KELLNER, SR.,DESANTIS AND MILLER ARE GRANDVIEW FEATURE WINNERS ON SATURDAY NIGHT
Bechtelsville, PA May 23, 2004 . . . Jon Kellner, Sr. and Meme DeSantis, two veteran campaigners, took home the victories in the two 30-lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified stock car feature races at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night. And it was Lee Miller grabbing his first feature win in the 20-lap main event for the NASCAR ShorTrack Late Models.
Ron Solomon, Jr. put his No. 22 Forge Gate Towing entry in front of the pack when the green dropped for the 30-lap Waste Management Modified feature race. At lap five Sean Merkel his racer bringing out a red flag. Merkel was not injured and on the restart Ron Seltman took control of the race. The first 12 laps of the feature resembled a demolition derby with at least a dozen cautions dotting the program. All the cautions kept the field close and gave Jon Kellner Sr. the opportunity to challenge Seltman and then take command of the main event. At 15 laps Kellner (Lansale) was in front of Seltman with Ron Solomon puffing smoke and dropping back.
Kellner, wheeling the Hutt’s Glass/Pit Stop Restaurant #85AM, who had struggled through some early season tough luck, had luck go his way on this night as he held on to the top spot right to the checkered flag. Fan attention in the final laps was centered on the three car battle between DeSantis, Rick Schaffer and Jeff Strunk with three of them side-by-side on the final lap. DeSantis (Temple) made a strong charge to grab second having started the feature race in 22nd spot. Rick Schaffer (Woxall) got third followed by Jeff Strunk (Bethel) and Ray Swinehart (Bechtelsville).
In the second 30-lapper, the J&L Speed Equipment sponsored feature for the NASCAR Modifieds, Mike Bailey was in front of the pack at the start and seemed to have complete control with Barry Readinger running second. At the 14 lap marker Bailey, trying to avoid a racer coming out of the infield, lost control and ended up nose first in the second turn wall. On the restart after the caution Barry Readinger was in front with Shawn Reimert chasing him. With 17 laps in the record book Cliff Quinn put his ABE Care Care #69 in front. And just two laps later Meme DeSantis, coming from 11th, was knocking on Quinn’s rear bumper. And at 20 laps DeSantis, driving the Norm’s Save Station #357, took the lead and set the pace for the balance of the event. Second spot was earned by multi time champion Craig VonDohren (Oley) followed by Jeff Strunk, Shawn Reimert (Oley) and Kerry Kratz (Bechtelsville).
The 20-lap J&L Speed Equipment feature for the Late Models was run off quickly with Lee Miller (New Tripoli) putting his Lee Miller Used Cars & Trucks #56 in front at the start and leading all the laps. Ron Kline, a two feature winner from Salfordville, came on strong in the closing laps to give Miller some pressure at the finish. Third spot was earned by Steve Sennott (Gilbertsville) who chased the winner for much of the 20-lap feature. Lou Egrie (Willow Grove) was fourth and Jason Miller (Lee’s son) came home fifth.
Consolation events left from the rained out show of May 15th were won by Jeff Strunk, Meme DeSantis and Jon Kellner Jr. while the Cheers Tavern Cash Dash for Modifieds went to Kevin Hartnett.
In the qualifying events for the J&L Speed Equipment sponsored night wins for the Modifieds went to Ken Gilmore, Barry Readinger, Rick Schaffer, Meme DeSantis and Mike Gular. Consolation victories were earned by Terry Meitzler, Kevin Hartnett and Kyle Weiss while the Cheers Tavern Cash Dash went to Meme DeSantis.
In Late Model qualifying the victories went to Chris Shuey, Junior Grebe and Ron Kline while Dave Conover got the consolation win. Chris Shuey earned the win in the Jim Brown Cash Dash.
Coming up on Saturday, May 29th, 7 p.m. Rossi Welding of Reading will sponsor an extra full night of NASCAR sanctioned Modifieds and Late Model stock car racing show with at least 13 events of stock car racing. The Late Models will be featured in two 20-lap features and the NASCAR Modifieds will top the show with a 30-lap main event.
PATRIOTIC FANS CAN WIN A RIDE IN THE TWO SEAT MODIFIED. A man and woman will have the opportunity to win a ride in the two seat modified stock car if they are judged the best appearing in the Patriotic attire contest being presented in honor of Memorial Day. In addition they will appear in victory lane with the Modified feature winner.
The first 25 fans showing up with copies of their Grandview Speedway FAN NEWS will be able to trade them in for a FREE copy of the Grandview Groove track magazine. Check in at www.grandviewspeedway.com to sign up for the track mailing list.
And on Sunday, May 30th the World of Outlaw sprint cars and DIRT Motorsports Big Block Southeast Series tour will be featured in a doubleheader sponsored by BPG Racing and Chad Simon Motorsports.
It has also been announced that raffle tickets are now on sale for the Grandview Speedway Champion’s Trip. Just 175 tickets will be made available selling at $20 each. The winner will be drawn at the THProperties Freedom 76 race in September. The winner will receive a trip for two to Aruba with Grandview’s Modified champion, valued at more than $3000.
In addition each feature winner of a Saturday night NASCAR stock car racing event will get a free chance courtesy of Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc. publisher of the Grandview Grove track magazine. That means the more a driver wins the more chances he has of winning the trip. Tickets are available at the track.
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.
Waste Management NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified Feature – 30 laps: 1. Jon Kellner, Sr. 2. Meme DeSantis 3. Rick Schaffer 4. Jeff Strunk 5. Ray Swinerhart 6. Kenny Gilmore 7. Craig VonDohren 8. Tracy Readinger 9. Billy Pauch Jr. 10. Danny Erb 11.Keith Brightbill 12.Kevin Hartnett 13. Craig Whitmoyer 14.Doug Manmiller 15.Ryan Watt 16.Barry Readinger 17.Ron Solomon Jr. 18.Mike Gular 19.Ron Seltman 20.Kerry Kratz 21.Jon Kellner, Jr. 22. Shawn Reimert 23. Bobby Trapper 24.Donny Erb 25.Jason Smythe 26.Kyle Weiss 27.Cliff Quinn 28.Mike Bailey 29.Sean Merkel.
J&L Speed Equipment NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified Feature – 30 laps: 1.Meme DeSantis 2.Craig VonDohren 3.Jeff Strunk 4. Shawn Reimert 5. Kerry Kratz 6. Jon Kellner Sr. 7.Keith Brightbill 8.Rick Schaffer 9. Cliff Quinn 10.Tracy Readinger 11. John Willman 12.Kevin Hartnett 13.Danny Erb 14.Donny Erb 15. Ray Swinehart 16.Jimmy Reppert 17.Billy Pauch Jr. 18.Todd Marburger 19.Steve Swinehart 20.Todd Smith 21.Ed Scott 22. Doug Manmiller 23.Kyle Weiss 24.Terry Meitzler 25.Mike Gular 26. Tommy Sheetz Jr. 27.Barry Readinger 28. Mike Bailey 29. Kenny Gilmore.
J&L Speed Equipment NASCAR Dodge Weekly ShorTrack Late Model Feature – 20 laps: 1. Lee Miller 2.Ron Kline 3. Steve Sennott 4. Lou Egrie 5. Jason Miller 6.John Giesler 7.Brian Shuey 8.Randy Stoudt 9. Terry Snyder 10. Harry Neiman 11. Rick Todorow 12. Dean Stoudt 13.Steve Todorow 14.Chuck Schutz 15.Dave Conover 16.Doug Walton 17. Kyle Pensinger 18.Mike Wunderlich 19.Chris Wojnar 20.Chris Shuey 21.Chuck Keely 22. Dean Schaeffer 23.Buddy Wharton 24.Mike Kellner 25. Junior Grebe 26.Mike Steinmetz.