JON KELLNER AND JOHN DURLING WIN EASY CARE NASCAR FEATURES AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY

BECHTELSVILLE, PA JULY 22, 2000 . . . "It has been a long

time since I have been to victory lane. I just want to savor

the moment," said Jon Kellner after winning the 30-lap Easy

Care NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Modified feature race at

Grandview Speedway on Saturday night. John Durling was also

able to visit victory lane after winning his second Exide

ShorTrack Late Model 20-lap feature.

Rookie Randy Stoudt started in the front row of the 29

car feature field and set the pace for the first 17 laps.

Glenn Strunk brought out the caution with an incident coming

off the fourth turn and ending up sitting in the middle of

the front straightaway. On the restart Barry Readinger

motored to the front of the pack with Doug Pannepacker close

behind. Stoudt got caught on the outside and dropped to fifth.

On the 21st circuit of the one-third-mile clay oval

Pannepacker put his Mopar powered machine in front coming off

the fourth turn with Jon Kellner right behind. Chip Slocum

was also part of the battle for the top spot.

At 27 laps a front straightaway accident, just short of

the first turn, involved former champion Ray Swinehart and

rookie talent Mike Gular. Both had serious damage on the race

cars but were not injured.

With the green flag being waved by starter Donny Miller,

Jon Kellner was able to control things for the final three

laps with Doug Pannepacker right on his rear bumper.

Pannepacker was able to get his "nose" along side of Kellner

but the Lansdale racer, the all time leading winner of late

model feature events at Grandview, was able to hold on for

the $2200 victory.

Pannepacker, East Greenville, was able to hold on to

second despite strong challenges from Chip Slocum (Ewing

Township, NJ). Fourth place was earned by Barry Readinger

(Fleetwood) followed by Jeff Strunk (Bethel) making a big

move on the final lap..

The victory was Kellner's sixth modified win at Grandview

but his first since August 31, 1996. In victory lane he gave

thanks to sponsors (Three S Electric and New Road Tavern

(Collegeville)), family and teammate Ed Aikin. It was Aikin

who put together a two car team that gave Kellner the

opportunity to race this season.

In the 20-lap feature for NASCAR Exide ShorTrack Late

Models Casey Ebright (Pottstown) was able to grab the front

spot on the start with John Giesler, a former champion,

giving chase and giving the leader a strong challenge. At

seven laps John Durling took control of the event with

Giesler exerting pressure and Ebright out of the chase.

The scheduled 20-lap event was cut to 17 laps because of

the 30-minute time limit expiring. At the finish John Durling

(Reading), driving Bill Wharton's Golden Chevy/Hardee's

sponsored entry, was in front by a narrow margin over John

Giesler (Aston) followed by Kyle Pensinger (Lyons), Rick

Todorow (Quakertown) and Lou Egrie (Philadelphia). With his

third place finish Pensinger was able to take the top spot in

the late model point standings as Dean Stoudt, who had been

the point leader, was involved in a mid-race multi-car accident.

In qualifying events for the 57 NASCAR Modifieds on hand,

wins went to Tom Mayberry, Chip Slocum, Rick Schaffer, Doug

Pannepacker and Glenn Strunk. Consolation races were won by

Ray Swinehart, Kerry Kratz and Dennis Bailey and the Easy

Care Cash Dash, worth $360, was won by Rick Schaffer.

In NASCAR Late Model qualifiers wins were taken by John

Durling, Junior Grebe and Terry Snyder while the consolation

win was earned by Dave Conover.

Todd Heydt earned the Kochel Equipment First Alternate

Award and, unofficially, Kerry Kratz took the $200 Timer Wolf

Hard Charger Award.

Fans were also treated to an exciting performance by Doug

Rose and his Green Mamba Jet Car. Rose backed his jet car in

front of a full size passenger vehicle, owner unknown, and

burned it to a crisp in minutes. The legendary jet car racer

also made some quick runs around the one-third-mile, clay

oval bringing "gasps" from the fans in the stands of belches

of huge balls of flames shot from the rear of the Green

Mamba. The meltdown resembled a Fourth of July fireworks

display. Fans were allowed, when the show was over, to visit

with Rose and get an up-close look at the jet car.