4649**
3. Randy Stoudt, Pottstown, PA #10 4625*****
4. Chuck Schutz, Pottstown, PA #ONE 4541****
5. Dean Stoudt, East Greenville, PA #5 4474
6. Mike Kellner, Lansdale, PA #57 4394**
7. Wayne Pfeil Jr., Mohnton, PA #72 3885
8. Kyle Merkel, Gilbertsville, PA #117 3882*
9. Rick Todorow, Quakertown, PA #93 3658*
10. Bryan Sipe, Leesport, PA #33 3563*
11. Buddy Wharton, Birdsboro, PA #7B 3426
12. Greg Hoffmaster, Pottstown, PA #69 3255
13. John Giesler, Aston, PA #ZT1 3167
14. D.D. Keely, Linfield, PA #707 2859
15. Chad Rea, Reading, PA, #8 2627
16. Dean Schaeffer, Douglassville, PA #39 2597
17. Eric Kauffman, Muhlenberg,PA #307 2440
18. Jon Kellner Sr., Lansdale, PA #85AM 2356
19. Bill Henning, Lansdale, PA #80 2304
20. Carl Mertz, Boyertown, PA #00 2287
* denotes feature winner
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