WARREN AND DEAN STOUDT WIN FEATURES, SWINEHART AND SCHULTZ

GRAB NASCAR TITLES AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY, FREEDOM 76 NEXT

Bechtelsville, PA September 5, 1998 . . . “It has been a few years,” was the

response from Smokey Warren, while standing in victory lane on Saturday night

after winning the Harry’s U Pull-It Auto Parts 30-lap NASCAR Modified feature

race at Grandview Speedway. Warren was responding to a question from track

announcer, Ernie Saxton, asking how long it had been since he had last won at

Grandview Speedway. A review of the record books showed that it was more than

a few years, it had been more than 10 years since he had last won a modified

stock car race at the Berks County oval ( July 16,1988).

Dean Stoudt, winner of the 20-lap NASCAR Late Model feature race, was a

regular visitor to victory lane at Grandview Speedway this season. His

Saturday victory, unofficially giving him second in the final standings for

the second straight year, was his fourth of the season. “We’ll be back to win

the championship next season,” said Stoudt who has been a multi time late

model champion at the one-third-mile, banked clay track.

By virtue of running in the NASCAR Modified feature, even thought challenger

Terry Meitzler finished second, Ray Swinehart was able to win the 1998 NASCAR

Winston Racing Series Modified championship at Grandview Speedway. “I knew if

kept him (Meitzler) in my sights I could win the title. I was concerned when

we were involved in the first lap accident (a multi car accident that

eliminated several racers) but even with the sheet metal damage the car ran

well. Mike Kelly (car owner) and the crew gave me a great car to run all

season,” said Swinehart. In addition to the point fund money Swinehart and his

wife will go on a nine day-eight night trip to Maui courtesy of Grandview

Speedway management. Car owner Kelly, a former driver and champion, said,

“This championship means just as much to me as a car owner as it did as a

driver. Maybe even more.”

And Chuck Schutz did not win the NASCAR Late Model feature but he managed to

stay within shouting distance of Dean Stoudt, coming home sixth to Stoudt’s

first, to win his first late model title. “It was my crew, they worked so hard

all season. My sponsors were so supportive. Grandview Speedway always provided

us with a good track to run on. That is how we won the championship,” said the

Pottstown racer in victory lane. Schutz also announced that he would not

defend his title choosing to go NASCAR modified racing in 1999 at Grandview.

The 30-lap feature for NASCAR modified feature saw Dennis Fisher take the

early lead, miss a multi car accident on the first lap, and set the pace for

the first ten laps. On the 11th lap Smokey Warren put the Cheer’s Tavern entry

in front of the pack after starting fifth. Once in front Warren dominated the

action but was kept busy from time-to-time as Terry Meitzler, trying to grab

the track title, ran side-by- side with him. Warren held the upper hand for

the balance of the feature race with Meitzler able to hold on to second. The

Jonestown, PA racer was several car lengths in front of Meitzler at the

finish.

Third spot in the 30-lap chase went to Glenn Strunk (Bechtelsville) giving

him, unofficially, third in the final

point standings. Swinehart (Bechtelsville) got fourth and Jon Kellner (

Lansdale ) finished fifth.

In the late model feature, 20 laps, Roger Decker was in front at the start.

Mark “The Baker” Kropp took the top spot before the first lap was complete and

was in front until the fifth lap. John Durling, an early season feature

winner, went to the front with the Golden Chevrolet entry, on the sixth lap

and looked as if he was on his way to a second win on the season. Dean Stoudt

came up to put some strong challenges but Durling seemed capable of rebuffing

all of Stoudt’s efforts. With just one lap to go Durling, later saying he had

“brain fade”, spun in turn three giving the lead and the victory to Dean

Stoudt. It was the fourth win of the season for East Greenville racer. Second

spot went to Mark “The Baker” Kropp (Reading), followed by Jeff Teets

(Coplay), Lou Egrie (Philadelphia) and Rick Todorow (Quakertown).

Qualifying heats for the NASCAR Modifieds went to Jeff Strunk, Kevin Hartnett,

Ray Swinehart, Glenn Owens and Dennis Fisher. Consolation race wins were

earned by Chip Slocum, Terry Meitzler and Shawn Reimert. The Automotive

Machining Services Cash Dash, worth $345, was won by Kevin Hartnett. In late

model qualifying events the wins went to Randy Stoudt, Bill Henning and Roger

Decker. The consolation race went to John Giesler.

The Grand-Daddy of major area modified stock car racing events will be

presented at Grandview Speedway on Saturday, September 12. More than $50,000

in prize money is posted with $20,000 going to the winner of the Schaeffer’s

Family Restaurant Freedom 76 Modified Classic. There will be qualifying

heats, consolation events, the BLC Motorsports Minuteman 20, topped by the

Freedom 76 starting 40 cars. Racing will start at 7 p.m. Admission for adults

is $20.00, youngsters 6 thru 11 pay $5.00 and under 6 is free.

At 3 p.m. on Saturday, on the speedway grounds, there will be autograph

sessions, driver interviews with announcer Ernie Saxton, race car displays,

music and more.

Thursday, September 10, 8:30 a.m. will find many of the racers running in the

Freedom 76 taking part in the

Schaeffer’s Family Restaurant Freedom 76 Golf Tournament at the Gilbertsville,

PA Golf Club.

Grandview Speedway is located on Passmore Road, just off Route 100, in

Bechtelsville, PA, 10 miles north of Pottstown. Telephone (610)754.7688 or

visit the web site at www.grandviewspeedway.com.

PIT NOTES: Kay Moore of Limerick, PA won the Champion’s Trip to Maui for two

by having her raffle ticket drawn from 110 by NASCAR Modified champion Ray

Swinehart. She and a quest will travel with the champion on an eight

night/nine day trip to Maui, a trip valued at more than $3,200.

Ray Swinehart had secretly made arrangements with Plaza II Travel’s Marilyn

Saxton, she handles all the Grandview Speedway travel arrangements, to take

his wife on the Champion’s Trip to Maui even if he did not win the title. Now

he has two trips.

Jesse Baro, Inc. of Douglassville, PA, a bulk hauling company covering nine

Eastern states, will be the sponsor of the Cash Dash as part of Schaeffer’s

Family Restaurant Night.

Gates will open for fans to enter the speedway grounds on Saturday, September

12, at 1 p.m.

A Racer’s Flea Market is planned for the Grandview Speedway grounds on October

31. For information telephone Joanne at 610.683.3075.

HARRY’S U PULL-IT AUTO PARTS NASCAR WINSTON RACING SERIES 30-LAP MODIFIED

STOCK CAR FEATURE:Smokey Warren, Terry Meitzler, Glenn Strunk, Ray Swinehart,

Jon Kellner, Doug Pannepacker, Sam Martz, Kerry Kratz, Dennis Fisher, Cliff

Quinn, Kevin Hartnett, Ken Lindaberry, Jack Hartnett, Todd Marburger, Chuck

Schutz, Glenn Owens, Jeff Strunk, Kenny Gilmore, Dennis Bailey, John Willman

(20 top finishers).

HARRY’S U PULL-IT AUTO PARTS NASCAR WINSTON SHORTRACK RACING SERIES 20-LAP

LATE MODEL FEATURE RACE: Dean Stoudt, Mark Kropp, Jeff Teets, Lou Egrie, Rick

Todorow, Chuck Schutz, Kyle Pensinger, Chuck Sennott, Terry Snyder, Ron

Chrisman, John Giesler, Randy Stoudt, Mike Bedell, Bill Henning, Ed Hoffman,

Buddy Wharton, Mike Erb, Doug Walton, Rick Huber, Dave Conover (20 top finishers).