MEME DESANTIS AND BRIAN SHUEY GET FIRST WINS OF THE SEASON AT GRANDVIEW
BECHTELSVILLE, PA August 21, 2005 . . . Veteran racer Brian Shuey must have been saving his best effort for when it really counts and winning the Jerry Glase/Chuck Sennott Memorial 30-lap Late Model race at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night was when it really counted. The Hamburg, PA racer earned $1000 for his first win of the season.
In the 30-lap 3M NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified feature race Meme DeSantis came from 9th starting spot to take the top spot on the 24th lap and lead the rest of the way to get his first win of the season.
Buddy Wharton put his mount in front of the 26 car starting field in the Glase/Sennott Memorial but his lead was short lived as four time champion Dean Stoudt went to the front on the second lap. At the six lap marker Brian Shuey, coming from seventh with his Harry’s U-Pull-It Auto Parts/Bob Fisher Chevy No. 5D, took the lead.
Once in front Shuey was able to set the pace and claim the victory with Ron Kline, the current Late Model point leader, nipping at his rear at the finish. Kline (East Greenville) continues to lead in the chase for the NASCAR Late Model championship. Third spot went to Bill Henning (Lansdale) who caught the crowds attention with his tremendous charge to the front after having gone to the rear of the field in the early laps of the feature event. Dean Stoudt (East Greenville), a four time track champion, was a leader for a short time early in the race, settled for fourth and defending track champion Chuck Schutz (Pottstown) earned fifth spot.
Meme DeSantis had victory snatched from his grasp the previous Saturday when a flat tire on a caution forced him to the pits while he was leading the Modified feature race. This Saturday night DeSantis, at the wheel of the Eastern Rigging No.11, was not to be denied as he charged through the field and challenged the leaders Rich Wisdo and Jason Smythe for several laps. At the 24 lap marker DeSantis was able to take advantage of a caution restart and charge to the front and that is where he stayed for the balance of the 30-lap feature race.
Jason Smythe, looking for his first career win, lead for 23 laps of the feature race and held off some strong challenges, featuring side-by-side action, from Rich Wisdo. At the finish Smythe (Oley) had to settle for second and Wisdo (Souderton) finished third. Fourth spot went to Barry Readinger (Reading) followed by Mike Gular (Harleysville).
In victory lane a jubilant DeSantis gave the credit to the crew and car owner. He pointed out that had it not been for the late race caution he did not think he could have caught Smythe and Wisdo. He had high praise for the two racers. And he pointed out that the track was in Freedom 76 condition and he was looking forward to the September 10th $20,000 to win Modified Classic.
Current NASCAR Modified point leader Jeff Strunk was out early after a third turn incident and was credited with 27th place in the finishing order.
Qualifying heat races for the Late Models were won by Sean Merkel, Brian Shuey and Chuck Schutz while the six-lap Jim Brown Cash Dash was won by lady racer Kelly Snyder, her first visit to victory lane at Grandview.
In the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified qualifiers wins were earned by Tracy Readinger, Meme DeSantis, John Williman, Ray Swinehart and Jon Kellner. The consolation races went to Jeff Strunk, Greg Humlhanz and Ryan Watt. The Cheer’s Tavern Cash Dash was won by Ray Swinehart.
Official track photographer Don Marks missed covering his first event in 25 years as he was spending three days in the hospital as a result of lawn cutting incident. He is expected to be back in action for the next Grandview Speedway event.
Lap sponsorships for the T.H.Properties Freedom 76 (September 10) are now available at $10 and $25 a lap. The lap sponsorship money goes to the leader of the lap sponsored. The $25 lap sponsors will receive a big mention in the special Freedom 76 program book and public address announcements. For information on lap sponsorships and event sponsorship, special awards, telephone Ernie Saxton at 215.752.7797.
The Hatfield Quality Meats/Kreiser Race Fuels Night is set for Saturday, August 27th, 7:30 p.m. featuring at least 15 exciting events of stock car racing with a 30 lap feature for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds (29 cars start) and a 20-lap feature for Late Models with 24 cars starting.
Grandview Speedway, a one-third-mile, banked clay oval, is a NASCAR sanctioned facility offering stock car racing every Saturday night from April through September. The track is located on Passmore Road, just off Route 100, 10 miles north of Pottstown, in Bechtelsville, PA. For information telephone 610.754.7688 or check in at their website, www.grandviewspeedway.com. Fans are invited to sign up for the FAN NEWS sent via email on a regular basis keeping fans informed what is going on at the speedway.
3M NIGHT NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE, 30 LAPS:1.Meme DeSantis 2. Jason Smythe 3. Rich Wisdo 4. Barry Readinger 5. Mike Gular 6. Craig VonDohren 7.Terry Meitzler 8.Keith Brightbill 9.Jon Kellner 10.Kevin Hartnett 11.Ryan Watt 12.John Willman 13.Tracy Readinger 14.Rick Schaffer 15.Shawn Reimert 16. Donny Erb 17.Greg Humlhanz 18.Tom Mayberry 19.Kenny Gilmore 20.Ed Scott 21.Tom Umbenhauer 22.Kerry Kratz 23.John Tschudy 24.Kyle Weiss 25.Danny Erb 26.Sean Merkel 27.Jeff Strunk 28.Doug Manmiller 29. Ray Swinehart.
3M NIGHT JERRY GLASE/CHUCK SENNOTT MEMORIAL NASCAR LATE MODEL FEATURE, 30 LAPS: 1. Brian Shuey 2. Ron Kline 3. Bill Henning 4. Dean Stoudt 5. Chuck Schutz 6. Rick Todorow 7.Steve Sennott 8.Lou Egrie 9.Mike Kellner 10.Kelly Snyder 11.Kyle Pensinger 12.John Durling 13. Doug Snyder 14. Buddy Wharton 15.Mark Malcom 16.Dallas Breidenbach 17.Jim Bahz 18.Bill May 19.John Giesler 20.Dan Snyder 21.Sean Merkel 22. Dean Schaeffer 23.Dave Conover 24. Randy Stoudt 25. Doug Walton 26.Junior Grebe.