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DECKER SWINEHART STAYS CLEAR OF EARLY RACE MAYHEM, FIGHTS OFF LATE CHARGE FROM BRETT GRIM TO SCORE SPORTSMAN VICTORY
Kirsten Snyder Photo
BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – In another feature that went down to the finish, Tim Buckwalter of Douglassville, Pa. fought off a serious late race charge from Jeff Strunk of Bechtelsville, Pa. to score the win in the 30-lap T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment Modified feature race Saturday night at Grandview Speedway.
Buckwalter started twelfth on the grid, quickly worked into the top five by lap eight, caught leader Dylan Swinehart of Fleetwood, Pa. and passed him on lap sixteen, encountered lapped traffic while leading on lap twenty-three, then held off the challenges of Strunk in the final frantic laps of the main event to score his first NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts Modified win of the season.
Decker Swinehart of Fleetwood, Pa. stayed clear of two wild multi-car mishaps, both on the first lap of the 25-lap T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment Sportsman feature, then withstood pressure from Brett Grim of Coplay, Pa. during the middle and late stages of the feature, to race home with his first win this season, and first since the 2023 racing season.
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 Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts banner.
The T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment Modified feature saw Mike Laise of Pottstown, Pa. grab the lead at the start of the main event with Dylan Swinehart and Craig Whitmoyer of Hamburg, Pa. quickly following into the top positions.
Three cautions occurred in the early going on laps two, eight and nine, shuffling the running order, with Swinehart making a pass of Laise to grab the top spot exiting turn four to score lap four.
While all this was happening, Buckwalter was steadily moving through the field from his twelfth starting spot, reaching fifth by lap eight, then advancing a position a lap until hitting second on lap eleven.
At this point Swinehart had built a small lead which Buckwalter would quickly erase, catching the leader by lap fourteen, and making a classic slider pass entering turn three on lap fifteen to take over the top position.
Jeff Strunk was also on the move from his fifteenth starting spot, reaching the top five by lap ten, third by lap thirteen, and taking second on lap twenty following a battle with Swinehart for the position.
Some great action was going on all throughout the field during the long stretch of green flag racing that would run to the end of the main event, with Louden Reimert of Oley, Pa., Jared Umbenhauer of Richland, Pa., Logan Watt of Boyertown, Pa., Mike Gular of Harleysville, Pa. and Mike Laise all fighting for top ten positions in a classic and entertaining race.
Leader Buckwalter would reach lapped traffic by lap twenty-three allowing Strunk the chance to close the gap, with Swinehart holding down third, while Umbenhauer, Logan Watt, Reimert and Gular were still in a massive struggle for the next several spots.
The final seven laps were very entertaining, with Buckwalter leading and Strunk chasing, getting closer and closer, and really putting on the pressure in the final three laps, as both drivers worked through the lapped traffic while battling for the lead.
Strunk would be right on Buckwalter at times and then drop back a bit at times as the two topflight drivers put on a great dual for the lead.
Strunk would make a last-ditch effort on the final lap, but Buckwalter used lap traffic to his advantage, and Buckwalter would beat Strunk to the finish line off of turn four and win by a couple of car lengths in another close and exciting Grandview finish this season.
At the checkered flag Buckwalter would score his fifth career Grandview Speedway NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts Modified win, followed by Jeff Strunk, Jared Umbenhauer, Logan Watt, Dylan Swinehart for his best run of the season, Louden Reimert, Mike Gular, Anthony Perrego of Montgomery, N.Y. who advanced from twenty-first spot, Rick Laubach of Quakertown, Pa. up from twenty-second spot, Mike Laise who also scored his best run of the year, and Eddie Strrada of Lake Ariel, Pa. who was the VP Fuels Hard Charger moving up from twenty-eighth starting position.
Qualifying heats for the 44 cars on hand were won by Louden Reimert, Craig Whitmoyer, Mike Laise and Ryan Beltz of Barto, Pa. while Anthony Perrego and Rick Laubach won the consolations.
The 25-lap T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment Sportsman feature got off to a very rocky start with two multi-car mishaps on lap one greatly changing the running order, including a tangle between early leaders Steve Young of Collegeville, Pa. and Tyler James of Birdsboro, Pa., which Decker Swinehart would avoid to become the race leader early on in the main event.
With Swinehart leading, a good battle for position developed behind him between Brett Grim of Coplay, Pa. and Steve Hughes of Coopersburg, Pa. for second, while another battle for position would engage behind them between Brad Brightbill of Sinking Spring, Pa., Kaitlyn Bailey of Alburtis, Pa., Joey Vaccaro of Reading, Pa., Mike Toth of Hellertown, Pa., and Kenny Gilmore of Fleetwood, Pa.
By lap nine Brightbill would engage in a battle with Hughes for third, while Grim caught Swinehart by lap eleven and began applying pressure to the leader.
By lap twelve, fifteenth starting Mike Butler of Bedminster, N.J. would join the action up front challenging Hughes and Vaccaro for the top five positions.
A caution on lap fifteen would reset the field one final time in a run to the finish, with Swinehart pulling out to the lead, leaving Grim to fight for second with Brightbill.
With five laps to go, there would be a four car race up front for positions, but Swinehart held off any challenges, while Brightbill ran the outside line in the final stages trying to get around Grim to go after leader Swinehart who was just car lengths ahead of the others in the top spot.
At the checkered flag it was Decker Swinehart scoring his fifth career Grandview Speedway NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts feature win, and first since June of 2023, with Brett Grim getting his best run of the year in second, followed by Brad Brightbill, Mike Butler for his best Grandview run, Joey Vaccaro, Mike Toth, Jesse Landis of Gilbertsville, Pa. up from twenty-second spot, Steve Hughes, Jimmy Leiby of Gilbertsville, Pa. up from twenty-sixth spot as the Hard Charger, and Joe Toth of Upper Makefield, Pa.
Qualifying heats for the 45 cars on hand were won by Decker Swinehart, Colin Cox of Perkasie, Pa., Kenny Gilmnore, Tyler James and Teague Miller of Barto, Pa. while Johnny Fugelo of Norristown, Pa and Jesse Landis won the consolations.
Grandview Speedway returns to action with the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series featuring the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Series Eastern Storm Jesse Hockett Classic on Tuesday, June 16, as the non-wing Sprints of USAC will be joined by Grandview’s own NASCAR Modifieds in a two-division program starting at 7:30 pm.
This racing program will include time trials (7 pm) and qualifying events for the USAC Sprints 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.
Advance tickets for June 16 may be ordered by calling 443 513 4456, be sure to provide your first and last name and the number of tickets you need. On race night, those who ordered advance tickets can go to the WILL CALL window at 4:30 PM to pay for and pick-up their tickets. Advance ticket holders may enter the grandstands at 4:30 PM, one half-hour prior to general admission tickets going on sale and the main gate opening at 5 PM.
Adult grandstand tickets are $35, children 6 to 11 are $10 and children 5 and under will be admitted for free. Pit admission is $45 and a license is not required.
Grandview Speedway will be presenting another NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts program next weekend featuring the T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment NASCAR Modifieds and Sportsman.
The show on Saturday, June 20 will be presented by MacMillan Oil Company of Allentown and will include qualifying events for both classes leading into a 30-lap T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment Modified feature and a 25-lap feature for the T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment Sportsman, as well as the Lown Down Entertainment one on one Match Races for the Sportsman division.
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.
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. TRAILERS & TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 laps): TIM BUCKWALTER, Jeff Strunk, Jared Umbenhauer, Logan Watt, Dylan Swinehart, Louden Reimert, Mike Gular, Anthony Perrego, Rick Laubach, Mike Laise, Eddie Strada, Ryan Grim, Craig Whitmoyer, John Willman, Matt Yoder, Ryan Watt, Cody Manmiller, Jax Yohn, Jack Butler, Bobby Butler, Jim Housworth, Duane Howard, Ryan Beltz, Brian Hirthler, Mike Lisowski, Brett Kressley, Nathan Mohr, Craig Von Dohren
DID NOT QUALIFY: Chris Gambler, Eric Biehn, Bobby Gunther Walsh, Kenny Bock, Darrin Schuler, Jon Kellner, Bobby Trapper Sr., Ron Haring Jr., Ryan Graver, Kyle Smith, Justin Grim, Carroll Hine III, Bobby Trapper Jr., Mark Gaugler, Eric Kormann, Chris Esposito
T.P. TRAILERS & TRUCK EQUIPMENT WINNER’S BONUS ($300): Tim Buckwalter
VP RACING FUELS HARD CHARGER: Eddie Strada +17
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS CERTIFICATES: Tim Buckwalter ($75), Jeff Strunk ($50), Jared Umbenhauer ($25)
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Dylan Swinehart
T.P. TRAILERS & TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (25 laps): DECKER SWINEHART, Brett Grim, Brad Brightbill, Mike Butler, Joey Vaccaro, Mike Toth, Jesse Landis, Steve Hughes, Jimmy Leiby, Joe Toth, Addison Meitzler, Adrianna Delliponti, Gavyn Krupp, Colin Cox, Nick Van Wickle, Kyle Hartzell, Chase Gular, Kaitlyn Bailey, Tyler James, Teague Miller, Kenny Gilmore, Dakota Kohler, Brayden Shelton, Johnny Fugelo, Steve Young, Matthew Laubach
DID NOT QUALIFY: Jordan Henn, Ebby Ridge, Alex Bartorillo, Shannon Slaughter, Bryan Rhoads, Taylor Kramer, Josh Mittman, Brandon Banos, Mark Behm, Ryan Simmons, Stephen Laubach, Brett Gilmore, Mark Mohr, Lawson Szerencits, Dylan Cappel, Dennis Graber, Jason Graber, Stephen Smith III, John McGeoy
T.P. TRAILERS & TRUCK EQUIPMENT WINNER’S BONUS ($200): Decker Swinehart
GRANDVIEW $100 HARD CHARGER: Jimmy Leiby +17
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS CERTIFICATES: Decker Swinehart ($75), Brett Grim ($50), Brad Brightbill ($25)
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Decker Swinehart
DRIVEN RACE OIL/JOHN WILLMAN MOTORSPORTS OIL & FILTER KIT 7th PLACE: Jesse Landis
UPCOMING EVENTS –
Tuesday, June 16 – THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES –JESSE HOCKETT CLASSIC EASTERN STORM – USAC National Sprint Tour, 358 Modifieds* – 7:30 pm
Saturday, June 20 – MACMILLAN OIL COMPANY OF ALLENTOWN NIGHT – T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment Modifieds & Sportsman, LDE Sportsman Match Races, TRIVIA NIGHT – 7:30 pm.
Saturday, June 27 – A.D. MOYER LUMBER COMPANY NIGHT – T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment Modifieds & Sportsman, Outlaw Racing Series Vintage – 7:30 pm
Tuesday, June 30 – THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES – PA POSSE 410 SPRINT CAR SERIES – PA 410 Sprint Car Speed Week – $10,000 to win 410 Sprints, 358 Modifieds* – 7:30 pm
