PENSINGER WINS FIRECRACKER 40 FOR LATE MODELS WHILE TERRY

MEITZLER WINS THIRD IN A ROW WITH MODIFIEDS AT GRANDVIEW

BECHTELSVILLE, PA JULY 1, 2000 . . . For the fourth time this

season and third Saturday in a row Terry Meitzler was able to

win the 30-lap NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Modified stock car

feature race at Grandview Speedway. Kyle Pensinger took his

second win of the season winning the richest and longest

NASCAR Exide ShorTrack Late Model stock car race of the

season, the Firecracker 40. The entire night of stock car

racing action was sponsored by Harry's U Pull-It Auto

Parts/Kress Recycling and included a huge fireworks display.

With the victory Meitzler continues to be the point

leader in the chase for the NASCAR Modified stock car

championship at the Berks County oval. If he wins the title

it would be his second championship in as many years.

Apparently Meitzler wanted to prove what he said last

weekend in victory lane was true. The Kutztown, PA veteran

claimed he could drive Grandview "with one hand behind his

back." We don't know if that is how he won but he did manage

to bring the Meitzler Excavating entry home first earning

another $2200 paycheck. Bechtelsville's Kerry Kratz, an early

season winner, earned a strong second place finish while Jeff

Strunk (Bethel) was third followed by Shawn Reimert (Oley)

and Tom Mayberry (Sellersville).

Tracy Readinger with the D&S Archery/Deka Batteries entry

took the lead at the drop of the green and set the pace for

19 laps. Shawn Reimert came to the front of the 29 car

starting field and held it until the 24th lap when Kerry

Kratz got the top spot. Terry Meitzler, who started 15th, got

the lead on the 28th lap from Kratz and was able to hold on

to grab the victory.

The biggest and richest event of the season for the

NASCAR Exide ShorTrack Late Models saw Kyle Pensinger win his

second of the season, earning his biggest paycheck. The

Lyons, PA racer came from ninth starting spot to grab the

lead from Chuck Sennott (Gilbertsville) on the 22nd lap and

lead the rest of the 40 laps with Sennott and Sam Schlosberg

giving the winner a strong challenge.

Bill Henning put his Dodge powered mount out in front of

the late model feature field. On the 4th lap Schlosberg was

in front and at the 12 lap marker Chuck Sennott was in

control. Schlosberg did hold on for a second place finish

while Sennott earned a third. Dean Stoudt (East Greenville)

finished fourth putting him in front of the NASCAR Exide

ShorTrack point standings. Fifth place went to John Durling (Reading).

Qualifying heat wins for the late models went to Bill

Henning, Kyle Pensinger and Doug Walton while the consolation

race was won by Rick Todorow.

For the sixth week in a row more than 60 modifieds were

in the pits with qualifying heat wins going to Ray Swinehart,

Jeff Strunk, Terry Meitzler, Shawn Reimert and Jon Kellner.

The consolation races were won by Rick Schaffer, Ed Aikin and

Chip Slocum. And for the second week in a row Meitzler made a

clean sweep of the night by also winning the Cash Dash worth $395.

PIT NOTE: Last year's winner of the Firecracker 40 was

Randy Stoudt. He had a former Bob Higginbotham entry, from

the early nineties, to run in the event trying to defend his

title. Stoudt is now a regular in the modified division.

Jeff Teets, dropped from late model point leader to sixth

in the standings as a result of being an early dropout with

mechanical problems.

Coming up on Saturday, July 8, 7:30 p.m True Value

Hardware Night featuring the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series

Modifieds along with the Exide ShorTrack Late Models. At

least 13 events of racing. Raindate is Sunday, July 9, 7 p.m.