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WELSH AND STRUNK SURVIVE WILD NIGHT AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY




BECHTELSVILLE, PA June 13, 2004 . . . There was no full moon but the on-track action at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night would have made you think there was a full moon. Jeff Strunk managed to survive a wild altercation in turn three with two laps to go that took out race leader Bobby Trapper as the top three tried to squeeze into a space made for just two racers and ride to victory in the 30-lap NASCAR Modified feature race. The win in the Scott Powersports sponsored Modified feature was the second of the season for the defending NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified champion. Kevin Welsh chased down Ed Aikin, who had lead just about all the feature laps, and took the lead with just two laps to go in the 25-lap United Racing Club sprint car feature race and rode to victory.

The Modified feature had Bobby Trapper coming from second to take the lead early. At the three lap marker point leader Craig VonDohren, Meme DeSantis and others were involved in a fourth turn fracas with both of them going to the back of the 29 car starting field. Trapper, who calls Scranton, PA home, kept his BPG Racing #66 in front of the pack lap-after-lap. Donny Erb and Mike Gular challenged often.

With just two laps remaining Trapper, Mike Gular and Jeff Strunk went three wide in the third turn with Trapper ending up in the infield with a rumpled race car and Jeff Strunk in the lead. Mike Gular was sent to the rear of the field getting blamed for the incident but officials rethought the penalty and put Gular back in second on the restart.

Bethel, PA based Strunk managed to hold off the strong efforts of Gular in the final two laps and earn his second win of the season for the Chad Sinon Motorsports team. Gular (Harleysville) got second followed by Donny Erb (Douglassville) in his best effort of the season. Craig VonDohren (Oley) maintained his lead in the chase for the Modified title with a fourth place finish coming from the tail end of the pack. And Shawn Reimert (Oley) earned fifth.

In the 25-lap feature for United Racing Club sprint cars it two red flag incidents in turn three to get the first lap completed. Ed Aikin, a former modified and late model racer at Grandview, took command early and looked as if he would be able to earn his second URC sprint car feature victory at Grandview. Dave Ely pressured Aikin for much of the race running the high groove. At the 17 lap marker Ely put his mount in front of the pack with Curt Michaels, coming from way in the back of the starting field, coming up to challenge. At the 21 lap marker Ely and Michaels tangled in turn three bringing out the caution and putting Akin and his Three S Electric #16A back in front.

Two laps later with just two to go Aikin relinguished the lead to a fleet running Kevin Welsh who went on to victory. The win was the second of the season for the Far Hills, NJ racer. Second spot went to Aikin (Lincoln University, PA) followed by Josh Weller (Mertztown, PA), Dave McGough (Sassamansville, PA) and Sean Michael (Allentown, PA). More than 40 laps were run under caution during the 25-lap feature race.

Qualifying event wins for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds went to Craig VonDohren, Jeff Strunk, Rick Schaffer, Doug Manmiller and Mike Bailey. Consolation wins were earned by Kerry Kratz, Todd Marburger and Tracy Readinger. The Cheers Tavern Cash Dash went to VonDohren.

In the URC qualifying heat races wins were earned by Pete Green, Bill Brian and Josh Weller while the B-Main went to Tim Hogue in his Tastykakes sponsored entry. Thirty sprint cars were on hand for the only regular Saturday night appearance of the URC sprints at Grandview Speedway.

Stock car racing action, featuring the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds and ShorTrack Late Models, returns to the Berks County racing facility on Saturday, June 19th with the entire night of racing, at least 13 events of stock car racing, being sponsored by Zuber Realty of Boyertown, PA.

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.

SCOTT POWERSPORTS NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES 30-LAP MODIFIED FEATURE: 1.Jeff Strunk 2. Mike Gular 3. Donny Erb 4. Craig VonDohren 5. Shawn Reimert 6. Cliff Quinn 7. Kevin Hartnett 8. Jon Kellner Sr. 9. Kenny Gilmore 10. Meme DeSantis 11. Mike Bailey 12.Keith Brightbill 13. Kerry Kratz 14. Tracy Readinger 15, Barry Readinger 16. Terry Meitzler 17.Jason Smythe 18.John Willman (the rest of did not finish) 19.Ed Scott 20.Dale Hartz 21.Bobby Trapper 22.Jon Kellner Jr. 23.John Tschudy 24.Ray Swinehart 25.Doug Manmiller 26.Rick Schaffer 27.Todd Marburger 28.Danny Erb 29. Steve Swinehart

SCOTT POWERS URC 25-LAP SPRINT CAR FEATURE: 1.Kevin Welsh 2.Ed Aikin 3.Josh Weller 4.Dave McGough 5. Sean Michael 6.Matt Gerber 7.Jon Eldreth 8.Chris Coyle 9. Gary Gollub 10.Tim Hogue 11.Cliff Brian 12. Mike Kostic 13. Ashley Parlett 14.Dave Ely 15.Curt Michaels 16.Justin Collett 17.Pete Green 18.Kramer Williamson 19.Mike Haggenbottom 20. Randy West 21. Brian Seidel 22.Junior Martin 23.Scott Purcell 24.Bill Brian 25. Jason Clauss.