Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – The Grandview Speedway Sportsman division has become an incredible support division for the track.
In ’23, several Modified drivers have moved back into Sportsman competition for example Brad Grim, Brett Gilmore, Jordan Henn, and Dylan Swinehart. While not all of them compete regularly, They add to the level of competition and quality of the field when they are in competition.
The division has seen no repeat winners in 2023 and on Saturday it stayed true to form – Young Hotshoe Ronnie Solomon drove to victory lane holding off constant challenges from Mike Schneck Jr. to score the win.
The Sportsman class has seen Logan Watt, Brian Hirthler, Ryan Graver Jr., Decker Swinehart, Kyle Smith, Logan Bauman, and Hunter Iatalese stand in victory lane to date.
On Saturday night, 3rd generation driver Ronnie Solomon had his chance to stand in the glory after a strong T.P. Truck Equipment feature event. Solomon is another one of the Young Guns coming from the Quarter Midget racing ranks into 602 Sportsman competition.
Soloman is a lot like Logan Watt coming from a racing family with several generations of racing over the years.
BJ Joly and Tom Miller Sr. led the 26 car field to the T.P. Truck Equipment green flag.
BJ Joly took the early lead with Tom Miller Sr. following close behind. Miller Sr. known as “Elvis” and was looking strong on Saturday night. The yellow lights were flashing before a lap could be score as Brett Gilmore and Michael Burrows tangled on the backstretch. Gilmore visited the pits and returned, Burrows rejoined the rear.
The field was restacked and another attempt at racing was made as Tom Miller Sr. slowed coming for green. Miller Sr. retired to the infield. BJ Joly would take control of the race with Ronnie Solomon now 2nd.
On lap 4, Ronnie Soloman drove past BJ Joly for the race lead. Joly would fall to 4th with Dakota Kohler now 2nd, Mike Schneck Jr. 3rd, Joly 4th and Logan Bauman 5th. Zane Roth, Kyle Smith, Brian Hirthler, Mark Kemmerer were the balance of the Top 10.
As the field click off lap 9, Mike Schneck was attacking race leader Ronnie Solomon as they went side by side. Solomon would hold off Schneck’s advances for the race lead.
At the lap 10 mark Ronnie Solomon held race control at the front of the pack. Mike Schneck Jr. was on his bumper waiting for a mistake or way by. Kohler, Bauman, and Joly were the balance of the Top 5 with 10 down. Brian Hirthler and Logan Watt were flying through the field.
Watt is the Sportsman point leader and Hirthler is in 2nd. Brian cracked the Top 5 and Logan was in the Top 10 and looking for more spots. All racing was green flag at this point.
At the halfway mark of the 25 lap event, Solomon is the race leader with Schneck, Kohler, Bauman, Hirthler the Top 5. Logan Watt is 9th. Kyle Smith who is number 3 man in points is 6th.
The laps are now clicking off quickly as the race is nonstop. Lap 17 is scored and Ronnie Soloman is racing like a veteran out front. Mike Schneck is pushing his bumper from behind in 2nd, Kohler, Bauman, Hirthler, Smith, Watt and Cody Manmiller have closed in. Cody Manmiller is 5th in points.
The Top 5 in Grandview Speedway Sportsman points are all running nose to tail in the Top 10.
At the lap 20 mark with 5 to go, Ronnie Solomon remains the race leader with Schneck, Kohler, Bauman, Hirthler the Top 5. Smith, Watt, and Manmiller are right there behind in chase.
At the lap 23 as the 2 to go flags are shown Ronnie Solomon and Mike Schneck are bumper to bumper battling for the race lead. Behind the race leaders we have some epic racing going on as Brian Hirthler has driven past Dakota Kohler and Logan Bauman for 3rd. Kohler and Bauman are side by side 4th and 5th while Logan Watt and Kyle Smith are side by side for 6th and 7th. Cody Manmiller is just outside in 8th.
On the White Flag Lap, Mike Schneck Jr. makes another attempt at the race lead, But the Rookie Ronnie Solomon is ready and holds him off. Ronnie Solomon would become the 8th different Grandview Speedway Sportsman winner on Saturday night. Mike Schneck Jr. had to settle for 2nd, Brian Hirthler 3rd, Dakota Kohler 4th, Logan Bauman 5th, Logan Watt 6th, Kyle Smith 7th, Cody Manmiller 8th, BJ Joly 9th, and Jesse Landis 10th.
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.