Weiss, Schutz and Sechrist Win NASCAR Features at Grandview Speedway

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BECHTELSVILLE, PA. April 12, 2015 . . . Veteran racer Kyle Weiss was able to grab the rich victory in the 35-lap NASCAR 358 Modified feature race at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night topping a stellar field of top dirt track racing talent with his MAS Trucking entry in front of the RCN-TV cameras. In the 25-lapper for the BRC Late Models multi-time champion Chuck Schutz charged to victory with the PPB sponsored mount and in the 25-lap main event for the Sportsman stock cars the win went to Jeff Sechrist in his BFP sponsored racer.

Coming up on Saturday, April 18th at 7 p.m. another exciting tripleheader show of NASCAR 358 Modifieds, BRC Late Models and Sportsman stock car racing. A full series of qualifying events leading up to feature finales in each division. Spectator gates open at 5 p.m. Adult admission is just $15 for adults and youngsters 11 and under are admitted free. The popular Low Down and Dirty Meet and Greet gives fans a chance to meet drivers from each division with their race cars at the main gate starting at 5 p.m.

On Sunday, April 19th, 1 p.m. the first Outlaw Enduro racing event of the season.

Weiss, labeled the Jalappa Jet, shut out of victory lane at Grandview Speedway since April 2006, finally had a change of luck in his second outing of the season at the Berks Co. 1/3-mile clay oval. Hampered by mechanical issues in the opener, Weiss overtook Nate Christman, another driver sidelined by mechanical problems the first week, on the seventh lap of the 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All American Series Modified feature and went on to score a $3,000 payday with a closing Doug “The Handler” Manmiller a close second. Weiss also received $250 from T.P. Trailers, Limerick and the Dan’s Deli, Boyertown, ½ Hoagie Award. He commented that his second victory, which was broadcast by RCN-TV 4 of Allentown, meant more to him than the first one.

Kevin Hirthler led for three laps until Christman moved ahead on the fourth circuit.

Weiss put the MAS Trucking/USS Achey Inc. No. 21K at the head of the pack on lap seven with Christman, Hirthler, Don Norris Jr. and Jeff Strunk in pursuit.

Norris Jr. brought out the yellow on the 11th lap with a spin in the third and fourth turn. Jeff Strunk was sidelined at the same time with a left front flat tire. Both drivers rejoined the race after pit stops. Weiss was still in control on the restart, but now the battle behind him heated up between Christman, Hirthler, Ryan Watt and John Willman.

Duane Howard, opening night winner, who had just moved into sixth was spun by Mike Gular, who was placed to the back of the pack for the incident, for the 19th lap caution. The restart was void when Hirthler and Watt tangled in the fourth turn and spun in front of several cars. This aided some of the back runners to advance positions.

When action resumed the order behind Weiss now consisted of Christman, Manmiller, Willman and Craig Von Dohren, who started 22nd after winning the consi.

Manmiller overtook second on the 25th lap and set his sights on Weiss to see if he could possibly reel him in to challenge him.

Time ran out and no more cautions bunched the field up after the last one on lap 20 and when the checkered unfurled Weiss, who didn’t run consistently at the track, claimed a lone overdue win. Chasing him across the line were Manmiller, Von Dohren, Christman and Willman. Sixth through tenth were J. Strunk, Meme DeSantis, Tim Buckwalter, Jared Umbenhauer and Mike Laise, recipient of the Cargo Trailers certificate.

Hirthler, Christman and Weiss won the heats. The consi was won by Von Dohren.

The caution filled 25-lap BRC NASCAR Late Model feature was eventually won by Chuck Schutz after he retook the lead from Wayne Pfeil, last week’s winner, with one lap to go. Schutz didn’t have an easy time of putting the PPB sponsored, Ty Zeigler-owned No. ONE in victory lane since he battled side-by-side with Pfeil until the end. He also received $100 from T.P. Trailers plus the Dan’s Deli ½-way Hoagie Award.

The red was thrown before the first lap was completed for a multi-car accident that eliminated Cory and Sean Merkel plus Dean Stoudt. The next try was aborted after Dan Green spun Lou Egrie Jr. and was put to the rear. When action finally got underway Schutz was the race leader followed by Dave Ogin, Kory Fleming, Pfeil and John Giesler.

Steve Gross, returning after a 20-year hiatus, spun between turns three and four on the eighth lap and then on the restart Egrie Jr. and Rick Todorow tangled in turn two. Schutz continued to lead on the next try, but by this time Pfeil was putting his bids in for first.

Schutz and Pfeil dueled for several laps before Pfeil dove underneath Schutz coming out of the fourth turn and into first on the 16th lap.

Behind the pair anticipating a miscue were Green, Ogin and Fleming, the only cars left running.

Schutz was back in front at the white flag lap and continued his pace until he was in victory lane with Pfeil a close second trailed by Green, Ogin and Fleming completing the run down. Rick Todorow, John Giesler, Egrie Jr., Joe Fanelli and Gross, who received the Cargo Trailers award, were sixth through tenth even though they were not running at the conclusion.

The 25-lap NASCAR Sportsman feature also had a rash of yellow fever with Jeff Sechrist taking home his first career win, behind the wheel of the Savage L & B No. 29G, in which he also received $100 from T.P. Trailers and the Dan’s Deli ½-way Hoagie Award.

Rookie Ryan Lilick was the early pacesetter and led until the 11th lap restart for an eight-car third turn accident. On the restart Sechrist charged into the lead while R. Lilick, Kenny Gilmore, Jordan Henn and Brett Kressley diced for positions.

Gilmore took over second on the 17th lap and set sail after Sechrist.

Gilmore was closing in on Sechrist, but time ran short as Sechrist went on to victory. Finishing a close second was K. Gilmore with Kressley, R. Lilick and Henn completing the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Jim Housworth, Craig Whitmoyer, Brian Hirthler, Brett Gilmore and Ryan Beltz, the Cargo Trailer certificate recipient.

Joe Funk, R. Lilick and Jason Neidlinger were the heat winners. The consi was won by Kyle Lilick.

RESULTS

NASCAR 358 Modified Feature (35 Laps): 1. Kyle Weiss, 2. Doug Manmiller, 3. Craig Von Dohren, 4. Nate Christman, 5. John Willman, 6. Jeff Strunk, 7. Meme DeSantis, 8. Tim Buckwalter, 9. Jared Umbenhauer, 10. Mike Laise, 11. Jarrad Miller, 12. Duane Howard, 13. Frank Cozze, 14. Mike Gular, 15. Don Norris Jr., 16. Ray Swinehart, 17. Danny Erb, 18. Mike Kellner, 19. Todd Smith, 20. Ron Seltmann Jr., 21. Keith Hoffman, 22. Chris Gambler, 23. Kevin Hirthler, 24. Ryan Watt, 25. Kevin Hartnett, 26. Kyle Borror, 27. Glenn Strunk, 28. Eric Biehn. DNQ: Ron Haring Jr., Bobby Gunther-Walsh, Jamie Speers, Brian Houseknecht, Ron Krex, Ryan Grim and Mark Kratz.

Late Model Feature (25 Laps): 1. Chuck Schutz, 2. Wayne Pfeil, 3. Dan Green, 4. Dave Ogin, 5. Kory Fleming, 6. Rick Todorow, 7. John Giesler, 8. Lou Egrie Jr., 9. Joe Fanelli, 10. Steve Gross, 11. Shawn Horning, 12. Cory Merkel, 13. Sean Merkel, 14. Dean Stoudt. DNS: Steve Wilson.

Sportsman Feature (25 Laps): 1. Jeff Sechrist, 2. Kenny Gilmore, 3. Brett Kressley, 4. Ryan Lilick, 5. Jordan Henn, 6. Jim Housworth, 7. Craig Whitmoyer, 8. Brian Hirthler, 9. Brett Gilmore, 10. Ryan Beltz, 11. Tom Miller, 12. Mike Lisowski, 13. Joe Funk, 14. Erik Renninger, 15. Mark Kemmerer, 16. Josh Adams, 17. Jason Neidlinger, 18. Paul Houseknecht, 19. Brad Arnold, 20. Ken Eckert Jr., 21. Kyle Lilick, 22. John McGovern, 23. Paul Effrig, 24. Allyssa Fogel. DNQ: Pat Conrad, Mike Koffel and Brandon Whitmoyer.

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. For information telephone 610.754.7688 or check in at www.grandviewspeedway.com, Twitter@GrandviewSpeedway and www.facebook.com/grandviewspeedway.

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MODIFIEDS AS OF APRIL 11, 2015