VONDOHREN, LOU EGRIE JR AND BRAD BRIGHTBILL ARE RCN-TV NIGHT NASCAR FEATURE WINNERS AT GRANDVIEW, DRAIN AND SMITH WIN VINTAGE RACES

                30 FEATURE WINNERS DURING 2015 SEASON…..SO FAR

BECHTELSVILLE, PA. August 23, 2015. . . Craig VonDohren, the current Grandview Speedway T.P.Trailers Modified point leader with just two point races remaining, worked his way to the front from his 14th starting position and was able to overtake Tim Buckwalter on the 22nd lap restart to chalk up his fourth TP Trailers NASCAR Whelen Modified feature on Saturday night. “The track was a bit tricky tonight, but we have a bunch of good people working on the Bicknell chassis to provide a fast car,” commented the seven-time point champion in victory lane with his Pioneer Pole Buildings No. 1c. In addition to the $2500 first place money he received $250 from T.P. Trailers, $150 in products from VP Fuels for running gas and a $600 Ingersoll-Rand Tool Pack from NASCAR sponsor Ingersoll Rand on RCN-TV 4 night.

It was a long time coming, but Lou Egrie Jr., who has been knocking on the door in search of a win for the past few weeks, finally led from start to finish in the 25-lap BRC NASCAR Late Model feature. He held off runner-up Dan Green’s challenges to claim his first-ever career win in the division.

Brad Brightbill, winless since August 29, 2013 at the track, wrestled the lead away from Steve Young on the 13th lap and kept two-time winner and second place finisher Paul Kline behind him to pull the Savage L&B No. 29G into the winner’s circle for his first win of the season in the 25-lap NASCAR Sportsman feature.

Feature wins by Lou Egrie Jr. and Brad Brightbill brought the season win total to 30 across all three divisions of NASCAR competition.

In the Blast From the Past Vintage car action Dennis Drain won the 15-lap A feature while Dave Smith topped the field in the 15-lap B feature.

Modified action saw Bobby Gunther-Walsh charge past polesitter Glenn Owens and into the lead at the drop of the green from starter Rick Kemp and immediately began opening daylight. Owens managed to reel Gunther-Walsh in on the seventh lap with Todd Smith, Kyle Weiss and Tim Buckwalter in tow.

Buckwalter was on the move and by the 15th lap he advanced to second to pressure Gunther-Walsh.

A leader change occurred on the 16th lap as now Buckwalter was at the head of the pack.

The battle for positions behind Buckwalter was hot and heavy between Gunther-Walsh, Smith, VonDohren and Frank Cozze and neither one lifted.

VonDohren moved into second on lap 18 and his next mission was to pass Buckwalter and go on to win without an incident.

On the 22nd lap Doug Manmiller and Jared Umbenhauer hooked in the fourth turn and they continued before they finally stopped in the second turn to bring out the yellow. Miraculously via the aid of the in car radio and quick reactions no more cars were involved. Unfortunately Duane Howard, who was ninth at the time, stopped in the first turn with mechanical issues and had to be towed to the pits unable to return. It was a huge hit in the points for Howard since he was 106 points behind Von Dohren when the night started and now there is a 372 point difference with two point shows remaining. Umbenhauer was also through for the night, but Manmiller was able to continue.

 

When action resumed Von Dohren put the Pioneer Pole Buildings/K.L. Harring Transportation sponsored mount in the lead while Buckwalter, Cozze, Jeff Strunk and Weiss jockeyed for second through fifth.Visitor Billy Pauch Jr. was right there trying to get into the mix.

VonDohren never faltered and garnere4d his 94th Saturday night career win. Strunk managed to get by Buckwalter at the line and pick up second with Buckwalter, third; Cozze, fourth and Weiss, fifth. Sixth through tenth were Pauch Jr, Danny Erb, Kevin Hirthler, Mike Gular and Ray Swinehart.

Eric Biehn, VonDohren and Ryan Kunkle won the heats. The consi went to Erb.

The Late Model feature early leader was Lou Egrie Jr. trailed by Kyle Merkel, Rick Todorow, Steve Gross and Green.

With four laps completed, current point leader Chuck Schutz got turned sideways in the third turn causing a multi-car tangle bringing out the yellow. After pit stops all involved were able to continue. The restart was null after Devin Frey hit the third turn wall and was out of competition. Egrie Jr. maintained the lead on the next attempt with challengers now comprised of Merkel, Todorow, Green and Kory Fleming.

In a matter of short time Egrie Jr. had a comfortable lead built up, but after George Irwin had radiator problems putting down a lot of moisture on the inside of turns one and two, that margin was erased when the yellow was thrown on lap 15. Egrie Jr. kept everyone at bay on this restart.

Green took over second on the 19th lap and began putting constant heavy pressure on Egrie Jr. with Kyle Merkel, Wayne Pfeil and Todorow waiting in the wings for a mistake.

 

Egrie Jr. was determined not to let this win slip away and kept his fellow competitors behind until he collected the checkered. Finishing second for his best season effort was Green followed by K. Merkel, Pfeil and Todorow. Fleming, Dave Ogin, last week’s feature winner; Sean Merkel, Mike Wharton and Schutz, coming back after going to the rear on lap four comprised the top ten.

Heats were won by Egrie Jr. and Gross.

Saturday, August 29, these same Late Model drivers plus a host of others will compete in the BRC 30-lap Late Model race sponsored by Superior Products presented by Bernheisel Race Cars. Also in the 7:30 p.m. action will be the T.P. Trailers Modifieds and NASCAR Sportsman.

Steve Young took the early lead with his Marshall Home Services entry in the sportsman feature chased by Mark Kemmerer, already a feature winner this season; Jason Neidlinger, Brandon Whitmoyer and Joe Funk III.

Brett Kressley, the current point leader, brought out the yellow on the third lap with a flat tire issue. At the same time Kenny Gilmore, runner-up in points going into the race dropped out as smoked bellowed from his car. His 23rd-place finish cost him valuable points since Kressley returned after a pit stop. When action went green again Young was still first, but now Brightbill was second trying to figure out which line to take to get past him.

The red was thrown on the 12th lap since the track was blocked due to a multi-car backstretch accident.

On this restart Young and Brightbill made contact, but Brightbill never left off the gas and was the new leader.

A three-car third turn mishap brought out the final yellow on lap 14. Young, running a solid second had a tough break when a flat tire forced him to drop out before action continued. Brightbill held the top spot on the restart, but now Kline was on his bumper followed by Brian Hirthler, Jordan Henn and Funk III.

 

Brightbill, who had a car that was too loose to run on the bottom, managed to keep everyone behind him and score his fifth career win followed by Kline, Kressley, who came back strong after going to the rear; Hirthler and Ryan Lilick, last week’s feature winner.

Rounding out the top ten were Brett Gilmore, Henn, Craig Whitmoyer, Funk III and Brad Arnold.

The heats were won by Young, Kemmerer and Neidlinger. Kody Sites won the consi.

RESULTS

T.P. Trailers NASCAR Modified Feature Finish (30 Laps): 1. Craig VonDohren, 2. Jeff Strunk, 3. Tim Buckwalter, 4. Frank Cozze, 5. Kyle Weiss, 6. Billy Pauch Jr., 7. Danny Erb, 8. Kevin Hirthler, 9. Mike Gular, 10. Ray Swinehart, 11. Don Norris Jr., 12. Jarrad Miller, 13. Kyle Borror, 14. Glenn Owens, 15. Nate Christman, 16. Glenn Strunk, 17. Ryan Grim, 18. Bobby Gunther-Walsh, 19. Mike Laise, 20. Doug Manmiller, 21. Ron Seltmann Jr., 22. Todd Smith, 23. Ryan Kunkle, 24. John Willman, 25. Eric Biehn, 26. Jared Umbenhauer, 27. Duane Howard, 28. Mike Kellner. DNQ: Ron Haring Jr, Mark Kratz, Brian Houseknecht, Chris Gambler and Rick Holsten III.

BRC NASCAR Late Model Feature Finish (25 Laps): 1. Lou Egrie Jr., 2. Dan Green, 3. Kyle Merkel, 4. Wayne Pfeil, 5. Rick Todorow, 6. Kory Fleming, 7. Dave Ogin, 8. Sean Merkel, 9. Mike Wharton, 10. Chuck Schutz, 11. Cory Merkel, 12. Dirk Rimrott, 13. Joe Fanelli, 14. Bill Henning, 15. Chris Wojnar, 16. Steve Gross, 17. George Irwin, 18. Shawn Horning, 19. Devin Frey.

NASCAR Sportsman Feature Finish (25 Laps): 1. Brad Brightbill, 2. Paul Kline, 3. Brett Kressley, 4. Brian Hirthler, 5. Ryan Lilick, 6. Brett Gilmore, 7. Jordan Henn, 8. Craig Whitmoyer, 9. Joe Funk III, 10. Brad Arnold, 11. Erik Renninger, 12. Jim Housworth, 13. Brandon Whitmoyer, 14. Kody Sites, 15. Ryan Shupp, 16. Mike Koffel, 17. Steve Young, 18. Jason Neidlinger, 19. Mark Kemmerer, 20. Lex Shive, 21. Kyle Lilick, 22. Dean Bachman, 23. Kenny Gilmore, 24. Mike Lisowski. DNQ: Josh Adams, Steve Warner, Jesse Landis and Nathan Mohr.

Blast From The Past A Feature Finish (15 Laps): 1. Dennis Drain, 2. Brian Gagliardo, 3. Kevin Kuser, 4. Ronnie Peck, 5. Kevin Barndt.

Blast From The Past B Feature Finish (15 Laps): 1. Dave Smith, 2. John Costa, 3. Mike Garris Sr., 4. Bill Gerhart, 5. Tom Orth.

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. A full assortment of great concessions and novelty items are available. Free parking on the grounds. Fans are invited to the competition area after the events are completed to meet the racers. For information telephone 610.754.7688 or check in at www.grandviewspeedway.com, Twitter@GrandviewSpeedway and www.facebook.com/grandviewspeedway along with Rainedout.com(for rainout information).

COMING EVENTS:

Saturday, August 29, 7:30 p.m. Superior Products Night Presented by Bernheisel Race Cars with BRC Late Models in the spotlight (30 lap feature) along with T.P. Trailers 358 Modifieds and Sportsman.

Saturday, September 5, 7:30 p.m. Marshall Home Services Night, final point races, NASCAR T.P.Trailers 358 Modifieds, BRC Late Models and Sportsman.

Sunday, September 6, 1 p.m. Outlaw Enduros and Blast From the Past Vintage cars.

Friday, September 11, 7:30 p.m. Race of Champions Sportsman and 305 Sprints. Adult tickets are $12, youngsters 6-12 pay $5 and under 6 admitted FREE. There is no raindate for this event.

Saturday, September 12, 7 p.m. Annual Freedom 76 Modified Classic, $25,000 to win, plus Cash Dash. Adult tickets in advance $35.00, on race day $40. Youngsters 6-11 $10 and kids under 6 are admitted FREE. Rain date is Saturday, September 19

 

ERNIE SAXTON COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Public Relations, Sponsorship Consultant
Journalist - Announcer - Publisher
www.saxtonsponsormarket.com
215.752.7797 & 267.934.7286
Esaxton144@aol.com