RPW Exclusive: Nate Brinker Wins Epic Showdown With Tim Buckwalter At Grandview Speedway

Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Grandview Speedway fans were treated to an extra Modified feature on Saturday courtesy of mother nature June 29th rain out.

The balance of the June 29th racing program was run first and was one of the better racing events contested all season. The track was surface was outstanding as it always is, the racing allowed 2 lanes of highly competitive action.

The 4th Modified heat ran off quickly, as Duane Howard in the Getz Motorsports #15g won easily and immediately showed that the #15g found some extra speed over the week. 2 consolation races were run off quickly with Jon Kellner and Eric Kormann winning.

The track crew did some quick track packing, and it was time for the 30 lap T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment Modified feature event.

The 28 car NASCAR field was assembled as the sun was going down on a beautiful Saturday evening in Bechtelsville, PA. Ray Swinehart and Justin Grim elected to go to the rear to start the race. Swinehart gave up his 20th spot, and Grim his 26th while dropping behind the 28-car field.

Nate Brinker and Craig Whitmoyer brought the field to the green flag. Brinker would take the Keith Hoffman Racing owned #4Rent Modified to the race lead with Whitmoyer, Ryan Grim, Mike Lisowski, Darin Schuler, and Timmy Buckwalter following. Brett Kressley was powering the Kressley’s Auto & Truck Sales #19k to the topside and the front quickly from his 9th starting spot.

Lap 3 Jon Kellner retires from the race, Nate Brinker continues to set the pace with Whitmoyer, Grim, Buckwalter, and Schuler in the Top-5.

With 5 laps down, Justin Grim pulls off the track. Nate Brinker has the #4R singing out front as Whitmoyer, Timmy Buckwalter making moves to 3rd, Grim, Schuler, and Mike Lisowski are the Top-5.

The first caution of the June 29th makeup event appears on Lap 5 as Ray Swinehart slows, and there is a tractor tire sitting in the racing groove in turns 3 & 4. The field is restacked after 5 laps with Brinker, Whitmoyer, Buckwalter, Grim, Schuler, Duane Howard, Mike Lisowski, and Kressley the Top-8.

Ray Kemp drops the green and Brinker and Whitmoyer go side by side for the race lead as Timmy Buckwalter who was lurking behind sneaks past Whitmoyer in the Weller #942 for 2nd place.

Lap 10 is clicked off and Nate Brinker and Timmy Buckwalter are side by side for the race lead. Darin Schuler retires from the event. Brinker and Buckwalter and waging a major battle for the race lead. Behind them Craig Whitmoyer maintains 2nd place, Ryan Grim, Duane Howard, Brett Kressley, Doug Manmiller, Craig Von Dohren, Louden Reimert, and Eddie Strada are lining up. The cream is rising to the front of the field.

The battle continues lap after lap with Nate Brinker and Timmy Buckwalter going side by side, top and bottom, without touching each other for the race lead. Some of the best dirt track racing action you will find anywhere.

Lap 13 Ron Haring Jr. retires from the race. Lap 14 the battle up front with Brinker and Buckwalter finally ends as Brinker wrestles the race lead away from Buckwalter. Buckwalter settles into 2nd, Craig Whitmoyer running a very strong 3rd, Duane Howard on the move in 4th, and Ryan Grim 5th. Mike Lisowski pulls off on lap 14.

The Dan’s Deli halfway leader bonus is awarded to Nate Brinker on lap 15, Buckwalter is a car back and mounting another challenge.

Lap 16 is scored, and Timmy Buckwalter drives under Nate Brinker for the race lead. Brinker falls to 2nd, Whitmoyer, Howard, Grim, and Manmiller are the Top-5.

The 2nd caution of the night appears on Lap 18 as Kevin Hirthler slows in Turn 2. The field is restacked with Timmy Buckwalter the race leader, Nate Brinker 2nd, Craig Whitmoyer 3rd, Duane Howard 4th, Ryan Grim 5th, Doug Manmiller 6th, Brett Kressley 7th, Eddie Strada 8th, Mike Gular 9th, Craig Von Dohren 10th. Louden Reimert would head to the pits with a left front flat tire while running in the 8th spot. Reimert had driven from 16th to 8th. Cody Manmiller heads to the pits, Kevin Hirthler heads to the pits. Reimert returns and joins the rear of the field after tire service.

On the restart Nate Brinker takes the #4Rent Dave Hoffman wrenched Bicknell Modified to the topside of the Grandview Speedway clay and blasts past the Timmy Buckwalter #942. Duane Howard follows to 3rd, Doug Manmiller to 4th, as Craig Whitmoyer slides back to 5th.

Lap 20 is clicked off and the pace is picking up now as Brinker is powering away at the point. Buckwalter remains in 2nd, Howard and Manmiller are in chase mode.

Lap 22 is scored, and Brett Kressley retires from the event, Nate Brinker is opening up space over the field out front. Buckwalter is holding down 2nd, Duane Howard is 3rd, Doug Manmiller is 4th, and Craig Whitmoyer is 5th.

At the 5 to go mark, Nate Brinker is sailing away from the field now with a ½ straightaway lead. Duane Howard slipped past Timmy Buckwalter for 2nd, Buckwalter is 3rd, Doug Manmiller is 4th, Craig Whitmoyer 5th.

The 3rd caution of the race is displayed on Lap 26 for Eric Kormann who stops in turn 2. This will set up an epic 4 lap dash to the checkered flag as Nate Brinker remains in race control. Howard, Buckwalter, Manmiller, Gular, Whitmoyer, Strada, Von Dohren, Strunk, Umbenhauer, and Ryan Watt are bumper to bumper.

The green is dropped on the field and Nate Brinker drives away from Duane Howard and Timmy Buckwalter. Mike Gular drives under Doug Manmiller for 4th as Eddie Strada follows.

The field comes for the white flag with Nate Brinker holding down the point, Duane Howard is 2nd, Buckwalter, Gular, Manmiller, and Strada are the Top-5.

Nate Brinker would go on and score his 2nd career Grandview Speedway victory. Both of Nate’s Grandview Speedway Modified victories have come driving the Keith Hoffman Racing #4Rent Bicknell Modified. Nate won last year on June 10, 2023. The car is sponsored by Hoffman Discount Parts & Hoffman Speed Supplies, Valley Auto Group, Master Terrazzo Technologies, Sherwin Williams, Bry-Cor Racing Engines, and Jerry’s Coin & Stamp.

Brinker mentioned in victory lane that the battle with Buckwalter in the race was exhausting on the fast race conditions. Nate commented that he was totally gassed physically from the race. Brinker mentioned that the Keith Hoffman Racing team is led by Davey Hoffman, who was just inducted into the DIRT Hall Of Fame for his crew chief efforts over his career. Hoffman was inducted in the DIRT Hall Of Fame last week, tuning the Brinker #4R on Saturday Nights at Grandview Speedway. Brinker claims the T.P. Trailers $300 Winner Bonus.

Duane Howard finished 2nd and showed incredible speed in his run, Timmy Buckwalter settled for 3rd, Mike Gular 14th to 4th, Doug Manmiller 11th to 5th, Eddie Strada 13th to 6th, Craig Von Dohren 15th to 7th, Jared Umbenhauer 8th, Craig Whitmoyer 9th, and Point Leader Jeff Strunk 10th from his 17th starting spot.

T.P. TRAILER NASCAR MODIFIED (HELD-OVER JUNE 29) FEATURE FINISH (30 laps): NATE BRINKER, Duane Howard, Tim Buckwalter, Mike Gular, Doug Manmiller, Eddie Strada, Craig Von Dohren, Jared Umbenhauer, Craig Whitmoyer, Jeff Strunk, Ryan Watt, Ryan Grim, Jimmy Leiby, Louden Reimert, Frank Yankowski, Kyle Smith, Joe Funk, Darrin Schuler, Eric Kormann, Brett Kressley, Kevin Hirthler, Cody Manmiller, Mike Lisowski, Ron Haring Jr., John Willman, Ray Swinehart, Justin Grim, Jon Kellner
VP RACING FUELS HARD CHARGER: Jimmy Leiby +11