Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – The Grandview Speedway ’24 season started out with great results, NY’s Mike Mahaney claimed the Bruce Rogers Memorial on Saturday, April 6th.
Brett Kressley scored a win on April 13th and Louden Reimert on April 20th, Before Mother Nature took over with rained out events on April 27th, May 3rd, and May 11th ended up being rain shortened. May 18th, another Saturday lost with all day rain once again.
Mother Nature has claimed 4 of 8 events, not including the rain shortened May 11th and now May 25th shows. On May 11th USAC East Coast Sprints were able to get their feature complete along with all of the qualifying before the rains took over.
Saturday night, The May 11th Modified feature was completed along with the Vintage Modified Feature, won by Scott Schaefer. 2 – 602 Sportsman Heat Races were completed on Saturday night before the rains once again claimed the evening of racing action yet again.
The real story so far this season is that Mother Nature is the true point leader and feature win leader this season with 4 Rain Out’s, and 2 rain shortened events out of 10 events.
The Ultimate Underdog John Willman scores his 5th career Modified feature win on Saturday night.
John’s last feature win came on 9-7-2019.
Willman’s nickname the Ultimate Underdog comes from years of making the best with a limited budget, John is one of the friendliest guy you will ever meet. The team travels to the track using the old school method, utilizing an open trailer to tow their modified race car.
John is not afraid to travel either, you can often find the team at Brett Deyo Short Track Super Series events racing again Big / Small Block Modifieds with a Spec 358 power plant under the hood.
John won his 1st modified feature on May 8th, 1999. Saturday’s victory was not an easy one for Willman as he had to fight off constant challenges all race long. Kevin Graver Jr. was the 1st attack Willman, then Eddie Strada took his swing at the win, before Craig Von Dohren came rushing through the top 5 at the end of the race.
Von Dohren has yet to break into Grandview Speedway victory lane and was looking for a late race win on Saturday, before he ran out of race laps to challenge. Von Dohren went from 3rd to 2nd on the white flag lap and was on the bumper of Willman as he crossed the finish line.
Duane Howard and Brett Kressley were added to the feature as provisional starters for the event. Nate Brinker was not in attendance, allowing Joe Funk to be added in his place.
Chris Gambler and Bobby Gunther-Walsh led the 30 Car T.P. Trailers Heldover May 11th Modified feature to the green flag.
Jon Kellner brought out the caution on the 1st lap of the feature in turn 2, causing a complete restart.
The field was restacked and a 2nd attempt for a start of the race, this time the caution was flying as Timmy Buckwalter slowed in turn 2, Craig Whitmoyer and Louden Reimert went to the pits. Flat Tires were the culprit for all 3. Buckwalter returned to join the tail of the field, Whitmoyer and Reimert were done for night.
The field was restacked again for a 3rd attempt to start the race.
The 3rd time is a charm as the field takes the green with Chris Gambler taking command of the race as Ryan Beltz, Bobby Gunther-Walsh, John Willman, and Kevin Graver Jr. are in chase. In looking back, Mike Gular and Jeff Strunk with huge moves on the top at the start.
With 3 down to the field Chris Gambler is your race leader as Beltz, Willman, Walsh, and Graver Jr. make up the Top-5. Kevin Hirthler, Eddie Strada, Ryan Grim and Frank Yankowski are not far behind. Kyle Smith retires off on Lap 4.
Chris Gambler continues to set the pace with 5 down, John Willman has moved to 2nd, as Beltz, Walsh, Graver Jr. and Kevin Hirthler are now in the Top-5. Mike Lisowski retires on Lap 5.
The next caution flag is waving with 6 down as Frank Yankowski slows the Norm’s Save Station 127. Justin Grim heads to the pits and rejoins the tail of the field. The field is stacked with Chris Gambler as the race leader, Willman, Beltz, Walsh, Graver Jr., Hirthler, Strada, Grim, Umbenhauer, and Jeff Strunk the Top-10.
The cream is quickly rising to the top as Craig Von Dohren is on the early move driving from 21st to 13th. Duane Howard 29th to 15th, and Brett Kressley 30th to 16th.
As the field takes the green for lap 7, John Willman powers into the race lead as Gambler falls to second with Beltz, Graver Jr. and Walsh following. As lap 7 is scored the caution is displayed for Mike Gular’s MB Roofing 2A who is slowing with a flat tire in turn 4. Jimmy Leiby and Brett Kressley head to the pits. Gular and Leiby would return and join the field, Kressley’s night was over. Justin Grim would head pit side as well.
John Willman would kill the restart and fly into the race lead again as Kevin Graver Jr. powers into 2nd bringing along the “The Edge” Eddie Strada into 3rd, Kevin Hirthler moves into 4th bringing along Jared Umbenhauer. Gambler, Walsh, Doug Manmiller, and Ryan Grim are the next 4.
With Lap 10 clicking off we are finally able to get some green flag laps scored without a caution and it appears that John Willman has brought a rocket to the party tonight, The P & J Auctions 74 is flying out front, Graver Jr. 7A and Strada are chasing.
The yellow appears again on lap 12 for a tangle off turn that involved several cars. Jon Kellner, Chris Gambler, Ryan Watt, Duane Howard, Mike Laise, and Bobby Gunther-Walsh. Gambler and Watt needed wrecker service to get back to the pit area. Keller and Howard rejoined the tail of the field. Mike Laise drove to the pit area. Bobby Gunther-Walsh hit the pit area for service and returned.
The field is restacked and we are back racing as John Willman powers away with the race lead. Kevin Graver Jr. and Eddie Strada are side by side and 2nd/3rd, Jared Umbenhauer and Kevin Hirthler are battling for 4th/5th, as Doug Manmiller, Jeff Strunk, Ryan Grim, and Craig Von Dohren battle for the back half of the Top-10.
Halfway is scored on a Lap 15, The Dan’s Deli halfway leader bonus goes to John Willman. Graver Jr., Strada, Hirthler, Umbenhauer, and Craig Von Dohren are the new Top-5. Von Dohren making a 21st to 5th run.
Lap 18 is clicked off with John Willman continuing to the race leader from his 4th starting spot. Graver Jr., Strada, Hirthler, and Craig Von Dohren in tow. Jon Kellner retires on lap 18.
The yellow appears on lap 20 as Doug Manmiller in the Jason Miller 44 is slowing with a flat tire on the front stretch. John Willman remains at the point with Graver Jr., Strada, Von Dohren, Hirthler, Umbenhauer, Strunk, Buckwalter, and Grim stacked behind him.
We head back to racing as John Willman pulls into the race lead. Eddie Strada powers into 2nd and Kevin Graver Jr. now has to deal with Craig Von Dohren for 3rd. Ryan Grim pulls the RGM #20 into the infield on lap 21.
Lap 22 is scored Willman has the Strada 33 on his bumper and Craig Von Dohren is not done with his drive to the front as he goes side by side with Kevin Graver Jr. Hirthler, Strunk, Umbenhauer, Gular, Buckwalter, and Howard are now behind. Eric Korman pulls to the infield on lap 23.
At the 5 to go mark of the race John Willman remains in the race lead as Eddie Strada is on the bumper of Willman. The race up front is about to get very intense.
Lap 26, Von Dohren is past the 7A of Graver Jr. and has his sight set on the Willman and Strade battle with 4 laps remaining.
With the twin sticks being showed to the field, John Willman’s 74 remains the race leader, But Strada and Von Dohren are stalking behind. Graver Jr., Kevin Hirthler, and Jared Umbenhauer are the remaining Top-6.
On the White Flag lap Craig Von Dohren goes around Eddie Strada entering turn 3 and clears him, but John Willman will win the T.P. Trailers 30 Lap Grandview Speedway Modified Feature event. Von Dohren has to settle for a well-earned 2nd place run. Von Dohren started 21st and drove to 2nd seemingly running out of time in his bid for his 1st victory of the ’24 season.
Eddie Strada comes home 3rd from his 14th starting spot. Kevin Graver Jr. 4th, Jared Umbenhauer quietly drove from 19th to 5th, Kevin Hirthler 11th to 6th, Mike Gular 15th to 7th after a trip to the pits, Duane Howard 28th to 8th after a trip to the rear, Tim Buckwalter 13th to 9th after a trip to the rear, and Point Leader Jeff Strunk 20th to 10th.
T.P. TRAILER NASCAR MODIFIED (HELD-OVER MAY 11) FEATURE FINISH (30 laps): JOHN WILLMAN, Craig Von Dohren, Eddie Strada, Kevin Graver Jr., Jared Umbenhauer, Kevin Hirthler, Mike Gular, Duane Howard, Tim Buckwalter, Jeff Strunk, Michael Storms, Jimmy Leiby, Joe Funk, Bobby Gunther-Walsh, Eric Kormann, Ryan Grim, Doug Manmiller, Jon Kellner, Chris Gambler, Ryan Watt, Mike Laise, Brian Hirthler, Ryan Beltz, Brett Kressley, Justin Grim, Frank Yankowski, Mike Lisowski, Kyle Smith, Louden Reimert, Craig Whitmoyer, DNS – Nate Brinker
DID NOT QUALIFY: Ron Haring Jr., Carroll Hine III, Ray Swinehart, Bryan Rhoads, Bobby Trapper Jr., Chris Esposito, Eric Biehn, Darrin Schuler
VP RACING FUELS HARD CHARGER: Duane Howard +20 (28th to 8th)