Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Jared Umbenhauer is having a quiet season at the Grandview Speedway in ’23. Jared came into the night 9th in Grandview Speedway points.
He has not visited victory lane at the track this season, but is always running in the front of pack.
On Saturday night, Jared benefited with a great starting position and drove a strong modified feature win.
The win is Jared’s 6th career victory, his last was July 9th, 2022 – exactly 1 year ago.
Ray Swinehart and Eric Biehn led the T.P. Trailers NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Modified field to the green flag.
At the drop of green Ray Swinehart took command of the race, Joe Funk moved into 2nd with Eric Biehn, Kevin Graver Jr., Jared Umbenhauer, Ryan Grim, Eddie Strada and Mike Liswoski in chase mode.
On Lap 5 Glenn Owens retired from the event. Ray Swinehart remained the race leader in the Weller Motorsports 942, Funk, Graver Jr., Umbenhauer, and Grim were the Top 5.
As the field clicked off lap 10, Ron Haring Jr. retired from the event. Veteran Ray Swinehart was flying out front with a straightaway lead. Jared Umbenhauer had driven past Kevin Graver Jr. and Joe Funk for 2nd. Funk is now 3rd and Graver Jr. is 4th with Ryan Grim 5th.
On Lap 12 Ryan Beltz and John Willman retired from the event.
As Lap 13 is scored, Jared Umbenhauer has run down race leader Ray Swinehart and things are heating up at the point. Funk, Graver Jr., Grim, Doug Manmiller, Mike Lisowski, and Ryan Watt are chasing.
At the Halfway mark of the race, Ray Swinehart has company at the front, Jared Umbenhauer is glued to the 942 bumper. Lap 16, Umbenhauer drops to the bottom and goes side by side for the race lead. BUT, The yellow and then red are displayed for an accident on the frontstretch.
Bobby Trapper Sr. was slow and attempting to cross the track and clipped the 14F of Joe Funk. Both cars sustained heavy damage, both drivers are ok. The field is restacked and Ray Swinehart remains the race leader for the time being. Umbenhauer, Graver Jr., Grim, Manmiller, Watt, Lisowski, Craig Von Dohren, Jeff Strunk, and Mike Gular are following.
On the restart Jared Umbenhauer and Ray Swinehart were side by side for the race lead. The veteran Ray Swinehart, out foxed Jared Umbenhauer and held onto the race lead. Jared Umbenhauer fell to 2nd, with Kevin Graver Jr. 3rd, Doug Manmiller 4th, and Ryan Grim 5th.
At the Lap 20 mark Ray Swinehart remains the race leader, Swinehart has not won a race since August ’22. Swinehart owns 32 career Grandview Speedway wins. Umbenhauer, Graver Jr., Grim and Manmiller are the Top 5. Lex Shive retires from the event.
On Lap 21, Jared Umbenhauer makes the move of the race and pulls a slider on Ray Swinehart for the race lead. Swinehart drops to 2nd. Graver Jr., Grim, and Manmiller make up the Top 5 with 9 to go. Von Dohren, Lisowski, Strunk, Watt and Gular are the rest of the Top 10.
On Lap 25 it is all Jared Umbenhauer out front now. Swinehart, Graver Jr., Von Dohren has powered to 4th with a late charge, and Manmiller.
As Lap 28 is scored, Jared Umbenhauer has full control of the race lead with 2 laps to go. Ray Swinehart who has led the race and been in the top 2 all night heads to the infield. Kevin Graver Jr. is now 2nd, Doug Manmiller is 3rd, Craig Von Dohren is 4th, and Jeff Strunk is 5th.
Jared Umbenhauer scores his 6th career Grandview Speedway victory, Doug Manmiller finished 2nd, Kevin Graver Jr. 3rd, Grandview Speedway Point Leader Craig Von Dohren is 4th, Jeff Strunk is 5th, Ryan Grim 6th, Brett Kressley 7th, Mike Lisowski 8th, Ryan Watt 9th, and Eddie Strada is 10th. Umbenhauer scored the $300 T.P. Trailers Winners Bonus.
Mod Notes:
33 Grandview Speedway Modifieds in the pit area this week. Mike Gular is back in action. No Kevin Hirthler this week, Word is that a new car and motor are being put together for next week. Lex Shive was back this week with the 5. Hard Luck Award goes to veteran Ray Swinehart who led the race from the start to lap 21, then pulls off the track running 2nd with 2 laps to go. Next week – No Sportsman – It will be MASS Sprint Cars and Modifieds.
T.P. TRAILER NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 laps): JARED UMBENHAUER, Doug Manmiller, Kevin Graver Jr., Craig Von Dohren, Jeff Strunk, Ryan Grim, Brett Kressley, Mike Lisowski, Ryan Watt, Eddie Strada, Mike Gular, Tim Buckwalter, Jesse Leiby, Bobby Trapper Jr., Justin Grim, Carrol Hine III, Eric Biehn, Jimmy Leiby, Mark Kratz, Chris Gambler, Ray Swinehart, Lex Shive, Joe Funk, Bobby Trapper Sr., John Willman, Ryan Beltz, Ron Haring Jr., Glenn Owens