HODNETT & HEARN SPLIT THUNDER VICTORIES WEDNESDAY AT GRANDVIEW

BECHTELSVILLE, PA JULY 16, 2003 . . . . . . . The NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Series returned to action on Wednesday night at the Grandview Speedway. This event was certainly no regular Saturday night race on a Wednesday night, this was the COMDIAL BIG SHOW 2, filled with the top names in both the modified and sprint car ranks. A purse in excess of $34,000 was up for grabs.

Greg Hodnett continued his winning ways in 410 Sprint car racing picking up his second straight Thunder on the Hill win and his fourth career Thunder victory. The Memphis, Tenn. driver won the 35-lap Sprint car portion of the second annual BIG SHOW and earned a hefty $4,000 pay check.

Brett "the Corporate Jet" Hearn of Sussex, NJ dominated the 35-lap Big Block Modified portion of the BIG SHOW . It was Hearn's second win in his last two appearances at the Grandview. For Hearn, the win was worth $3,000. . Hodnett stuck his nose under Fast Freddie Rahmer following a lap 22 yellow flag and then held on for the win, driving the familiar Apple Motorsports sprint car. . "Rahmer does a good job protecting his lead but I had a really good run around the top of one and two and was able to sneak under him in three and that made the difference," said Hodnett, a 15-time winner in sprint car racing this season. "My guys work so hard and it makes my job real easy."

Dave Cordier jumped into the early lead from his front row starting spot with Chad Layton moving into second spot on lap two. Rahmer, who started 7th was up to fourth by lap three then took third a lap later. Hodnett started 8th in the field and was racing fifth by lap four as Rahmer continued his charge to the front. Rahmer took second from Layton with seven laps complete and set his sights on the leader.

Adrian Shaffer's flip in turn four brought out the red flag on the eighth lap. Cordier set the pace through lap 14 when Rahmer took the lead with a move off turn two while Hodnett also moved by Cordier in the fourth turn to complete that lap.

Hodnett chased Rahmer around the bullring until taking advantage of the lap 22 yellow flag. when he stuck the "Red Rocket" underneath Fast Freddie in turn three to take the top spot.

Hodnett went unchallenged over the final 13 laps to win his fourth career Thunder on the Hill series event over Rahmer of Salfordville PA, Fayetteville, PA's Lance Dewease, Layton of Harrisburg PA and Coplay's Sean Michael. Sixthe through 10th were Len Thompson, Kevin Drury, Cordier, Trevor Lewis and Jason Hagenbuch.

Hearn started on the pole of the modified event by luck of the draw and went virtually unchallenged to the checkered flag. He was challenged only briefly on restarts. "I hope this is a good tuneup for the next one here," stated Hearn. That's a points race so this was a good way to get prepared. I figured this would happen because we were planning to retire this car. But it felt great all night. It could go anywhere I put it on the track." Tim Fuller moved in to challenge Hearn only to suffer a flat tire on the 19th lap. Danny Johnson, Doug Manmiller and Jimmy Horton provided some competition for the second spot but it was all Hearn up front. Jimmy Horton finished second over Manmiller, Jamie Mills, Jeff Strunk, Keith Brightbill, Jon Kellner, Ray Swinehart, Ricky Elliott and Craig VonDohren.

Modified Heats- - 1st Heat - -Kyle Strickler, Keith Brightibill, Rick Schaffer, Kevin Hirthler, Craig VonDohren. 2nd Heat- - Ricky Elliott, Danny Johnson, Jimmy Horton, Alan Rudalavage, Jamie Mills 3rd Heat- - Tim Fuller, Brett Hearn, Rick Laubach, Brian Kressley, Shawn Reimnert 4th Heat- -John Kellner Sr., Doug Manmiller, Mike Gular, Jim Reppert Jr., Jeff Strunk.

Sprints- -1st Heat Chad Layton, Kevin Drury, Dave Cordier Jr, Kevin Welsh. 2nd Heat Greg Hodnett, Fred Rahmer, Jason Hagenbuch, Lance Dewease 1st Modified Consi--Danny Heiber, Meme DeSantis, 2nd Modified Consi--Ray Swinehart, Joe Dekutoski