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NOT DONE YET – THE VETERANS RISE TO THE OCCASION ON CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT SATURDAY AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY
CRAIG VON DOHREN CHARGES FROM 24TH TO FIRST WIN OF SEASON, SECOND PLACE LOCKS UP 11th CHAMPIONSHIP FOR JEFF STRUNK
DAKOTA KOHLER SCORES FIRST 2024 WIN IN CLOSE SPORTSMAN FINISH – SECOND PLACE SECURES SPORTSMAN CHAMPIONSHIP FOR LOGAN WATT
BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – It was another action packed night of racing action at Grandview Speedway, with two drivers scoring their first wins of the season, and two other drivers locking up the 2024 point championships in an evening of racing sponsored by Spunktown Tavern and Restaurant of Boyertown, Pa.
Craig Von Dohren of Oley, Pa. charged from 24th starting spot in a starting field of 28 cars, fought through a battle with Jeff Strunk and Mike Gular both of Boyertown, Pa. to win the three car fight for second position, then secured the lead from Kevin Graver Jr. of Lehighton, Pa. with just six laps to go, to win an exciting and competitive 30-lap T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modified feature on Saturday night.
Dakota Kohler of Kutztown, Pa. was able to quickly advance from eleventh starting spot, make an outside groove pass of Colton Perry of Topton, Pa. on lap eight to secure the feature race lead, then fight off the late race challenges from Logan Watt of Boyertown, Pa. in the final three laps, to score the win in the 25-lap T. P. Truck Equipment Sportsman feature on Saturday night, and in the process won his first feature since the 2020 racing season.
The feature winners received bonus money (Modified $300, Sportsman $200) from T.P. Trailers and Truck Equipment of Limerick, Pa., sponsors of the two divisions at Grandview Speedway, in a race program run under the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series banner.
Not only was the action exciting for the respective feature wins, but the chase for the 2024 track championships came to a conclusion, with Jeff Strunk picking up his 11th career T.P. Trailer Modified point title, and first since the 2014 racing season, while Logan Watt was able to out point Dylan Swinehart of Fleetwood, Pa. in the final point paying race of the season to win his second consecutive T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman point title.
Mike Laise of Pottstown, Pa. grabbed the lead at the start of the T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modified main event, setting the pace until Kevin Graver Jr. was able to power past him and take the lead out of turn four following a restart on lap four.
Graver Jr. would then build up a small but comfortable lead while several battles for position were happening behind him between Laise, Chris Esposito of Telford, Pa., and Bobby Trapper Jr. of Scranton, Pa. for the second position, and another action packed battle between Eric Biehn of Barto, Pa., Cody Manmiller of Philadelphia, Pa., and Tim Buckwalter of Douglassville, Pa., for the top ten positions.
While this was happening, Von Dohren was on the move from 24th starting spot, after having to run a consolation to qualify following a heat race mishap. Von Dohren would reach the top ten by lap eleven, and be sitting in eighth spot by the time another caution waved on lap thirteen for Duane Howard of Oley, Pa, who rode the wall in turn one, but was able to keep on going and never stopped.
Following the restart, Von Dohren would jump up to fifth one lap later, and fourth by lap fifteen.
Strunk was also on the move from his sixteenth starting spot, reaching the tenth spot by lap seven, but really took off following the lap thirteen restart and jumped up to fifth by lap sixteen.
Some really intense action developed up front between Laise, Buckwalter, Von Dohren, and Strunk for the second position, while Graver Jr. was setting a steady pace out front.
Laise suffered a mechanical issue on lap 20, drawing a caution and dropping out after a great race in the top five, setting up a couple of race changing restarts.
Graver Jr. would choose the top groove for the restart, and remain the leader, however Mike Gular who had also charged forward from 23rd starting spot and was sitting fifth on the restart, would make an amazing outside groove move, and sweep around the next three cars to grab second by lap twenty one.
The next two laps were intense, as Von Dohren would work hard to fight back to second spot, with Strunk also repassing Gular to sit third, followed by Gular and Duane Howard who recovered from his wall riding episode to sit fifth when another caution waved on lap 23, setting up another dramatic restart.
Graver Jr. picked the bottom lane for this restart, and Von Dohren was able to pull a power move entering turn one to take command, with Strunk, Gular and Howard quickly following him past Graver Jr. to reset the top five spots.
The final five laps saw Von Dohren pull to a small lead with Strunk trying to catch him, while Howard was able to sneak past Gular with just two laps to go.
At the checkered flag Von Dohren was able to break his victory draught and score his first feature win of the season and 126th career Saturday night NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series win (His 134th win overall counting Thunder Series 358 Mod wins).
Following Von Dohren to the line were Strunk who was able to clinch his 11th career T.P. Trailer Modified Track Championship, Howard, Gular, Graver Jr. for his best outing of the year, Buckwalter, Doug Manmiller of Shoemakersville, Pa. Cody Manmiller, Jared Umbenhauer of Richland, Pa., and Craig Whitmoyer of Hamburg, Pa.
Qualifying heats for the 39 cars on hand were won by Esposito, Graver Jr., Buckwalter, and Bryan Rhoads of Gilbertsville, Pa. with Eddie Strada of Lake Ariel, Pa. and Umbenhauer winning the consolations.
The 25-lap T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman feature was another race within the race, as Dylan Swinehart of Fleetwood, Pa, entered the evening 25 points ahead of defending point champion Logan Watt in the chase for the point title. Watt qualified through his heat gaining nine points on Swinehart, who would qualify through the consolation setting up the title fight for the feature race.
BJ Joly III of Oley, Pa. would be the leader at the start of the main event, until a tangle on lap three took out four cars that were racing in the top spots including Tyler James of Birdsboro, Pa., Steve Young of Collegeville, Pa., Kyle Hartzell of Allentown, Pa., and Mark Mohr of Macungie, Pa. setting up a restart.
On the restart Colton Perry was able to power around Joly III off of turn two to take the lead, with Kohler still on the move, as he was sitting fourth on the restart after beginning the race in eleventh position.
Kohler continued to run the top lane, and was able to take second on lap five and the lead from Perry with a power move in the high lane out of turn four to score lap eight.
With the lap three caution the only one in the feature race, Kohler started to build up a big lead, leaving several battles for position behind him between Perry, Joly III, and Brett Grim of Coplay, Pa. up from 12th starting spot, and another battle between Lawson Szerencits of Catasauqua, Pa., Nathan Mohr of Reading, Pa. Logan Watt, and Jordan Henn.
All eyes were now on the point title contenders as Watt was working forward from 14th starting spot, while Swinehart started out of 24th position and was fighting his way forward.
Watt hit the top five by lap twelve, and slowly picked his way to second spot by lap fifteen, at which time he was a straight away behind leader Kohler, with Swinehart up to fourteenth by the halfway mark.
With lapped traffic on the horizon for leader Kohler, Watt was able to close the gap, and was right behind him with five laps to go, setting up the final dramatic laps.
Watt threw everything he could at Kohler in the final three frantic laps through traffic, but Kohler held firm to score his first feature win of the season and second career win, with his first victory coming in August of 2020.
Watt finished a car length behind Kohler in second, followed by Brett Grim for his career best finish, Mike Schneck Jr. of Lebanon, Pa. who made a late charge for a top five, Jordan Henn, Nathan Mohr, Jesse Hirthler of Boyertown, Pa., Colton Perry, Dylan Swinehart, and Ryan Graver of Lehighton, Pa.
Swinehart meanwhile was still charging right to the end, finishing the evening in ninth position, but he was not able to keep close enough to Watt who was able to overcome the point deficit and score the point title for the second year in a row.
Qualifying heats for the 46 cars on hand were won by Brett Grim, BJ Joly III, Brayden Shelton of Hatfield, Pa., Colton Perry, and Lawson Szerencits with Jesse Hirthler and Colin Cox of Perkasie, Pa. winning the consolations.
Next on the schedule, Grandview Speedway will be presenting the 54th annual Freedom 76 weekend of racing, with the two biggest race events of the season next weekend.
The Freedom 76 weekend begins on Friday, September 20 with the 11th annual Freedom 38 Sportsman Championship race plus qualifying events, along with practice time for 358 Modified drivers wishing to participate in the Freedom 76.
Friday’s program will be known as Fans for Five Friday as the grandstand admission is just $5, while children ages 9 and under will be free of charge.
On Friday, pit gates open at 3 pm, with grandstand gates opening at 5:30 pm, drivers meeting at 5:30 pm, with the pill draw following the drivers meeting. Warmups are at 6:15 pm, and racing at 7:30 pm. Pit admission on Friday is $40, and no license is required. There is no rain date for the Friday event.
Racers are reminded that the Freedom 38 is open to regular Sportsman division drivers only (track or series), drivers who compete regularly in Modified division competition are not eligible to compete.
On Saturday, September 21, the 54th annual Freedom 76 will be run for the 358 Modifieds. The program includes qualifying heats, consolations, cash dash and the Minuteman 20 leading up to the 76-lap Championship main event.
Pit gates open at 9 am, for car inspections, fans will be able to enter the Grandstand areas between 9 am, and 12 Noon to reserve seats with blankets, with grandstand ticket windows opening at 3 pm. Pill draw for position is at 4:30 pm, with the drivers meeting at 5 pm, warm-ups are at 6 pm, with racing starting at 7 pm.
Adult Grandstand tickets on Saturday will be $40, students 10-15 with ID are $20, while children ages 9 and under are admitted free of charge. Pit admission will be $45, and no license is required. There will be no advanced tickets sold for this event, and the rain date is Saturday, September 28.
Those wishing to camp at the Speedway please note: Campers can enter the grounds in the fourth turn area on Saturday, September 14 and remain there until the 21st. However, because there are no hookups, sleeping in the campers can only take place September 20-22.
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 October, 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.
SPUNKTOWN TAVERN & RESTAURANT CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT – SEPTEMBER 14, 2024
T.P. TRAILER NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 laps): CRAIG VON DOHREN, Jeff Strunk, Duane Howard, Mike Gular, Kevin Graver Jr., Tim Buckwalter, Doug Manmiller, Cody Manmiller, Jared Umbenhauer, Craig Whitmoyer, Jon Kellner, Brandon Edgar, Kyle Smith, Bobby Trapper Jr., Ryan Grim, Ryan Watt, Nate Brinker, Justin Grim, Lex Shive, Darrin Schuler, Chris Esposito, Eric Biehn, Mike Laise, Ron Haring Jr., Louden Reimert, Bryan Rhoads, Frank Yankowski, Brett Kressley, Eddie Strada
DID NOT QUALIFY: John Willman, Joe Funk, Eric Kormann, Kevin Hirthler, Glenn Owens, Mike Lisowski, Carroll Hine III, Ryan Beltz, Gary Wagner, Jimmy Leiby
T.P. TRAILERS WINNER’S BONUS ($300): Craig Von Dohren
VP RACING FUELS HARD CHARGER: Craig Von Dohren +23
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS CERTIFICATES: Craig Von Dohren ($75), Jeff Strunk ($50), Duane Howard ($25)
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Kevin Graver Jr.
T.P. TRAILER MODIFIED 2024 TRACK CHAMPION: Jeff Strunk (11th career title)
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (25 laps): DAKOTA KOHLER, Logan Watt, Brett Grim, Mike Schneck Jr., Jordan Henn, Nathan Mohr, Jesse Hirthler, Colton Perry, Dylan Swinehart, Ryan Graver, Brayden Shelton, Jesse Landis, Lawson Szerencits, Adrianna Delliponti, Brett Gilmore, Addison Meitzler, Kenny Bock, Kyle Hartzell, Colin Cox, Tyler James, Logan Bauman, Brian Hirthler, BJ Joly III, Joey Vaccaro, Steve Young, Mark Mohr, Kaitlyn Bailey
DID NOT QUALIFY: Nathan Horn, Brad Arnold, Matt Martino, TJ Mayberry, Nicholas Hamm, Shannon Slaughter, Nicholas Arment, Zach Steffey, Teague Miller, Mark Gaugler, Parker Guldin, Jared LaBagh, Gavyn Krupp, Bryce Bashore, Chase Gular, Xavier Sprague, Jay Garris, Nick Faust, Decker Swinehart
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT WINNER’S BONUS ($200): Dakota Kohler
GRANDVIEW $100 HARD CHARGER: Dylan Swinehart +15
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS CERTIFICATES: Dakota Kohler ($75), Logan Watt ($50), Brett Grim ($25)
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Dakota Kohler
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT SPORTSMAN 2024 TRACK CHAMPION: Logan Watt (2nd career title)
UPCOMING EVENTS –
Friday, September 20 – 11th annual FREEDOM 38 SPORTSMAN CHAMPIONSHIP – T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman 38 laps, Modified Practice for Freedom 76 – 7:30 pm
Saturday, September 21 – 54th annual FREEDOM 76 MODIFIED CLASSIC – T.P. Trailer Modifieds 76 laps – 7 pm
Saturday, September 28 – Outlaw Racing Series Enduro, Outlaw Racing Series Vintage, Xcel 600 Modifieds – 5 pm (Freedom 76 Rain date)
