Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – The 62nd season of Grandview Speedway racing kicked off on Saturday night with the Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker 50 by VP Racing Fuels.
After a long week of heavy rain, That saw many tracks cancel racing for the weekend, The Rogers forged ahead with Opening Day, and they were rewarded with an amazing car count and packed grandstand. The Racetrack on the hill in Bechtelsville is known as the “Greatest Show on Dirt” and Saturday Night was another example of why drivers and fans continue to pack the track. 99 cars were pitside – 51 Modifieds, 48 Sportsman.
The cars were over-following into the parking lot. The pits were packed to capacity. The atmosphere at the track was electric and few tracks can create this type of event. I have been to racetracks all over the east coast, Grandview creates a truly an amazing atmosphere and Kenny Rogers said it best on the mic at the start of pre-race events.
“My father would be tickled happy to see all these cars and people out in this cold to support the track”. The event carried 9 Heat Races – 5 for Sportsman, and 4 for Modifieds. How about this – The final Modified Heat had an old East Windsor Speedway feel – A mini-feature by itself – 12 cars that included – Craig Von Dohren, Jeff Strunk, Frank Cozze, Doug Manmiller, Duane Howard, Mike Mahaney, and Brett Kressley racing for 12 laps with 5 to Qualify. 4 consolation races.
The Modified division was a Big Block Modified/Open Modified vs. Spec 358 rules and it brought some of the region’s best drivers to compete. Invaders like Nascar Truck Series and Modified Driver Stewart Friesen, Anthony Perrego, Nick Rochinski, Matt Stangle, Rick Laubach, Billy Pauch Jr, Mike Mahaney, Alex Yankowski, and Louden Reimert are just to name a few.
The Modified Heat Race Winners were Mike Gular, Justin Grim, Ryan Watt, and Jeff Strunk. Strunk in the Norm Hansell #357 powered around Craig Von Dohren on the outside for the race win. The race was a BB vs. 358 event but it carries full Grandview Speedway points for both divisions. It pays an unheard of $1000 to take the green, and this creates plenty of drama in the pit area for race prep and qualifying.
There are no points Provisionals given on the night and only 24 cars start the field.
The Grandview Speedway regular Saturday night field starts 28. Some Notable Non-Qualifiers last night – ’24 Grandview Speedway Point Champion Brett Kressley, Kressley sustained damaged to his primary car in a heat race accident, the backup was unloaded and tested, but not ready for action.
Rick Laubach, Jared Umbenhauer, Nick Rochinski, Jon Kellner, Louden Reimert, Ray Swinehart, Brian Hirthler, Eric Biehn, John Willman, Nate Brinker, Mike Lisowski, Ron Haring Jr., and Brandon Edgar.
Mike Mahaney and Duane Howard led the 24 car VP Race Fuels Money Maker 50 to the green flag.
At the drop of the green flag Mike Mahaney took command with the Huttig #35. Stewart Friesen, Duane Howard, Kyle Smith, and Jeff Strunk were the Top-5.
With 3 down, Mike Mahaney was blasting away from the field with a ½ straightaway lead. Friesen, Howard, Smith, and Strunk followed.
On Lap 5 the 1st yellow caution of the event occurred with Alex Yankowski stopping the 2Y on the frontstretch.
The field was restacked with Mahaney as your race leader, Friesen, Howard, Kyle Smith moving up from the Sportsman last year and running 4th, Strunk, Doug Manmiller, Justin Grim, Craig Von Dohren, Jimmy Leiby, and Kevin Hirthler.
The field goes back to green flag racing and Mike Mahaney blasts out again. Duane Howard sneaks the Getz Motorsports 15G by Stewart Friesen’s Halmar 44 on the restart into 2nd. Smith and Strunk fill out the Top-5.
By Lap 8 Mahaney has built up another ½ straightaway lead over Duane Howard, That big block power under the hood of the #35 is singing the tune tonight.
As Lap 10 clicks off Mahaney remains the race leader over Howard, Friesen, Strunk moved into 3rd, and Smith, then the caution is out for a slowing Kevin Hirthler #117. Kevin pulls to the infield. Justin Grim and Joe Funk pull off during this caution.
The field is reset with Mahaney out front, Howard, Friesen, Strunk, Manmiller, Smith, Von Dohren, Danny Bouc, Ryan Grim, and Mike Gular.
On the restart we go green and then the caution flies again for Mike Gular who just hit the Top-10, Gular was pushed into the infield/apron of the track and stopped. Mike refired and paid a visit to Danny Bouc under to green to share his unhappiness for something that occurred on the track. Gular rejoined the tail of the field.
The field goes back to green flag racing with Mahaney controlling the pace out front. Duane Howard, Stewart Friesen, Doug Manmiller, and Jeff Strunk were the Top-5.
At the 15 mark of the race, Mike Mahaney’s Big Block George Huttig owned #35 was flying. Howard, Friesen, Strunk, and Manmiller all were chasing.
On Lap 16 the caution flew for Matt Stangle. Matty Ice had stopped the Ace Materials #6 in turn 2.
The field was restacked again and back to racing. Mike Mahaney was able to race away from the field on every restart without issue. Howard, Friesen, Strunk, and Manmiller continued as the Top-5.
On Lap 17, Craig Von Dohren is now challenging for a spot inside the Top-5. CVD was attacking the top groove from 6th.
20 down clicks off the lap counter and Mahaney is in race control with Howard, Friesen, Strunk, Von Dohren, and Manmiller the Top-6.
On Lap 22 Michael Storms takes the TEO XRD #28 to the pits.
At the halfway (25) mark of the event, it is Mike Mahaney out front, Mike has stretched the lead to a straightaway over Howard, Friesen, Strunk, and Von Dohren.
On Lap 27, things were heating up in the Top-5 as Craig Von Dohren and Jeff Strunk were side by side for 4th. Anthony Perrego in the Four Star 4* was attacking Danny Bouc for 7th and 8th.
All clean and green at lap 30 with Mike Mahaney in full race control out front with Howard, Friesen, Strunk, and CVD in the Top-5.
Lap 33 and Mike Mahaney starts to catch the tail end of the field before the caution is displayed for Jimmy Leiby, Kyle Smith, and Lex Shive. Leiby was slowing to enter the infield as Smith and Shive tangled. Mahaney remained the leader with Howard, Friesen, Strunk, and CVD the Top-5.
Perrego, Manmiller, Bouc, Buckwalter, and Pauch Jr. were the next 5. Mike Gular was showing in 11th coming from the rear with a vengeance. Billy Pauch Jr. cracking the Top-10 from his 22ndstarting spot.
On the restart Mahaney jets to the race lead. Anthony Perrego has the Four Star 4* on the move going 3-wide outside of Strunk and Von Dohren to 5th.
Lap 35 clicks off with Mahaney still the man out front. Howard, Friesen, Strunk, and Perrego are the new Top-5.
Lap 40, 10 to go and Mike Mahaney’s Bicknell Huttig Dealerships #35 looks to be unbeatable. Stewart Friesen has moved by Duane Howard for 2nd and is trying to mount a charge. Howard, Strunk, and Perrego are the balance of the Top-5.
As 5 to go is shown to the field, Mahaney is now searching on the track with a comfortable race lead. Friesen, Strunk moves past Howard for 3rd, Howard, and Perrego are the Top-5. Von Dohren and Manmiller are just outside of the Top-5.
Mike Mahaney would go on uncontested for the win. The Huttig Dealerships / Adirondack Chevrolet Bicknell #35 was not to be beaten tonight on the Hill. Mahaney’s big block power was perfect on the Grandview Speedway clay as Mike claimed the VP Race Fuels Bruce Rogers Money Maker $7500 purse. Stewart Friesen came home 2nd, Jeff Strunk 3rd, Anthony Perrego 4th, Duane Howard 5th, Craig Von Dohren 6th, Doug Manmiller 7th, Billy Pauch Jr. 8th, Mike Gular 9th, and Alex Yankowski 10th.
Mahaney claimed the TP Trailer $300 Modified Bonus and the Dan’s Deli Halfway Leader Bonus. Mike was the last guy to draw a pill in the race re-draw and was left with a P1 starting spot. Mike proclaimed in victory Lane “I love Grandview Speedway, this is on the best tracks there will ever be,” I am SO thankful this was kept a racetrack.”
Mike thanked Brandon and Dale Planck for getting the Team 35 shock package back inline after a poor showing in the New Egypt Speedway DIRTcar Series event last week.
Mike gave a shutout to Julie Huttig who is having a cancer battle. Mike is sending prayers and was so happy to share the news of this win. Mike shared that he has wanted to win so bad after the family lost Joe Huttig last year, dedicating this win to the Huttig family was a special moment for the Mike and the team.
The team face-timed the Huttig family from Grandview Speedway victory lane, creating a unique special moment for the Huttig family.
T.P. TRAILER NASCAR MODIFIED VP RACING FUELS BRUCE ROGERS MEMORIAL FEATURE FINISH (50 laps): MIKE MAHANEY, Stewart Friesen, Jeff Strunk, Anthony Perrego, Duane Howard, Craig Von Dohren, Doug Manmiller, Billy Pauch Jr., Mike Gular, Alex Yankowski, Danny Bouc, Ryan Watt, Tim Buckwalter, Eddie Strada, Frank Cozze, Ryan Grim, Jimmy Leiby, Kyle Smith, Lex Shive, Michael Storms, Matt Stangle, Justin Grim, Joe Funk, Kevin Hirthler
DID NOT QUALIFY: Eric Biehn, Jared Umbenhauer, Kevin Beach, Dylan Smith, Chris Gambler, Rick Laubach, Nick Rochinski, John Willman, Eric Kormann, Bobby Trapper Sr., Jon Kellner, Bryan Rhoads, Kevin Graver Jr., Louden Reimert, Nate Brinker, Mike Lisowski, Ray Swinehart, Ron Haring Jr., Brian Hirthler, Darrin Schuler, Brandon Edgar, Chris Esposito, Carroll Hine III, Bobby Gunther-Walsh, Mike Laise, Brett Kressley, Talan Carter
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
DID NOT QUALIFY: Nick Faust, Colton Perry, Gavyn Krupp, TJ Mayberry, Michael Toth, Kyle Hartzell, Troy Bollinger, BJ Joly III, Mike Stofflet, Jesse Landis, Randy Graber, Joey Vaccaro, Monte Pool, Mark Gaugler, Steve Young, Chris Martinez, Brad Grim, Dennis Graber, Tyler James, Keith Haring, Kenny Bock, Ronnie Solomon