SWINEHART ENDS DROUGHT AT GRANDVIEW, KLINE WINS IN LATE MODEL STOCKS
BECHTELSVILLE, PA June 5, 2005 . . .Former track champion Ray Swinehart of Bechtelsville, PA ended a three year win drought at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night as he drove the P.K.Moyer Excavating Bicknell Modified to victory in the 30-lap Craftsman Tools feature for NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds. It was the first win for Swinehart since August, 2002.
In the 20-lap feature race for NASCAR Late Models Ron Kline of Green Lane, PA was able to gain his second win of the season at the wheel of the Tom Oates Chevy sponsored entry.
Jon Kellner Jr. was having the time of his young life grabbing the lead on the first lap of the 30-lap feature for Modifieds while his dad Jon, a two feature winner this season, was towed to the pits early as a result of a second turn incident early in the race. Craig VonDohren, a five time track champion, was disqualified when officials ruled that he had intentionally brought the caution flag when he stopped in the second turn early in the feature. VonDohren, who was unable to qualify, took a provisional to get in the feature.
At eight laps Doug Hoffman, making a rare visit to Grandview, was out with a broken shock and Jon Kellner Jr. was still in front of the field.
With half the race in the record books Kellner Jr. still was in control with Greg Humlhanz trying to gain the lead. Ray Swinehart was third.
Swinehart was able to grab the lead on a restart after a caution for a two car accident in the fourth turn on the 24th lap. Once in front the former track champion was able to make it look easy as he drove to victory. Mike Gular (Harleysville) put on a charge at the end of race but fell short and settled for second. Third spot went to Rick Schaffer (Woxall) followed by Jon Kellner, Jr. and track champion Jeff Strunk (Bethel)
In victory lane Swinehart gave a lot of credit to young Kellner Jr. and pointed out that he felt certain that the youngster would win many features in the future. “I think he made a mistake when he chose to go to the low groove and I went high. That was the difference,” said a very happy winner.
In the Late Model main event, a 20 lapper, veteran Junior Grebe of Gilbertsville went to the front at the drop of the green. Grebe was the man to beat for 13 laps with his teammate Ron Kline chasing him for more than half the event. At 13 laps it was Kline, four time track champion Dean Stoudt and Junior Grebe battling for the top spot.
Grebe was able to get by Stoudt in the final laps and took second to Kline. Stoudt (Green Lane) finished third followed by Dean Schaeffer (Mohnton) and Rick Todorow (Quakertown).
Qualifying heat races for the Modifieds went to Swinehart, Tracy Readinger (Oley), Kevin Hartnett (Perkasie), Gular and Kellner, Jr. Consolation races were won by Meme DeSantis (Temple), Terry Meitzler (Kutztown) and Jimmy Reppert (Hamburg). The Cheers Tavern Cash Dash was won by Mike Gular.
In the Late Model qualifiers wins were earned by Dean Stoudt, Todorow and Kline. The was no consolation race and the Jim Brown Cash Dash was won by Ron Kline.
One of the most popular events of the Saturday night racing season is set for June 11th when Scott PowerSports (Coopersburg) presents the United Racing Club Sprint Cars, the NASCAR Modifieds, and 600cc Modifieds in a tripleheader show of action. RCN4 cable television will be on hand to record the action and show tape delayed coverage of the event. Racing gets the green at 7:30 p.m. Warm-ups are set for 7 p.m.
“This is one of the most exciting events offered as part of the Saturday racing schedule at Grandview,” said track announcer and public relations person Ernie Saxton. “This is an event that allows fans to see the best of sprint car racing and the best of NASCAR Modified stock car racing.”
Triple 20-Modified features will headline the action at Grandview on Tuesday, June 14th with racing starting at 7:30 p.m. The events are open to big block modifieds and 358 modifieds.
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 610.754.9167 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.
CRAFTSMAN TOOLS NIGHT NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE, 30 LAPS: 1. Ray Swinehart 2. Mike Gular 3. Rick Schaffer 4 Jon Kellner Jr. 5. Jeff Strunk 6. Meme DeSantis 7. Terry Meitzler 8. Kyle Weiss 9.John Tschudy 10.Larry Solomon 11. Cliff Quinn 12.Shawn Reimert 13.Ryan Watt 14. Ryan Taylor 15. Greg Humlhanz 16.Bobby Trapper 17.Tracy Readinger 18.Ed Scott 19.Jimmy Reppert 20.Kerry Kratz 21.John Willman 22.Keith Brightbill 23.Doug Manmiller 24.Mike Bailey 25.Barry Readinger 26.Colt Harris 27.Doug Hoffman 28.Danny Erb 29.Kevin Hartnett 30. Craig VonDohren 31. Jon Kellner.
CRAFTSMAN TOOLS NIGHT NASCAR LATE MODEL FEATURE, 20 LAPS: 1.Ron Kline 2. Junior Grebe 3. Dean Stoudt 4. Dean Schaeffer 5.Rick Todorow 6.Sean Merkel 7.Steve Sennott 8. Lou Egrie 9. Brian Shuey 10.Dallas Breidenbach 11.Kelly Snyder 12. Mike Kellner 13.Buddy Wharton 14.Doug Walton 15.Chad Rae 16.Jesse Willman 17.Mark Malcomb 18.Greg Hoffmaster 19.Harry Neiman 20.John Giesler 21.Bill Henning 22.Randy Stoudt 23. Dave Conover.