BECHTELSVILLE, PA
September 15, 2013 . . . For the second year in a row Jeff Strunk was able to
take home the big bucks in the $25,000 to win 43rd Annual BPG Racing
Freedom 76 at Grandview Speedway on Saturday. The win gave the nine time track
champion his fifth victory in the Freedom 76 Classic and helped his mom
celebrate her birthday. More than 70 racers, many of the top names in the sport
including five former Syracuse DIRT Classic winners, tried to earn starting spots in the 33 car
starting field with a very large crowd on hand.
Rick Laubach took the lead at the
drop of the green but Jeff Strunk, coming from 4th starting position,
went to the front on the second lap and set the pace for the entire 76-lap race.
Canadian racer Stewart Friesen, a pre-race favorite, came to a stop in the
fourth turn early in the race done for the night earning a last place finish.
However Strunk’s winning effort was not as easy as it might seem for the veteran
racer and his Keizer Aluminum Wheels sponsored
modified.
Early in the race Ryan Watt, a
regular at Bridgeport Speedway, moved into position to challenge Strunk for the
lead and continued to challenge him through the 44th lap. Billy Pauch
Jr. ran third for 19 laps before Meme DeSantis, coming from 16th
starting spot, moved into third and put pressure on second place Watt.
With one third of the race completed track champion Craig
VonDohren, considered a pre-race favorite, tangled with an infield marker and
damaged the front end of the race car putting him out of the race just as he was
starting to make his move through the field.
At the 43-lap marker a fuel stop
closed up the field on the leader. Just two laps later DeSantis charged into
second and put pressure on the leader. With 50 laps completed Duane Howard, who
had started in 24th position, moved into third place. The top three
battled for the top spot for the final 26 laps but despite some strong efforts
could not catch the hard charging Strunk.
With the checkered flag waving Jeff
Strunk, who calls Pottstown home, was able to claim the win in the rich classic
by a narrow margin over Temple’s Meme DeSantis and Oley racer Duane Howard.
Fourth place was earned by New Jersey racer Ryan Godown, coming from
21st starting position, while Ryan Watt, Boyertown, a challenger for
the top spot for much of the first half, finished
fifth.
Just prior to the start of the BPG
Racing Freedom 76 Ernie Saxton, track announcer for 45 years, was honored with
his own microphone a beautiful photograph signed by many of those involved in
the racing at Grandview. Saxton has announced his retirement as the official
announcer but will continue to handle the public relations and marketing which
has done for 47 years.
Qualifying heats,
12 laps each, were won by Ryan Watt, Kenny Gilmore, Keith Hoffman, Meme
DeSantis, Doug Manmiller, Ryan Godown and Stewart Friesen. Consolation races,
each 10 laps, went to Frank Cozze and Kyle Borror.
The Schaffer
Motorsports Minuteman 20, giving the top four finishers starting spots in the
BPG Freedom 76, was won by Jon Kellner Sr. followed by Ray Swinehart, Kevin
Hirthler and Don Norris Jr.
In the Mertz
Flying Dutchman Cash Dash, featuring heat winners and guaranteed starters, was
won by Craig VonDohren earning him $1,000. VonDohren’s crew won the $500 tire
changing contest.
Next event at Grandview takes place on
Saturday, October 5, 1 p.m, Outlaw Enduro Series, “Chargin” Charlie Eckert
Memorial featuring 200-lap events for 6 & 8 cylinder cars plus Blast from
the Past Vintage Cars. $10 for adults and under 12 admitted free. For
information telephone 570.391.2792
Saturday, October
19, 6 p.m. Halloween Party Night featuring 358 Modifieds, URC Sprints, ARDC
Midgets, Sportsman, Legends, Monster Smash Demo Derby, Blast from the Past
Vintage Cars and Vince’s Towing Owners Race.
Sunday, November
10, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Grandview Speedway Flea Market – Rain or Shine – For
information telephone 610.683.3075
Saturday, November
16, 6 p.m. (Doors open at 4 p.m.) Annual Awards Banquet, Gilbertsville, PA Fire
Hall
Information on
racing at Grandview Speedway can be had by checking in at
www.grandviewspeedway.com or telephone 610.754.7688. In addition the official
Grandview Speedway Facebook page can be found at
www.facebook.com/grandviewspeedwayinc or check in on Twitter at
@gviewspeedway.
BPG RACING FREEDOM 76 MODIFIED FEATURE – 76
LAPS: 1. Jeff Strunk 2. Meme DeSantis 3. Duane Howard 4. Ryan Godown 5. Ryan
Watt 6. Danny Johnson 7. Jared Umbenhauer 8. Mike Gular 9. Glenn Strunk 10. Doug
Manmiller 11. Kyle Weiss 12. Keith Hoffman 13. Nate Christman 14. Kenny Gilmore
15. Mike Mahaney 16. Kevin Hirthler 17. Jordan Umbenhauer 18. Billy Pauch Sr.
19. Ryan Grim 20. Todd Smith 21. Brett Kressley 22. Jarrad Miller 23. Mike Laise
24. John Willman 25. Jon Kellner Sr. 26. David VanHorn 27. Don Norris Jr. 28.
Wade Hendrickson 29. Billy Pauch Jr. 30. Ray Swinehart 31. Craig VonDohren 32.
Craig Whitmoyer 33. Stewart Friesen
No comments:
Post a Comment