FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE---THANK YOU
CONTACT: BOB MILLER 443 513 4456
THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES
147 CARS FILL GRANDVIEW PITS AT HOUSE OF THUNDER HALLOWEEN PARTY. . . . .
AIKIN EARNS $4,000, HOWARD $3,000 AS WHITMOYER. WEAN & GLATFELTER SHARE GRANDVIEW THUNDER 5-25'S VICTORIES SATURDAY NIGHT ON THE HILL
It was a great night of racing complimented by superb track conditions as the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series presented its' season finale with the traditional House of Thunder Halloween Party and the Grandview Thunder 5-25's at the Grandview Speedway on Saturday night. This features only program produced some great racing as Chad Glatfelter won the Legends feature as Nick Wean won a thriller with the ARDC Midgets. Craig Whitmoyer started seventeenth and won the 25 lap Sportsman feature and in the modified main event, Duane Howard wrestled the lead from Jeff Strunk to pocket $3,000 for the as Ed Aikin held off Dave Ely and a fast closing Robbie Stillwaggon to earn $4,000 for the URC win. Added attractions saw Dennis Bailey win the Vince's Towing Legend Owners Race as Bob Snyder won the Garden State Vintage Cars event. The night cap was the Monster Smash demolition derby that saw Matt Reese best a field of twelve starters. A whopping purse of over $36,000 was paid out to the one-hundred and forty-seven drivers who competed in this annual blockbuster event.
The 25 lap Palmer Candy Legends Feature opened the show with Chad Glatfelter of Spring Grove, PA earning the winner. Glatfelter led most of the race holding off some serious challenges from Scott Houdeshell. Glatfelter took the win over Houdeshell, Harlon Leppo and fifteenth place started Tim Bauer.
The 25 lap ARDC Midget feature was next and Alex Bright set the early pace. On lap five, while racing in the top five, Steve Buckwalter tangled with another car and took a violent flip in turn three. Buckwalter walked away uninjured. On the restart, Bright remained the leader with Brett Arndt in second and Nick Wean third. By lap ten, Wean was the leader but this race was far from over. Throughout the pack, there were cars racing three abreast with Ryan Smith now on the move. At lap fifteen, Wean remained the leader with Smith second and Bright third. Slower traffic was going to make this finish exciting as race leader Nick Wean threaded his way through traffic. In the closing laps, Smith and Arndt were closing in the Wean. With the checker flag waiving, Nick Wean took the win over Ryan Smith, Brett Arndt, Andrews Hannula and Alex Bright.
One of the "fun" events of the night was next with the Vince's Towing Legends Owners race. Eight former driver/owners answered the call and the race we certainly entertaining. The "Bailey Bunch" made up of the excitement Dennis Bailey take the win over Randy Bailey.
The sportsman were next to answer the call in the 13 lap BFP Specialty feature event. Blaine Sadler led the first lap with Paul Kline taking the lead on lap two. Kline set a blistering pace but all eyes were on Craig Whitmoyer who was charging to the front from his seventeenth starting position. Mike Loney, Jared Umbenhauer and Ryan Beltz were in the hunt and racing in the top five. On lap fifteen, we had a new leader with Craig Whitmoyer now at the front of the pack. In the final laps, slower traffic could change the outcome as Kline and Loney were again closing in on the leader. Whitmoyer was running the high groove, touching the outside boiler-plate with each lap, Whitmoyer held the lead all the way to the checker flag taking the win over Paul Kline, Jared Umbenhauer and Ryan Beltz.
In the eighteen car Garden State Vintage Car Race, Bob Snyder was the winner of the twelve lap feature event.
The most anticipated Trick or Treat Revenge Redraw was up next for the modifieds. The modifieds competed in timed warm-ups and the top eight fastest cars were Duane Howard, Ryan Godown, Mike Gular, MeMe DeSantis, Jeff Strunk, Ray Swinehart, AJ DeSantis and Shawn Reimert. BK Auto Parts & Esposito Racing posted a $200 bonus to one of the eight fast time qualifiers. The eight drivers drew from a witches hat looking for the one treat. After several drivers pulled a trick, it was Ray Swinehart who drew the treat and collected the $200 bonus. In the revenge redraw, each driver drew a numbered pumpkin then had to give that number to another driver of their choice. It became real interesting when Shawn Reimert drew the number eight. After some hesitation and much heckling from the crowd, Reimert said, "I know he's my neighbor, but I have to give the eight to Duane Howard". Interesting enough, when Howard took his turn to draw and pulled the number seven, he exchanged the favor and offered that number to Reimert. Ray Swinehart was treated with the pole and AJ DeSantis the outside front row. Jeff Strunk started third, MeMe DeSantis fourth, Mike Gular fifth, Ryan Godown sixth as Shawn Reimert and Duane Howard rounded out the top eight.
With fireworks bursting in the sky, the green flag fell to start the 25 lap BPG Modified feature. AJ DeSantis jumped into the early lead with Jeff Strunk in the hunt running second. DeSantis did a masterful job at the front of the pack as Strunk was challenging for the lead. DeSantis and Strunk were in a side-by-side battle and on lap seven, Duane Howard moved into third. Howard was reeling in the leaders who were still in a battle of their own for the lead.
On lap nine, Strunk powered into the lead as DeSantis drifted high in turn three. The first and only caution of the race was displayed on lap ten for Shawn Reimert who stopped in turn three. The restate would be interesting with Strunk, AJ DeSantis and Howard in the top three. At the drop of the green, Strunk held the lead although DeSantis did fight back. DeSantis now had to defend his second place spot but on lap eleven, Howard made the move to take over second. The chase was on, Howard was running down Jeff Strunk. Meanwhile, Ryan Godown was heading to the front as well. By lap fifteen, the top five was Strunk, Howard, AJ DeSantis, Ryan Godown and Swinehart.
And this one is not over yet. With five laps remaining, Howard caught Strunk and the race was again underway with plenty of slower traffic just ahead to make it interesting. The two car battle brought the fans to their feet, and on the white flag lap, Howard and Strunk tangled at the near end of the backstretch. Howard took the lead with Strunk in second and looking for a move to regain the top spot. For the final lap, Howard held the top spot with Jeff Strunk second, Ryan Godown third, AJ DeSantis fourth and Mike Gular fifth.
The PPB 25 lap URC sprint feature was next on the program, making this event their final point race of the Rislone Sprint Series. The Grandview show also marked the final point race of the Valley Forge Inc Pennsylvania Sprint Series. At the drop of the green flag, Ed Aikin took the lead with Dave Ely in second and challenging. Aikin could not get away from Ely and on lap five, Ely became the new leader. Aikin refused to give up and challenged for the lead once again. On lap ten, Aikin took back the lead but Ely was not going to close the books on this race.
At the halfway mark, Aikin, Ely and Robbie Stillwaggon were the three with Rory Janney and Josh Weller in the top five. Ely reeled in Aikin once again and on lap twenty-two, it was two car race. The first and only caution of the race was displayed on lap twenty-three when Jeff Fifthian spun in two one. On the restart and with just two laps remaining, Ely gave it all he had going into turn one and as the two charged out of turn two, Ed Aikin nosed ahead. Suddenly, Robbie Stillwaggon moved into the picture and he was challenging Ely for second.
With the checker flag waiving, Aikin took the URC win sponsored by Pioneer Pole Building. A near dead heat finish saw Robbie Stillwaggon earn second with Dave Ely third, Rory Janney fourth and JJ Grasso fifth. Curt Michael started tenth and finished ninth in the feature event to earn his eighth URC Championship crown driving the Bill Gallagher owned sprint car. Aikin earned in total $4,000 for the win, collecting a $1,000 bonus from Paul Messick of Viper-Venon racing fuel. JJ Grasso was the Fred's Trailer Parts Hard Charger of the race.
In the twelve car Monster Smash Demolition Derby, Matt Reese was the winner.
25 LAP PALMER CANDY LEGENDS FEATURE- - - #27 Chad Glatfelter, #5 Scott Houdeshell, #15H Harlon Leppo, #890 Tim Bauer, #21 Cody Haines, #94T Tim Henry, #07 Bob Stough, #44 Scott Gobrecht, #12J Clint Penkauskas, #4 Shane Glatfelter, #75R Chris Spidle, #53 Bill Diehl, #77x Randy Fetterolf, #90 Scott Spidle, #45 Andy Whaling, #14w Ed Wentz, #46 Pat McDermott, #02 Jim Baker, #21 Greg Burd, #77 Scott Wilkerson.
25 LAP ARDC MIDGET FEATURE - - - -#78 Nick Wean, #33 Ryan Smith, #46 Brett Arndt, #89 Andrew Hannula, #77 Alex Bright, #41 Mike Miller, #12 Drew Heistand, #57 Jason Rice, #19 Steven Drevicki, #11 Eric Heydenrich, #2 Shawn Jackson, #3 Joe Butera, #16 Dave Shirk, #01 Steven Bull, #52 Tim Buckwalter, #83 Bruce Buckwalter Jr.,#0 Steven Buckwalter, #53 Randy Reid, #20 Carey Becker, #6 Dusty Heistand, #51 PJ Gargiulo, #07 Jimmy Glenn, #17 Ryan Watt.
10 LAP VINCE'S TOWING LEGENDS OWNERS RACE- - -#81 Dennis Bailey, #17 Randy Bailey, #41B Vince Gagliardo, #14 Rob Breitenstein, #611 Jim Reid, #327 Don Schaeffer, #39 Skip Smith, #9 Terry Hafer.
25 LAP BFP SPECIALTY SPORTSMAN FEATURE- - - -#99 Craig Whitmoyer, #14X Paul Kline, #17d Mike Loney, #19u Jared Umbenhauer, #221 Ryan Beltz, #611 Brad Grim, #14d Nick DeSantis, #71 Mike Mamana, #72 Ray Woodall Jr., #15 Mike Lisowski, #14f Joe Funk, #8 Doug Hendricks, #75 Blaine Sadler, #31 Harry Landis, #00 John Kovatch, #64 Wayne Witmer, #83 Jeremy Hertzog, #17x Kevin Beach, #51 Erik Renninger.
25 LAP PBG MODIFIED FEATURE- - - - -#4 Duane Howard, #357 Jeff Strunk, #R1 Ryan Godown, #88a AJ DeSantis, #53 Mike Gular, #88d MeMe DeSantis, #21k Craig Whitmoyer, #33 Ray Swinehart, #1c Craig VonDohren,
#3A Kevin Albert Jr., #81 Terry Meitzler, #117 Kevin Hirthler, #976 Don Norris Jr., #17 Ryan Grim, #41 Glenn Strunk, #37c Nate Christman, #19 Jordan Umbenhauer, #41v Jon Kellner, #31 Chris Esposito, #74w John Willman, #14 Kenny Gilmore, #2 Addison Meitzler, #327 Brad Missimer, #18 Michael Weinert, #917 Jarrod Miller, #58s Shawn Reimert. DNS #39 Todd Smith.
25 LAP PPB URC FEATURE- - - - -#7 Ed Aiken, #89 Robbie Stillwaggon, #55 Dave Ely, #88 Rory Janney, #37 JJ Grasso, #99 Josh Weller, #73 Kramer Williamson, #39 Tim Hogue, #5g Curt Michael, #15 Mark Bitner,
#88b Andy Best, #2 Art Leidl, #56 Randy West, #12 Jimmy Stitzel, #08 Jason Clauss, #47 JR Barry, #2L Dave Martin, #54 Jeff Fifthian, #22 Troy Betz, #17j Jonathan Swanson. Hard Charger: JJ Grasso 7
MONSTER SMASH DEMO DERBY- - - - - -Matt Reese (12 cars competed)
This completes the 22nd year of the award winning Thunder on the Hill Racing Series at the Grandview Speedway. The Grandview Thunder 5-25's was the 102nd Thunder on the Hill event since 1990.
END
No comments:
Post a Comment