MANMILLER, STRUNK, R.STOUDT AND UMBENHAUER WIN GRANDVIEW NASCAR RACES‏

NEWS FROM BRUCE ROGERS’ GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY

Presenting Saturday night NASCAR stock car racing plus a variety of special events

Track owner: Bruce Rogers @ 610.754.7688

Public relations and marketing: Ernie Saxton @ 215.752.7797

Email: Esaxton144@aol.com – Cell phone: 267.934.7286

Results story created by Vicki Gehris.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PLEASE WITH OUR THANKS

COMING EVENTS:

Saturday, April 19, 7 p.m. NASCAR 358 Modifieds, Late Models and Sportsman stock car racing. Adult admission is $15. Youngsters 12 and under are free.

Saturday, April 26, 7 p.m. NASCAR 358 Modifieds, Late Models and Sportsman stock car racing.

Sunday, April 27, 1 p.m. Enduro racing – Adult admission is $10

Saturday, May 3, 7:30 p.m. (this will be the starting time for Saturday events until further notice). NASCAR 358 Modifieds, Late Models and Sportsman.

Sunday, May 4, 7:30 p.m. OPEN WHEEL SPECTACULAR featuring TSRS Sprints and American Racing Drivers Club non-winged midgets. Each division tops off their show with 25-lap features. Adult admission is $15. Youngsters 6 to 11 pay $3 and kids under 6 are admitted free.

MANMILLER, STRUNK, STOUDT AND UMBENHAUER SCORE FEATURE WINS IN NASCAR STOCK CAR RACING AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY SATURDAY NIGHT

BECHTELSVILLE, PA. April 13, 2014. . . Shoemakersville’s Doug Manmiller and Jeff Strunk, Pottstown, two of the best talents in area 358 Modified racing,  shared the victories in the Twin 20-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modified features on Saturday night at Grandview Speedway claiming a $2250 payday which included the $250 bonus from T.P. Trailers, Limerick.

Randy Stoudt, Pottstown, tied Jon Kellner’s win record at 58 when he won the 25-lap NASCAR Late Model feature for new team owners Taylor White and Wendy Brown in his familiar No. 10. He picked up an additional $100 from T.P. Trailers. It was the first win for the veteran racer in a while having not been active at the Bechtelsville oval in 2013.

Defending NASCAR Sportsman point champion Jared Umbenhauer, Richalnd, took advantage of Craig Whitmoyer’s bad luck when Whitmoyer dropped out while leading the 25-lap NASCAR Sportsman feature. Umbenhauer went on to win the event by a comfortable margin over runner up Ryan Beltz, in which he earned the T.P. Trailers $100 bonus along with the winner’s purse.

Regular Saturday night racing action returns to Grandview Speedway on Saturday, April 19th at 7 p.m. with the NASCAR 358 Modifieds in action along with the Sportsman and Late Model stocks. At least a dozen racing events are included.

Eric Biehn took the early lead in the first 20-lap modified feature while Kyle Follweiler, Manmiller, Ray Swinehart and Jordan Umbenhauer diced for positions. Biehn’s comfortable lead was erased on the seventh lap caution brought out when Kyle Borror and Ron Seltmann Jr. tangled on the backstretch. Biehn held his own on the restart, but Manmiller was now in the runner-up seat.

Manmiller, a winner of one of the twin events last year, got a good run coming off the fourth turn and ducked to the inside of Biehn to put the Josh Biever-owned/GMI No. 46 at the head of the pack.

Umbenhauer, working on the outside, charged into second to pressure Manmiller with Biehn, Craig Von Dohren and Jeff Strunk in tow.

Within no time Manmiller, who later praised the crew in victory lane for giving him a good car and was happy he had a good fourth place starting spot, built up a commanding lead.

Manmiller never looked back until he saw the drop of the checkered to chalk up his 19th career win at the 1/3-mile oval. Defending point champion Von Dohren came home second followed by Umbenhauer, Strunk and Biehn. Rounding out the top ten were Mike Gular, Duane Howard, Follweiler, Ray Swinehart and John Willman.

In the second 20-lap event Manmiller’s bid at two-in-a-row vanished quickly when he hit the third turn wall with heavy impact before any laps could be completed. He did manage to continue.

Tommy Scheetz III was the early pacesetter when action resumed being challenged by Swinehart, Kyle Follweiler, John Willman and Biehn.

Behind Scheetz III and Swinehart, Willman, Follweiler and Biehn were three-wide for the remaining spots.

Meme DeSantis, Von Dohren and Justin Grim tangled along the homestretch to bring out the yellow at the eight-lap marker. A first turn incident that involved Mike Kellner and Manmiller and ended their nights voided the restart. On the next attempt Swinehart, who hasn’t visited victory lane at the track since August 4, 2012, charged into the lead. Second through fifth now was comprised of Scheetz III, Willman, Don Norris Jr. and Strunk.

Tim Buckwalter was in the fourth turn boilerplate for the next caution on lap 10. The restart was brought back to the line when Norris Jr. and Willman got together with Norris Jr. riding the second turn inside rail. When action went green again it was still Swinehart in the lead, but now Strunk took over second and was in the hunt.

Strunk, a nine time track champion, running the high line in the Vinny Salerno No. 4*, began closing on Swinehart who had distanced himself.

With five laps remaining Strunk charged ahead and went on to victory which he was happy to get so early in the season. Crossing the line in second was Swinehart trailed by Scheetz III, Follweiler and Frank Cozze. Sixth through tenth were Howard, Mike Gular, Biehn, Kyle Weiss and Terry Meitzler. Swinehart, Manmiller, Von Dohren and Strunk were the heat winners. Consi winners were Buckwalter and Scheetz III.

Late Model action saw rookie Cory Merkel spin on the initial start. It was Stoudt charging from second to first on the next attempt. While Stoudt showed the way, the battle behind him brewed between Chuck Schutz, Kory Fleming, Lou Egrie and Dirk Rimrott.

By the fifth lap trying to chase down Stoudt in traffic were Schutz, Fleming, Egrie and Dan Grim and the order pretty well remained the same as the laps wound down.

Everyone got a last shot at Stoudt wheeling the A to Z Furniture, J & H Automotive mount, when Merkel spun again between turns three and four. Stoudt quickly motored away on the restart.

Stoudt never relinquished first and pulled into the winner’s circle for his first win of the year followed by Schutz, Fleming, Green and Egrie. Defending point champion Jason Miller finished sixth trailed by Rick Todorow, Rimrott, Steve Butler and John Giesler.

Heats were won by Fleming and Egrie.

Jared Umbenhauer was in the right position in the Sportsman feature when leader Whitmoyer relinquished the top spot when he was forced to the infield with mechanical problems. Umbenhauer, behind the wheel of the Barry Bashore-owned, Eastern Rigging No. 5, thanked the crew for a well-handling car that worked on the top and bottom.

Whitmoyer quickly took the lead from polesitter Ryan Beltz on the initial green and began to open some daylight.

Behind Whitmoyer, a three car battle for second soon developed between Beltz, Joe Funk II and Umbenhauer.

Whitmoyer’s bad luck continued when he surrendered the lead on the 16th lap. It didn’t take Umbenhauer long to take advantage of the situation as he assumed the lead.

Umbenhauer continued his pace and went on to claim his seventh career  win at Grandview by a healthy margin followed by Beltz, Funk II, Brian Hirthler and Jordan Henn. Sixth through tenth were Jim Housworth, Dean Bachman, Kaitie McCardle, Erik Renninger and Brandon Whitmoyer.

Beltz, Whitmoyer and Funk II won the heats.

The Dan’s Deli ½- way hoagie leaders were Manmiller and Swinehart, modified; Stoudt, late model and Whitmoyer, sportsman. The Cargo Trailers $50 gift certificates went to Willman, modified; John Giesler, late model and Brandon Whitmoyer, sportsman.

Grandview Speedway, a one-third-mile, banked clay track is located on Passmore Road, just off Route 100, in Bechtelsville, PA , 10 miles north of Pottstown. For information telephone 610.754.688 or check in at www.grandviewspeedway.com.

RESULTS: 1st 20-Lap Modified Feature – 1. Doug Manmiller, 2. Craig Von Dohren, 3. Jordan Umbenhauer, 4. Jeff Strunk, 5. Eric Biehn, 6. Mike Gular, 7. Duane Howard, 8. Kyle Follweiler, 9. Ray Swinehart, 10. John Willman, 11. Jon Kellner, 12. Frank Cozze, 13. Nate Christman, 14. Meme DeSantis, 15. Don Norris Jr., 16. Tommy Scheetz III, 17. Tim Buckwalter, 18. Terry Meitzler, 19. Kyle Weiss, 20. Chris Esposito, 21. Kevin Hirthler, 22. Justin Grim, 23. Kyle Borror, 24. Todd Smith, 25. Mike Kellner (provisional), 26. Ryan Kunkle, 27. Mike Laise, 28. Ron Seltmann Jr., 29. Ryan Grim.

 2nd 20-Lap Modified Feature – 1. Jeff Strunk, 2. Ray Swinehart, 3. Tommy Scheetz III, 4. Kyle Follweiler, 5. Frank Cozze, 6. Duane Howard, 7. Mike Gular, 8. Eric Biehn, 9. Kyle Weiss, 10. Terry Meitzler, 11. Craig Von Dohren, 12. Nate Christman, 13. Justin Grim, 14. Meme DeSantis, 15. Kevin Hirthler, 16. Todd Smith, 17. Ryan Kunkle, 18. Don Norris Jr., 19. Jordan Umbenhauer, 20. Jon Kellner, 21. John Willman, 22. Kyle Borror, 23. Mike Laise, 24. Tim Buckwalter, 25. Doug Manmiller, 26. Mike Kellner, 27. Chris Esposito, 28. Ryan Grim, 29. Ron Seltmann Jr. DNQ: Brad Arnold, Andy Ressler, Bobby Gunther-Walsh, Chris Gambler, Brian Houseknecht.

 

25-Lap Late Model Feature – 1. Randy Stoudt, 2. Chuck Schutz, 3. Kory Fleming, 4. Dan Green, 5. Lou Egrie, 6. Jason Miller, 7. Rick Todorow, 8. Dirk Rimrott, 9. Steve Butler, 10. John Giesler, 11. Dave Ogin, 12. Joe Fanelli, 13. Bryon Sipe, 14. Cory Merkel, 15. Bill Henning, 16. George Irwin, 17. Buddy Mertz, 18. Sam Schlosberg, 19. Lou Egrie Jr. DNS: Steve Wilson and Wayne Pfeil.

 

25-Lap Sportsman Feature: 1. Jared Umbenhauer, 2. Ryan Beltz, 3. Joe Funk II, 4. Brian Hirthler, 5. Jordan Henn, 6. Jim Housworth, 7. Dean Bachman, 8. Kaitie McCardle, 9. Erik Renninger, 10. Brandon Whitmoyer, 11. Ron Krex, 12. Brett Kressley, 13. Mike Stringer, 14. Ryan Lilick, 15. Ken Eckert Jr., 16. Dave Bartram, 17. Tom Miller, 18. Jamie Undercoffler, 19. Craig Whitmoyer, 20. Brad Brightbill, 21. Jason Neidlinger, 22. Kenny Gilmore, 23. Lex Shive, 24. Guy Germano, 25. Steve Warner.

 

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