LARRY SOLOMON AND RANDY STOUDT AT FEATURE WINNERS AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY
BECHTELSVILLE, PA May 15, 2005 . . . After a series of early season problems including a blown motor and a failed transmission Larry Solomon was able to wheel his ABK Construction/ Cottman Transmission sponsored #517 Modified to victory on Saturday night in the 30-lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified feature at Grandview Speedway. Randy Stoudt, driving the Rogers Auto Parts/Hutt’s Glass Co. #22 came home first for the second time this season in the 20-lap NASCAR Late Model feature run as part of Checkered Flag Fan Club.
Solomon lead every lap of the 30 lap feature but it was not as easy as it seemed with Cliff Quinn and John Tschudy able to put heavy pressure on the Birdsboro, PA racer early in the feature race and in the late laps it was veteran Kenny Gilmore coming on strong to try to take the win after from Solomom.
At the finish Solomon crossed the finish line, winning his first feature in two seasons, just a car length or so ahead of second place finisher Kenny Gilmore. The second place finish for Gilmore (Fleetwood) was his strongest effort of the season after having some early season problems. John Tschudy, also a resident of Birdsboro, was able to get his season best finish with a third place in his Birdsboro Auto Parts entry. Ryan Watt (Phoenixville), who was not even sure he was going to be able to race this season, brought the BPG Racing entry home fourth followed by Cliff Quinn (Coopersburg).
Solomon became the fourth different Modified feature winner this season.
In the 20-lap main event for the NASCAR Late Models Dean Schaeffer was the man to beat for most of the main event. The Douglassville resident had his Monty’s Mulch sponsored entry in front of the pack of 24 starters for 17 laps. Randy Stoudt (Pottstown), charging up from 11th starting position, was able to take the top spot after a two lap battle with Schaeffer and take his second win of the season. Mike Wharton, a protégé of veteran late model racing talent Hal Browning, wheeled his Bower Beach, DE based entry home third for his best finish of the season. Wharton is a rookie in the late model division. Harry Neiman, Bear, DE, was able to come home fourth while veteran Kyle Pensinger (Lyon Station) was a fifth place finisher.
Qualifying heats for the Modifieds went to Jeff Strunk (Bethel), Tom Mayberry (Sellersville), Mike Gular (Harleysville), Ryan Watt and Tracy Readinger (Oley). Consolation races were won by Craig VonDohren (Oley), Brian Kressley (Orefield) and Jon Keller Sr., last weeks feature winner, of Lansdale. The Cheers Tavern Cash Dash was won by Jeff Strunk.
In qualifying events for the Late Models wins went to Sean Merkel (Gilbertsville), Randy Stoudt, and Brian Shuey (Hamburg). The consolation was won by Greg Hoff master (Gilbertsville). Brian Shuey was able to win the Jim Brown Cash Dash.
The entire 16 event card of auto racing was run off in less than 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Racers will earn some bonus bucks as part of AutoLocator Magazine Night at Grandview Speedway on Saturday, May 21st. The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds and Late Models will be action with at least 13 events of stock car racing being presented. All qualifying heat race winners in the Modifieds and Late Models will earn $50 from Auto Locator while all consolation event winners will receive $25. There will be $100 extra for the feature winners and the Late Model hard charger will earn $50 from AutoLocator. Fans will also have the opportunity win some prizes courtesy of AutoLocator Magazine.
The magazine is available in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, New York and Maryland and offers outstanding deals on new and used vehicles. It can be found in many convenience stores. Ernie Saxton also keeps readers informed on all the latest happenings at area speedways in his AutoLocator column appearing weekly.
In addition Tom Oates Chevy of Chester Springs will give the Modified feature race hard charger $100.
Fans at Grandview Speedway have the opportunity to win a $250 gift certificate from American Dental Services each week by catching the lucky Frisbee and two fans win rides in the two seat Modified stock car each week. Fans even get to pick the driver they would like to take them for the thrilling ride around the clay oval.
Coming up on Tuesday, May 24th, 7:30 p.m is a doubleheader show featuring the nationally famous World of Outlaws sprint cars and the American Racing Drivers Club midgets. Advance tickets for the event are available by telephoning 215.860.5631. This is a Bruce Rogers/Bob Miller Thunder on the Hill promotion.
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.
CHECKERED FLAG FAN CLUB NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE, 30 LAPS:1.Larry Solomon 2. Kenny Gilmore 3. John Tschudy 4. Ryan Watt 5. Cliff Quinn 6.Keith Brightbill 7. Jeff Strunk 8.Donny Erb 9.Craig VonDohren 10.Mike Gular 11.Doug Manmiller 12.Jon Kellner Sr. 13. Tom Mayberry 14. Ray Swinehart 15.Tracy Readinger 16. Shawn Reimer 17.John Willman 18.Todd Smith 19.Danny Erb 20.Brian Kressley 21.Barry Readinger 22.Colt Harris 23.Jimmy Reppert 24,Don Kieffer 25.Kevin Hartnett 26. Sean Merkel 27.Jason Smythe 28.Glenn Owens 29, Tom Sheetz.
CHECKERED FLAG FAN CLUB NASCAR LATE MODEL FEATURE, 20 LAPS:1.Randy Stoudt 2. Dean Schaeffer 3. Mike Wharton 4. Harry Neiman 5. Kyle Pensinger 6. Brian Shuey 7. Dave Conover 8.Rick Todorow 9. Bill Henning 10. Lou Egrie 11.Greg Hoffmaster 12.Steve Sennott 13.John Giesler 14. Junior Grebe 15.Ron Kline 16.Mike Kellner 17.Dallas Breidenbach 18.Buddy Wharton 19. Chuck Keely 20. Kelly Snyder 21.Sean Merkel 22. Steve Weikerl 23. Mark Malcomb 24. Dean Stoudt.