Column By: TOM WENNER / GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Oley, PA’s Kenny Bock last scored a Grandview Speedway Sportsman Feature win on July 25, 2020.
On Saturday Night Kenny Bock started from the pole and led all laps and did not look back in securing win #2 for his career.
Bock had to fight off strong challenges from Decker Swinehart and then Brian Hirthler who made a last lap turn 3 & 4 run at Bock for the win.
Kenny Bock and Decker Swinehart led the T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR 24 car Sportsman field to the green.
Kenny Bock took the lead at the start for a lap before the yellow lights were flying on. Joey Vaccaro was stopped on the track and needed assistance. After Vaccaro was towed off, the field was restacked and ready to go.
With 1 lap down, the Sportsman field fired again to re-start and the yellow was back on. Zane Roth got into the turn 3 & 4 fence. Jesse Landis, Mike Stofflet, and Doug Snyder visited the pits. Snyder returned.
The field restacked and we are back racing for lap 2 with Bock your leader, Swinehart in 2nd, Perry 3rd, James 4th, and Delliponti 5th.
A lap later and the caution was flying again for Logan Bauman who was stopped in turn 4. Bauman was pushed to the pits.
The Sportsman field made another attempt at racing and yellow flew again, this time Jesse Landis, Parker Guldin, and Mark Gaugler were collected outside of turn 2. Guldin visited the pits and returned to battle.
The Sportsman event had some trouble getting past lap 2, so Grandview officials made the decision to go with a single file restart to help get the race moving. Bock was the leader, Decker Swinehart 2nd, Colton Perry 3rd, Tyler James 4th, Adrianna Delliponte 5th.
The single file restart proved to be the right call as the field went off and running without a hitch. Bock back out front with Decker Swinehart in chase. Brian Hirthler was ripping the top groove as the Four-Star Express 4* was flying on the top and making headway each restart as Brian went from 14th to 9th in the early going.
On Lap 4 the caution fever continued as Dakota Kohler 59k was stopped in turn 4.
Kenny Bock continued to lead with Swinehart, James, Delliponte, Perry were the top 5 at this point. Brian Hirthler was coming in 6th. Cole Stangle was 10th and point leader Dylan Hoch was 11th.
The field was restacked and back to racing. Bock still your leader with Swinehart giving chase.
On Lap 10 caution lights were turned back on. Dakota Kohler was spun in Turn 2. Jesse Hirthler went to the pits and Dakota Kohler joined him. Kenny Bock was still controlling the race from the point, and Swinehart, James, Hirthler and Delliponte were in tow.
The field reset and we were back with 15 to go. Point Leader Dylan Hoch moved into 12th on the restart and Cole Stangle was 10th.
At the halfway mark Kenny Bock was in full command of the field at the front. Swinehart, James, Hirthler, Delliponte were the top 5.
Kenny Bock controlled the race at lap 20 and green flags were now flowing clearly. Swinehart remained in 2nd and Brian Hirthler was making his charge to the front as he moved into 3rd, Tyler James 4th, and Adrianna Delliponte was 5th.
On lap 22 Brian Hirthler got around Decker Swinehart for 2nd and set his sights on leader Bock. Was there enough time?
On Lap 24, White Flag Brian Hirthler attempted to run down Kenny Bock but ran out of time. Brian Hirthler got to the back bumper of Bock but ran out of time to make a challenge.
Kenny Bock scored the popular Sportsman victory, Brian Hirthler was 2nd, Decker Swinehart 3rd, Tyler James 4th, Adrianna Delliponte 5th, Kyle Smith 6th, Dylan Hoch 7th, Colton Perry 8th, Nathan Horn 9th, Jimmy Leiby 10th.
Kenny credited his parents who own the car for the win in victory lane. It is Bock’s parents wedding anniversary and he sure gave them a nice anniversary gift. Kenny mentioned that Tom Umbenhauer gave them assistance this week with setup of the car and it was a great help. Bock scored the Dan Deli’s Halfway Leader Bonus and T.P. Truck Equipment $200 Bonus.