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VONDOHREN, UMBENHAUER AND MILLER HONORED AS 2013 NASCAR STOCK CAR CHAMPIONS AT 51ST ANNUAL GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY AWARDS BANQUET
GILBERTSVILLE, PA November 16, 2013 . . . Close to 500 people filled the Gilbertsville, PA Fire Co. Social Hall on Saturday night as the 51st annual Grandview Speedway Awards Banquet honored the NASCAR stock car champions and a variety of special awards were presented.
For the seventh time in his career Craig VonDohren was honored as the NASCAR Whelen All American Series 358 Modified champion. The Oley, PA professional racer also earned the car owner championship. Earning 5907points on his way to the title VonDohren walked off with well over $10,000 for his championship efforts including championship money from track owners Bruce and Teresa Rogers along with NASCAR.
Duane Howard, the 2012 champion, finished second with 5480 points. Howard, a five time champion, also an Oley resident, tallied nine feature wins during the season. Nine time champion Jeff Strunk (Pottstown) earned 4866 points on his way third place in the final standings. The highlight of Strunk’s season was his victory in the $25,000 to win BPG Racing Freedom 76 not including more than $2000 in lap money and other perks.
Young Jared Umbenhauer of Richland, PA was honored as the NASCAR Sportsman titleholder for the second year in a row with Barry Bashore, his car owner, sharing in the honors. The team had five feature victories and earned 5262 points on their way to the title. Fleetwood, PA’s Kenny Gilmore came on strong late in the season to grab second spot in the standings with 4712 points and one feature win. Craig Whitmoyer of Hamburg, PA finished third in the standings with one win and 4561 points.
Jason Miller took home his very first championship in the Late Model division. The New Tripoli, PA racer did it the hard way as he tallied 5284 points but had no feature wins. Green Lane’s Terry Snyder, owner of the car driven by his son Danny, was able to take the owner’s championship while his son finished second in the standings with 5266 points just 18 points behind the champion. Snyder had three feature wins. Six time Late Model champion Chuck Schutz of Pottstown came home third in the final standings with 5250 points and three wins.
The top twenty drivers and top ten owners in each of the three divisions were honored with awards.
In addition to the thousands of dollars in point fund money distributed to Modified, Sportsman and Late Model racers, Duane Howard received over $13,500 in winnings for his efforts in the American Racer Cup championship battle. It was the second year in a row that he won the title and third in four years.
Others receiving checks from the American Racer Cup included Craig VonDohren finishing third in the standings in the overall standings. VonDohren picked up $3,500 in cash along with almost $2,000 in product sponsorship. The third finisher at Grandview in the Racer Cup was Jeff Strunk while fourth was Meme DeSantis followed by Doug Manmiller. More than $25,000 in cash and prizes was distributed to those Grandview racers.
Brett Kressley, picked up the American Racer Sportsman Cup which included four American Racer Modified tires courtesy of Lias Tires in Indiana, PA.
In the NASCAR 358 Modified division former ARDC midget champion Tim Buckwalter earned Rookie of the Year honors while DIRT stock car legend Frank Cozze was presented with the Best Newcomer award for his first season of racing at Grandview. John Willman went from 24th in the 2012 standings to 11th in the final 2013 standings to earn the Most Improved Driver award. Veteran racer Jeff Strunk took home the Sportsmanship award while Jarrad Miller received the Best Appearing Car honors. Kevin Hirthler took home Hard Luck honors.
Former 410 sprint car racer Sam Schlosberg took the Best Newcomer honors in the Late Model division as he was able to win three features. Dan Green, a graduate of go-kart racing, took the Rookie of the Year honors. Wayne Pfeil Jr., a feature winner, earned the Most Improved award. Kory Fleming, who had his race car destroyed late in the season in a race accident, took home the Hard Luck award. He does plan to return to Grandview racing in 2014. Buddy Mertz, a big supporter of racing at Grandview, was given the Sportsmanship award for lending his car to other competitors during the season. Past champion Chuck Schutz was honored with the Best Appearing Car award.
Jordan Henn earned the Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Sportsman division. Six feature winner Brett Kressley was named Best Newcomer. Kenny Gilmore went from 21st in the points in 2012 to second in 2013 to pick up the Most Improved Driver award. Lady racer Kaitie McCardle, who was forced to miss a few races due to a lack of sponsorship, earned the Hard Luck honors while “Geezer” Joe Fanelli won the Best Appearing Car honors.
More than a dozen media on hand were presented with Special Appreciation Awards as were a number of officials and track employees.
Pioneer Pole Buildings, Bashore Truck Specialties, BPG Racing and TP Trailers of Limerick received awards in honor of their outstanding support of racing at Grandview Speedway. TP Trailers announced that they will return for the third straight season paying cash bonuses to feature winners in all three divisions. Pioneer Pole Buildings will return as sponsor of the Forrest Rogers Memorial.
The sponsors of the season long Hard Charger awards were acknowleged. Bobby Gunther Walsh and his sponsors provided the weekly Hard Charger cash award for the Modifieds. Jeff Teets and his Salvage Transport Service sponsored the Late Model cash awards and Searock Lawn Care sponsored the Hard Charger award for the Sportsman racers.
Former Late Model champion Jeff Teets and his Salvage Transport Service presented cash awards to Jeff Strunk, Buddy Mertz and Danny Snyder for their support of the sport and for saying “thank you” to those who support the sport.
Fred Turza representing VP Racing Fuels presented product awards to the Sportsman and Modified champions. VP Racing Fuels is a strong supporter of stock car racing at Grandview Speedway.
NASCAR had awards for the top three finishers in each division plus the UNOH Track Mechanic of the Year award going to Ronnie Krex.
Long time track announcer Ernie Saxton, who retired at the end of the season after 45 years in the booth, served as the MC for the banquet for the final time. He was presented with a beautiful gold watch by the Rogers family and an appreciation award. It was announced that veteran short track announcer Jeff Ahlum will become the Saturday night announcer at Grandview. Saxton will continue as the marketing and PR director for the speedway a position he has held for 47 years.
Attendees enjoyed a home style dinner of ham and roast beef and the awards were followed by an Elvis Presley show and music for dancing and socializing.
Grandview Speedway management has announced that the tentative opening practice date is set for Saturday, March 29. The first race event of the 2014 NASCAR stock car racing season will take place on Saturday, April 5th. Full details for the new season will be announced in the near future.
2013 MODIFIED
POINT STANDINGS
1. 1C Craig Von Dohren 5907
2. 4 Duane Howard 5480
3. 4* Jeff Strunk 4866
4. 357 Frank Cozze 4456
5. 46 Doug Manmiller 4379
6. 88D Meme DeSantis 4218
7. 21K Kyle Weiss 4034
8. 117 Kevin Hirthler 3973
9. 17 Ryan Grim 3939
10. 53/611 Mike Gular 3933
11. 74W John Willman 3913
12. 917 Jarrad Miller 3585
13. 2 Glenn Strunk 3545
14. 81 Terry Meitzler 3354
15. 37 Nate Christman 3346
16. 41 Jon Kellner 3274
17. 976 Don Norris Jr. 3175
18. 19 Jordan Umbenhauer 3056
19. 91 Tim Buckwalter 2812
20. 22/30/7X Tommy Scheetz III 2550
CAR OWNERS
1. 1C Craig Von Dohren 5907
2. 4 BPG Racing 5440
3. 4* Vinny Salerno 4866
4. 357 Norm Hansell 4456
5. 46 Josh Biever 4379
6. 88D Harvey Bitler 4218
7. 21K Kyle Weiss 4034
8. 117 Kevin Hirthler 3973
9. 17 Ryan Grim 3939
10. 74W John Willman 3913
2013 SPORTSMAN
POINT STANDINGS
1. 5 Jared Umbenhauer 5262
2. 7 Kenny Gilmore 4712
3. 99 Craig Whitmoyer 4561
4. 19K Brett Kressley 4387
5. 19 Brad Brightbill 4336
6. 17X Kevin Beach Jr. 4001
7. 4* Brian Hirthler 3895
8. 14J Joe Funk 3501
9. 14 Paul Kline 3269
10. 15 Mike Lisowski 3202
11. 221 Ryan Beltz 3125
12. 77H Jordan Henn 3111
13. 142 Ryan Lilick 3108
14. 67 Scott Davis Jr. 3059
15. 22 Joe Fanelli 3022
16. 65 Dean Bachman 2662
17. B4 Kyle Borror 2436
18. 9K Ron Krex 2413
19. 51 Erik Renninger 2386
20. 542 Guy Germano 2253
CAR OWNERS
1. 5 Barry Bashore 5262
2. 7 Kenny Gilmore 4712
3. 99 Craig Whitmoyer 4431
4. 19K Brett Kressley 4387
5. 19 Brad Brightbill 4166
6. 17X Kevin Beach Jr. 4001
7. 4* Brian Hirthler 3895
8. 14J Joe Funk 3501
9. 15 JoAnn Lisowski 3202
10. 221 Ryan Beltz 3125
2013 LATE MODEL
POINT STANDINGS
1. 44 Jason Miller 5284
2. 4S Danny Snyder 5266
3. ONE Chuck Schutz 5250
4. 70 Sam Schlosberg 5225
5. 72 Wayne Pfeil 5213
6. 118 Sean Merkel 5161
7. 769 Steve Nederostek 4556
8. 93 Rick Todorow 4534
9. 57 Mike Kellner 4320
10. 83 Steve Todorow 4087
11. 46 Dan Green 4084
12. ZT1 John Giesler 4032
13. 80 Bill Henning 3679
14. 704 Kory Fleming 3021
15. 00 Buddy Mertz 2828
16. X4 Lou Egrie 2409
17. 91 Steve Butler 1946
18. 92 Dirk Rimrott 1702
19. 19 Drew Weisser 1640
20. 2 Doug Walton 1421
CAR OWNERS
1. 4S Terry Snyder 5266
2. 70 Sam Schlosberg 5225
3. 72 Wayne Pfeil Sr. 5213
4. 118 Sean Merkel 5161
5. 44 Jason Miller 5114
6. ONE Ty Ziegler 5075
7. 769 Steve Nederostek 4556
8. 83 Steve Todorow 4518
9. 57 Mike Kellner 4320
10. 93 Isabella Todorow 4121
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PUBLIC RELATIONS - JOURNALIST - BROADCASTER
215.752.7797 - OFFICE / 267.934.7286 - CELL/TEXT
ESAXTON144@AOL.COM /Twitter @ernsax
MARILYN'S DIRECT LINE -215.752.2392
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