Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Ryan Watt and his Ronnie’s Auto Repair owned race team have spent the last few years racing at NJ’s Bridgeport Speedway.
While Watt made some seldom special event starts at Grandview, he was not a weekly regular at the hill.
In ’23 with his son Logan was able to compete in the rising Grandview Speedway Sportsman division, the Watt/Roberts team made the move to come race at his hometown race track. Grandview Speedway is a short 8 minute drive for the Watt family.
Logan Watt has won twice in Grandview Speedway this season, A weekly event and a Thunder On The Hill Sportsman victory. Ryan on the other hand has not seen the same the success.
The car that Ryan has been using, A trusty Troyer piece that has not provided Watt with the needed speed to get the job done.
On Tuesday night at the Thunder On The Hill USAC Jesse Hockett Classic Ryan debuted a new car Modified 14w race car. Ryan shared in victory lane that the team removed the motor from his Big Block Modified race car and installed his potent Spec 358 engine in that race car.
He was noticeably faster on Tuesday at Thunder On The Hill right from the start, while driving to a 6th place feature finish. The team decided to continue forward with the car change. On Saturday night, Ryan qualified with a fast race car in the heat race.
Then in the 30 Lap T.P. Trailers NASCAR feature event, Ryan drove by his good friend Eric Korman for the race lead on lap 9 and sailed away. A late race caution with 6 laps to go put the best of the best on Ryan’s tail for the restart. Grandview Speedway Point Leader Brett Kressley was aside of Watt, behind him lurked Timmy Buckwalter and Craig Von Dohren, Doug Manmiller and Louden Reimert who was making a guest appearance at Grandview in the Breitenstein Racing #14.
Ryan wrestled the restart away from Brett Kressley on the restart and then drove off to popular race victory at Grandview Speedway. The win was the 7th career victory for Ryan Watt at Grandview Speedway. Ryan has 4th Saturday Night wins – his 1st Saturday win came on 9/6/03 and last one on 8/21/18.
Ryan also owns 3 Thunder On The Hills checkered flags, scoring wins in 2019 and 2020 in Spec 358 events, along with a Big Block Modified win 2018.
Darrin Schuler and Eric Kormann led the 29 car T.P. Trailers NASCAR 30 Lap Feature event to the green flag. Jared Umbenhauer took a provisional to start 29th on the field. Eric Biehn moved to the rear of the field at the start of the race. A yellow flag slowed the field before we were able to get any action started.
Bobby Gunther Walsh slowed at the start and rejoined the field at the back of the field. A complete restart was needed, minus Walsh rejoining the tail.
The field was restacked and set for the next take two. Eric Kormann powered the Dennis Bailey #81 into the race lead at the start over Darrin Schuler. Chris Esposito, Craig Whitmoyer, Ray Swinehart were chasing as the first lap is scored.
Eric Korman was the race leader with 3 laps down and showing some speed as he was getting settled into the Dennis Bailey Bailey Fab owned #81. Schuler, Swinehart, Whitmoyer, and Kevin Hirthler made up the Top 5.
At the 5 mark of the event, Eric Kormann was sailing away at the front. Schuler, Swinehart, Kevin Hirthler and Whitmoyer were battling for the Top 5 spots. Ryan Watt and Kevin Hirthler were definitely on the move early.
With 6 down, John Willman and Eric Biehn retired from the event.
At the 7 down circuit, Eric Kormann impressively was driving away from the field. Schuler and Ray Swinehart were batting for 2nd and 3rd. Ryan Watt and Kevin Hirthler were racing for 4th and 5th. Craig Whitmoyer, Mike Lisowski, Timmy Buckwalter, Jeff Strunk, and Mike Gular were the next 5.
On Lap 8 the caution lights were flashing for an accident near victory lane with that involved a pack of cars at the front. Jeff Strunk, Chris Esposito, Mike Gular, Kevin Hirthler and Darrin Schuler were involved. The caution lights turned to red light conditions quickly as word was that Jeff Strunk was not feeling well after a hard hit. The Keystone Racing 126 was towed off and Strunk took ride back to the pits in the Bally Ambulance. Darrin Schuler was towed off. Chris Esposito went to the pits. Mike Gular drove away and rejoined the field. Kevin Hirthler drove to the pits with damage. Hirthler rejoined the field after repairs. Ryan Grim pulled off the track before action resumed.
The field was restacked after the cleanup and Eric Kormann and Ryan Watt were side by side for the restart, Kormann and Watt are good friends outside of racing. The restart was entertaining as the 2 good friends went after with some clean side by side racing. Watt was able to steal away race control from Kormann on the restart. Kormann dropped to 2nd with Whitmoyer, Swinehart and Timmy Buckwalter the new Top 5. Brett Kressley was 6th and flying to the front.
At the lap 10 mark of the race Ryan Watt was in race control. Craig Whitmoyer, Ray Swinehart, Buckwalter, and Eric Kormman were the new race order.
At the halfway flags of the race Ryan Watt was driving away from the field with a straightaway lead. Timmy Buckwalter moved through the field into the Top 5 in 2nd. Whitmoyer was 3rd with Brett Kressley now 4th and Doug Manmiller 5th. Kressley had driven from 17th to 4th, Craig Von Dohren was 6th from 18th. Mike Lisowski 7th and Louden Reimert in the Rod Breitenstein 14 in 8th.
On Lap 16, Brett Kressley and Timmy Buckwalter are now going after it side by side for 2nd and 3rd.
Lap 17 Kevin Hirthler retires from the event, A lap later on lap 18 Eric Kormann and Nate Brinker retired from the event.
At the lap 20 mark of the event, Ryan Watt was blasting away out front. Buckwalter and Kressley were battling for 2nd and 3rd. Not far behind them was Doug Manmiller, Craig Whitmoyer, Craig Von Dohren, Ray Swinehart, Mike Lisowski and Louden Reimert.
On Lap 22 Craig Von Dohren moved into the Top 5 getting past Craig Whitmoyer for the 5th position. At the same time, Brett Kressley drove around Timmy Buckwalter for 2nd. The Top 5 at this point was the best of the best – Ryan Watt, Brett Kressley, Timmy Buckwalter, Doug Manmiller and 12X Champ Craig Von Dohren.
On Lap 24 the caution lights were display for Chris Gambler who stopped in turn 2. An infield had made it’s way onto the racing surface. The Field was restacked for a 6 lap dash for the money with Watt the leader, Kressley, Buckwalter, Manmiller, Von Dohren, Reimert, Whitmoyer, Swinehart, Jared Umbenhauer 9th from 29th, and Eddie Strada. Louden Reimert running 6th as an invader as New Egypt Speedway had an off night.
The restart setup a titanic battle for the race lead. Ryan Watt vs. Brett Kressley. Kressley is the Grandview Speedway point leader, He leads with 2 race wins and has a very strong start to the season. Watt and Kressley go after it racing side by side. Watt on the bottom, Kressley in his preferred lane on the top. Lap 25, Watt wrestled the restart away from Kressley and moved out in front. Kressley settled for 2nd and tucked in behind the Ivy Settlement Group #14w. Buckwalter, Von Dohren, and Reimert are the new Top 5 with 5 to go.
Over the next 5 laps Boyertown, PA race Ryan Watt pulled away from Brett Kressley to score the popular win. Brett Kressley finished 2nd adding to his point leading total on the season, Timmy Buckwalter finished 3rd fresh off a 3rd Place finish on Friday Night in USAC 410 Sprint competition at Williams Grove, Craig Von Dohren 4th, Louden Reimert finishing 5th, Doug Manmiller 6th, Craig Whitmoyer 7th, Mike Lisowski 8th, Jared Umbenhauer racing from a provisional starting spot 29th to 9th, and Ray Swinehart 10th.
Ryan Watt joins Brett Kressley, Doug Manmiller, Mike Gular, Eric Biehn as the regular Saturday night Grandview Speedway winners this season. Jeff Strunk and Brian Hirthler are the two Thunder On The Hill winners to date.
Ryan Watt scored the Dan’s Deli Halfway leader Bonus and the T.P. Trailers $300 Modified Winners Bonus.
T.P. TRAILER NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 laps): RYAN WATT, Brett Kressley, Tim Buckwalter, Craig Von Dohren, Louden Reimert, Doug Manmiller, Craig Whitmoyer, Mike Lisowski, Jared Umbenhauer, Ray Swinehart, Mike Gular, Eddie Strada, Justin Grim, Bobby Trapper Jr., Kevin Graver Jr., Jimmy Leiby, Jesse Leiby, Joe Funk, Bobby Gunther-Walsh, Chris Gambler, Eric Kormann, Nate Brinker, Kevin Hirthler, Ryan Grim, Chris Esposito, Darrin Schuler, Jeff Strunk, John Willman, Eric Biehn
DID NOT QUALIFY: Ron Haring Jr., Glenn Owens, Mark Kratz, Bobby Trapper Sr.
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (25 laps): RONNIE SOLOMON, Mike Schneck Jr., Brian Hirthler, Dakota Kohler, Logan Bauman, Logan Watt, Kyle Smith, Cody Manmiller, BJ Joly, Jesse Landis, Zane Roth, Adrianna Delliponti, Jesse Hirthler, Decker Swinehart, Mark Kemmerer, Ryan Graver, Nathan Mohr, Colton Perry, Michael Burrows, Dylan Swinehart, Addison Meitzler, Parker Guldin, Nicholas Hamm, Brett Gilmore, Kenny Bock, Tom Miller Sr.
DID NOT QUALIFY: Andy Ressler, Molly Struss, Tyler James, Mark Mohr, Tom Miller Jr., Zach Steffey, Kyle Hartzell, TJ Mayberry, Mark Gaugler, Keith Haring, Nate Horn, Kaitlyn Bailey