RPW Exclusive: Brett Kressley Wins Fourth Of ’24 In Modified At Grandview; 28th Of Career

Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Brett “The Threat” Kressley, The defending Grandview Speedway Point Champion clicked off win #4 on Saturday, breaking a tie with Louden Reimert for the most wins this season to date.

The victory was the 28th career for the Orefield, PA pilot notching him up that Grandview Speedway Hall Of Fame win list. Brett is currently 10th, only 3 wins away from Warren Mutter in 9th.

The win on Saturday came with some drama, Louden Reimert who Kressley was tied with for most wins passed Brett on a lap 19 restart and stole the lead away from the “The Threat”.

Kressley would return the favor on a lap 24 restart and then drive away from everyone in the field to seal the deal for win #4.

When you look at the Grandview Speedway Modified Points, None of the Top -5 in points have won a Modified Feature event this season – Jeff Strunk, Craig Von Dohren, Mike Gular, Jared Umbenhauer, and Eddie Strada. These guys all race to the front each week but have yet to break into the coveted Grandview Speedway victory lane. Kressley on the other hand has been lights out fast but has suffered through mechanical failures and some on track incidents that have derailed his point season racing to date. With 6 weeks of racing still to come, anything can happen at the great racetrack on the “Hill”.

Glenn Owens and Bryan Rhoads led the 28 car NASCAR field to the green flag. The caution immediately flew as the field held contact as Frank Yankowski headed to the pits with damage.

Take 2 on the race would make another attempt at green flag racing. This time Glenn Owens would take command of the race lead. Bryan Rhoads, Ray Swinehart, Joe Funk, and Ryan Beltz were in chase.

Jeff Strunk was up on the top early making a drive to the front in the Norm Hansell 357.

Lap 2 Doug Manmiller retired to the infield with smoke coming from the Jason Miller 44.

With 5 down, All green out front as Glenn Owens is the race leader. Rhoads, Brett Kressley is cutting through the field quickly from 10th, Swinehart, and Beltz.

On Lap 6 Kevin Graver Jr. retired from the event.

Lap 7 is scored, and Glenn Owens is the race leader, but Brett Kressley is coming quickly. The Kressley’s Auto & Truck Sales 19k Bicknell is flying to the front. Rhoads, Swinehart, and Mike Lisowski are the rest of the Top-5.

On Lap 8, Brett Kressley takes the race lead from his 10th starting spot. Owens drops to 2nd, Rhoads, Swinehart, Funk, Lisowski, and Louden Reimert.

With 10 down on the scoreboard, Brett Kressley is stretching his legs out front. Owens, Rhoads, Swinehart, and Funk are in the Top-5. Lisowski, Reimert, Kellner, Howard, and Strunk are the next-5.

At Dan’s Deli Halfway Leaders mark, Brett Kressley is your race leader, and he has a comfortable lead.

Lap 17 and the 2nd caution of the race appears for Jared Umbenhauer who slows in Turn 2. The field is restacked after 17 green flag laps. Brett Kressley is the race leader, Ray Swinehart is 2nd, Louden Reimert has moved to 3rd, Duane Howard making another drive through the field for the 2nd on the night is 4th, Owens 5th, Lisowkski 6th, Strunk 7th, Gular 8th, and Rhoads 9th. Duane Howard is moving forward with a 13th to 4th run, Jeff Strunk 16th to 7th run. Darin Schuler is towed off during the caution.

On the restart Louden Reimert powers around Ray Swinehart and pulls next to the Kressley 19k, as they go side by side for the race lead. Where did Reimert come from, everyone is asking. Duane Howard, Jeff Strunk, Mike Gular, and Mike Lisowski are pack racing side by side. You are getting your admission monies worth tonight in this feature as well, another action-packed feature race.

On lap 18 the caution appears again for Jimmy Leiby with flat tire. The field is restacked with Kressley as the race leader, Reimert is now 2nd, Swinehart, Howard, Lisowski, Strunk, Gular, Strada, Whitmoyer and Kellner.

Ray Kemp drops the green and Reimert assaults Kressley for the race lead. Kressley and Reimert are side by side, Reimert pulls it off and takes the race lead as Kressley falls to 2nd. Howard, Gular, Lisowksi, and Swinehart are battling for 3rd to 6th.

Lap 20 is clicked off and Louden Reimert is in the race lead. Kressley, Howard, Gular, Lisowski, Strunk, and Swinehart.

Louden Reimert continues to hold the race lead with Kressley lurking behind at lap 23. Howard, Gular, Lisowski, and Strunk are closing.

Lap 24 the caution lights are displayed for Brian Hirthler as the Four-Star Racing 4* slows in turn 2. The field is being restacked for 6 epic laps of Modified racing action. Reimert, Kressley, Howard, Gular, Lisowski, Strunk, Whitmoyer, Eddie Strada, Hirthler, Kellner, and Rhoads.

The field goes green, and Kressley goes side by side with Reimert for the race lead. Lap 25 is scored, and Brett Kressley takes back the race lead from Louden Reimert. Another epic side by side battle, no contact just good hard racing between the Top-2 Grandview Speedway Modified racers. Duane Howard is on the bumper of the Reimert #16, and you can sense the battles are not over.

Lap 26 is scored, and Cody Manmiller retires from the event. Duane Howard clears a pass of Reimert for 2nd. Kressley remains out front with the lead.

At the 2 to go hand signals, Brett Kressley is pulling away from the field. Howard, Mike Gular is now 3rd, Reimert, Lisowski, and Strunk.

Brett Kressley would drive to victory unchallenged the last 2 laps, his 4th of the season and 28th career. Mike Gular sneaks past Duane Howard for 2nd, Howard is 3rd, Louden Reimert 4th, Mike Lisowski 5th, Point Leader Jeff Strunk 6th, Craig Whitmoyer 7th, Eddie Strada 8th, Kevin Hirthler 9th, Jimmy Leiby 10th. Kressley would sweep the night, winning his heat race, the feature, and the T.P. Trailers $300 winner bonus.

T.P. TRAILER NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 laps): BRETT KRESSLEY, Mike Gular, Duane Howard, Louden Reimert, Mike Lisowski, Jeff Strunk, Craig Whitmoyer, Eddie Strada, Kevin Hirthler, Jon Kellner, Bryan Rhoads, Craig Von Dohren, Joe Funk, Bobby Trapper Jr., Ryan Beltz, Ryan Watt, Glenn Owens, Eric Kormann, Cody Manmiller, Ray Swinehart, Brian Hirthler, Jimmy Leiby, Ryan Grim, Jared Umbenhauer, John Willman, Kevin Graver Jr., Doug Manmiller, Frank Yankowski
VP RACING FUELS HARD CHARGER: Kevin Hirthler +15