MANMILLER WINS NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE WHILE MA NATURE

CANCELS LATE MODEL FEATURE AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY

BECHTELSVILLE, PA JUNE 30, 2001 . . . Doug Manmiller of

Sinking Spring, PA drove to victory in the 30-lap NASCAR

Modified stock car feature race at Grandview Speedway on

Saturday night. For Manmiller and the GMI Mechanical

Solutions, it was the first win since July, 1994 and brought

Manmiller's career win total at Grandview to 4. The companion

20-lapper for NASCAR Late Model feature was postponed when

lightning, thunder and heavy rain hit the speedway as the

feature field was being lined up. The Late Model event will

be part of the July 14th, Deka Batteries Night which will

also include a Rothrock Motors (Allentown) Cash Dash for the

Late Model racers.

An excited, very excited, Doug Manmiller, in victory

lane, thanked his crew, his family, and wished Happy Birthday

to about "a half dozen" friends and family members. The race

winner was also quick to point out that the track was in

excellent condition and that he enjoyed racing Craig

VonDohren for the winner, "We each gave the other racing room

and raced clean," was a final comment from Manmiller. Two

minutes later the lights went out as an electrical storm,

followed by heavy rain, sent everyone to seek shelter.

Veteran racer Smokey Warren set the pace for the NASCAR

Modifieds as he had the Ron's Beer Depot entry in front the

29 car starting field for the first 15 laps. On a restart

after a caution for Keith Brightbill in turn four, Kyle Weiss

put his Brickel's Collectables entry in front of field after

jousting back and forth with Warren. Just four laps later

Doug Manmiller charged to the front with Craig VonDohren

close behind.

A multi car accident on the 23rd lap saw Meme DeSantis

take a hard flip in turn three while running fifth. The car

was virtually destroyed but Meme was uninjured.

On the restart Craig VonDohren churned into the lead but

it was short-lived as Manmiller came back to grab the top

spot on the 26th lap and go on to victory.

Manmiller, in the thick of the chase for the NASCAR

Modified track title, came from 13th starting spot, held off

a strong challenge by Craig VonDohren to win his first

feature of the season. VonDohren brought the Mrs T's

Pierogies sponsored entry home second, just a half car length

behind after having pulled almost even with the leader coming

off the fourth turn. Third spot went to former track champion

Ray Swinehart followed by defending track champion Jeff

Strunk who had going to the rear of the field after an early

race incident. Rick Schaffer came from 21st to finish fifth.

Unofficially former track champion Terry Meitzler, who

had tire problems on this night, started 28th and finished

10th, gaining 18 spots, to grab the Timber Wolf Smokeless

Tobacco Hard Charger Award worth $200.

Qualifying heat races for the NASCAR Modifieds were won

by Tom Umbenhauer, Ken Lindaberry, Smokey Warren, Ray

Swinehart and Kyle Weiss. Consolation wins went to Rick

Schaffer, the all time leading feature winner in modifieds at

Grandview, along with Keith Brightbill and Randy Bailey. Ray

Swinehart earned $360 for his win in the Automotive Machining

Services Cash Dash.

Qualifying heats for the Late Models were won by Greg

Hoffmaster, Bill Henning and Terry Snyder. There was no

consolation event.

Stock car racing, good old fashion contact sport stock

car racing, returns to the Grandview Speedway on Saturday,

July 7, 7:30 p.m. when the Firecracker 40 for Late Models

will be presented along with NASCAR Modified racing and a

Fireworks display.

Wharhead Chassis (Bill and Buddy Wharton) have posted

$50.00 for the driver who improves the most positions in the

Firecracker 40. They have also posted lap sponsorships,

$10.00 for each lap, for Laps 7,17,27,37 and 40. Little

Caboose Learning Center is sponsoring lap 28 while Lap 22

and Lap 35 are sponsored by Boyer's Market.

Deka Batteries will sponsor the July 14th night of racing

that will include the NASCAR Modifieds and Late Models, at

least 12 big events of stock car racing. First 500 fans

through the front gate will receive checkered flags from Deka

and there will be other prizes. Fans will be treated to a

second 20 lap feature for late models as the rained out

feature from June 30 will be included in the show. And there

will be a Rothrock Motors Cash Dash for the Late Models.

PIT NOTES: Many fans may not be aware that some years

back Doug Manmiller beat Winston Cup racer Jerry Nadeau in a

go-kart national event at Rockingham, NC.

Craig VonDohren continues to be on top in the chase for

the NASCAR Modified championship at Grandview Speedway.

This Saturday night show was the ninth of the season at

Grandview with five rainouts suffered. There are nine more

point events scheduled for the modifieds and late models on

Saturday nights.