Stewart Friesen Wins His First Ever Thunder On The Hill Event

STEWART FRIESEN POCKETS $5,000 AND FIRST EVER THUNDER ON THE HILL VICTORY IN ROC 'N ROLL SHOW WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY



Date: 7/15/2010 11:39:41 AM







FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- - -THANK YOU

CONTACT: BOB MILLER 443-513-4456

THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES- - Event #96



STEWART FRIESEN POCKETS $5,000 AND FIRST EVER THUNDER ON THE HILL VICTORY IN ROC 'N ROLL SHOW WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY



The NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series beat out Mother Nature as Stewart Friesen of Niagara-by-the-Lake, Ontario topped a field of forty modifieds to collect the $5,000 first place money for winning the BPG sponsored Race of Champions sixty lap modified feature event Wednesday night at the Grandview Speedway. Friesen took the lead on lap fifty-three when race leader Craig VonDohren pulled to the infield with a flat tire. In the forty lap ROC Sportsman feature, Brad Brightbill took the lead from Anthony Perrigo on lap twenty-three, then held off a late race charge by Perrigo to earned his first ever Grandview Speedway Thunder on the Hill victory. A field of thirty-four sportsman turned out for this first time visit by ROC at Grandview Speedway.



Rain fell all day but just after 6 PM, the bright sunshine found its' way through the rain clouds providing a great night of weather that was ideal for racing. Four sportsman heats opened the ninety-sixth event of Thunder on the Hill with heat race victories going to Bobby Lineman Jr., Brad Brightbill, Ryan Beltz and Pat Walls as Jeff Crambo won the consolation. In the modified ranks, Ray Swinehart, Ryan Watt, Jeff Strunk and Craig VonDohren were heat race winners as Danny Johnson and Rick Laubach won the two modified consolations.



In the sixty lap BPG Race of Champions Modified feature, Wade Hendrickson was the early race leader, setting the pace for the first four laps with Craig VonDohren taking over the top spot. VonDohren was smooth and steady and quickly established a comfortable lead over Hendrickson, Duane Howard, Ryan Watt, Stewart Friesen and Jeff Strunk through lap nineteen and another caution flag.



On the lap twenty restart, Hendrickson regained the top spot from VonDohren and held the lead until mechanical problems brought Hendrickson to a stop in turn four on lap twenty-three. VonDohren inherited the lead at that point followed by Duane Howard, Stewart Friesen, Ryan Godown and Ryan Watt.



As the field passed for lap twenty-seven, Howard offered VonDohren a challenge but VonDohren was not to be denied the top spot, at least on this lap. By lap forty, Danny Johnson (who started twenty-first) was now racing in fifth and closing on the front runners.



Friesen was on a mission and took second from Duane Howard on lap forty-two. With ten laps remaining, Friesen began to reel in VonDohren then a flat tire on the VonDohren modified on lap fifty-three, sent him to the pits. Friesen inherited the lead at that point and went on to score the victory, collecting $5,000 for his effort. Duane Howard finished second followed by Danny Johnson, Ryan Godown and Frank Cozze.



In the forty lap sportsman feature, Anthony Perrigo held the lead for the first twenty-two laps with Brad Brightbill in the hunt, racing in second. Brightbill used the inside groove and slowly moved in on the leader. On lap twenty-three, Brightbill made the move and took the lead.



Brightbill established a comfortable lead but then on lap thirty-one, he came up on slower traffic. Perrigo started to make-up lost ground and pulled closer to the leader. With just two laps to go, Brightbill was still dealing with slower traffic as Perrigo was on the move and closing. With the checker flag waiving, Brightbill took the win over Anthony Perrigo, Mike Loney and Justin Holland.





ROC BPG 60 lap Modified Feature Finish: #1 Stewart Friesen, #4 Duane Howard, #27j Danny Johnson, #357 Ryan Godown, #44 Frank Cozze, #77 Keith Hoffman, #10 Bobby Varin, #42p Pat Ward, #5 Rick Laubach, #21k Kyle Weiss, #5j Joey Grammes, #74w John Willman, #976 Don Norris, Jr., #14w Ryan Watt, #11 Billy Pauch, Jr., #711 Mike Iles, #1a Brian Weaver, #53 Mike Gular, #00 Doug Manmiller, #1c Craig Vondohren, #1 Billy Pauch, #327 Brad Missimer, #41 Jeff Strunk, #33 Ray Swinehart, #118 Sean Merkel, #51m Wade Hendrickson, #2rj Ronnie Johnson, #42b Kevin Bates, #16x Danny Creeden. DNQ - #7K Kirk Horton, #22 Danny Tyler, #117 Kevin Hirthler, #13z Dave Calaman, #44c Frank Cozze, Jr., #28 Tommy Carberry, #69 Bobby Trapper, #9 John Guarino, #14 Jimmy Horton, #8f Stan Frankenfield, #37x Tommy Sheetz.



ROC 40 lap Sportsman Feature Finish: #19b Brad Brightbill, #18 Anthony Perrigo, #17d Mike Loney, #280 Justin Holland, #917 Jarred Miller, #99 Craig Whitmoyer, #38 Mike Mammana,

#USA1 Bob Lineman Jr., #221 Ryan Beltz, #17x Kevin Beach, #611 Brad Grim, #14j Joe Funk, #84 Chad Barney, #4b Clay Butler, #j27 Jamie Batzel, #7 Kevin Smith, #5w Pat Wall, #20r Nick Rochinski, #29 Sammy Piazza, #14z Brad Szulewski, #77 Jeff Crambo, #97 Dave Dissinger,

#15 Mike Lisowski, #72 Nick Pretilak, #22c Charlie Hendrickson. DNQ - #0 Kevin Brady, #49 Troy Gibson, #8 Brad Force, #43 Joe Masendo, #8jr Warren Floyd, #343 Jeremy Hertzog, #3v Kevin Vaclavicek, #80 Bob Burgess III.



Coming Events:

When: Wednesday night, August 18 7:30 PM Gates open at 5:00 PM

What: World Of Outlaws Late Models Plus 30 lap 358 Modified Championship

Where: Grandview Speedway 43 Passmore Road, Route 100 Bechtelsville, PA 19505, ten mile north of Pottstown, PA

Admission: $30 Adults, $10 Children 6-11, Children under 6 Free

Pit Fee: $35 license is not required

Track #: 610-754-7688

Website: http://www.thunderonthehillracingseries.com/ or http://www.grandviewspeedway.com/