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HOWARD, STOUDT, STRUNK AND SHUEY ARE PART OF A HOLLYWOOD ENDING AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY
BECHTELSVILLE, PA September 2, 2007 . . . Hollywood film producers probably could not have come up with such a great Hollywood ending as happened at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night.
When the evening started Jeff Strunk had a 12 point lead over Duane Howard in his quest for a sixth NASCAR Modified title. Duane Howard did all that he could to win the NASCAR Whelen All American Modified Series championship as he finished second in his qualifying heat and won the 30-lap NASCAR Modified feature race. Jeff Strunk finished second in the feature and third in his qualifying heat. When all the figures were tallied Strunk had won the closest finish in track history grabbing the title by just one point over Howard.
A stunned Duane Howard stood in victory lane unbelieving that he had lost the championship by one point. He sort of indicated that it was not as big a deal as people were making it out to be. I still have a job to go to on Monday morning, said Howard. It was a heck of a battle. There just may have been tears in his eyes. Howard and his BPG Racing/Chad Sinon Motorsports No. 4 team had done all that they could on that final point night.
And Jeff Strunk and his Gold Rush Custom Trailers No. 126 team were celebrating. Car owner Glenn Hyneman said, We had a job to do and did it. That pretty much said all that had to be said. Strunk dedicated the championship to 17-year-old Chad Miller, son of crew chief Donnie Miller, who had been killed in a single car auto accident several weeks back.
It was pretty much the same story in the NASCAR Late Model division as Randy Stoudt drove the TP Trailers No. 10 Late Model to victory in the 20-lap feature race. He had gone into the final race 25-points behind the point leader Brian Shuey. When the race was over he was 5-points behind and Shuey, who had finished third in a late race charge, earned his first NASCAR Late Model championship.
Stoudt told the crowd, I really thought the motor would give out. It has been a good season. He had birthday cake waiting for him as he was celebrating his birthday and winning the championship would have made for a nice gift. I really like winning features (he won six during the season). I think that is better for sponsors and the fans than winning championships.
Shuey thanked his car owners and labeled his crew as the best in the business. It was a great year going down to the last lap, said Shuey about winning his first title. The Shoemakersville, PA racer won his first track title and thanked his sponsors including the primary sponsor Bob Fisher Chevy.
Mark Fehr charged to the front of the pack on the drop of the green for the Green Lane Wm. Penn/Four Star Lettering Night modified feature race. Fehr was in front for five laps before Don Norris took control and was setting a very quick pace. At 11 laps completed Duane Howard, coming from 12th, was putting pressure on the leader and charged to the front on the 12th circuit.
Jeff Strunk moved to second, after starting 11th, to put the pressure on the frontrunner. The final 10 laps was a chase to the checkered flag with Duane Howard (Oley) able to hold off Strunk to gain his fifth win of the season and the $2,200 that goes with it. It was a great warmup for the rich THP Freedom 76 that is set at Grandview Speedway for Saturday, September 8th that offers $20,000 to win.
Strunk (Mohnton) finished second while Kevin Hirthler (Bechtelsville) charged from 24th starting position to grab third. Fourth spot went to Don Norris Jr. (Douglassville) followed by Jason Hamilton (Erwinna).
Three-time past champion John Geisler went to the front at the start of the 20-lapper for the Late Models while teenager Kyle Merkel grabbed the front spot on the fourth lap. Randy Stoudt, coming from seventh, took control of the race on the sixth lap.
Once in front Stoudt was comfortably in control of the event with Mike Kellner doing his best to track down the leader and hold off young Kyle Merkel. At the finish Stoudt (Pottstown) was well in front with Mike Kellner (Lansdale) finishing second. Brian Shuey (Shoemakersville) took third followed by John Geisler (Aston) and Jon Kellner Sr. (Lansdale).
Jason Rochelle of Schnecksville, PA took the lead on the drop of the green for the 15-lap Legends Cars feature race and lead all the laps to win his second of the season at Grandview Speedway. Steve Nederostek kept the pressue on Rochelle throughout the event but just could not build up enough steam to get by the leader. Third spot in the feature went to Josh Morrow followed by Tim Henry and Tim Bauer.
Qualifying heat races in the NASCAR Modifieds were won by Mark Kratz, Craig VonDohren, Jon Kellner Jr. and John Willman. The consolation races went to Danny Erb and John Tschudy. In the NASCAR Late Models the preliminary events were won by Chuck Schutz, Jon Kellner Sr. and Kyle Merkel. In the Central PA Legends Cars qualifying races went to Rodney Kistler and Tom Mayberry.
The Cornerstone Auto Sales of Fleetwood, PA Hard Charger Awards went to Greg Hoffmaster in the NASCAR Late Models gaining 12 spots from 21st to 9th in the 20-lap feature. In the NASCAR Modified feature Kevin Hirthler went from 24th to 3rd, gaining 21 positions. Each driver earns $50.
The biggest and richest event of the season takes place on Saturday, September 8th, 7 pm with the running of the 37th Annual THP Freedom 76 Modified Classic. There is $20,000 for winner and $10,000 for second. A special Cash Dash pays $1,000. Gates open at 3 p.m. for advance ticket holders and ticket windows open at 3:30 p.m. Dabby the Clown will be there doing face painting at 5:30 p.m.
Legendary dirt track racer Kenny Brightbill is entered as is Jimmy Horton, Joey Grammes, David VanHorn and others. More than 70 entries are expected.
Rain date is Saturday, September 15th. If the rain date is not need then open competition modifieds and late models will be presented on both September 15th and 22nd.
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.
GREEN LANE WILLIAM PENN/FOUR STAR LETTERING NASCAR ALL AMERICAN SERIES MODIFIEDS (30 LAPS): 1. Duane Howard 2. Jeff Strunk 3. Kevin Hirthler 4. Don Norris Jr. 5. Jason Hamilton 6. Mike Gular 7. John Willman 8. Danny Erb 9. Rick Schaffer 10. Randy Bailey 11. Shawn Reimert 12. Terry Meitzler 13. John Tschudy 14. Jon Kellner Jr. 15. Kerry Kratz 16. Todd Smith 17. Mark Kratz 18. Sean Merkel 19. Brad Missimer 20. Ryan Beltz 21. Tommy Sheetz Jr. 22. Mark Fehr 23. Troy Wink 24. Glenn Owens 25. Ryan Watt 26. Ray Swinehart 27. Craig VonDohren 28. Doug Manmiller 29. Meme DeSantis 30. Kenny Gilmore
GREEN LANE WILLIAM PENN/FOUR STAR LETTERING NASCAR LATE MODEL FEATURE (20 LAPS): 1. Randy Stoudt 2. Mike Kellner 3. Brian Shuey 4. John Geisler 5. Jon Kellner Sr. 6. Ron Kline 7. Mark Malcom 8. Wayne Pfeil Jr. 9. Greg Hoffmaster 10. Chuck Schutz 11. Kyle Merkel 12. Dean Stoudt 13. Buddy Wharton 14. Bill Henning 15. Harry Neiman 16. Rick Todorow 17. Chad Rae 18. Bryon Sipe 19. Jamie Undercoffler 20. D.D. Keely 21. Eric Kauffman 22. John Favinger 23. Dallas Breidenbach
ROLLING THUNDER LEGENDS (15 LAPS): 1. Jason Rochelle 2. Steve Nedorostek 3. Josh Morrow 4. Tim Henry 5. Tim Bauer
UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS FOR NASCAR MODIFIEDS
AS OF THE FINISH OF RACING ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2007
1. Jeff Strunk, Mohnton, PA #126 4934****
2. Duane Howard, Oley, PA #114/4 4933*****
3. Terry Meitzler, Kutztown, PA #81 3842
4. Kevin Hirthler, Green Lane, PA #117 3726*
5. Doug Manmiller, Wyomissing, PA #14/00 3675
6. Mike Gular, Harleysville, PA #53 3619
7. Danny Erb, Boyertown, PA #44 3456
8. Shawn Reimert, Oley, PA #41 3419
9. Rick Schaffer, Woxall, PA #357 3356
10. John Willman, Birdsboro, PA #74W 3340
11. Kerry Kratz, Bechtelsville, PA #87 3264
12. Craig VonDohren, Oley, PA #1C 3163*****
13. Meme DeSantis, Temple, PA #11 3111
14. Jason Hamilton, Erwinna, PA #16 3047*
15. Ryan Watt, Phoenixville, PA #14W 2416
16. Sean Merkel, Gilbertsville, PA #118 2314**
17. Tom Umbenhauer, Richland, PA #19U 2305
18. Kyle Weiss, Hamburg, PA #21K 2257
19. Don Norris, Douglassville, PA #976 2250
20. Jon Kellner Jr., Lansdale, PA #67 2216
Other Feature Winners: Tommy Scheetz Jr.,
UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS FOR NASCAR LATE MODELS
AS OF FINISH OF RACING ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2007
1. Brian Shuey, Shoemakersville, PA #5X 4939*
2. Randy Stoudt, Pottstown, PA #10 4934******
2. Ron Kline, Salfordville, PA #3 4908**
4. Chuck Schutz, Pottstown, PA #ONE 4761****
5. Mike Kellner, Lansdale, PA #57 4691**
6. Dean Stoudt, East Greenville, PA #5 4671
7. Wayne Pfeil Jr., Mohnton, PA #72 4121
8. Kyle Merkel, Gilbertsville, PA #117 4092*
9. Rick Todorow, Quakertown, PA #93 3814*
10. Bryan Sipe, Leesport, PA #33 3700*
11. Buddy Wharton, Birdsboro, PA #7B 3606
12. Greg Hoffmaster, Pottstown, PA #69 3475
13. John Giesler, Aston, PA #ZT1 3445
14. D.D. Keely, Linfield, PA #707 2974
15. Chad Rea, Reading, PA #8 2767
16. Jon Kellner Sr., Lansdale, PA #85AM 2626
17. Dean Schaeffer, Douglassville, PA #39 2597
17. Eric Kauffman, Muhlenberg, PA #307 2540
19. Bill Henning, Lansdale, PA #80 2480
20. Carl Mertz, Boyertown, PA #00 2287
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