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JESSE LANDIS TAKES SPORTSMAN WIN, GAGE PHILLIPS & SVEN OLSON CAPTURE VINTAGE VICTORIES
BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – Following a strong and consistent 2024 season that took him to a track championship without a feature win, then enduring a terrible start to the 2025 season, Jeff Strunk of Boyertown, Pa. was able to break the victory drought, scoring the win in the 30-lap T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modified feature Saturday night at Grandview Speedway.
Strunk was able to wrestle the lead away from Bobby Gunther-Walsh of Allentown, Pa. following a lap five restart, then survive some mid-race pressure from Logan Watt of Boyertown, Pa. Duane Howard of Oley, Pa. and Mike Gular of Harleysville, Pa., to eventually pull away in the late stages of the race to secure the victory.
The win for Strunk was the 79th Saturday night NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series win of his career, and overall counting his Thunder on the Hill Series 358 Modified wins, it marked his 90th career Grandview Speedway feature win.
Jesse Landis of Gilbertsville, Pa. used the outside lane of the speedway to secure the lead from a strong running Kaitlyn Bailey of Alburtis, Pa. on lap eleven, then raced home to his third career Grandview Speedway T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman division feature race win.
The Outlaw Racing Series Vintage racers were also on hand, with Gage Phillips and Sven Olson securing wins in the Modified and Sportsman classes for the Vintage division racers in their 20-lap main event.
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.
Saturday night’s race program was a continuation of a show that was started a week prior, when rain interrupted the action after four T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman and two T.P. Trailer Modified heats had been completed. The night’s action started with T.P. Trailer Modified heats number three and four and continued from that point on to the conclusion with the evening’s main events.
The 30-lap T.P. Trailer Modified feature got off to a bit of a slow start, with three cautions and a red flag for several mishaps in the first ten laps before things settled down into some serious racing action, with Chris Gambler of Trexlertown, Pa. taking the early lead.
Gambler lead through lap five when he broke and stopped for a caution, while Bobby Gunther-Walsh was in a heated battle with an eighth place starting Jeff Strunk for the number two position, followed by Ryan Beltz of Barto, Pa., Mike Laise of Pottstown, Pa., Justin Grim of Orefield, Pa., Nick DeSantis of Temple, Pa., and Ryan Grim of Laurys Station, Pa., who were all battling for the next several positions.
The Gunther-Walsh and Strunk fight for second became the battle for first, with Strunk securing the lead to complete lap number six, while a 14th starting Logan Watt and 16th starting Mike Gular were quickly advancing through the field
By lap ten Strunk would be leading, with entertaining action behind him between Gunther-Walsh and Watt for second, and Laise and Gular for fourth, while 24th starting Duane Howard was also flying, and reached position six to join in the action up front.
By lap twelve Watt and Gular had advanced to second and third and began battling one another in a great race for second, while closing in on leader Strunk, with Howard now in fourth and 21st starting Jared Umbenhauer of Richland, Pa. now up to position five.
Howard would eventually pass Gular on lap 21 for third and join Watt in the battle for second while also putting some pressure on Strunk for the top spot.
With five laps to go, Strunk opened up some breathing room over the rest of the pack, leaving Watt and Howard in a great battle for second, along with Gular and Umbenhauer in a two car fight for fourth down to the finish.
Several drivers who were caught up in some of the early race mishaps were also making some late race comebacks including Craig Von Dohren of Oley, Pa., Brett Kressley of Orefield, Pa., and Louden Reimert of Oley, Pa. who all rallied back for a top ten finish.
At the checkered flag it was Jeff Strunk scoring a long awaited feature win, followed by Logan Watt, Howard, Gular, Umbenhauer, Von Dohren, Kressley, Ryan Grim, Laise for his best run of the season, and Reimert.
Qualifying heats for the 38 cars on hand were won by Logan Watt, Nick DeSantis, Bobby Gunther-Walsh, and Justin Grim with Jared Umbenhauer and Ryan Watt of Boyertown, Pa. winning the consolations.
The T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman feature started with a massive 15-car mishap on the front straightaway, with all drivers okay and six cars getting knocked out of action, and the starting line up completely changed.
Kaitlyn Bailey would take the lead when action got underway, with Zach Steffey of Sinking Spring, Pa., Jesse Landis, Parker Guldin of Temple, Pa., Ebby Ridge of Upper Black Eddy, Pa., and Gavyn Krupp of Barto, Pa. all racing for positions behind her.
Bailey would be leading when Landis caught up to her on lap eight and the race for the lead was on, with Landis trying high, then low, and finally swept to the high groove to make the pass for the lead exiting turn four to score lap eleven.
Just past half-way Steffey, Ridge, and Guldin were fighting for third, while another battle further back was raging for position under a blanket between Brad Brightbill of Sinking Spring, Pa., Decker Swinehart of Fleetwood, Pa., Chase Gular of Pennsburg, Pa., Mike Schneck Jr. of Lebanon, Pa., and Colin Cox of Perkasie, Pa. who was advancing forward from a consolation qualifying spot.
Following the two cautions early, the feature ran the final laps under all green flag conditions, with spirited action down to the finish.
At the checkered, it was Jesse Landis scoring the win for the third time in his career, followed by Kaitlyn Bailey for her career best finish, Steffey, Ebby Ridge with his best ever Grandview finish, Guldin, Krupp, Decker Swinehart, Brightbill, Schneck Jr., and Cox.
Qualifying heats (run last Saturday) for the 42 cars on hand were won by Ebby Ridge, Tom Miller Jr. of Boyertown, Pa., Parker Guldin, and Brad Brightbill while Mike Stofflet of Mertztown, Pa. and Nathan Mohr of Reading, Pa. won the consolations.
Gage Philips made a beautiful outside pass of Ron Myers on lap eleven exiting turn four to take a lead he would never surrender and went on to win the 20-lap Outlaw Racing Series Vintage feature race. Sven Olson started eleventh in the 14-car field and worked his way forward, to finish the race in fourth position, giving him the Sportsman class win in a competitive feature event.
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 the Pro 4 Racing Series Four Cylinder stock cars.
The show on Saturday, May 31 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 25-lap main event for the Pro 4 Series racers.
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 United Racing Club (URC) Sprint cars will make their only visit of the year on Saturday, June 7 joining the T.P. Trailer Modifieds and T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman on A.D. Moyer Lumber Company Night starting at 7:30 pm.
The second Thunder on the Hill Racing Series event is just around the corner on Tuesday, June 17, as Levan Machine & Truck Equipment presents the Jesse Hockett Classic USAC National Sprint Car Series Eastern Storm opener.
This program includes time trials, and qualifying events leading up to the 40-lap feature event that pays $6000 to win. The program also includes the 358 Modifieds with qualifying events and a 30-lap $3000 to win feature, that could pay an added $2000 from Alpine Building Supply if the winning driver is a first time Thunder Series winner.
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): JEFF STRUNK, Logan Watt, Duane Howard, Mike Gular, Jared Umbenhauer, Craig Von Dohren, Brett Kressley, Ryan Grim, Mike Laise, Louden Reimert, Justin Grim, Carroll Hine III, Ryan Beltz, Nick DeSantis, Bobby Trapper Jr., Bobby Gunther-Walsh, Kyle Smith, Doug Manmiller, Ron Haring Jr., Brian Hirthler, Clay Butler, Eric Biehn, Ryan Watt, Tim Buckwalter, Chris Esposito, Chris Gambler, John Willman, Ray Swinehart
DID NOT QUALIFY: Cody Manmiller, Logan Bauman, Darin Schuler, Eddie Strada, Jon Kellner, Craig Whitmoyer, Eric Kormann, Matt Yoder, Bobby Trapper Sr., Matt Stangle
T.P. TRAILERS WINNER’S BONUS ($300): Jeff Strunk
VP RACING FUELS HARD CHARGER: Duane Howard +21
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS CERTIFICATES: Jeff Strunk ($75), Logan Watt ($50), Duane Howard ($25)
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Jeff Strunk
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (25 laps): JESSE LANDIS, Kaitlyn Bailey, Zach Steffey, Ebby Ridge, Parker Guldin, Gavyn Krupp, Decker Swinehart, Brad Brightbill, Mike Schneck Jr., Colin Cox, Chase Gular, Adriana Delliponti, TJ Mayberry, Teague Miller, Brett Gilmore, Kyle Hartzell, Mike Stofflet, Lawson Szerencits, Nathan Mohr, Mark Gaugler, Ryan Graver, Tom Miller Jr., Addison Meitzler, Brett Grim, Joey Vaccaro, Mark Mohr, Dylan Swinehart
DID NOT QUALIFY: Kenny Gilmore, Stephen Laubach, BJ Joly III, Tom Miller Sr., Jason Graber, Bryce Bashore, Dakota Kohler, Colton Perry, Nate Horn, Taylor Kramer, Dennis Graber, Kenny Bock, Dylan Cappel, Brayden Shelton, Mark Behm
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT WINNER’S BONUS ($200): Jesse Landis
GRANDVIEW $100 HARD CHARGER: Colin Cox +15
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS CERTIFICATES: Jesse Landis ($75), Kaitlyn Bailey ($50), Zach Steffey ($25)
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Jesse Landis
DRIVEN RACE OIL/JOHN WILLMAN MOTORSPORTS OIL & FILTER KIT 7th PLACE: Decker Swinehart
OUTLAW RACING SERIES VINTAGE FEATURE FINISH (20 laps): GAGE PHILLIPS, Ron Myers, Scott Schaffer, SVEN OLSON, Curt Neiman, Dave Dissinger, Bill Gerhart, Lucas Mutter, Casey Davis, Jr. Mikosz, BJ Joly, Tori Hall, Gene Wrightstone, Matt Smith
UPCOMING EVENTS –
Saturday, May 31 – T.P. Trailer Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman, Pro 4 Racing Series, TRIVIA NIGHT – 7:30 pm
Friday, June 6 – Outlaw Racing Series Enduro, Outlaw Racing Series Vintage, Xcel 600 Modifieds – 7 pm
Saturday, June 7 – A.D. MOYER LUMBER COMPANY NIGHT – T.P. Trailer Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman, URC Sprints – 7:30 pm
Saturday, June 14 – T.P. Trailer Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman – 7:30 pm
Tuesday, June 17 – THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES –JESSE HOCKETT CLASSIC EASTERN STORM – USAC National Sprint Tour, 358 Modifieds* – 7:30 pm
