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RECORD BREAKER – ERIC KORMANN TOPS FANTASTIC FOUR CAR BATTLE FOR LEAD IN FINAL LAPS TO SCORE NASCAR MODIFIED WIN IN THRILLING NON-STOP FEATURE EVENT
BRETT GILMORE RIM RIDES THE TOP LANE TO SCORE SECOND CAREER SPORTSMAN WIN
BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – In a race night filled with thrilling and unpredictable action from the start of qualifying through to the finish, Eric Kormann of Carneys Point, N.J. was able to top a fantastic fan pleasing four driver battle for the race win in the closing stages of the main event, to secure the 30-lap T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modified feature win Saturday night at Grandview Speedway.
Brett Gilmore of Kutztown, Pa. steered clear of two early race mishaps, then rim-rode the outside lane of the track during the second half of the 25-lap T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman feature, winning out on a great three-car race for the lead, to motor home with his first feature win of the season and second career Grandview Speedway win. The only other win Gilmore has scored at Grandview was in June of 2015.
Not only was Kormann’s win a thrilling and exciting race start to finish, but the T.P. Trailer Modified feature ran the entire 30-lap distance caution free in a new track record time of 7:42.10, breaking the old track record of 7:54.19 which was set by Duane Howard on June 13, 2017.
Kormann, who started fourth on the grid, chased race leader Brian Hirthler of Green lane, Pa. in the early stages of the main event, before making his move into the top spot on lap sixteen. Several laps later Hirthler moved back in to try and retake the lead with the two drivers running side-by-side at times fighting it out for the top spot.
With nine laps remaining in the main event, Craig Von Dohren of Oley, Pa. and Brett Kressley of Orefield, Pa., who were challenging one another for third, closed in and joined the top two drivers in a fantastic four car battle for the win down to the checkered flag, with Kormann scoring the victory by one car length over Hirthler.
For Kormann it was his first ever Saturday night NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series win at Grandview Speedway, to go along with a win earlier this season in June during Thunder on the Hill Series action.
The 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.
The T.P. Trailer Modified feature saw Brian Hirthler grab the lead on the opening green flag and pull out to a safe lead, while Eric Kormann, John Willman of Birdsboro, Pa. and Bobby Trapper Jr. of Scranton, Pa. followed.
A great battle developed behind those drivers between Bryan Rhoads of Gilbertsville, Pa., Ryan Watt of Boyertown, Pa., Cody Manmiller of Philadelphia, Pa., Ryan Grim of Laurys Station, Pa. Kevin Hirthler of Boyertown, Pa., and two drivers who were really moving forward quickly from fourteenth and thirteenth starting spots, Craig Von Dohren and Brett Kressley.
By lap ten leader Brian Hirthler reached lapped traffic, while Korman and Willman followed, and Trapper Jr, Watt, Kressley and Von Dohren fought it out for fourth position.
At the half-way mark, lapped traffic became heavier, allowing Kormann and Willman to join Hirthler up front in a battle for the lead, with Kormann able to take over the top spot on lap sixteen.
With no cautions, the racing action was intense all the way around the one-third-of-a-mile high banked speedway for every position, making the battle for the top positions even harder as they had to thread their way through traffic, while still battling each other for the top spots.
After losing the lead, Hirthler stayed close to Kormann trying to regain the lead, and by lap 21, Kressley and Von Dohren were able to join the other two up front, to produce the fan pleasing battle for the win as they raced in and out of the lapped traffic.
On lap 23, Von Dohren was able to grab third spot from Kressley and moved in to battle with Hirthler for second.
While all of this edge of your seat action was happening up front, the battle for the top ten spots continued with Willman, Watt and Hirthler now joined by 17th starting Mike Gular.
The final five laps were very intense racing with Kormann leading running the top groove and Hirthler running the bottom groove putting on some serious pressure, while Von Dohren and Kressley were right behind trying to make their move for the win.
Racing off the final turn to the checkered flag, Kormann held on to win by one car length over Brian HIrthler, with Von Dohren and Kressley within a couple of car lengths behind them.
Rounding out the top ten finishers were Willman, Watt, Gular, Kevin Hirthler, Ryan Grim, and a late charging point leader Jeff Strunk of Boyertown, Pa., who grabbed tenth with two laps to go after starting the non-stop event from 23rd starting position.
Qualifying heats for the 34 cars on hand were won by Ron Haring Jr. of Alburtis, Pa., Bobby Trapper Jr., and Justin Grim of Orefield, Pa. while Kyle Smith of Fleetwood, Pa. scored the win in the consolation.
The T.P. Truck Equipment 25-lap Sportsman feature was a tale of two type races, as the event saw some great racing action, and a couple of unfortunate accidents which took out some drivers contending for the win and the top spots in the main event.
BJ Joly III of Oley, Pa. was the early leader of the race with Mark Mohr of Macungie, Pa. holding down the second position, while Nate Horn of Slatedale, Pa., Jesse Landis of Gilbertsville, Pa., and Dylan Swinehart of Fleetwood, Pa. were all running the outside lane of the speedway gaining positions and moving forward.
A great battle quickly developed for third spot on back between ninth starting Horn, Stephen Smith III of Whitehall, Pa., Teague Miller of Barto, Pa., Shannon Slaughter of Litiz, Pa., Lawson Szerencits of Catasauqua, Pa., Swinehart, Jesse Hirthler of Boyertown, Pa., and Mike Schneck Jr. of Lebanon, Pa.
Lap ten saw a massive multi-car mix-up in turn three involving several cars running between third and ninth position, which took out several contending drivers, and also ended what was some great racing for the up-front positions.
Following the lap ten restart, the action resumed with some more great action up front, with Mark Mohr taking over the lead from Joly III entering turn one, while Schneck Jr. ran second and a spectacular battle was happening between Joly III, Swinehart and a top groove running Addison Meitzler of Kempton, Pa. who were fighting it out under a blanket for third.
Meitzler continued running the top lane for several laps trying to sweep around the other two in an exciting race, when the three drivers came off turn four three wide to score lap thirteen.
This is when disaster struck as Meitzler got pinched into the outside wall, rode up on it and caught the catch fencing, rolling and flipping back out into traffic, sending everyone scattering.
Thankfully everyone was okay after the scary accident, but several more contending drivers got bent up race cars or had to go to the back and start over again.
Only one more caution flew on lap fourteen, and from then till the end, the race settled down into some more great action that was seen earlier in between the unfortunate mishaps.
Mark Mohr continued leading with Schneck Jr. right behind offering challenges for the lead spot, while Brett Gilmore, who restarted third, went to the top groove while the other two ran down low, and started an awesome battle for the win.
Lap after lap Mohr led with Schneck Jr. glued to his bumper and Gilmore running up high alongside of the pair, around and around practically under a blanket in a real struggle for the lead, with Gilmore getting an edge some laps and some laps falling back a bit.
Gilmore officially secured second by lap 19, and continued pressuring Mohr, finally getting the lead with an outside groove pass off of turn four to score lap twenty-two.
Gilmore ran the final laps uncontested to score his first victory of the season, becoming the 13th different driver to win in T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman action this season, and captured his second career Grandview score, ending his long victory drought.
At the checkered flag it was Gilmore, Mark Mohr for his best outing of the year, Schneck Jr. for his third straight top five finish, Jesse Hirthler who rebounded from the first mishap, Joey Vaccaro of Reading, Pa. for his best finish this year, Logan Bauman of Bechtelsville, Pa. who recovered from the second mishap, Adrianna Delliponti of Norristown, Pa., Gavyn Krupp of Barto, Pa., Ryan Graver of Lehighton, Pa., and Dylan Swinehart who also recover from a trip to the rear of the field.
Qualifying heats for the 39 cars on hand were won by Steve Young of Collegeville, Pa., BJ Joly III, Stephen Smith III, and Shannon Slaughter with Stephen Laubach of Bangor, Pa. and Mike Schneck Jr. winning the consolations.
Grandview Speedway will be presenting another NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series program next week featuring the T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds, the T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman, along with a visit by the Outlaw Racing Series Vintage cars.
The show on Saturday, September 7 will include qualifying events leading into a 30-lap T.P. Trailer Modified feature, a 25-lap feature for the T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman, and a 15-lap main event for the Vintage cars.
Pit gates will open at 4 pm, with grandstand gates opening at 5:30 pm, warm-ups starting at 6:15 pm, and the first race of the evening getting the green flag at 7:30 pm.
Adult grandstand admission is $20, students 10-15 with ID are $10, while children ages 9 and under are admitted free of charge. Pit admission is $35 for NASCAR members and $45 for non-members.
The following Saturday, September 14 will be Spunktown Tavern and Restaurant Championship night, when the 2024 track champions will be decided for both the T.P. Trailer Modifieds and the T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman divisions.
The 54th annual Freedom 76 Modified Championship is fast approaching, coming up on Saturday, September 21. Lap sponsorships at $20 per lap are now available by contacting Tina Rogers, Tommy Kramer or Jeff Ahlum at the track on race night, or email at www.jeffreyahlum@gmail.com or www.grandviewspeedway1963@gmail.com.
The Freedom 76 weekend begins on Friday, September 20 with the 11th annual Freedom 38 Sportsman Championship race paying $2062 to the winner, along with practice time for Modified drivers wishing to participate in the Freedom 76.
On Friday, pit gates open at 3 pm, with grandstand gates opening at 5:30 pm, and racing starting at 7:30 pm. Adult Grandstand admission is $5, while children ages 9 and under are admitted for free. Pit admission on Friday is $35, 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, 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 paying $30,062 to the winner! The program includes qualifying races, cash dash and the Minuteman 20 leading up to the 76-lap Championship main event. Pit gates open at 9 am, for inspections, Grandstand ticket windows open at 3 pm, with racing starting at 7 pm. Fans will be able to enter the Grandstand areas between 9 am, and 12 Noon to reserve seats with blankets.
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.
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.
T.P. TRAILER NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 laps): ERIC KORMANN, Brian Hirthler, Craig Von Dohren, Brett Kressley, John Willman, Ryan Watt, Mike Gular, Kevin Hirthler, Ryan Grim, Jeff Strunk, Doug Manmiller, Duane Howard, Bobby Trapper Jr., Cody Manmiller, Louden Reimert, Jon Kellner, Jared Umbenhauer, Justin Grim, Jimmy Leiby, Mike Laise, Kyle Smith, Eddie Strada, Frank Yankowski, Joe Funk, Darrin Schuler, Bryan Rhoads, Tim Buckwalter, Kevin Graver Jr., Ron Haring Jr.
DID NOT QUALIFY: Ray Swinehart, Eric Biehn, Craig Whitmoyer, Chris Gambler, Carroll Hine III
T.P. TRAILERS WINNER’S BONUS ($300): Eric Kormann
VP RACING FUELS HARD CHARGER: Jeff Strunk + 13
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS CERTIFICATES: Eric Kormann ($75), Brian Hirthler ($50), Craig Von Dohren ($25)
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Brian Hirthler
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (25 laps): BRETT GILMORE, Mark Mohr, Mike Schneck Jr., Jesse Hirthler, Joey Vaccaro, Logan Bauman, Adrianna Delliponti, Gavyn Krupp, Ryan Graver, Dylan Swinehart, Nathan Mohr, Lawson Szerencits, Brayden Shelton, Stephen Smith III, Jesse Leiby, Parker Guldin, Addison Meitzler, BJ Joly III, Jesse Landis, Nate Horn, Teague Miller, Shannon Slaughter, Colton Perry, Steve Young, Dakota Kohler, TJ Mayberry, Zach Steffey, Stephen Laubach
DID NOT QUALIFY: Jared LaBagh, Brett Grim, Tom Miller Jr., Randy Graber, Tyler James, Logan Watt, Chase Gular, Dennis Graber, Bastian Miller, Kenny Bock, Kyle Hartzell
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT WINNER’S BONUS ($200): Brett Gilmore
GRANDVIEW $100 HARD CHARGER: Joey Vaccaro +23
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS CERTIFICATES: Brett Gilmore ($75), Mark Mohr ($50), Mike Schneck Jr. ($25)
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Mark Mohr
UPCOMING EVENTS –
Saturday, September 7 – T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman, Outlaw Racing Series Vintage – 7:30 pm
Saturday, September 14 – SPUNKTOWN TAVERN & RESTAURANT CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT – T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman, TRIVIA NIGHT – 7:30 pm
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, Slingshots, Xcel 600 Modifieds – 5 pm (Freedom 76 Rain date)
