RPW Column: Hunter Iatalese Captured Career First Sportsman Feature At Grandview Saturday
News Director 
Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Hunter Iatalese, Germansville PA scored his 1st career Grandview Speedway Sportsman win on Saturday Night and he did it in dominating fashion by driving away from the field from his pole starting spot.
Iatalese is not a rookie this season, after spending parts of the last year or two racing in the super competitive Sportsman division at Grandview.
On Saturday, Hunter left no doubt that he will be one of the rising stars in the division after he drove away from the field in convincing form to score that ultra important 1st career win.
Hunter Iatalese and Kaitlyn Bailey brought the T.P. Truck Equipment Nascar Sportsman Field to the green flag on Saturday Night.
Iatalese darted out front to the lead at the start with Kaitlyn Bailey, Molly Struss, Decker Swinehart, Ronnie Soloman, and Steve Young in chase mode.
On Lap 2 of the feature Kyle Hartzell pulled to the infield.
With 3 down Hunter Iatalese was pulling away from the field with a half straightaway lead. Kaitlyn Bailey was in 2nd, Molly Struss holding down 3rd, Decker Swinehart 4th and Steve Young 5th.
At the 6 down mark of the event Kenny Bock and Andy Ressler were hooked together on the front straightaway while Bock exited the track. Bock exited and Ressler continued on. Logan Watt was on the move early coming from P15 to 8th, while Kyle Smith moved from P14 to 10th.
On Lap 8 Brett Gilmore retired from the event. Colton Perry pulled to the infield and Decker Swinehart who was running in the Top 5 pulled off the track. Then the caution lights lit up for Andy Ressler who was stopped in turn 2.
The running order after 8 down, Hunter Iatalese your race leader with Bailey, Jesse Hirthler in 3rd, Steve Young 4th, Addison Meitzler 5th, Molly Struss 6th, and Logan Watt and in 7th. Brian Hirthler was on the march to the front from P16, and now running 8th.
The green flag drops again as Hunter Iatalese darts to the lead with Steve Young moving to 2nd, Bailey, Hirthler, Smith are the new Top 5.
At the Lap 15 mark of the Sportsman Feature Hunter Iatalese is blasting away out front with a full straightaway lead. Steve Young, Jesse Hirthler, Kyle Smith and Addison Meitzler are the Top 5.
On Lap 16 Zane Roth retired from the event. Jesse Hirthler drove past Steve Young for 2nd place, dropping Young to 3rd.
On Lap 18 Iatalese moved into lap traffic as Jesse Hirthler was free and hammering the cushion to catch the race leader. Young, Smith, and Meitzler were the Top 5.
At the 20 down mark with 5 to go, It was all Hunter Iatalese out front. Jesse Hirthler controlled 2nd with Steve Young, Kyle Smith, Addison Meitzler, Cody Manmiller, Logan Watt and Brad Grim and Brian Hirthler in chase.
At the lap 22 mark of the race, Iatalese was in heavy lap traffic and his pace was slowing down. Jesse Hirthler was closing and close quickly.
Hunter Iatalese would go on to score the race win without any issue. Jesse Hirthler caught him in lap traffic but ran out of time to make any considerable challenge for the race win. Kyle Smith would get by Steve Young for 3rd, Young 4th, Cody Manmiller rallied to finish 5th, Addison Meitzler 6th, Logan Watt 7th, Brad Grim 8th, Brian Hirthler 9th, Parker Guldin 10th.
In victory lane Iatalese expressed gratitude to Ryan Grim, Hunter’s Grandfather, Classic Cars Restoration, and S &L. Hunter was speechless in victory lane and overwhelmed with joy while talking about his victory winning drive.
Grandview Sportsman Notes:
Congrats to Kaitlyn Bailey on her Grandview Speedway heat race win on Saturday, Bailey is looking better and better every week. Same goes to Molly Struss for the 17th place Sportsman finish. Molly qualified and ran well in the feature, There is a bright future for these ladies. Look for Molly to head to Orange County Fair Speedway on Sunday for the Super DIRTcar Sportsman event. It was a Northwestern Lehigh PA High School Grad Night at Grandview Speedway – Both Brett Kressley and Sportsman winner Hunter Iatalese are Northwestern Lehigh Graduates. 39 Sportsman Modifieds were pitside on Saturday and the class is really coming on strong, with the young guns showing speed vs. the Sportsman veterans and some Modifieds vets running Sportsman – This class is really putting on a great show for the fans.
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (25 laps): HUNTER IATALESE, Jesse Hirthler, Kyle Smith, Steve Young, Cody Manmiller, Addison Meitzler, Logan Watt, Brad Grim, Brian Hirthler, Parker Guldin, Ronnie Solomon, Michael Burrows, Adrianna Delliponti, Tyler James, Ryan Graver, Logan Bauman, Molly Struss, Dakota Kohler, Mark Gaugler, Nathan Horn, Kaitlyn Bailey, Zane Roth, Andy Ressler, Decker Swinehart, Brett Gilmore, Colton Perry, Kenny Bock, Kyle Hartzell
