RPW Exclusive: Louden Reimert Returns To Grandview In ’24 & Scores First Career Mod Win In Week Three

Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Oley, PA is well known for churning out legendary race drivers, it must be in the Berks County Water.

Tommy Hinnershitz was the 1st from Oley, PA to carve out a Hall of Fame career behind the wheel of Sprint Cars and Midgets. Craig Von Dohren and Duane Howard are 2 of the best in a Northeast Dirt Modified and both have resided within the Oley Township lines.

The Reimert Family has also left their own racing mark in the Oley township. Louden is a 3rd generation driver from the Reimert family, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Terry Reimert and father Shawn. Both Terry and Shawn were successful drivers on the PA Small Block Tri-Track circuit for many years.

You can find all 3 in the Bechtelsville, PA Grandview Speedway pit area every Saturday watching over Louden who has now become one of the best Spec 358 / Big Block Modified drivers in the Northeast.

Louden will race anything with wheels, much like many of his generation. His craft is best behind the wheel of a Northeast Dirt Modified, Spec 358 or Big Block Modified, but he has seen time racing 270/600 Micro Sprints and USAC Speedstrs on area small tracks. Louden races the Flurer Machine & Tool Bicknell #16 on Friday and Saturday nights at Big Diamond & Grandview Speedway’s, while running the Don Grebe #33 Big Block on the Super DIRTcar Series, and Short Track Super Series.

Louden has been very successful away from home standing in victory lane at Big Diamond Speedway, most recently in the Jack Rich Coal Cracker Championship, New Egypt Speedway, and BAPS Motor Speedway, but victory lane at Grandview Speedway has eluded him until Saturday night.

Louden was the 2018 Grandview Speedway Sportsman Point Champion, after graduating to the Spec 358 Modified class, Louden and Reimert Racing Flurer Machine & Tool #16 Race Team left to compete at New Egypt Speedway in NJ for several years. Louden did not win a feature during that Sportsman championship season.

The time away from Grandview Speedway has certainly matured and improved Reimert and the entire race team. I can see Louden Reimert pushing the Big 6 (Von Dohren, Strunk, Kressley, Howard, Gular and Manmiller) for the 2024 NASCAR T.P Trailer Spec 358 Modified Championship.

Modified Heat Race Winners for 39 Spec 358 Modifieds were Ray Swinehart, Kevin Hirthler, Mike Laise, and Louden Reimert

Ray Swinehart and Carrol Hine III led the 28 car field to the green.

The did not record a lap as John Willman lost the handle in turn 4 and spun, since no lap was recorded it was a complete restart.

With the field reset Ray Swinehart and Carrol Hine brought the 28 racers to the green for take-2. Ray Swinehart took control early with Hine III, Louden Reimert, Bryan Rhoads, and Mike Laise making up the Top-5.

On lap 5 John Willman retired to the infield. Veteran Ray Swinehart had the 33 tuned up tonight as he led with 5 down. Hine III, Reimert, Kyle Smith and Rhoads were chasing. Timmy Buckwalter, Alex Yankowski, Craig Von Dohren, Mike Gular, and Jeff Strunk were all on the move in the back part of the Top-10.

On lap 8 the yellow lights were flashing for the 2nd time tonight as Bryan Rhoads got out of shape and the caution was displayed. Rhoads did not stop, so he resumed his spot in the Top 5. With field reset – Ray Swinehart was still maintaining race control. Caroll Hine III, Louden Reimert, Kyle Smith, and Mike Laise the Top-5. Kevin Hirthler,

Jared Umbenhauer, Timmy Buckwalter, Ryan Grim and Alex Yankowski the balance of the Top-10. With 8 down, Brett Kressley who started 25th was up to 16th. Kressley had to qualify in a consolation race due to a flat tire suffered in his heat race.

The field is reset and we are back racing as Ray Swinehart darts to the lead once again. Louden Reimert powers around Carroll Hine III for 2nd. Kyle Smith and Kevin Hirthler are side by side as well. Swinehart, Reimert, Hine III, Hirthler, and Smith are the new Top-5. Umbenhauer, Grim, and Laise are following.

On Lap 11, Louden Reimert challenges Ray Swinehart for the lead and takes control of the race. Swinehart drops to 2nd, as Kevin Hirthler is now 3rd. Caroll Hine III, Jared Umbenhauer, and Kyle Smith are the Top-5.

At lap 15, The Dan’s Deli halfway mark of the race Louden Reimert is breaking away from the field. The Flurer Machine and Tool Bicknell #16 is looking strong tonight. Kevin Hirthler moves into 2nd with his eyes on running down Reimert. Ray Swinehart is 3rd, Jared Umbenhauer is 4th, and Ryan Grim is 5th. Grim after a DNQ last week from a bad wreck bounces back running in the Top-5. Eric Biehn pulls to the infield on Lap 15.

Lap 18 and Louden Reimert is pulling away from the pack. Hirthler, Swinehart, Umbenhauer, Grim are the Top-5. Doug Manmiller, Carroll Hine III, Jeff Strunk, Duane Howard, and Kyle Smith are the Top-10. Ryan Beltz and Brian Hirthler pull to the infield on Lap 18.

Lap 20 is clicked off, Louden Reimert has a straightaway lead and lap traffic is ahead. Hirthler, Umbenhauer, Swinehart, and Grim remain in chase mode. Manmiller and Strunk are now looking to break into the Top-5.

Lap 22 Reimert is now in heavy lap traffic. Both Hirthler and Umbenhauer are reeling in Reimert in clear air.

Lap 24 is clicked off with all green laps. Reimert is carefully navigating the lap traffic at the tail end of the field. Hirthler and Umbenhauer have cut the race lead in half and are coming. Is there enough time to mount a charge. Swinehart, Grim, Manmiller, Strunk, and Howard are next 5.

Lap 25 with 5 to go. Reimert remains the leader, but the Hirthler and Umbenhauer are 5 cars back. Swinehart, Grim, Manmiller, Strunk, and Howard are bunched up. All green flag laps with incredible racing action all over the speedway. 3 lanes available to race on. Top, bottom, or middle are all racy tonight.

As the starter drops the 2 to go, Reimert gets some free air and can navigate much easier. Kevin Hirther and Jared Umbenhauer are bumper to bumper and now navigating their own lap traffic. Ryan Grim, Ray Swinehart, and Doug Manmiller make up the Top 5.

On the White Flag Lap Doug Manmiller spins in Turn 1, the caution is not displayed as Louden Reimert takes the checkered flag to win. Kevin Hirthler and Jared Umbenhauer race across 2nd and 3rd. Ryan Grim rebounds for a 4th, Ray Swinehart 5th, Jeff Strunk maintaining the Spec 358 Modified Point Lead with 6th, Duane Howard 7th, Kyle Smith 8th, Mike Gular 9th, and Timmy Buckwalter 10th. Doug Manmiller was running 6th while taking the white flag, after contact with a car in turn 1, Manmiller spun and was unable to cross the finish line. Manmiller was credited with 20th after running in the Top-10.

Louden Reimert claimed the T.P. Trailers $300 Modified Winners Bonus, as well as the Dan’s Deli Halfway leader bonus.

Louden Reimert thanked his entire team for standing behind him all these years. Reimert commented “It takes everything to go right to win here at Grandview, and tonight it went right for us”. Reimert spoke about it taking a village to do this and he was thankful for all those who help him each week. Flurer Machine & Tool, Christman’s Meat Market, TROPP Electric Equipment Repair, Morrison Performance, BRB Site Contractors, Mark Grassi Motorsports, and Levan Truck and Machine.

T.P. TRAILER NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 laps): LOUDEN REIMERT, Kevin Hirthler, Jared Umbenhauer, Ryan Grim, Ray Swinehart, Jeff Strunk, Duane Howard, Kyle Smith, Mike Gular, Tim Buckwalter, Craig Von Dohren, Carrol Hine III, Alex Yankowski, Brett Kressley, Ryan Watt, Jimmy Leiby, Eddie Strada, Jon Kellner, Michael Storms, Doug Manmiller, Mike Laise, Joe Funk, Darrin Schuler, Frank Yankowski, Brian Hirthler, Ryan Beltz, Eric Biehn, Bryan Rhoads, John Willman, Eric Kormann

DID NOT QUALIFY: Mike Lisowski, Nate Brinker, Chris Gambler, Bobby Gunther-Walsh, Bobby Trapper Jr., Justin Grim, Ron Haring Jr., Chris Esposito, Kevin Graver Jr.

VP RACING FUELS HARD CHARGER – Eddie Strada (+12)

T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (25 laps): COLTON PERRY, Steve Young, Jesse Hirthler, Brett Gilmore, Logan Watt, Parker Guldin, Kaitlyn Bailey, Cody Manmiller, Dylan Swinehart, Logan Bauman, Ronnie Solomon, Nathan Mohr, Mike Stofflet, Decker Swinehart, Nicholas Hamm, Adrianna Delliponti, Tyler James, TJ Mayberry, Ryan Graver, Dom Roselli, Dakota Kohler, Kenny Bock, Gavyn Krupp, Michael Toth, Mark Gaugler, Nathan Horn

DID NOT QUALIFY: Mark Mohr, Zane Roth, Lawson Szerencits, Troy Bollinger, Mike Schneck Jr., Joey Vaccaro, Nick Faust, Dennis Graber, Jesse Landis, Brett Grim, Shannon Slaughter, Teague Miller, Bobby Kupp, Randy Graber, Zach Steffey, Addison Meitzler

GRANDVIEW $100 HARD CHARGER: Decker Swinehart (+13)