STEVE SWINEHART AND RON KLINE WIN FEATURES AT GRANDVIEW
Bechtelsville, PA May 9, 2004 . . . The temperature may have been very chilly but the on track action was very hot as Steve Swinehart, son of former track champion Ray Swinehart, was able to earn his first career victory in the 30-lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified feature race at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night. And Ron Kline had his hands full as he drove to his second NASCAR ShorTrack Late Model 20-lap feature victory.
Mike Bailey lead the 28 car modified starting field to the green flag and set the pace for three laps. A multi car accident put Craig VonDohren, Mike Gular and Meme DeSantis at the back of the field. On the restart John Willman, having tough luck early in the season, put his Hampton Bros. Truck Repair #74W in front of the field. And at eight laps, on a caution restart, Steve Swinehart brought the Dames Chevy/J&L Speed Equipment #33 to the front of the pack with Ryan Watt chasing and also seeking his first career win.
Swinehart, who calls Bechtelsville home, had his hands full with Watt trying high and low to get by. With 28 laps in the record book Watt had a tire go down and had to drop out of the main event while on the same lap Mike Bailey, who had spent most of the feature running the top five, had mechanical problems sideline him.
The final two laps saw Willman (Birdsboro) put extreme pressure on the fleet running Swinehart but at the finish line the veteran racer had to settle for second to the second year racing talent Swinehart. Third spot went to Jeff Strunk (Bethel) in a brilliant charge through the field after having had to go to the rear of the 28 car starting field on the fourth lap. Rick Schaffer (Woxall) finished fourth followed by Danny Erb (Boyertown). VonDohren moved to the front in the chase for the lucrative Modified point championship as Meme DeSantis, the point leader at the start of the night, had a problem night and finished 20th.
In the NASCAR ShorTrack Late Model feature it was Steve Sennott starting on the pole with Sennott and John Giesler going side by side for the first two laps. With just two laps in the book defending champion Randy Stoudt and Chris Shuey (winner of two features already this season) were eliminated in a multi car accident in the first turn.
With six laps complete Harry Neiman shot to the front of the pack after a side by side battle with Giesler. And the nine lap marker saw Kline bring his Zern’s Market/Lopez Plaster & Stucco sponsored #3 to the front of the field. Kline (Salfordville) set the pace for the balance of the 20-lap main event but had strong challenges from second place finish Steve Sennott (Gilbertsville) with Chuck Schutz (Pottstown) coming on strong to finish third. In fourth spot was Harry Neiman (Bower Beach, Delaware) followed by Junior Grebe (Gilbertsville). Schutz continues to lead the Late Model point chase by virtue of his third place finish.
Qualifying heat races in the Late Models were won by John Giesler, Harry Neiman and Brian Shuey. The consolation race went to Rick Todorow and the Jim Brown Cash Dash was won by Brian Shuey.
In qualifying events for the NASCAR Modifieds victories were earned by Craig VonDohren, Steve Swinehart, Kenny Gilmore and Doug Manmiller. The consolation races had Kerry Kratz and Shawn Reimert as the winners while VonDohren won the Cheers Tavern Cash Dash.
Coming up on Saturday, May 15th, 7:30 p.m. Waste Management will sponsor a full night of NASCAR sanctioned Modifieds and Late Model stock car racing show with at least 13 events of stock car racing. The modifieds top the Waste Management program with a 30-lap feature (29 starters) and Late Models are featured in a 20 lap main event starting 26 cars.
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 Modified Feature – 30 laps:1.Steve Swinehart 2. John Willman 3. Jeff Strunk 4. Rick Schaffer 5. Danny Erb 6. Doug Manmiller 7. Terry Meitzler 8. Craig VonDohren 9. Keith Brightbill 10.Kevin Hartnett 11. Kenny Gilmore 12. Ray Swinehart 13.Kerry Kratz 14.Mike Gular 15. Shawn Reimert 16.Tracy Readinger 17. Kyle Weiss 18. Jon Kellner Jr. 19.Jimmy Reppert 20.Meme DeSantis 21.Bobby Trapper 22. Brad Missimer 23. Greg Humlhanz 24.Ryan Watt 25.Mike Bailey 26.John Kellner Sr. 27.Todd Marburger 28.Barry Readinger
NASCAR Dodge Weekly ShorTrack Late Model Feature – 20 laps:1. Ron Kline 2. Steve Sennott 3.Chuck Schutz 4.Harry Neiman 5. Junior Grebe 6. Brian Shuey 7. John Giesler 8. Dean Schaeffer 9.Lou Egrie 10. Dave Conover 11.Rick Todorow 12.Dean Stoudt 13.Mike Steinmetz 14.Terry Snyder 15.Steve Todorow 16.Chris Wojnar 17. Jesse Willman 18.Steve Weikel 19. Doug Walton 20. Mike Wunderlich 21. Jason Miller 22. Mike Kellner 23.Buddy Wharton 24. Randy Stoudt 25.Chris Shuey 26. Lee Miller.