RPW Exclusive: The Electric Company Charges To Forrest Rogers Memorial Win At Grandview

Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – The 54th Forrest Memorial was run off on Saturday Night under absolute perfect weather conditions.

After a week of rain that included remnants of Hurricane Storm Debby, we finally got a beautiful Saturday evening with low humidity and bright sun.

A field of 42 Spec 358 Modifieds assembled to compete for the $10,000 race prize that included Tanner VanDoren, and Danny Bouc who normally race at NJ’s New Egypt Speedway.

The Forrest Rogers Memorial began on August 7, 1971, with Eddie Mumford taking the 1st checkered flag, On Saturday Night the 54th running 50 lap extra distance event would go to the post with a stellar field of cars looking to break into victory lane. Heat Race Winners on the night included Brett Kressley, Cody Manmiller, Eric Kormann, and Mike Lisowski.

Ryan Watt entered the night with 4x Grandview Speedway Saturday Night Victories, his last coming on Saturday, June 17, 2023. Ryan would qualify for the 50-lap event in heat race #2 finishing 3rd , setting him up to fire from P9 in the feature.

Ron Haring Jr. and Chris Esposito brought the 28 car NASCAR TP Trailers field to the green flag.

Haring Jr. would grab the early lead at the start from Esposito, while Eric Kormann would follow with Kevin Graver Jr. and Cody Manmiller close behind.

On Lap 3, the first caution flag of the night was displayed with Brett Kressley’s 19K pulling up slow in turn 2, The 5x Grandview Speedway Modified winner suffered a front-end suspension failure ending his night.

The field would be restacked for racing, Haring Jr., Esposito, Kormann, Graver Jr., Manmiller, Lisowski, Kellner, Willman, Umbenhauer, and Watt in the Top 10.

Ron Haring Jr. once took the lead on the lap 4 restart, as Esposito, Kormann, Graver Jr., and Manmiller are chasing.

Lap 5 is scored, and Ron Haring’s Alburtis Auto / Hoffman Speed Supplies Bicknell 85 is flying. Esposito, Kormann, Graver Jr., and Cody Manmiller are setting the Top 5. Jeff Strunk and Mike Gular are on the move early just outside of the Top 10.

With 7 down, Haring is slow breaking away from the front of the pack.

Lap 10, Ron Haring has pulled away and is comfortably in race control. Esposito, Kormann, Graver Jr. and Ryan Watt are the new Top 5. Watt just passed Cody Manmiller for 5th.

Eric Biehn and Ray Swinehart pull to the infield on Lap 12, both are done for the night.

Lap 15, The race pace is quick and fast with all green flag racing as Ron Haring Jr. has a straightaway lead built up. The Alburtis Auto 85 is looking for a major race upset. Eric Kormann is 2nd, Kevin Graver Jr. 3rd, Ryan Watt is 4th from his 9th starting spot, Cody Manmiller is 5th, Jared Umbenhauer 6th, Jeff Strunk 7th from 14th, Mike Liswoski 8th, Mike Gular 9th, and Louden Reimert 10th.

Lap 18, Ron Haring is cutting through lap traffic like a knife cuts through butter.

On Lap 19, the 2nd yellow is displayed for Chris Esposito who was running up front early, Esposito slows in turn 2. This will slow the race down and restack the field. Haring Jr., Kormann, Graver Jr., Watt, Manmiller, Umbenhauer, Strunk, Gular, Reimert, and Lisowski.

The lap 20 restart produces a side-by-side battle for the race lead, Eric Kormann takes the Bailey Bunch 81 to the front challenging Haring Jr. for the race lead. They go side by side into turn 3 before Haring pulls out the lead, Kormann falls back to 2nd. In the meantime, Ryan Watt goes after Kevin Graver for 2nd and steal 3rd away while Jared Umbenhauer is looking to Watt. There is some outstanding racing happening with multi grooves available to pick from. Haring Jr., Kormann, Watt, Graver Jr., Umbenhauer, and Manmiller are in the Top 5.

Lap 22 is scored, and the 3rd caution is displayed for NJ Invader, Tanner Van Dohren. The Prime Design Landscapes #22 is slow in turn 4. The field is restacked for another race restart.

The lap 23 restart provides some added excitement as Ron Haring Jr powers to the race lead again, The Electric Company Ryan Watt is now taking Eric Kormann to battle as they go side by side. Watt would secure 2nd and set his sights on Haring’s Alburtis Auto Bicknell 85.

The Dan’s Deli halfway leader bonus is awarded to Ron Haring Jr. on Lap 25, Haring has an impressive run going so far. But lurking behind is Flyin’ Ryan Watt, Eric Kormann is 3rd, Jeff Strunk has the Norm Hansell 357 in 4th, Louden Reimert is 5th, and Jared Umbenhauer is 6th.

Lap 30 is scored and Ron Haring Jr. has built up another ½ straightaway lead on Watt, Jeff Strunk who has moved to 3rd, Jared Umbenhauer in 4th, and Louden Reimert 5th.

Lap 33 is clicked off, Haring Jr. approaching lap traffic once again, with all green flags. Watt, Strunk, Umbenhauer, and Reimert are in the Top 5.

Lap 38, Haring Jr. is once again dicing through lap traffic, back a distance is Watt, Strunk, Umbenhauer, and Reimert. They all need a caution to bunch things up.

Lap 38 the next timely caution appears for Craig Whitmoyer who is stopped in turn 4. This will bunch up the field for a Lap 39 restart. The field is restacked for a 12-lap dash for $10k to win, Haring Jr., Watt, Strunk, Umbenhauer, Reimert, Manmiller, Gular, Buckwalter, Kormann, Graver Jr.

On the race restart Ryan Watt makes his move, powering to the race lead on the bottom, Ron Haring Jr. struggled to break away, and it was all that Watt needed to get out front. Jared Umbenhauer and Jeff Strunk were side by side for the 3rd and 4th while Louden Reimert is their bumpers.

The caution flag appears again as Mike Gular pulls up slow in Turn 4, Gular takes the MB Roofing 2A to the pits. Ryan Watt is now shown as the race leader, Haring Jr., Umbenhauer, Strunk, Reimert, Buckwalter, Manmiller, Kormann, and Strada.

We go back to racing on lap 40, Watt’s Ronnie’s Auto Repair 14W pulls away with the race lead. Jeff Strunk takes over 2nd, Jared Umbenhauer moves to 3rd, Haring Jr. drops to 4th, and Timmy Buckwalter has the Weller 942 running in 5th.

Lap 41, Jeff Strunk goes to the topside and immediately looks to take control of the race with 9 laps to go. Watt holds off the charge. Strunk 2nd, Umbenhauer, Buckwalter moves to 4th, Haring back to 5th now, Louden Remiert in 6th.

Lap 45 is scored, Ryan Watt remains the race leader, the stress and tension are building for an epic finish as Jeff Strunk keeps the Norm Hansell 357 a bumper behind Watt. Umbenhauer, Buckwalter, and Reimert are close behind.

Justin Grim retires the Stew’s Tire 61 on Lap 46.

Lap 47 the caution is displayed once again as Doug Manmiller is sitting stopped in turn 4. Louden Reimert heads to the pits while running 5th, a flat tire is the culprit. Doug Manmiller is towed off on the business end of the wrecker tonight. Reimert would return after service from the Flurer 16 crew. The field is reset for a 3-lap dash for $10k. Ryan Watt’s 14W remains the race leader, Jeff Strunk is 2nd, Jared Umbenhauer 3rd, Timmy Buckwalter 4th, Ron Haring 5th. Watt is looking for his 1st ever Forrest Rogers Memorial victory, he has not been in victory lane since June of 2023.

The field goes back to green as Ryan Watt and Jeff Strunk go side by side for the race lead, Watt on the bottom, Strunk on the top, Strunk’s Norm’s Save Station 357 front end pushes oh so slightly and Ryan speeds away with the race lead. Umbenhauer, Buckwalter, and Haring Jr. would chase the Top 2. Craig Von Dohren making a great charge late in the race to challenge for a Top 5 spot in 6th.

Ryan Watt would maintain the race lead over the final 2 laps to score an epic Forrest Rogers Memorial victory worth a cool $10,300 to win. Watt also earned the TP Trailers Modified Winners Bonus. The Ronnie’s Auto Repair, Ivy Settlement Group, Birdsboro NAPA, Array of Monograms, and Penske Racing Shocks 14W put on a show tonight. The Watt and Strunk battle at the end was worth the price of admission. Ron Haring Jr. settled for 5th after leading most of the race laps, had this been a 30-lap event, Haring would have had another Grandview Speedway win, The 85 was flying early on and just lost speed at the end. Craig Von Dohren made a late race charge through the field to finish 6th, improving 20 spots.

Ryan Watt scores the race win, Jeff Strunk Modified Point Leader who is winless this season so far is 2nd, Jared Umbenhauer 3rd, Timmy Buckwalter 4th, Ron Haring Jr. 5th, Craig Von Dohren 6th, Eddie Strada 7th, Cody Manmiller 8th, Kevin Hirthler 9th, Kevin Graver Jr. 10th.

There are only 6 weeks left of Modified racing at Grandview Speedway, with fields of 80+ cars every week, get out and enjoy a night of racing before the season is over. The season ending Freedom 76 is quickly approaching, Saturday September 21, 2024. $30,000 to win, The Grand-Daddy of Modified racing events.