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BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – Craig Von Dohren of Oley, Pa. was able to overtake leader Kyle Lilick of Collegeville, Pa. on a lap 26 restart, and race home to victory in the 30-lap T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modified feature Saturday night at Grandview Speedway.
Brian Hirthler of Green Lane, Pa., who entered the night as the current point leader in the T. P. Truck Equipment Sportsman point standings, took over the lead from Dylan Hoch of Mertztown, Pa. on lap 15, and raced home to his third win of the current season in the 25-lap T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman feature.
The night’s program was sponsored by T.P. Trailers and Truck Equipment, who every week provide both winners (Modified $300, Sportsman $200) with bonus money, in the race program that was part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series.
The Outlaw Racing Series Vintage Racers were on hand to participate in the Dave Smith Memorial, with wins going to Andy Cassel (Modified class) and Gage Phillips (Sportsman class).
The win for Von Dohren was his fifth point race win of the current season and the 119th of his Grandview career in NASCAR Modified competition.
The T.P. Trailer Modified feature looked as though it may run non-stop, as the first caution did not appear until lap 26, with plenty of side-by-side action spread throughout the field during the long stretch of green flag racing.
Bobby Trapper Jr. of Scranton, Pa. took the lead at the initial green and set the early pace, leaving Kyle Lilick, Ray Swinehart of Boyertown, Pa., John Willman of Birdsboro, Pa., and Ryan Grim of Laurys Station, Pa. to battle behind him.
Lilick was able to catch leader Trapper and grab the lead entering turn one on lap 13 to take control of the top spot.
Meanwhile Von Dohren was slowly working his way forward from his 13th starting position, and eventually became part of a great battle for the top five positions between Ray Swinehart, Willman, and Ryan Grim by lap fourteen.
As the laps clicked off, Von Dohren would advance past each member of the top five, reaching the second position with a pass of Trapper Jr. on lap 24, but at this point Lilick had a comfortable advantage over the rest of the field, racing in lapped traffic.
When it appeared Lilick, in his rookie season of Modified racing, may be headed to that first ever win, the caution waved on lap 26 for Brad Arnold of Bethel, Pa., who stopped with a broken race car in turn four.
On the restart, Von Dohren was able to slide by Lilick entering turn one to take over the lead, however the drama was not over yet.
After running to lap 26 without a caution, the race encountered two more yellow flags on laps 28 and 29, to give Lilick a chance to retake the lead, but Von Dohren proved too strong, and maintained the lead to the finish.
Following Von Dohren to the checkered flag, were Lilick for his career best Modified finish, Ryan Grim, Ray Swinehart, Trapper Jr., Jared Umbenhauer of Richland, Pa., Kevin Hirthler of Boyertown, Pa., Willman, Jeff Strunk of Boyertown, Pa., and Doug Manmiller of Shoemakersville, Pa.
Qualifying heat race winners for the 38 cars on hand were Dylan Swinehart of Fleetwood, Pa., Von Dohren, Brett Gilmore of Kutztown, Pa. and Lilick. Consolations were won by Strunk and Kevin Graver Jr. of Lehighton, Pa.
The T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman feature saw Wayne Rotenberger of Ringing Hill, Pa. lead the early laps of the main event, surviving several caution flags.
Joey Vaccaro of Reading, Pa. took over the top spot on a lap seven restart, making a three wide move to get the top spot.
Dylan Hoch of Mertztown, Pa. was quickly working his way forward from his fourteenth starting position, catching Vaccaro and making a move for the lead, as the two swapped the lead, but Vaccaro was able to maintain the lead until a caution slowed the action on lap twelve.
Hoch was able to take the lead on the restart, while Brian Hirthler, who had been advancing through the field from his 16th starting position, followed him toward the front and moved into second.
The battle was on for several laps between the two, racing side by side before Hirthler grabbed the lead on lap sixteen.
Brian Hirthler began to pull away leaving Hoch to battle with Jesse Hirthler of Green Lane, Pa. for the second position in the closing laps of the feature.
Adrianna Delliponte of Norristown, Pa. and Mike Schneck Jr. of Lebanon, Pa. were able to advance into the top five in the late stages of the feature to score their best finishes of the season.
Surviving a caution on the final lap, Brian Hirthler raced home to his third win of the season, followed by Hoch, Jesse Hirthler, Delliponte, Schneck Jr., Vaccaro, Cody Manmiller of Philadelphia, Pa., Parker Guldin of Fleetwood, Pa., Keith Brightbill of Mooresville, NC., and Ryan Graver of Lehighton, Pa.
Qualifying heat races for the 37 car field were won by Vaccaro, Kyle Smith of Fleetwood, Pa., Brian Hirthler and Kenny Bock of Oley, Pa., with consolations being won by Graver and Guldin.
The Outlaw Racing Series Vintage Cars ran in the 5th annual Dave Smith Memorial feature, honoring one of their former members, with Andy Cassel scoring the win over his father Wes Cassel, Scott Schaeffer, Mike Houghtaling and Richie Baker Jr. Gage Phillips was the first Sportsman car across the line in sixth position, taking their divisional win in the combined 15-lap feature event.
Cassel had a fairly easy time of it in the win, as when he reached lapped traffic mid-race, a caution came out clearing the track ahead of him to make a clear path to victory. The caution however was good for Phillips, as he gained several spots following the restart to score his victory.
The T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds and T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman will be joined by the United Racing Club Sprint Cars in a three-division program next Saturday, July 30 starting at 7:30 pm. The program will include qualifying events for all three classes leading to the 30-lap T.P. Trailer Modified feature, the 25-lap T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman main, and the 25-lap URC Sprint car feature race.
Pit gates will open at 4 pm. with grandstand gates opening at 5:30 pm. warm-ups will be starting at 6:15 pm. Adult grandstand admission is $25, while children ages 6-11 are $10, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge.
It will be Christmas in July on Saturday, July 30, as V&M Towing along with SDS Photography will be providing bonus money for both the Modified and Sportsman racers in the features plus the addition of cash dashes for both divisions. Santa Claus will also make an appearance for the youngsters that evening as well.
The T.P. Trailer Modified feature winner will pocket a cool $3500 total payoff with purse and bonuses for the 30-lap main event, while the T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman winner will collect a total prize of $1000 for the 25-lap main event.
On Tuesday, August 2, the final NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series event of this season will be presented, featuring Big Block/Small Block Modifieds in the Triple Roaring 20’s, along with a complete show of 602 Sportsman starting at 7:30 pm.
Since the 1960’s, Grandview Speedway has been presenting exciting wheel to wheel NASCAR stock car racing every Saturday Night starting in April and running through September, plus special events. Grandview Speedway is located at 43 Passmore Road, Bechtelsville, Pa. 19505, just off Route 100, ten miles north of Pottstown, Pa.
Information is always available at www.grandviewspeedway.com or on Facebook, or by telephone at 610.754.7688.
T.P. TRAILERS AND TRUCK EQUIPMENT NIGHT RESULTS SUMMARY – JULY 23, 2022
T.P. TRAILER NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 laps): CRAIG VON DOHREN, Kyle Lilick, Ryan Grim, Ray Swinehart, Bobby Trapper Jr., Jared Umbenhauer, Kevin Hirthler, John Willman, Jeff Strunk, Doug Manmiller, Dylan Swinehart, Brad Grim, Cory Merkel, Eric Biehn, Kevin Graver Jr., Steve Swinehart, Michael Storms, Brad Brightbill, Duane Howard, Brett Kressley, Darrin Schuler, Justin Grim, Brett Gilmore, Brad Arnold, Joe Funk, Tim Buckwalter, Mike Lisowski, Craig Whitmoyer, Ryan Lilick, Ryan Beltz
DID NOT QUALIFY: Dan Waisempacher, Anthony Tramontana, Carrol Hine III, Mark Kratz, Nate Brinker, Frank Cozze, Jesse Leiby, Bobby Gunther-Walsh
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (25 laps): BRIAN HIRTHLER, Dylan Hoch, Jesse Hirthler, Adrianna Delliponte, Mike Schneck Jr., Joey Vaccaro, Cody Manmiller, Parker Guldin, Keith Brightbill, Ryan Graver, Lex Shive, Logan Bauman, Dakota Kohler, Jimmy Leiby, Matt Clay, Zane Roth, Jesse Landis, BJ Joly, Wayne Rotenberger, Mike Stofflet, Steve Young, Mike Myers, Kyle Smith, Kenny Bock, Nathan Horn, Nathan Mohr
DID NOT QUALIFY: Kyle Hartzell, Tyler James, Keith Haring, Colton Perry, Chris Esposito, Blake Reber, Mark Gaugler, Decker Swinehart, Hunter Iatalese, Bryan Rhoads, Mark Mohr
OUTLAW RACING SERIES VINTAGE DAVE SMITH MEMORIAL FEATURE FINISH (15 laps): ANDY CASSELL (Modified), Wes Cassel, Scott Schaeffer, Mike Houghtaling, Richie Baker Jr., GAGE PHILLIPS (Sportsman), Bill Carr, Mike Stofflet, Joe Medaglia, Bill Gerhart, Matt Smith, Curt Neiman, Josh Generella, Tori Hall
UPCOMING EVENTS –
Saturday, July 30 – T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman plus URC 360 Sprint Cars – 7:30 pm.
Tuesday, August 2 – NAPA Auto Parts THUNDER on the HILL RACING SERIES – Triple Roaring 20’s – Big Block/Small Block Modified 3/20-lap features plus 602 Sportsman – 7:30 pm.
Friday, August 5 – Outlaw Racing Series Enduro and Outlaw Racing Series Vintage – 7 pm
Saturday, August 6 – T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman – 7:30 pm.
Saturday, August 13 – 52nd annual FORREST ROGERS MEMORIAL for T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman – 7:30 pm.
