HIRTHLER GETS FIRST WIN IN TWO SEASONS, STOUDT, UMBENHAUER AND GAGLIARDO, JR ARE FEATURE WINNERS ON WNPV-1440AM RADIO NIGHT AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY
ERNIE SAXTON COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Public Relations, Sponsorship Consultant
Journalist - Event Announcer - Public Speaker
215.752.7797 & 267.934.7286
Esaxton144@aol.com
BECHTELSVILLE, PA August 3, 2014 . . . Veteran Modified talent Kevin Hirthler was able to grab his first win of the season and first in two seasons in the WNPV-1440AM Radio 30-lap NASCAR Modified feature on Saturday night at Grandview Speedway. Randy Stoudt, the current BRC Late Model point leader, added win number four to his impressive record for the season while Vince Gagliardo Jr. won the Blast from the Past Vintage Racers feature event. And Jared Umbenhauer drove to his sixth straight Sportsman feature win and 11th of the season.
One of the biggest and most popular events of the stock car racing season for area Modified racers is set for Saturday, August 9th when the annual Forrest Rogers Memorial presented by Peerless Pole Buildings takes place. The rich 50-lap feature race for NASCAR 358 Modifieds, run in memory of the track founder, pays at least $10,000 to the winner. In addition to the Modifieds, the BRC Late Models and Sportsman stock cars will be seen in action. Spectator gates open at 5:30 p.m. while racing gets the green flag at 7:30 p.m.
Then on Sunday, 1 p.m. the Outlaw Enduro racers will present another of their action packed events along with the excitement of the Blast from the Past Vintage Racers.
It appeared veteran campaigner Bobby Gunther Walsh, a WAEB-790 AM radio personality, who has led so many 30 -lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modified features the past few Saturday nights at Grandview Speedway, was possibly on his way to his first career win at the 1/3-mile oval, but fell seven laps short when the yellow came out allowing the field to close up on him for the restart.
Kevin Hirthler, who last visited victory lane August 11, 2012 when he won the Forrest Rogers Memorial, shot to the outside and overtook Gunther Walsh for the lead with Duane Howard following through for second. Hirthler proceeded to keep Howard behind him to score his first win of the season on WNPV-1410 AM radio night. He also received the $250 bonus from T.P. Trailers, Limerick.
It was Gunther Walsh at the head of the 28-car starting grid at the start while Ryan Kunkle, Chris Esposito, Mike Kellner and Eric Biehn diced for positions.
Gunther Walsh had a comfortable lead built up by the Dan’s Deli ½-way leader mark, which he received, but by this time Kunkle, Don Norris Jr., Hirthler and Esposito were the chasers.
At the conclusion of the 14th lap Norris Jr. and Hirthler were in a heated contest for second and neither one gave an inch which allowed Gunther Walsh some leeway with Kevin Hartnett and M. Kellner in the wings waiting for a mistake.
With Gunther Walsh at the head of the pack and the top five headed into turn one, Hirthler and Norris Jr., racing hard for second, made contact. As a result, Norris Jr. spun ending his best run in a long time and Hirthler continued as the yellow came out on the 23rd lap.
When action went green again, Hirthler was in control and Howard was in the hunt in second. Behind the pair by this time were Gunther Walsh, Doug Manmiller and Craig VonDohren.
Hirthler, running the outside lane “since that was the fastest spot, saw Howard stick his nose under him several times and he knew Howard was just waiting for him to slip-up.”
Hirthler never faltered and pulled the Green Lane/Wm. Penn family-owned No. 117 sponsored by Pioneer Pole Building into victory lane ending his winless drought. Following him across were Howard, VonDohren, Manmiller and Kevin Hartnett, for his best run since returning a few weeks ago. Sixth through tenth were Jeff Strunk, the current point leader; Kunkle, who had his best run; Gunther Walsh , who earned one of his best career finishes; Chris Esposito, recipient of the Cargo Trailer product certificate and Ryan Grim. Hirthler picked up $2750 for his winning efforts including $250 from T.P. Trailers of Limerick. He will also earn a $150 VP Racing Fuels product award provided he was using the VP gasoline and had the decals and patches in the proper spots.
Norris Jr., Frank Cozze and Tim Buckwalter won the qualifying heats. The consi went to Chris Gambler.
These same drivers, plus a host of others, used this race as a tune-up for the 44th annual Forrest Rogers Memorial sponsored by Pioneer Pole Builders with at least $10,000 to win which is set for August 9th and has an August 16th rain date.
Randy Stoudt, who returned to Late Model action this season in the Taylor White and Wanda Brown-owned No. 10, overtook Sean Merkel on the 20th lap restart to win his fourth 25-lap NASCAR BRC Late Model feature. In addition to the top prize money, he picked up an additional $100 from J & H Automotive, who is also one of his sponsors and another $100 from T.P. Trailers.
Lou Egrie Jr. was the pacesetter for four laps until he had to pit with a flat left rear tire on the restart needed when Buddy Mertz spun. Egrie Jr.’s misfortune gave the lead to Joe Fanelli on the restart.
Fanelli held the lead until Sean Merkel passed him on the eighth circuit.
Stoudt overtook second to challenge S. Merkel for the lead. S. Merkel ran the high groove and Stoudt stuck to the inside trek as the pair went at it for first. Trailing them in their own race were Fanelli, Egrie Sr. and Jason Miller, the defending point champion.
Dan Green spun in the fourth turn to bring out the yellow on the 20th lap. The restart saw Stoudt succeed at getting underneath Merkel to become the new leader.
Positions constantly changed behind Stoudt, but at the wave of the checkered it was another victory for the current point leader. Chasing Stoudt across were S. Merkel, Dan’s Deli ½-way leader; Chuck Schutz, Fanelli and Miller. Egrie Sr., Cory Merkel, last week’s feature winner; Rick Todorow, Kory Fleming and Green completed the top ten. The Cargo Trailer certificate went to Wayne Pfeil.
Egrie Jr. and C. Merkel won the heats.
Ryan Lilick was just two laps short of winning his first 25-lap NASCAR Sportsman feature until Jared Umbenhauer spoiled it and passed him to make it six wins in a row and also collect the $100 T.P. Trailers bonus.
Tom Miller led for eight laps before Lilick ducked underneath him for the lead.
While Lilick led the way, Miller, Brandon Whitmoyer, Joe Funk III and Brett Gilmore jockeyed for the remaining positions.
Lilick encountered lapped traffic by the 17th lap along with B. Whitmoyer, Funk III, Umbenhauer and Miller.
A multi-car first turn accident on the 21st lap that leader Lilick just squeaked by, brought out the yellow. B. Whitmoyer, second-place runner at the time, wasn’t as lucky and made contact with them ending his fine run. Lilick held on to first with Umbenhauer just waiting to pounce into first.
The lead changed on the 24th lap and the rest was history as Umbenhauer was now ahead – a place he stayed until the end. Posting their best finishes were Lilick, Funk III, B. Gilmore and Paul Kline. Rounding out the top ten were Kenny Gilmore, Jordan Henn, Brett Kressley, who drove the car normally chauffeured by Guy Germano, but Germano who was already qualified; relinquished the ride to Kressley and Kressley qualified via the consi; Craig Whitmoyer, recipient of the Cargo Trailer product certificate and Ken Eckert Jr.
Heats were won by Jamie Undercoffler, Mike Lisowski and C. Whitmoyer. K. Gilmore won the consi.
The 15-lap Blast From the Past Vintage Car feature was won by Vince Gagliardo Jr. who held off runner-up Ronnie Peck followed by Kevin Kuser, Kevin Barndt and Ron Phillips.
Jeff Sechrist won the qualifying event.
RESULTS
WNPV Radio Modified Feature Finish (30 Laps): 1. Kevin Hirthler, 2. Duane Howard, 3. Craig Von Dohren, 4. Doug Manmiller, 5. Kevin Hirthler, 6. Jeff Strunk, 7. Ryan Kunkle, 8. Bobby Gunther-Walsh, 9. Chris Esposito, 10. Ryan Grim, 11. Mike Gular, 12. Frank Cozze, 13. Jared Umbenhauer, 14. Eric Biehn, 15. Terry Meitzler, 16. Ray Swinehart, 17. John Willman, 18. Kyle Borror, 19. Jarrad Miller, 20. Don Norris Jr., 21. Brian Houseknecht, 22. Tim Buckwalter, 23. Nate Christman, 24. Lou Cicconi, Mike Kellner, 26. Glenn Owens, 27. Jon Kellner, 28. Chris Gambler. DNQ: Meme DeSantis and Kent Reinert.
WNPV Radio Late Model Feature Finish (25 Laps): 1. Randy Stoudt, 2. Sean Merkel, 3. Chuck Schutz, 4. Joe Fanelli, 5. Jason Miller, 6. Lou Egrie, 7. Cory Merkel, 8. Rick Todorow, 9, Kory Fleming, 10. Dan Green, 11. Wayne Pfeil, 12. Bill Henning, 13. Dave Ogin, 14. Steve Butler, 15. Lou Egrie Jr., 16. Buddy Mertz, 17. John Giesler.
WNPV Radio Sportsman Feature Finish (25 Laps): 1. Jared Umbenhauer, 2. Ryan Lilick, 3. Joe Funk III, 4. Brett Gilmore, 5. Paul Kline, 6. Kenny Gilmore, 7. Tom Miller, 8. Brett Kressley, 9. Craig Whitmoyer, 10. Ken Eckert Jr., 11. Jordan Henn, 12. Steve Davis, 13. Dean Bachman, 14. Brian Hirthler, 15. Ryan Beltz, 16. Jamie Undercoffler, 17. Erik Renninger, 18. Kevin Beach, 19. Jason Neidlinger, 20. Doug Snyder, 21. Jim Housworth, 22. Brandon Whitmoyer, 23. Kevin Dries, 24. Mike Lisowski. DNQ: Steve Warner, Blaike Bracelin and Chad Putalauge.
WNPV Radio Blast From The Past Feature Finish: (15 Laps): 1. Vince Gagliardo Jr., 2. Ronnie Peck, 3. Kevin Kuser, 5. Kevin Barndt, 5. Kevin Barndt, 6. Dave Smith, 7. Henry Heimbach, 8. Fred Simmons, 9. Dave Dissinger, 10. Dennis Drain, 11. Jimmy Baker, 12. John Costa, 13. Jeff Sechrist.
Grandview Speedway is located on Passmore Road just off Route 100 in Bechtelsville, PA, 10 miles north of Pottstown. For information telephone 610.754.7688 or check in at www.grandviewspeedway.com. Also on Twitter97@grandviewspeedway and www.facebook.com/grandviewspeedwayinc.
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COMING EVENTS:
Saturday, August 9, 7:30 p.m. Forrest Rogers Memorial Presented by Pioneer Pole Buildings for NASCAR 358 Modifieds, plus BRC Late Models and Sportsman racing. RCN-TV Coverage
Sunday, August 10, 1 p.m. Outlaw Enduro Racing and Blast from the Past Vintage Cars
Saturday, August 16, 7:30 p.m. (Rain date for Forrest Rogers Memorial) If not needed as a rain date a regular tripleheader show of NASCAR Whelen 358 Modifieds, Late Models and Sportsman stock car racing will be presented.
Saturday, August 23, 7:30 p.m. Bernheisel Race Components Night featuring BRC Late Models (30 lap feature), NASCAR 358 Modifieds and Sportsman. More than $5000 worth of product awards for Late Model racers.
All regular Saturday night racing events have a ticket price of $15 for adults with youngsters 12 and under admitted free. Active military with proper ID are admitted free.
--ERNIE SAXTON COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Public Relations, Sponsorship Consultant
Journalist - Event Announcer - Public Speaker
215.752.7797 & 267.934.7286
Esaxton144@aol.com
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