RPW Exclusive: In Just Second Week In Sportsman, Gavyn Krupp Is A Winner At Grandview
Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Gavyn Krupp is one of the newest set of small car division drivers to hit the speedways in 2024.
The former Stage One Modified champion quickly adapted to the Grandview Speedway 602 Sportsman division and took down a victory in just his second week of competition.
The small car divisions across the area are becoming the feeder divisions for the larger cars. You see it at all of the successful race tracks across the region. Stage One Modifieds, 600 Modifieds, 600/270 Micro Sprints, Slingshots, and Speedstrs are all helping to feed the Modified Classes.
Krupp is the latest young gun to quickly show his talents behind the wheel. Gavyn looked great all night, Starting P1 in 602 Sportsman Heat #1 and winning it in a convincing manner. This put Gavyn on the pole for the 25 Lap T.P. Truck Equipment 602 Sportsman Feature event.
Gavyn Krupp, TJ Mayberry, Joey Vaccaro, Adrianna Delliponti, and Cody Manmiller won 5-602 Sportsman Heat Races for 46 cars.
Gavyn Krupp and TJ Mayberry led the 26 car field to the green flag on Saturday Night.
Krupp and Mayberry would run side by side well into the 1st lap before TJ Mayberry would take command on Lap 2. Krupp, Jesse Landis, Joey Vaccaro, Ronnie Soloman, and Nick Faust were in tow.
It is all clean and green with 5 down as TJ Mayberry was setting the pace out front. Krupp, Landis, Vaccaro, and Soloman were the Top-5. Mike Schneck Jr., Nick Faust, Nate Horn, Adrianna Delliponti, and Logan Watt were the next 5. Watt on a charge from 15th in 5 laps.
Lap 7 the caution lights are flashing to slow the race down as Brett Gilmore is stopped at the starters stand. Mark Mohr, Brett Gilmore, and Nathan Mohr were involved. Mohr visited the pits with a flat tire and returned. Brett Gilmore retired from the event.
The 602 Sportsman field was restacked for the restart showing TJ Mayberry as the race leader, Krupp, Landis, Vaccaro, and Soloman were the Top-5.
On the restart Gavyn Krupp makes a bid for the race lead taking TJ Mayberry side by side, Mayberry holds off the charge with the race lead. Krupp stays 2nd for now. Joey Vaccaro moves to 3rd, Mike Schneck Jr. slides to 4th, and Jesse Landis is now 5th. Nate Horn and Logan Watt are stalking the Top-5 with 8 down.
At the 10 down mark of the event, TJ Mayberry is creating some distance between himself and Gavyn Krupp. Jesse Landis is back to 3rd, Mike Schneck Jr. 4th, and Joey Vaccaro is 5th. Logan Watt is knocking on the Top-5 door right now, Nate Horn, Adrianna Delliponti, Mark Kemmerer, and Jesse Hirthler in the Top-10.
On Lap 11 Logan Watt moves into the Top 5.
Lap 13 TJ Mayberry, Krupp, Schneck Jr., Landis, and Watt are the new Top-5.
Lap 14 Logan Watt continues his drive forward taking 4th from Jesse Landis. Mayberry and Krupp remain 1st and 2nd.
Lap 15, 10 to go TJ Mayberry remains in race control and Gavyn Krupp is in chase. Mike Schneck Jr. is 3rd, Logan Watt is 4th and Jesse Landis 5th.
Lap 17 clicks off the lap counter and the tension is building towards an epic finish. Gavyn Krupp is starting to catch TJ Mayberry on the track. Logan Watt is now side by side with Mike Schneck Jr. for 3rd and they are closing in on the race leaders Krupp and Mayberry. Jesse Landis remains 4th and Joey Vaccaro 5th.
Lap 18, Logan Watt moves past Mike Schneck Jr. for 3rd and starts his pursuit of the race leaders. Mayberry continues to lead, with Krupp at his bumper.
Lap 20 is scored, all green flag laps, and the Top-3 are all under blanket – Mayberry, Krupp, and Watt. 5 to go and an epic finish is building.
Lap 21 is clicked off and Krupp mounts a charge going side by side with Mayberry with Watt on the back bumper of both racers.
Lap 22 is scored and as Krupp and Mayberry race side by side the starters stand. Krupp enters turn one on the top, Mayberry in the middle and Watt down low. Krupp would edge into the race lead as they enter turn one.
Mark Kemmerer was slowing with mechanical failure in turn two pulling into the pits, This caused Kyle Hartzell to slow as the race leaders approached turn at full speed. Krupp was on the topside of the speedway, Mayberry in the middle, Watt down low. Watt made contact with Kyle Hartzell who pushed into the race groove, then Watt’s race car tangled with TJ Mayberry’s race car and caused both cars to end up in turn two wall.
A true heart breaking moment for TJ Mayberry who was having the best race of his 602 Sportsman career. It was equally heart breaking for Logan Watt who was on a run to win back-to-back events. Logan had started 15th and was going for the win when the accident occurred. Jesse Hirthler went pitside for a flat tire and pit service. Jesse had a great run on the night going from 22nd to the Top-10.
This would eliminate the 2nd and 3rd place running drivers from the event. Once the extensive cleanup was completed, We now have a 3 lap dash to the finish. The entire field was completely reset for racing. Gavyn Krupp was the race leader, Mike Schneck Jr. 2nd, Jesse Landis 3rd, Joey Vaccaro 4th, Adrianna Delliponti 5th, Addison Meitzler 6th, and Nate Horn 7th.
The field takes the green and Gavyn Krupp has a new challenger for the race lead in Mike Schneck Jr. They go side by side for lap 23 and part of the white flag lap. Gavyn Krupp was up for the challenge and held on for his 1st career 602 Sportsman feature win.
Mike Schneck Jr. would come home 2nd, Jesse Landis 3rd, Adrianna Delliponti 4th, Addison Meitzler 5th, Nate Horn 6th, Tyler James 7th, and Dylan Swinehart 8th, Joey Vaccaro 9th, and Ronnie Soloman 10th.
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (25 laps): Gavyn Krupp, Mike Schneck Jr., Jesse Landis, Adrianna Delliponti, Addison Meitzler, Nathan Horn, Tyler James, Dylan Swinehart, Joey Vaccaro, Ronnie Solomon, Decker Swinehart, Zane Roth, Ryan Graver, Nick Faust, Cody Manmiller, Mark Gaugler, Brett Grim, Nathan Mohr, Jesse Hirthler, Mark Mohr, Kyle Hartzell, TJ Mayberry, Logan Watt, Dakota Kohler, Mark Kemmerer, Brett Gilmore
