JEFF STRUNK, TEETS AND UMBENHAUER OPENING NIGHT WINNERS AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY

BECHTELSVILLE, PA APRIL 1, 2000 . . . Kicking off his

campaign to win championships at Grandview Speedway, Big

Diamond Raceway and the Motor Truck Equipment Co. Kenworth

Cummins NASCAR PA Modified Challenge Series title, Jeff

Strunk drove to victory in the 38-lap NASCAR Modified feature

race at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night. Jeff Teets,

defending Exide Shortrack Late Model champion, came home

first in the 20 lapper for late models. And Tom Umbenhauer

had a fairly easy time of it winning the 13-lap PA Sportsman

feature race.

Jeff Strunk had some bad news for NASCAR Modified

racers in Victory Lane. After winning the 38-lap NASCAR

Modified feature, good for $3000, Strunk said, "The Chevy

engine we had in the car tonight was strong however the Dodge

is even better." Strunk (Bethel, PA) and car owner Keith

Harring have been testing a Dodge powerplant in the Kenworth

Cummins sponsored NASCAR Modified but the Dodge was left at

home on Saturday night.

Doug Pannepacker jumped out in front of the 30-car

starting field and set the pace for 14 laps before Jeff

Strunk was able to track him down and grab the lead. Once in

front Strunk was able to hold on to the top spot for the

balance of the 38 laps but it was not easy.

Jack Hartnett was a challenger for much of the race but

on the 30th lap his car caught fire and quick work by the

track fire crew kept damage to a minimum. Hartnett was

disappointed but not injured.

And for most of the second half of the feature Chip

Slocum put heavy pressure on the leader but a flat tire

forced him out with two laps to go. Glenn Strunk

(Boyertown), wheeling the Norm Hansell owned #357, finished a

strong second coming from ninth. Terry Meitzler (Kutztown),

the defending track champion, started 21st and finished third

while Tom Mayberry (Sellersville), a seven feature winner in

1999, came from 20th to finish fourth. Veteran Dennis Bailey

(Kutztown) was fifth.

When asked if younger brother Glenn had him worried in

the final laps, Jeff Strunk responded with, "Nahhh."

The Timberwolf Smokeless Tobacco Hard Charger Award went

to Doug Manmiller who came from 29th starting spot to finish 6th.

In the 20-lapper for Exide Shortrack Late Models it was

the Jeff Teets show. The defending champion took the lead at

the start and never looked back as he was able to set the

pace for the entire 20 laps with the Harry's U-Pull It Auto

Parts entry. The Coplay, PA racer had a comfortable lead over

second place finisher Rick Todorow (Quakertown) at the

finish. Former champion Dean Stoudt (Green Lane) was third

followed by Kyle Pensinger (Lyons) and Chuck Sennott (Gilbertsville).

Tom Umbenhauer, Richland, PA, made it all look somewhat

easy as he lead all the laps in winning the 13-lap PA

Sportsman feature race. A time limit cut two laps off the

feature. At the finish Umbenhauer and his Clay Realty Corp.

entry had a comfortable lead over Scott Flammer, who had his

front end collapse after crossing the finish line. Third spot

went to Ricky Rutt.

With the competition area overflowing with 114 race cars

heat wins for the modifieds were earned by Doug Pannepacker,

Sam Schoenley, Kerry Kratz, Jack Hartnett and Dennis Bailey.

The three consolation races went to Terry Meitzler, Smokey

Warren and Danny Erb. And the Automotive Machining Services

Cash Dash was won by Kerry Kratz earning him $405. The Kochel

Equipment sponsored First Alternate Award was earned by Cliff

Quinn.

Late Model heats went to Jeff Teets, Rick Todorow and

Sam Schlosberg. And in the sportsman division heat wins were

earned by Tom Umbenhauer and Donn Edgar.

NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Modifieds, Exide Shortrack

Late Models and PA Sportsman stock cars return to Grandview

Speedway on Saturday, April 8, 5 p.m. At least 13 events of

stock car racing making up the Saturday evening show.

Grandview Speedway, a NASCAR sanctioned one-third-mile, high

banked clay oval, is located on Passmore Road, just off Route

100, in Bechtelsville, PA, 10 miles north of Pottstown. For

information telephone 610-754.7688 or visit their website at

www.grandviewspeedway.com.

PIT NOTES. New starter Donnie Miller got good reviews

from racers and fans as he flagged his first full event at

Grandview Speedway.

The "Delaware Start" format used at Grandview Speedway

for a number of years has been dropped. All events will have

two abreast starts. And on restarts the leader will have the

option of starting outside or inside the front row.

Sixty one NASCAR modifieds were in the pits for the

season opener with a total of 114 race cars on hand. And

there was a very big opening night crowd as Grandview

Speedway kicked off their 38th consecutive season of

professional stock car racing.