|
KUTZTOWN, PA November 10, 2007 . . . As is usual a large crowd, close to 400 people, turned out to honor the 2007 champions and other outstanding performers at the 45th annual Grandview Speedway Awards Banquet on Saturday at the Kutztown, PA Fire Hall.
For the sixth time in his career Mohnton, PA’s Jeff Strunk was able to walk off with the NASCAR Whelen All American Modified stock car championship at the Bechtelsville, PA. And for the first time in his long career Brian Shuey, Shoemakersville, PA, was able to win the NASCAR Late Model championship.
Both championships were decided on the final night of the NASCAR stock car racing season on the one-third-mile, banked clay oval. Duane Howard won the 30-lap feature race on the final night with Jeff Strunk finishing second. However when the points were tallied Strunk had edged Howard by just ONE POINT to win his sixth championship.
Strunk and the Glen Hynemann owned Gold Rush Custom Trailers No. 126 Modified earned 4934 points with five feature wins while Howard and the Chad Sinon owned No. 4 tallied six wins and 4933 points. It was the closest point battle in the 45-year track history.
The Late Model point battle also went down to the final night with Randy Stoudt looking to win his second title. He won the final feature but lost out for the title as Brian Shuey driving the Charlotte and David Eyrich owned Bob Fisher Chevy No. 5 late model edged him out by just five points on that final night.
Shuey tallied 4939 points to win his first championship. It was also a first title for the car owners.
The champions were honored with huge trophies (over six foot tall), custom championship rings, thousands of dollars in both track and NASCAR point fund money along with NASCAR awards and beautiful custom created photographs courtesy of Don Marks photos.
In the NASCAR Modified division of competition the special award winners were:
Rookie of the Year - Jason Hamilton
Most Improved Driver - Brad Missimer
Hard Luck Driver - Kyle Weiss
Best Appearing Car - Ryan Grim’s M&D Motorsports #17
Best Appearing Crew - Jeff Strunk and the Gold Rush Custom Trailers #126
Sportsmanship Award - Bobby Gunther Walsh
Best Newcomer - Marc Fehr
In the NASCAR Late Model division of competition the special award winners were:
Rookie of the Year - Bryon Sipe
Most Improved Driver - Wayne Pfeil
Hard Luck Driver - Rick Todorow
Best Appearing Car - Brian Shuey and the Bob Fisher Chevy #5
Best Appearing Crew - Chuck Schutz and the Maverick’s Motorcycle #One
Sportsmanship Award - Greg Hoffmaster
Best Newcomer - Eric Kauffman
Special appreciation awards were presented to THP as sponsors of the Freedom 76, Stauffer Construction as sponsors of the Forrest Rogers Memorial and Jeff D’Ambrosio Dodge as providers of the track pace vehicle.
Several members of the media were in attendance and received appreciation gifts from Bruce and Theresa Rogers, operators of Grandview Speedway.
The Grandview Groove track magazine Most Popular Driver Awards went to Sean Merkel in the Modifieds and Mike Kellner in the Late Models. These awards are based on the vote of the fans.
NASCAR had awards for the top three finishers in each division. Champion Jeff Strunk, Duane Howard and Terry Meitzler received the NASCAR awards in the Modified division while champion Brian Shuey, Randy Stoudt and Ron Kline were the recipients in the Late Model division.
Scott Schaeffer was honored as the Craftsman Tools Mechanic of the Year at Grandview.
A special award, presented by Ernie and Marilyn Saxton each year, is the Jerry Glase Memorial Award. It is presented in honor the long time track employee who was Ernie’s right hand man in the announcer’s booth. This year the award was presented to Bruce and Theresa Rogers who have been able to turn Grandview Speedway into one of the most successful short tracks in the nation.
The top twenty drivers and top ten owners received awards in each of the divisions of competition. Point fund money went to the top ten drivers and top five car owners in each division.
Duane Howard, the second place finisher in the NASCAR Modified standings, was not in attendance as he was in Las Vegas attending the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Awards Banquet. He was the guest of NASCAR and was honored as the Pennsylvania State NASCAR Champion which was worth $6,000.
Contrary to some rumors being circulated there are no plans for Grandview Speedway to change ownership or close. The track will be back in operation in 2008 under the ownership and operation of the Rogers family. Details of the new season will be announced shortly.
The annual free-to-the-public practice session is set for the final Saturday in March, 2008.
Information on the new season and announcements regarding racing at Grandview Speedway will be found at www.grandviewspeedway.com.
For information on marketing through motorsports and the benefits offered to local businesses telephone Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc. at 215.752.7797. At least half of the Saturday night events in 2008, featuring NASCAR Modifieds and Late Models, have sponsorship in place.
FINAL OFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS
2007 NASCAR WHELEN ALL AMERICAN MODIFIED
POINT STANDINGS
1. 126 Jeff Strunk 4934 (5 wins)
2. 4 Duane Howard 4933 (6 wins)
3. 81 Terry Meitzler 3842
4. 117 Kevin Hirthler 3726 (1 win)
5. 14 Doug Manmiller 3675
6. 53 Mike Gular 3619
7. 44 Danny Erb 3456
8. 41 Shawn Reimert 3419
9. 357 Rick Schaffer 3356
10. 74W John Willman 3340
11. 87 Kerry Kratz 3264
12. 1C Craig Von Dohren 3163 (5 wins)
13. 11 Meme DeSantis 3111
14. 16 Jason Hamilton 3047 (1 win)
15. 14W Ryan Watt 2416
16. 118 Sean Merkel 2314 (2 wins)
17. 19 Tom Umbenhauer 2305
18. 21K Kyle Weiss 2257
19. 976 Don Norris Jr. 2250
20. 67 Jon Kellner Jr. 2216
CAR OWNERS
1. 126 Keystone Racing, LLC 4934
2. 4 Chad Sinon 3936
3. 81 Bailey Fabrications 3842
4. 117 Green Lane Wm. Penn 3726
5. 53 Mike Gular 3619
6. 44 Terry Fasnacht 3456
7. 41 Vince Gagliardo Sr. 3419
8. 357 Norm Hansell 3356
9. 1C Mike Harvey 3163
10. 14 Breitenstein Motorsports 3147
2007 NASCAR LATE MODEL
POINT STANDINGS
1. 5X Brian Shuey 4939 (1 win)
2. 10 Randy Stoudt 4934 (6 wins)
3. 3 Ron Kline 4908 (2 wins)
4. ONE Chuck Schutz 4761 (4 wins)
5. 57 Mike Kellner 4691 (2 wins)
6. 5 Dean Stoudt 4671
7. 72 Wayne Pfeil 4121
8. 117 Kyle Merkel 4092 (1 win)
9. 93 Rick Todorow 3814 (1 win)
10. 33 Bryon Sipe 3700 (1 win)
11. 7B Buddy Wharton 3606
12. 69 Greg Hoffmaster 3475
13. ZT1 John Giesler 3445
14. 707 D.D. Keely 2974
15. 8 Chad Rea 2767
16. 85AM Jon Kellner 2626 (1 win)
17. 39 Dean Schaeffer 2597
18. 307 Eric Kauffman 2540
19. 80 Bill Henning 2480
20. 00 Carl Mertz Jr. 2287
CAR OWNERS
1. 5X Charlotte and David Eyrich 4939
2. 10 Chris Hudak 4934
3. 3 Ron Kline 4908
4. ONE Ty Zeigler 4761
5. 57 Mike Kellner 4691
6. 5 Ron and Michelle Chrisman 4671
7. 117 Merkel Racing 4362
8. 7 Wayne Pfeil 4121
9. 93 Isabell and Rick Todorow 3814
10. 33 Bryon Sipe 3700
|
|
