SCHOENLY AND SENNOTT WIN SATURDAY
NASCAR FEATURES AT GRANDVIEW
Bechtelsville, PA July 25, 1998 . . . For just the second time in his long
career Sam Schoenly was able to wheel his Sheetz Auto Sales/Hardee’s
Restaurant sponsored modified to victory Saturday night in the 30-lap NASCAR
Winston Racing Series Modified feature race at Grandview Speedway. The victory
was the first for the Boyertown racer since June 27, 1992. In the 20-lap
feature for NASCAR Winston Short Track Series Late Models the victory went to
former New Yorker Chuck Sennott, now making his home in Gilbertsville. The win
was the second of the season for Sennott and his Kochel Equipment/Rocket
Chassis sponsored late model.
Cliff Quinn put his WFMZ-TV sponsored entry in front of the 28 car starting
field in the 30-lap NASCAR Modified feature race. Quinn, without a career
feature win to his credit, looked as if it might be his night as he set the
pace for 10 laps. With Jon Kellner bringing out the caution when he had
mechanical problems in turn one, Schoenly got the lead on the restart. One lap
later a multi-car accident eliminated point leader Terry Meitzler along with
Kenny Gilmore, Randy Bailey and a number of others. Again Schoenly was in
front on the restart and had quite a battle going with Rick Schaffer and Chip
Slocum....the threesome often running side-by-side. At 20-laps Schoenly had
his hands full as the three seemed glued together in the chase for the top spot.
With just a couple laps to go a late race caution set up a chase to the
checkered flag but Schoenly, a veteran campaigner, was able to hold off the
very strong challenge from Chip Slocum to grab the $2,200 first place money.
Second spot went to Slocum (Ewing Township, NJ) followed by Rick Schaffer
(Woxall), new point leader Ray Swinehart (Bechtelsville) and Glenn Strunk (Boyertown).
Chris Wojnar lead the 26-car starting field to the green flag in the 20-lap
feature for NASCAR Late Models. And it was Wojnar in front of the pack for the
first four laps. On the fifth circuit of the one-third-mile clay oval Jimmy
Meitzler, Jr. took control of things with Chuck Sennott on his rear bumper.
With half the race in the record book it was Meitzler, Mark “The Baker” Kropp
and Chuck Sennott entertaining the fans with some close competition. With five
laps remaining Kropp made a run for the top position in turn one, getting
under Sennott but apparently nipping leader Meitzler and both spun giving the
lead to Sennott. The Gilbertsville racer was able to hold on to the lead for
the final laps and pick up his second win of the season. Chuck Schutz
(Pottstown) grabbed second followed by John Giesler (Aston), Randy Stoudt
(Pottstown) and Terry Snyder (Green Lane).
Qualifying heat wins for the modifieds went to Ray Swinehart, Rick Schaffer,
Cliff Quinn, and Jon Kellner while the consolation races were won by Dennis
Fisher and Smokey Warren. The Automotive Machining Services/Doug Meyers Race
Engines sponsored Cash Dash, worth $335, was won by Ray Swinehart. That set
him up for a shot at the Cheer’s Tavern Clean Sweep Award for winning his
heat, dash and feature....but he fell just three spots short in the feature.
In the late model preliminaries the wins went to Jimmy Meitzler, Jr., Ron
Chrisman, and Mark Kropp. The Quigley Dodge Cash Dash was won Ron Chrisman and
the consolation went to Roger Decker.
The latest point standings from Grandview Speedway show Ray Swinehart back in
front in the chase for the lucrative NASCAR Winston Racing Series Modified
title. Swinehart (Bechtelsville) has 3620 points and two victories. Terry
Meitzler (Kutztown) is second with 3485. In third is Kerry Kratz
(Bechtelsville) 3454 counters. Glenn Strunk (Boyertown) sits in fourth place
with 3366 and Kenny Gilmore (Fleetwood) has dropped to fifth with 3266. Only
Strunk and Gilmore are without wins this season at Grandview. There have been
12 different winners in sixteen features run this season.
In the late model division Chuck Schutz (Pottstown) continues to be the top
point chaser with 3,657 counters and one feature victory. Randy Stoudt
(Pottstown) has moved into second with 3550 points and two feature wins.
Former champion Dean Stoudt (East Greenville) is third with 3459 points. In
fourth is Junior Grebe (Boyertown) 3353 tallies. And another former champion
is John Giesler (Aston) with 3238. Only Grebe has been unable to crack victory
lane this season. Interesting to note that Giesler is the only one in the top
five that drives a six cylinder late model while the rest run eight cylinder
racers. There have been 10 different winners in 13 features run.
On Wednesday, July 29, 11 a.m. Comcast Sports Channel will be at Grandview
Speedway to video a segment featuring sports anchor Pete Christy. Pete will
test his talents in a modified against Ray Swinehart and Bobby Gunther Walsh
in NASCAR modified stock cars. The segment will be seen on Comcast Sports
Channel out of Philadelphia on July 30 and 31.
Winston No Bull/Jack’s Coventry Mart sponsored night of NASCAR stock car
racing will be presented on Saturday, August
1, starting at 7:30 p.m. At least 13 events of NASCAR Modifieds and NASCAR
Late Models will be presented. Admission for adults is $10.00, youngsters 6
through 11, $3.00, and children under 6 are admitted free with an adult. There
is always free parking on the speedway grounds. And there is a Sunday, 7 p.m.
rain date in place.
On Saturday, August 8, the 28th annual Forrest Rogers Memorial 40 lap NASCAR
Winston Racing Series Modifieds Championship will be presented. First place
offers $10,000. And there will be a full show of NASCAR Late Model stock car
racing. Racing starts at 7:30 p.m. And there will be a Saturday, August 15th
rain date for this event.
Grandview Speedway, a one-third-mile, clay banked oval is located on Passmore
Road in Bechtelsville, PA, 10 miles north of Pottstown. For information
telephone 610.754.7688 or visit their web site: www.grandviewspeedway.com.
NASCAR Winston Racing Series Modifieds 30-lap feature: Sam Schoenly, Chip
Slocum, Rick Schaffer, Ray Swinehart, Glenn Strunk, Kevin Hartnett, Kerry
Kratz, Ken Lindaberry, Smokey Warren, Dennis Bailey, Shawn Reimert, Cliff
Quinn, Dave Faust, Ron Schnable, Dennis Fisher, Mark Stofflet, Garry
Wunderlich, Donny Erb, Hal Renninger, Mike Bailey (top twenty finishers).
NASCAR Winston Racing Series Late Models 20 lap feature: Chuck Sennott, Chuck
Schutz, John Giesler, Randy Stoudt, Terry Snyder, Junior Grebe, Rick Todorow,
Ron Chrisman, John Durling, Lou Egrie, Roger Decker, Doug Walton, Ed Hoffman,
Troy Conrad, Scott Miley, Dave Conover, Mike Bedell, Dean Stoudt, Kyle
Pensinger, Jimmy Meitzler, Sr. (top twenty finishers)