STRUNK AND HOFFMASTER TAKE THE NASCAR FEATURE HONORS AT GRANDVIEW; FIRST 300 MOMS THROUGH THE GATE RECEIVE FREE FLOWER FOR MOM’S DAY

Bechtelsville, PA May 7, 2006 . . . Jeff Strunk had a tough week. On Tuesday he and car owner Johnny Rea split up leaving the five time track champion without a ride. By the end of the week Strunk had put together some “investors” and he purchased the car he had been driving from Rea, borrowed a motor from Merkel Motorsports and managed, with lots of help from friends, to get to Grandview Speedway on Saturday night.

The effort was worth it as the Bethel, PA veteran racer was able to lead 29 of the 30 lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified stock car feature race and ride to a relatively easy win picking up $2,200 for his efforts.

In victory lane Strunk could have been showing the strain of a tough week and a tough night at the track. He was not his usual talkative self saying, “The car was a little tight and he was fortunate not to have a lot of traffic to deal with.” He did thank the Merkel family and others that helped him get a car to the track and being able to field a winner.

Veteran Late Model racer Greg Hoffmaster put his Keenan Chevrolet/Schaeffer Harley Davidson No. 69 in front of Buddy Wharton on the fifth lap of the 20-lap NASCAR Late Model feature and never looked back. The Pottstown racer drove to his first career feature win.

The entire night of racing was run in memory of Pvt. 1st Class Travis Zimmerman, a Boyertown, PA resident, who was killed in action in Baghdad and was laid to rest on May 5, 2006. The entire show 14-event show was run off in less than 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Thirty one cars started the 30-lap NASCAR Modified feature race with Jeff Strunk getting a fifth place start with the Big Spring Car Wash/Touch of Green Landscaping No.88 Modified.  Looking to make up for his tough week and his bad early season luck Strunk charged into the lead, after young Todd Smith led the first lap, on the second circuit of the one-third-mile, banked clay oval. Once in front Strunk was able to pull away from the field. Even when a number of cautions closed up the field, putting Shawn Reimert on his rear bumper a couple of times, Strunk was still able to stay in control and at the finish had a comfortable margin of victory over Reimert (Oley) who earned his best finish of the season. Third spot was taken by John Willman (Birdsboro) in a late race charge toward the front. Tom Umbenhauer (Richland) came home fourth and past champion Terry Meitzler (Kutztown) grabbed fifth.

Greg Hoffmaster got the benefit of a second place starting position in the 20-lap Late Model feature race. The popular racer chased Buddy Wharton for the first four laps and was able to take the top spot on a restart after a caution. In front of the 24 car starting field at five laps Hoffmaster was not to be denied as held off strong challenges from two time past champion Randy Stoudt to grab his first career feature win by a narrow margin.

Hoffmaster did have to hold off some strong competition on a couple of restarts as a result of cautions but each time the field closed up Hoffmaster was able to regain control.

Second place went to Stoudt (Pottstown) followed by Harry Neiman (Bower Beach, DE), current Late Model point leader Ron Kline (East Greenville) and Chuck Schutz (Pottstown).

Qualifying heat races for the 51 Modifieds on hand were won by Jon Kellner Jr., Larry Solomon, Brad Missimer, Don Norris Jr., Tracy Readinger and Jeff Strunk. Consolation wins were earned by Barry Readinger, Meme DeSantis and Danny Erb.

In the chase for the lucrative NASCAR Modified championship Doug Manmiller moved in front of the standings while Meme DeSantis is second. Five time champion Craig Von Dohren is in third spot. Last week’s point leader Danny Erb dropped to sixth.

In Late Model qualifiers the wins went to Dean Stoudt, Chuck Schutz and Randy Stoudt.

In the Late Model point chase defending champion Ron Kline is currently in front of the standings.

The first 300 Moms through the gate for NASCAR sanctioned Modified and Late Model stock car racing at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night May 13th will receive a flower in honor of Mom’s Day courtesy of Christa’s Country Creations.  At least 12 big events of racing are offered with a 30-lap feature for Modifieds and 20 lapper for Late Models topping the program sponsored by Norris Mechanical Contractors and racing starts at 7:30 p.m. Adult admission is just $12.00 with youngsters 6 through 11 paying $5.00 and under 6 are admitted FREE when accompanied by a paying adult. 

Coming to Grandview Speedway on Tuesday, May 16th will be the DIRT Motorsports World of Outlaws sprint cars plus a full show of ARDC wingless midget racing. Racing will start at 7:30 p.m.

Grandview Speedway is a one-third-mile banked clay oval located on Passmore Road just off Route 100 in Bechtelsville, PA, 10 miles north of Pottstown. For racing information telephone 610.754.7688 or check in at www.grandviewspeedway.com.

WEISS, KLINE AND ROCHELLE ARE THE FEATURE WINNERS AT GRANDVIEW SATURDAY

Bechtelsville, PA April 30, 2006 . . . For the first time in his long career Kyle Weiss was able to wheel his Brickel’s Collectibles/Schaeffer’s Harley Davidson sponsored No. 21K Modified to victory in the 30-lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified feature race at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night. Defending Late Model champion Ron Kline waited until late in the 20-lap feature race to grab the lead and ride to his first Late Model feature win of the season. He was at the wheel of his own P.K.Moyer Excavataing/D&M Towing #3 entry.

And it was veteran Jason Rochelle bringing his #17R home first in the 20-lap main event for the Rolling Thunder Legends cars feature race.

The Modifieds had a difficult time getting the second lap of the feature race completed with no less than six cautions taking place before the third circuit could be started. In fact officials had to go to a single file restart to get the event going with one caution coming out for an accident that included at least 20 cars in the fourth turn.

Once things got straightened out, Mike Bailey was able to resume command of the field but on a 8th lap restart after a caution Kyle Weiss, who calls Jallapa, PA home, was able to take charge.  Though Weiss was able to lead the balance of the laps it was not an easy win as a series of cautions dotted the closing laps allowing challengers Kevin Hirthler and Jon Kellner move to within striking distance a couple of times.

With a caution on the 29th lap the race was turned into a one lap shootout with Weiss able to run a smooth line and hold off the fleet running Hirthler to grab the win and the $2200 first place money. Hirthler (Green Lane) finished second in a side -by-side battle with Jon Kellner (Lansdale) to the finish line. In fourth was Sean Merkel (Gilbertsville) followed by early race leader Mike Bailey (Kutztown).

Danny Erb was able to take over the number one spot in the chase for the lucrative NASCAR Modified championship. He now leads Craig VonDohren by just points while Doug Manmiller is third just three points behind VonDohren.

Rick Todorow looked like he was going to be able to lead all the laps and ride to an easy win in the 20-lapper for Late Models. However on the 16th lap a caution closed up the field and on the restart Ron Kline (Green Lane) was able to charge past Todorow for the lead. Chuck Schutz took advantage of the opportunity and moved by Todorow for second. And when the checkered flag fell it was Kline just being able to hold off the hard charging Schutz (Pottstown) for his first win of the season. Schutz earned second followed by Todorow (Quakertown), Mike Kellner (Lansdale) and Brian Shuey (Hamburg).

Late Model point leader Randy Stoudt dropped out at the midway point with front end problems as he was charging to the front of the field.

The 20-lapper for the Rolling Thunder Legends seemed to be the best feature race of the night as Jason Rochelle had to hold off strong challenges from Brian Levan (Fleetwood) and Ronnie Dunstan (Allentown) in the closing laps to get his win. The Hackettstown, N.J. racer finished about a car length in front of Levan for the win. Mark Schaeffer grabbed fourth and Lamar Schaeffer was fifth in the final finish.

Qualifying heat races for the Late Models were won by Rick Todorow, Steve Sennott and Mike Kellner with Harry Neiman going from last to first to win the consolation race.

In the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds qualifying races were won by Jason Smythe, Don Norris Jr., Jon Kellner Jr., Mike Bailey, Steve Folk and Kevin Hirthler. Consolation race victories were earned by Shawn Reimert, Ray Swinehart and Doug Manmiller.

Legends car qualifying events were won by Tim Tomson, Rod Kistler and Josh Morrow.

NASCAR sanctioned Modified and Late Model stock car racing returns to Grandview Speedway on Saturday night May 6th with a new starting time of 7:30 p.m. At least 12 big events of racing are offered with a 30-lap feature for Modifieds and 20 lapper for Late Models topping the program. Adult admission is just $12.00 with youngsters 6 through 11 paying $5.00 and under 6 are admitted FREE when accompanied by a paying adult.

The Saturday, May 13th show will have a 7:30 p.m. starting time and will be a doubleheader show with NASCAR Modifieds and Late Models. The night of racing will be sponsored by Norris Mechanical Contractors. 

Coming to Grandview Speedway on Tuesday, May 16th will be the DIRT Motorsports World of Outlaws sprint cars plus a full show of ARDC wingless midget racing. Racing will start at 7:30 p.m.

Grandview Speedway is a one-third-mile banked clay oval located on Passmore Road just off Route 100 in Bechtelsville, PA, 10 miles north of Pottstown. For racing information telephone 610.754.7688 or check in at www.grandviewspeedway.com.