JEFF STRUNK AND JOHN GIESLER WIN MAVERICK MOTORCYCLE NIGHT FEATURES

BECHTELSVILLE, PA AUGUST 14, 2005 . . . Four time track champion and current NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified point leader Jeff Strunk looked like he might have to settle for second on Saturday night at Grandview Speedway with seven laps to go in the 30-lap feature and Meme DeSantis was leading. However a left front flat tire discovered by track officials on a caution restart sent DeSantis to the pits and Jeff Strunk to the front of the pack and he was able to ride to his fourth NASCAR Modified feature win of the season and pretty much put on a lock on his fifth track title.

In the 20-lapper for NASCAR Late Models John Giesler seemed to be content with what looked like a sure second place finish to Randy Stoudt when Stoudt had something break in the second turn while leading give the lead to Giesler. And for the final two laps of the 20-lap feature the Aston, PA racer was able to hold off the challenge of Brian Shuey and collect his first feature win since April, 1998.

In the 30-lapper for the NASCAR Modifieds, sponsored by the Mavericks Motorcycle Club, young Todd Smith lead the first lap with Sean Merkel taking the lead on the second circuit of the one-third-mile, clay banked oval. Surviving a variety of spins and a major pileup Merkel stayed in front of the field until the 17th lap. Meme DeSantis charged to the front on a caution restart and looked like he had what it would take to be the feature winner holding off the pinball action of Strunk, Merkel, Tom Mayberry and Craig VonDohren as they swapped positions.

Earlier in the feature DeSantis had been told by officials that he had a left front tire gone soft. On a 23rd lap restart after a caution officials told DeSantis that the tire was flat on his Eastern Rigging No. 11 and, based on track rules, he would have to take it to the pits giving the lead to Jeff Strunk.

Once in front Strunk, driving the BPG Racing/Chad Sinon Motorsports NO. 88, was able to hold off challenges from former track champion Tom Mayberry and Craig VonDohren to grab his fourth win of the season and pretty much give him his fifth track title with only three point events left to run. Second spot went to Mayberry (Sellersville) followed by VonDohren (0ley), Terry Meitzler (Kutztown) and Ryan Watt (Phoenixville).

Unofficially Strunk also earned a $100 Hard Charger bonus from Tom Oates Chevrolet of Chester Springs, Pa for coming from 18th starting spot to finish first.

The 20-lapper for the Late Models also had a wild finish with John Giesler, who lead the first lap coming back to lead the final two and get a win. Mike Kellner took the lead from the Aston, PA auto repair shop owner and set the pace until the 8th lap when Junior Grebe moved to the front after a caution restart.

At the 10th lap Grebe was challenged by five feature winner Randy Stoudt and the two put on quite a side-by-side battle for the top spot. At 17 laps with Stoudt edging out front Grebe lost control in turn two and bounced on top of a couple of infield tire markers putting him out for the night. One lap later Stoudt, looking like a sure winner, suddenly came to a stop in turn two and had to be towed off the track. Giesler got his lead back with two laps to go, held off the charge of Brian Shuey (Hamburg), and the two crossed the finish line with Giesler taking the win. Third spot went to two time champion Lou Egrie (Willow Grove) followed by four time champion Dean Stoudt (East Greenville) and Steve Sennott (Gilbertsville).

The entire 16 event show was run off in three and one half hours including a close to 30 minute power failure brought on by an exploding transformer down the road from the track.

Qualifying heat races for the Late Models were won by Dean Stoudt, Sean Merkel and Mike Kellner while Mark Malcom was given the Consolation victory. Sean Merkel won the Jim Brown Cash Dash.

Modified qualifiers were won by Doug Manmiller, Meme DeSantis, Kyle Weiss, John Tschudy and Craig VonDohren. The consolations victories were earned by Donny Erb, Keith Brightbill and Tom Umbenbauer while the Cheer’s Tavern Cash Dash went to John Tschudy.

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 NASCAR Late Models will be in the limelight on Saturday, August 20th with the running of the Jerry Glase/Chuck Sennott Memorial 30-lap championship for the Late Model racing talents. The Late Models will be racing for an increased purse with at least $700 going to the winner. There are a long list of sponsors involved in this one. The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds will also be in action. At least 15 big events of racing make up the night’s action package program. Racing gets the green flag at 7:30 p.m.

Five big 25-lap features, no qualifying events, will make up the Bob Miller/Bruce Rogers Thunder on the Hill event on Tuesday, August 23rd. Featured will be the 410 sprints, Big Block Modifieds, Late Models, 600cc Modifieds and 600cc Sprints. Racing starts at 7:30 p.m.

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.

MAVERICKS MOTORCYCLE CLUB NIGHT NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE, 30 LAPS:1.Jeff Strunk 2. Tom Mayberry 3. Craig VonDohren 4. Terry Meitzler 5. Ryan Watt 6. Shawn Reimert 7. Keith Brightbill 8.Mike Gular 9.Doug Manmiller 10.Rick Schaffer 11.Danny Erb 12.Rich Wisdo 13.Donny Erb 14.John Willman 15.Tom Umbenhauer 16.Tracy Readiner 17.Tom Sheetz 18.Todd Smith 19.Sean Merkel 20.Meme DeSantis 21.Bobby Trapper 22.John Tschudy 23. Jon Kellner 24.Mike Bailey 25.Steve Young 26.Brad Missimer 27.Kyle Weiss 28.Ray Swinehart 29. Barry Readinger

MAVERICKS MOTORCYLE CLUB NIGHT NASCAR LATE MODEL FEATURE, 20 LAPS:1.John Giesler 2.Brian Shuey 3.Lou Egrie 4.Dean Stoudt 5. Steve Sennott 6.Bill Henniner 7.Mike Kellner 8.Rick Todorow 9.Dave Conover 10.Dean Schaeffer 11.Dallas Breidenbach 12. Ron Kline 13. John Durling 14. Kelly Snyder 15.Buddy Wharton 16,Doug Snyder 17.Mark Malcom 18.Bill Graham 19.Jim Bahz 20.Chad Rae 21.Randy Stoudt 22.Junior Grebe 23. Sean Merkel 24. Greg Hoffmaster.