Jeff Strunk, Ron Kline and Brian Papiez Took Home the Big Bucks as NASCAR Feature Winners at Grandview
Story By: ERNIE SAXTON / GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY MEDIA Photos By: GEORGE STEIGERWALT / RACERSGUIDE.COM
BECHTELSVILLE, PA- August 8, 2016- After three separate showers went through the Grandview Speedway grounds late Saturday afternoon racing was delayed for an hour until the track was race ready for an action-packed night of three division NASCAR stock car racing in the activities sponsored by Bernheisel Race Cars.
The last time the Modifieds were in action, Jeff Strunk finished third, but was disqualified due to an illegal carburetor placing him last. He redeemed himself Saturday night when a restart worked to his advantage, he moved into second and became the new leader on lap 24. The ten-time champion went on to score his second 30-Lap T.P. Trailers NASCAR 358 Modified All-American Racing Series feature of the season. Strunk also received $250 from T.P. Trailers and $150 worth of product from VP Racing Fuels provided he was carrying the proper decals.
Ron Kline was contacted by Junior Grebe and Wanda Brown on Thursday to see if he wanted to take over the Late Model ride normally driven by Dave Ogin. He accepted the offer, relettered the car to his familiar No. 3 and was back in action for the BRC Late Model feature. He led all 30 laps of the event and finished by a considerable margin over runner-up Bryon Sipe. Kline had not been in the winner’s circle since June 7, 2014. He also picked up an additional $100 from T.P. Trailers.
Rookie racer Brian Papiez collected his third 25-lap NASCAR Sportsman feature after a close battle with second-place finisher Brett Gilmore. His efforts earned him $100 from T.P. Trailers.
Coming up on Saturday, August 13th is one of the biggest and most prestigious events of the season for the T.P.Trailers NASCAR 358 Modifieds when the annual Pioneer Pole Buildings Forrest Rogers Memorial is presented. The 50-lap race for the Modifieds offers $10,000 and often attract some outsiders to test their skills against the outstanding talents that regularly race at Grandview Speedway. In addition there will be racing for the BRC Late Models and Sportsman stock cars. Adult admission is $25 for this special race that honors the memory of the founder of the Bechtelsville auto racing facility.
In the Modified feature Eric Biehn led for two laps before Ron Haring Jr. became the new pacesetter on the third circuit.
Behind Haring Jr. jockeying for positions were Kevin Hirthler, Biehn, Danny Erb and Duane Howard, who returned to the oval most likely to fine tune the car for the Forrest Rogers Memorial on Saturday.
Biehn’s third place run ended when he stopped on the backstretch out of contention bring out the yellow with eight laps completed. On the restart Howard, who advanced to third on the sixth lap, made a daring move to the inside of Hirthler and Haring Jr. heading into turn one and emerged as the new leader.
While Howard showed the way Hirthler, Mike Gular, Erb and Craig Von Dohren raced nose to tail, then side by side trying to gain on Howard. It didn’t take Strunk long to get into the mix as he was fifth on lap 20.
The red was thrown on the 22nd lap when Nate Christman and Bobby Gunther-Walsh tangled on the backstretch which blocked the track. Christman was able to return to racing, but Gunther-Walsh was unable to rejoin the action. On the restart Hirthler and Strunk got the jump on Howard as they were one and two with Howard third.
The lead changed for the fifth time when Strunk put a move on Hirthler and succeeded in putting the Glenn Hyneman-owned mount in first on the 24th lap. Strunk stayed there until the drop of the checkered to rack up his 64th Saturday night career win. Following him across were Hirthler, VonDohren, Howard and Gular.
Heats were won by Biehn, Haring Jr. and Chris Esposito while Doug Manmiller was the consi winner.
Kline wasted no time staying in front from his pole starting position in the BRC Late Model feature while Drew Weiser, Bryon Sipe, Dan Green and Steve Todorow diced for positions.
While in second Weiser spun in turn four bringing out the yellow on the fifth lap. On the next attempt the red was thrown when rookie Eric Hoch hit the backstretch wall with heavy impact. He was shaken up a bit and taken to the hospital for observation. Kline held his position on the restart while Sipe, Green, Sean Merkel and Chuck Schutz dueled for second through fifth.
It didn’t take Kline long to outdistance himself from the field as he went on to win his first feature of the season. Positions were constantly changing and chasing him across the line were Sipe, Sean Merkel, who recently returned to the racing wars, Schutz and Brian Shuey.
Shuey and Kline were the heat winners.
In Sportsman action Steve Young led the event for eight laps before Papiez moved to the head of the pack.
Ryan Higgs, another rookie, overtook second on the 14th lap and began to reel Papiez in.
Mechanical problems ended Higgs’ fine second-place run when he stopped along the backstretch with five laps to go. Papiez was still the leader, but now Brett Gilmore, who started 21st, was pressuring him for first as the laps wound down. Gilmore made several runs on the inside to try to get past Papiez, but to no avail.
Papiez never relinquished first and was in the winner’s circle once again trailed by Gilmore, Craig Whitmoyer, Dean Bachman and Brad Arnold.
Higgs, Young and Jesse Landis won the heats. The consi went to Brian Hirthler.
RACE RESULTS
T.P. Trailers Modified Feature (30 Laps): 1. Jeff Strunk, 2. Kevin Hirthler, 3. Craig Von Dohren, 4. Duane Howard, 5. Mike Gular, 6. Ryan Grim, 7. Doug Manmiller, 8. Tim Buckwalter, 9. Kenny Gilmore, 10. Danny Erb, 11. Kyle Borror, 12. Jared Umbenhauer, 13. Steve Swinehart, 14. Nate Chrisman, 15. Kory Fleming, 16. Don Norris Jr., 17. Brian Houseknecht (alternate), 18. Chris Gambler, 19. John Willman, 20. Bobby Gunther-Walsh, 21. Mike Kellner, 22. Justin Grim, 23. Glenn Owens, 24. Ron Haring Jr., 25. Eric Biehn, 26. Brett Kressley, 27. Ron Seltmann Jr., 28. Chris Esposito, 29. Kyle Weiss. DNS: Frank Cozze. DNQ: Blaine Bracelin Jr., Ryan Kunkle, Ray Swinehart, George Hildebrandt, Tim Buckwalter.
BRC Late Model Feature (30 Laps): 1. Ron Kline, 2. Bryon Sipe, 3. Sean Merkel, 4. Chuck Schutz, 5. Brian Shuey, 6. Dan Green, 7. Steve Todorow, 8. Wayne Pfeil, 9. Cory Merkel, 10. Bill Henning, 11. Dave Ogin, 12. Joe Fanelli, 13. Steve Wilson, 14. Devin Frey, 15. Eric Hoch, 16. Drew Weiser.
Sportsman Feature (25 Laps): 1. Brian Papiez, 2. Brett Gilmore, 3. Craig Whitmoyer, 4. Dean Bachman, 5. Brad Arnold, 6. Mike Lisowski, 7. Steve Young, 8. Jordan Henn, 9. Kyle Lilick, 10. Brian Hirthler, 11. Chris Jenkins, 12. Paul Kline, 13. Mark Kemmerer, 14. Jesse Landis, 15. Joe Funk III, 16. B.J. Joly, 17. Ryan Beltz, 18. Nathan Mohr, 19. Ryan Lilick, 20. Ryan Higgs, 21. Andrew Kreis, 22. Jordan Umbenhauer, 23. Lex Shive, 24. Kenny Bock, 25. Jim Housworth, 26. Jack Butler. DNQ: Ken Eckert Jr., Chad Kohler, Jordan Tittle, Dylan Swinehart, Derrick Smith, Pat Conrad, Mike Koffel.
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 13, 7:30 p.m. Pioneer Pole Buildings Forrest Rogers Memorial for NASCAR TP Trailers 358 Modifieds (50 laps and $10,000 to win), BRC Late Models and Sportsman – RCN/TV Coverage
Thursday, August 18, 7:30 p.m. Tony Stewart’s All Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprints plus TSRS 305 Sprints.
Saturday, August 20, 7:30 p.m. TP Trailers NASCAR Modifieds, BRC Late Models and Sportsman- Henning Trains Lionel train giveaway.
Saturday, August 27, 7:30 p.m. A.D.Moyer Lumber Night featuring T.P.Trailers NASCAR Modifieds, BRC Late Models, Sportsman and Blast From the Past Vintage Racers
Saturday, September 3, 7:30 p.m. WNPV-1440AM Radio Night, final point races of the season, NASCAR T.P.Trailers 358 Modifieds, BRC Late Models and Sportsman.
Friday, September 9, 7 p.m. Sportsman stock cars (38 lap feature), TSRS 305 Sprints and Modified practice session
Saturday, September 10, 7 p.m. 46TH Annual Freedom 76, $25,000 to win for the Modifieds plus Cash Dash.
