RPW Exclusive: Logan Watt Dominates At Grandview; Wins Money Maker Sportsman 25

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Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Young gun Logan Watt is creating an impressive start to his 2024 Sportsman racing season.

Watt won the Port Royal Speedway Speed Showcase event on March 16th, Then traveled to Georgetown Speedway on March 29th and won the Sportsman event at the Delaware Speed Palace.

It is no surprise that the young gun is starting the season red hot and ready to collect victories with the Ron Roberts owned/Watt Racing Bicknell #4.

On Saturday Night, At Grandview with 48 – 602 Sportsman in the pits Logan showed everyone that he is primed to defend his Grandview Speedway Sportsman Championship in 2024.

The night started off as good as you can expect for the young driver, He pulled P1 from the race drew pill bag. This put Logan on the pole of heat #1 with a heads-up starting field. Logan took command of the race at the drop of the green and drove away from the field unchallenged for the heat race win.

This season Grandview Speedway has made the decision to eliminate the open-Sportsman race engines, mandating that all cars race 602 crate engines. An early judgement of that call is a successful one as 48 cars in the pit area for opening night is a great field for any track.

Logan Watt, Dakota Kohler, Brett Gilmore, Kenny Gilmore, and Ryan Graver were all heat race winners. All 5 are Sportsman Feature Winners in their careers. Kenny Gilmore is returning to the driver seat of the Gilmore Racing #7k Sportsman for 2024.

The T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman field saw 26 car take the green flag on Saturday night. Logan Watt and Dakota Kohler led the field to the green flag.

Logan Watt drove to the early lead at the drop of the green with Dakota Kohler, Ryan Graver, Brett Gilmore, Nick Hamm, and Addison Meitzler following.

On Lap 2, Stephen Laubach slowed coming down the frontstretch causing a field mishap. Cody Manmiller was collected with damage and stopped in turn 1. The front end of the Manmiller Electric #00 sustained front end damage and was done for the night. Kaitlyn Bailey pitted and returned. Stephen Laubach pitted and returned.

The field was restacked and racing resumed as Logan Watt powered the Stringers Collision #4 to the race lead, Kohler, Graver, Gilmore, and Meitzler all were in chase mode.

As the field clicked off 5 down, Logan Watt was turning it the wick and powering away from the field.

By lap 9 Logan reached lap traffic and was really flying. The Watt Racing team has done their homework this past winter. Watt was maintaining parts of a straightaway lead at the time as he was navigating difficult lapped traffic at the tail end of the 26 car field.

Lap 10 clicks off and Ryan Graver is now assaulting Dakota Kohler for 2nd Spot as they are side by side.

On lap 11 the yellow Whelen caution lights are flashing for Mike Loney who is stopped in turn one. Dakota Kohler heads to the pits with a LR flat tire while running in 3rd, a heartbreaking turn of events of the Virginville, PA driver.

The field is reset with your Top-10 as Logan Watt is your race leader, Ryan Graver, Brett Gilmore, Addison Meitzler, Nick Hamm, Logan Bauman, Nate Mohr, Adrianna Delliponti, Parker Guldin, and Zane Roth.

Invader Dom Roselli, who races at Accord and Orange County Fair Speedway has raced from 23rd to 15th.

We go back to green flag racing with Logan Watt powering to the race lead. Graver, Meitzler sneaks around Gilmore for 3rd on the restart, Gilmore, Bauman are the Top-5.

Lap 13 is clicked off and Adrianna Delliponti is taking her new ride the Saxton/Buckwalter Motorsports #23XA to the front as she is side by side with Logan Bauman for 5th.

15 down and Logan Watt is in full race control out front. Ryan Graver, Addison Meitzler, Brett Gilmore, and Logan Bauman are the Top-5.

On Lap 16, Brett Gilmore pulls off the track while running 4th.

Lap 18 is clicked off and Logan Watt has opened up another straightaway advantage over the field. Ryan Graver controls 2nd with Addison Meitzler, Logan Bauman, Adrianna Delliponti following.

On Lap 19, Addison Meitzler has the Rick Fenstermacher #712 challenging the Ryan Graver’s 101 for 2nd.

The Grandview Speedway starter drops the “5” hands to the field and Logan Watt is once again caught the tail end of the field.

On Lap 21, The caution lights are displayed for Mark Kemmerer and Nathan Horn who are stopped in turn two. Dom Roselli pulls off the track while under caution. Kaitlyn Bailey visits the pits and returns. The field is restacked for a 4 lap dash to the checkered flag. Zach Steffy pulls off with a flat tire. Stephen Laubach retired the 39x at this point.

The running order is Logan Watt as your leader, Ryan Graver, Addison Meitzler, Logan Bauman, Adrianna Delliponti, Nate Mohr, Mike Schneck, Zane Roth, Dylan Swinehart, and Jesse Hirthler.

While Watt is dominating at the front of the pack, there are some impressive runs going on. Adrianna Delliponti from 15th to 5th, Dylan Swinehart from 22nd to 9th, Mike Schneck from 17th to 7th, Jesse Hirthler from 21st to 10th.

At the drop of the green Ryan Graver pulls a hay-maker slide job on Logan Watt and pushes him up the banking, But Watt keeps his cool and drives down the banking and into the lead. A great move by the young Graver in attempt to steal the win with 4 to go.

The maturity and car control being showed by Logan Watt is super impressive. As this was going Logan Bauman drove around Addison Meitzler.

At the 2 to go signals, It was Logan Watt out front. Ryan Graver, Logan Bauman, Addison Meitzler, and Adrianna Delliponte were the Top-5.

Logan Watt would go on to win the Bruce Rogers Memorial VP Fuels Money Maker Sportsman 25.

T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (25 laps):

LOGAN WATT, Ryan Graver, Logan Bauman, Addison Meitzler, Adrianna Delliponti, Nathan Mohr, Mike Schneck Jr., Dylan Swinehart, Zane Roth, Jesse Hirthler, Decker Swinehart, Parker Guldin, Mike Loney, Nicholas Hamm, Mark Mohr, Nathan Horn, Dom Roselli, Lawson Szerencits, Mark Kemmerer, Zach Steffey, Stephen Laubach, Kaitlyn Bailey, Brett Gilmore, Dakota Kohler, Cody Manmiller, Kenny Gilmore

 
 
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