THUNDER ON THE HILL DOUBLEHEADER AS RAHMER & STRUNK SPLIT VICTORIES
BECHTELSVILLE, PA AUGUST 29, 2004 . . . . Fred Rahmer, of Salfordville, PA continued his winning ways in Sunday night's CARQUEST Auto Parts sponsored Thunder on the Hill 35-lap 410 Sprint car feature at Grandview Speedway. Hometown favorite Jeff Strunk of Bechtelsville, PA captured his eighth overall win of the season, winning the 25-lap BPG/Chad Sinon Motorsports COMDIAL Telephone Communications DIRT Southeast Big Block Modified Series event. The win for Rahmer was his seventh career Thunder victory which also earned him the 2004 Thunder Series Title. Rahmer was the Thunder on the Hill Series Champion in 1997 and for the big crowd that was on hand at Grandview, it was a favorable win.
Front row starter Greg Hodnett of Memphis, TN dropped from competition before the completion of lap one of the sprint car feature with motor trouble. Rahmer, who started third quickly moved by Mark Smith and Lance Dewease to lead the first lap and would never look back in his fourth win of the weekend in the Joe Harz Racing No. 88H sprinter.
Rahmer caught the rear of the field on lap seven as Smith raced in the runner-up spot through the duration of the feature. Smith would close on the leader in an open track but Rahmer used slower traffic to his advantage and opened up a lead.
Dewease, running third brought out the only yellow of the feature on lap 33 when his car stopped in turn two. Dewease made contact with the front-stretch wall earlier in the race. Rahmer and Smith were separated by a lapped car on the 33rd lap restart and it was all Rahmer driving to his twenty-seventh win on the season. Smith was second over Brian Leppo, Chad Layton and Dave Cordier, Jr. Kevin Drury, Kevin Nouse, Blaine Heimbach, Dave Hahn and Dewease finished out of the top 10 finishers.
Mark Smith and Lance Dewease were heat race winners and it was Smith that also won the Go for the Pole 8 lap Dash.
At the start of the 25 lap DIRT SE modified feature, Jeff Strunk set the pace for the first two laps before the first of several cautions were displayed. Duane Howard took the lead from Strunk on a third lap restart and maintained the top spot through three more yellow flags Howard stayed out front until a lap 14 restart when Strunk regained the top spot.
Frank Cozze moved into the runner-up spot on lap fifteen and battled with Strunk for the top spot but it was Strunk driving to this second straight win of the weekend in the BPG Chad Sinon Motorsports No. 88. Cozze finished a strong second over Duane Howard with Keith Hoffman taking fourth and twelfth place starter Donnie Radd completed the top five.
Heats for the Modifieds went to Jeff Strunk, Doug Manmiller and Howard. Strunk also won the eight lap Go For the Pole Dash.
The Thunder on the Hill Racing Series FANFEST was another big success as the crowd was invited to "Meet and Greet" the big block modified starting field on the homestretch. Several hundred spectators walk the homestretch and collected autographs of their favorite drivers in this "up close" interactive event bringing together the fans, cars and drivers. From the center of the main grandstand, the crowd called out those famous words in auto racing. . .Gentlemen, start your engines. With a loud roar, the big block modifieds fired and pulled off the starting grid. With fireworks lighting the sky, the big block Modifieds took the green flag to start the twenty-five lap feature event.
Results
MODIFIEDS
Heat 1 - Jeff Strunk, Kyle Strickler, Keith Hoffman, Frank Cozze, Ray Swinehart, John Willman, Bob Trapper
Heat 2 - Doug Manmiller, Craig Von Dohren, Jimmy Horton, Jon Kellner, Kenny Brightbill, Tom Pompei, Bill Devine
Heat 3 - Duane Howard, Kevin Hirthler, Shawn Reimert, Donny Radd, Brad Missimer, MeMe DeSantis, Amanda Spotts DNS-Mike Gular
GO FOR THE POLE DASH Strunk, Howard, Manmiller, Strickler, Hoffman, VonDohren, Horton, Hirthler, Reimert
DIRT SOUTHEAST SERIES MODIFIED FEATURE - 25 LAPS 1. Jeff Strunk, 2. Frank Cozze, 3. Duane Howard, 4. Keith Hoffman, 5. Donnie Radd, 6. Craig VonDohren, 7. Ray Swinehart, 8. Kenny Brightbill, 9. Kyle Strickler, 10. Mike Gular, 11. Bill Devine, 12. Tom Pompei, 13. Brad Missmer, 1, Shawn Reimert, 15. Jimmy Horton, 16. Jon Kellner, Sr., 17. Kevin Hirthler, 18. John Willman, 19. Bob Trapper, 20. Meme Desantis, 21. Doug Manmiller, 22. Amanda Spotts.
410 SPRINTS
Heat 1 - Mark Smith, Greg Hodnett, Brian Leppo, Fred Rahmer, Kevin Nouse, Blaine Heimbach, Kevin Drury DNS-Sam Schlossberg
Heat 2 - Lance Dewease, Dave Hahn, Chad Layton, Dave Cordier Jr,, Scott Lutz, Phil Weinsteiger Jr,, Alan Cole
GO FOR THE POLE DASH Smith, Hodnett, Rahmer, Dewease, Layton, Leppo, Hahn, Cordier
410 SPRINT A-MAIN 1. Fred Rahmer, 2. Mark Smith, 3. Brian Leppo, 4. Chad Layton, 5. Dave Cordier, 6. Kevin Drury, 7. Kevin Nouse, 8. Blaine Heimbach, 9. Dave Hahn, 10. Lance Dewease, 11. Scott Lutz, 12. Alan Cole, 13. Greg Hodnett.
Did Not Start: Sam Schlosberg, Phil Weinsteiger, Jr.
The season finale for the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series will take place on Saturday, October 16 with the Grandview THUNDER 5-25's and House of Thunder Halloween Party. Race time is set for 6 PM and will present a "features only" format to include the DIRT SE Big Block Modifieds, NASCAR Modifieds, URC Sprints, Late Models and Keystone Legends.