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ALEX BARTORILLO SURVIVES WILD ACTION TO CAPTURE SECOND NASCAR SPORTSMAN WIN
DAVE SMITH MEMORIAL VINTAGE WINS TO SVEN OLSON & LUCAS MUTTER
Photo: Snyder Web Design and Photography
BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – Craig Von Dohren of Oley, Pa. and Alex Bartorillo of Limerick, Pa. were the victorious drivers on T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment Back to the 90’s night Saturday at Grandview Speedway.
The Outlaw Racing Series held the seventh annual Dave Smith Memorial, with Sven Olson (Modified) and Lucas Mutter (Sportsman) picking up the feature victories.
The racing program featured a 1990’s trip down memory lane for everyone in attendance, with the fans treated to a 90’s era $10 admission for the full night of NASCAR stock car racing.
Von Dohren, starting fourteenth in the 30-lap T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment Modified feature, tracked down race leaders Jim Housworth of Upper Black Eddy, Pa. and Ron Haring Jr. of Alburtis, Pa., who were locked in a great side-by-side battle for the win, first passing Housworth and then working past Haring Jr. with just six laps remaining, to charge home to his second victory of the season.
Bartorillo took the lead on lap six of the 25-lap T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment Sportsman main event, then withstood several mid-race restarts, to motor home to his second victory this 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.
Eric Biehn of Barto, Pa. took the lead at the start of the T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment Modified main event, quickly locking onto a great side-by-side battle with Haring Jr. for the top spot by lap five, while Carrol Hine III of Reading, Pa., Mark Gaugler of Boyertown, Pa. and Jim Housworth were battling for positions behind them.
Housworth would quickly work his way forward from eighth starting spot, taking the lead from Biehn motoring off turn two on lap seven to become the new race leader, while tenth starting Kyle Smith of Fleetwood, Pa. was moving into contention, riding the top groove towards the front.
Just behind this great action was another tussle for positions between Justin Grim of Orefield, Pa., Duane Howard of Oley, Pa. Craig Whitmoyer of Hamburg, Pa., Craig Von Dohren, Tim Buckwalter of Douglasville, Pa., Anthony Perrego of Montgomery, N.Y., and point leader Eddie Strada of Lake Ariel, Pa.
By the half-way mark, Housworth would lock into battle with Haring Jr. for the top spot, while Smith, Von Dohren and Howard would continue to advance, now holding down the top five positions.
After taking third from Smith on lap seventeen, Von Dohren would quickly move in to join the two car battle for the lead, making for a crowd pleasing three driver battle for the win, while still charging Perrego and Strada would join Howard in a fight for the top positions.
Following a side-by-side battle for many laps, Haring Jr. would take the lead off of turn four to score lap twenty, with Von Dohren grabbing second from Housworth on lap twenty-two, and after a brief hard fought battle with Haring Jr., would pass him exiting turn four to score lap twenty-four, to become the new leader.
The final laps would see Von Dohren slowly pull away in the lead, while Housworth and Haring would continue their fight for second, while Smith, Perrego and Strada would fight for the top five positions.
Von Dohren encountered lapped traffic with two laps to go, but that never slowed him down on his way to the checkered flag, taking his second win of this season, and the 128th of his career in Saturday night NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts competition, and overall (counting Thunder on the Hill wins), the 141st of his Grandview Speedway career.
Following Von Dohren to the checkered were Housworth for a career best finish, Smith who likewise scored a career best run, Haring Jr., Perrego and Strada who were still charging to the end, Howard, Hine III, Buckwalter and Louden Reimert of Oley, Pa.
Qualifying heats for the 42 cars on hand were won by Ron Haring Jr., Tim Buckwalter, Craig Von Dohren and Craig Whitmoyer while Ryan Graver of Lehighton, Pa. and Logan Watt of Boyertown, Pa. won the consolations.
The 25-lap T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment Sportsman feature was a wild affair, with two multi-car tangles occurring before a lap could be scored, shuffling the running order, with Paul Houseknecht of East Greenville, Pa. taking the lead early.
Bartorillo would quickly engage in a great side-by-side battle with Houseknecht for the lead, taking the top spot exiting turn two on lap six, while Steve Young of Collegeville, Pa., Gavyn Krupp of Barto, Pa., and Dakota Kohler of Kutztown, Pa. were all battling right behind the leaders.
By the half-way mark, three more cautions would reset the running order, with Bartorillo continuing to lead, with Young right behind him, while Kohler, Krupp, Brett Gilmore of Kutztown, Pa., Jordan Henn of Kutztown, Pa., Nick Van Wickle of Springfield, N.J., and Teague Miller of Barto, Pa. were all locked into a battle for top ten positions.
The final seven laps would see Bartorillo slowly pull away from the field, taking the checkered flag with a comfortable advantage.
At the finish it was Bartorillo scoring his second win in the last three weeks of action, followed by Young, Kohler, Krupp, Brett Gilmore, Henn, Miller, Van Wickle, Shannon Slaughter of Lititz, Pa., and Mark Mohr of Gilbertsville, Pa.
Qualifying heats for the 42 cars on hand were won by Steve Young, Gavyn Krupp, Paul Houseknecht and Nick Van Wickle, while Matthew Laubach of Quakertown, Pa. and Jesse Landis of Gilbertsville, Pa. won the consolations.
The Outlaw Racing Series Vintage drivers held the seventh annual Dave Smith Memorial, with Sven Olson taking the lead at the drop of the green, then survived a mid-race restart on lap seven, to go on to the Vintage Modified victory over Kevin Kuser, Scott Schaffer, Nick Clemons and Sportsman winner Lucas Mutter who fought off the challenges of Myron Haydt to score the divisional win.
The Smith family and friends joined the winners in Victory lane, to present special awards to the two winners, in a race that was run to remember one of their fellow drivers who passed away several years ago.
Grandview Speedway will be presenting another NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts program next week featuring the T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment NASCAR Modifieds and Sportsman.
The show on Saturday, August 22 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.
Saturday’s program will also feature another fan favorite Trivia night, where fans can win prizes after correctly answering questions about Grandview Speedway racing.
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.
Grandview Speedway will host two events on the weekend, as the Outlaw Racing Series Enduro & Vintage cars will be in action on Friday, August 21 joined by the Xcel 600 Modifieds starting at 7 pm.
On Friday night pit gates will open at 2 pm, and grandstand gates will open at 5 pm. Grandstand admission is $10, children ages 12 and under are admitted free, while pit admission is $35 for the Friday event.
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 – BACK TO THE 90’s NIGHT RACE SUMMARY – AUGUST 15, 2026
T.P. TRAILERS & TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 laps): CRAIG VON DOHREN, Jim Housworth, Kyle Smith, Ron Haring Jr., Anthony Perrego, Eddie Strada, Duane Howard, Carroll Hine III, Tim Buckwalter, Louden Reimert, Logan Watt, Justin Grim, Jeff Strunk, Rick Laubach, Jax Yohn, Mike Gular, Craig Whitmoyer, Dylan Swinehart, Ryan Graver, Cody Manmiller, Jack Butler, Mark Gaugler, Ryan Grim, Jared Umbenhauer, Ryan Beltz, Eric Biehn, Chris Gambler, Brett Kressley
DID NOT QUALIFY: John Willman, Kenny Bock, Mike Lisowski, Brian Hirthler, Bobby Gunther Walsh, Darrin Schuler, Bobby Trapper Jr., Eric Kormann, Ryan Watt, Adrianna Delliponti, Nathan Mohr, Bobby Trapper Sr., Matt Yoder, Jon Kellner
T.P. TRAILERS & TRUCK EQUIPMENT WINNER’S BONUS ($300): Craig Von Dohren
VP RACING FUELS HARD CHARGER: Craig Von Dohren +13
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS CERTIFICATES: Craig Von Dohren ($75), Jim Housworth ($50), Kyle Smith ($25)
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Jim Housworth
T.P. TRAILERS & TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (25 laps): ALEX BARTORILLO, Steve Young, Dakota Kohler, Gavyn Krupp, Brett Gilmore, Jordan Henn, Teague Miller, Nick Van Wickle, Shannon Slaughter, Mark Mohr, Mike Schneck Jr., Jesse Landis, Steve Hughes, Decker Swinehart, Nate Brinker, Joe Toth, Brayden Shelton, Colin Cox, Addison Meitzler, Jimmy Leiby, Chase Gular, Paul Houseknecht, Brad Brightbill, Brett Grim, Matthew Laubach, Mike Toth, Johnny Fugelo, TJ Mayberry, DNS – Kenny Gilmore
DID NOT QUALIFY: Xavier Sprague, Ebby Ridge, Kaitlyn Bailey, Colton Perry, Jason Graber, Taylor Kramer, Miles Green, Ryan Conrad, John Leiby, Gage Phillips, Kyle Hartzell, Josh Mittman, Brad Force
T.P. TRAILERS & TRUCK EQUIPMENT WINNER’S BONUS ($200): Alex Bartorillo
GRANDVIEW $100 HARD CHARGER: Decker Swinehart + 14
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS CERTIFICATES: Alex Bartorillo ($75), Steve Young ($50), Dakota Kohler ($25)
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Alex Bartorillo
DRIVEN RACE OIL/JOHN WILLMAN MOTORSPORTS OIL & FILTER KIT 7th PLACE: Teague Miller
OUTLAW RACING SERIES VINTAGE – DAVE SMITH MEMORIAL FEATURE FINISH (15 laps): SVEN OLSON, Kevin Kuser, Scott Schaffer, Nick Clemmons, LUCAS MUTTER, Myron Haydt, Casey Davis, Junior Mikosz, Tom Scheetz, BJ Joly, Matt Smith, DNS – Chris Reed
UPCOMING EVENTS –
Friday, August 21 – Outlaw Racing Series Enduro & Vintage, Xcel 600 Modifieds – 7 pm
Saturday, August 22 – T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment Modifieds & Sportsman, TRIVIA NIGHT – 7:30 pm
Saturday, August 29 – A.D. MOYER LUMBER COMPANY NIGHT – T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment Modifieds & Sportsman, Keystone Sport Compact Series – 7:30 pm
