POINT CHASE TIGHTENS FOR MODIFIEDS AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY. FEATURE WINS GO TO DOUG MANMILLER AND RANDY STOUDT

BECHTELSVILLE, PA July 10, 2004 . . . Standing in victory lane on Saturday night at Grandview Speedway after winning the 30-lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified feature race Doug Manmiller gave a lot of credit for the victory to a “trip to the beach.” And it was Randy Stoudt shaking off a few weeks of tough luck to win the 20-lap NASCAR ShorTrack Late Model feature race.

Manmiller, who calls Wyomissing home, was at the wheel of the American Dental Services #00, as he charged from a sixth place starting position to grab the top spot from early leader Jimmy Reppert on the sixth lap. Once in front of the 28 car starting field Manmiller had his work cut out for him as he held off challenges from multi time champion Craig VonDohren and ran side-by-side with Jeff Strunk for several laps in the late stages of the 30-lap feature race.

Manmiller and VonDohren had a one-two battle going on up to the 21st lap when Strunk was able to charge under VonDohren in turn one to take second spot. For the rest of the race it was Manmiller and Strunk putting on a show that had fans standing and cheering for their favorites. At the finish Strunk had to settle for second by just a narrow margin to the quick running Manmiller who had also won the NASCAR Modified feature the night before at Big Diamond Raceway.

In victory lane Manmiller, coming off a long string of bad luck, acknowledged that the team had some tough luck this season. “ I went to the beach (Jersey shore) looking for some luck. And it looks like I brought some home,” said Manmiller. “I told the crew that I was going to the beach to try to change our luck and it seems to have worked.”

Second spot went to Jeff Strunk (Bethel) and that moved him in front in the battle for the track championship. Strunk is seeking his fourth track title. Craig VonDohren (Oley) ran third and moved into second spot in the point chase. Terry Mietzler (Kutztown) earned a strong fourth place finish followed by Barry Readinger (Fleetwood).

Meme DeSantis, the point leader at the beginning of the night, had a disastrous night having been involved in a couple early race incidents that put him to the back of the pack. DeSantis finished 13th in the feature race but dropped from first to third in the current Modified point standings.

Buddy Wharton was the man to beat as he set the early pace from his pole position starting spot. And for five laps it was Wharton in front of the 25 car starting field. Randy Stoudt, defending Late Model champion, came from 10th starting spot to grab the lead on the sixth circuit of the one-third-mile banked clay oval. A mid-race caution for an accident in the third turn allowed Brian Shuey to move up to challenge Stoudt and at one time Shuey actually was the leader. However on the 14th circuit Stoudt, who hails from Pottstown, was back in front to stay and made it look easy as he rode to victory.

Chuck Schutz (Pottstown), winner of the Firecracker 40 the previous week, may have made Stoudt nervous in the closing laps as he challenged but had to settle for second. Third spot went to Shuey (Orefield) followed by Steve Sennott (Gilbertsville) and Doug Walton (Royersford).

Schutz was able to hold on to his top spot in the chase for the Late Model championship…..something that he has won once before.

Qualifying event victories in the Late Models were earned by Doug Walton, Randy Stoudt and Kelly Snyder. The Jim Brown Cash Dash was won by Randy Stoudt make a clean sweep night for the talented racer.

In the qualifying heat races for the Modifieds wins went to Doug Manmiller, Barry Readinger, Craig VonDohren and Meme DeSantis. The consolation races were won by Chris Esposito and Ray Swinehart. Doug Manmiller also had a clean sweep night as he won the Cheers Tavern 3-lap Cash Dash.

Fans and racers are reminded that raffle tickets are now available that could win them a trip for two as part of the annual Champion’s Trip in late November. This year the trip goes to Aruba for eight days and seven nights. Raffle tickets for the trip (the trip is valued at more than $3000 and is for two people) are priced at $20.00 each. Just 150 tickets are being sold. Each stock car feature winner on Saturday nights receives a free chance on the trip courtesy of Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc.

Coming up on Saturday, July 17, 7:30 p.m. it will be Deka Batteries Night at Grandview Speedway featuring at least 13 events of NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified and Late Model stock car racing.

Grandview Speedway is a one-third-mile, banked clay oval, NASCAR sanctioned, located on Passmore Road, just off Route 100, in Bechtelsville, PA, 10 miles north of Pottstown. For race information telephone 610.754.7688 or visit their website at www.grandviewspeedway.com. For information on marketing opportunities at Grandview Speedway telephone Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc. at 215.752.7797 or email Esaxton144@aol.com.

NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES DODGE MOTORSPORTS NIGHT MODIFIEDS..30 LAPS:1.Doug Manmiller 2. Jeff Strunk 3. Craig VonDohren 4. Terry Meitzler 5. Barry Readinger 6. Donny Erb 7.Kevin Hartnett 8. John Willman 9. Shawn Reimert 10.Rick Schaffer 11.Bobby Trapper 12.Jon Kellner Sr. 13.Meme DeSantis 14.John Tschudy 15.Mike Bailey 16.Ray Swinehart 17.Ron Seltman 18.Ed Scott 19.Jimmy Reppert 20.Greg Humlhanz 21.Chris Esposito 22.Todd Marburger 23.Danny Erb 24.Keith Brightbill 25.Cliff Quinn 26.Kyle Weiss 27.Junior Mikosz 28. Kenny Gilmore

NASCAR SHORTRACK DODGE MOTORSPORTS NIGHT LATE MODELS – 20 LAPS:1.Randy Stoudt 2.Chuck Schutz 3. Brian Shuey 4. Steve Sennott 5.Doug Walton 6. John Geisler 7.Dean Schaeffer 8.Steve Todorow 9.Mike Kellner 10.Terry Snyder 11.Kyle Pensinger 12.Dean Stoudt 13.Kelly Snyder 14. Mike Wunderlich Jr. 15.Ted Szymborski 16.Dan Keely 17.Steve Szymborski 18. Buddy Wharton 19.Jesse Willman 20. Ron Kline 21.Lou Egrie 22.Junior Grebe 23.Mike Steinmetz 24. Chris Wojnar 25.Rick Todorow.