JEFF STRUNK AND JUNIOR GREBE TAKE WINS AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY
BECHTELSVILLE, PA JUNE 26, 2004 . . . Three time track Modified champion Jeff Strunk (Bethel) charged from 20th starting spot to win the 30-lap Harry’s U-Pull-It Auto Parts NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified stock car race at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night. In the 20-lap main event for NASCAR ShorTrack Late Models the win was taken by Junior Grebe (Gilbertsville) giving him his first visit to victory lane since June 2004.
The 28-car starting field for the 30-lap Modified feature race had Ron Seltman charging to the front at the drop of the green. Current point leader Craig VonDohren got a strong fan reaction when he headed to the pits on the 7th lap with mechanical problems. At the nine lap marker a multi car accident brought out the caution and on the restart Jon Kellner, Sr., who had been right on the rear of Seltman, was able to charge to the front. For several laps it looked as if Kellner would be able to make his third visit of the season to victory lane.
With 23 laps completed Strunk, wheeling the BPG Racing/Chad Sinon Motorsports #88, had worked his way into second place and was looking for an opportunity to get by Kellner. Opportunity knocked on the 24th lap with a caution coming out. On the restart Strunk out powered Kellner coming off the fourth turn and was able to take over the top spot and lead the balance of the race to get his third feature win of the season.
Second spot went to Kellner (Lansdale) followed by Meme DeSantis (Temple), Mike Gular (Harleysville) came from 18th for fourth and it was former champion Terry Meitzler (Kutztown) getting fifth.
With VonDohren, a multi time champion at the Berks County oval, dropping out of the feature both DeSantis (now second in the standings) and Strunk (third in the point chase) were able to close up on the point leader considerably.
The 20-lap main event for Late Models started 26 cars with Kyle Pensinger leading the field to the green flag. Pensinger was able to set the pace for first four laps. However on a fifth lap restart after a caution Pensinger, apparently having some mechanical problem, spun in front of the field creating a multi car accident. On the restart after the caution for the wreck Junior Grebe, coming from third starting spot, took the lead and was able to win the feature with a “comfortable effort”.
For Grebe, at the wheel of his Zern’s Market/Carr’s Seafood #73, it was his first Late Model feature victory since June 24, 2000. Second spot went to Ron Kline (Salfordville) followed by defending Late Model champion Randy Stoudt (Pottstown), former champion Chuck Schutz (Pottstown) and two time former champion Lou Egrie (Willow Grove).
Qualifying event wins for the Modifieds went to Craig VonDohren, Bobby Trapper, Tracy Readinger and Ron Seltman. The consolation races were won by Sean Merkel and Kevin Hartnett. Tracy Readinger earned the Cheer’s Tavern Cash Dash victory.
In Late Model qualifiers victories were earned by Junior Grebe, Harry Neiman and Doug Walton while the consolation race was won by Hal Browning. The Jim Brown Cash Dash went to Grebe giving him a clean sweep for the night.
Fans and racers are reminded that raffle tickets are now available that could allow you and a guest to be 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 feature stock car feature winner on Saturday nights receives a free chance on the trip courtesy of Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc.
On Saturday, July 3nd, 7:30 p.m. the annual Firecracker 40 for Late Models, run in honor of long time employee Jerry Glase who lost a battle with cancer, and a full show of NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds will be presented. This is the biggest event of the season for the Late Model stock car racers. Auto Locator Magazine will be providing bonus bucks for heat winners in both divisions along with the feature winners and the hard charger award winners.
Coming up on Saturday, July 10th, 7:30 p.m. it will be Dodge Motorsports 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.
HARRY’S U-PULL-IT AUTO PARTS NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES MODIFIED FEATURE 30 LAPS: 1.Jeff Strunk 2. Jon Kellner Sr. 3. Meme DeSantis 4. Mike Gular 5. Terry Meitzler 6. Tracy Readinger 7.Kevin Hartnett 8.Kenny Gilmore 9.Keith Brightbill 10.Kyle Weiss 11.Shawn Reimert 12. Ron Seltman 13.Ray Swinehart 14.Bobby Trapper 15. Danny Erb 16. Jason Smythe 17.John Tschudy 18.Ed Scott 19.Doug Manmiller 20.Larry Solomon 21. Cliff Quinn 22. Sean Merkel 23. John Willman 24. Jon Kellner Jr. 25.Craig VonDohren 26. Rick Schaffer 27. Mike Bailey 28. Donny Erb
HARRY’S U-PULL-IT AUTO PARTS NASCAR SHORTRACK LATE MODELS..20 LAPS:1. Junior Grebe 2. Ron Kline 3. Randy Stoudt 4. Chuck Schutz 5. Lou Egrie 6. Brian Shuey 7.Doug Walton 8. Dean Schaeffer 9. Chris Shuey 10. Rick Todorow 11.Dean Stoudt 12.Mike Kellner 13.Greg Hoffmaster 14.Terry Snyder 15.Buddy Wharton 16.Steve Szymborski 17.Chris Wojnar 18.Kyle Pensinger 19.Harry Neiman 20.Kelly Snyder 21.Hal Browning 22.Steve Sennott 23. Mike Steinmetz 24.John Giesler 25. Jason Miller 26.Ted Szymborksi.