RPW Exclusive: Kormann Takes The Bailey Bunch #81 To Victory Lane In Non-Stop Feature At Grandview
News Director 
Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Dennis Bailey has been driving, owning, and fielding race cars for 40 years. Dennis and Joanne are a mainstay at Grandview Speedway every week.
Joanne greets you as you enter the racetrack in the pit area. The #81 Modified with driver Eric Kormann sits in the same parking spot for the past 30 years with a long list of accomplished drivers.
Grandsons, Dylan and Decker Swinehart are often in the pit area racing every week. Joanne and Dennis have 3 daughters Christy, Charlene, and Claudine and they along with a large legion of friends and family are at the track every week.
On Saturday night when Eric Kormann crossed the finish line, I looked around, it was almost surreal, everyone was standing and cheering for the Bailey Bunch 81, it was one of the most popular feature wins for a driver and team that are larger than life.
Eric scored a Grandview Speedway Thunder On The Hill victory earlier this season in his own #16 Spec 358 Modified.
Saturday Night with weather threatening the skies in PA, Grandview Speedway forged ahead with the show. Tina Rogers sent word to the drivers and teams right from the start, we are going to run a quick, fast, efficient show with weather coming in, please be ready.
The track crew was on their mark, and they did exactly what they set out to do. Heat Racing started promptly at 700p, and all qualifying was completed by 830p. After a short track prep session, Modified’s were called to the racetrack by 900pm.
The fans were treated to an incredible feature event, The entire 30 Lap T.P. Trailers feature event was run off in 7 minutes. No cautions, All 30 laps were clean and green with 2 and 3 wide racing action all around the Grandview Speedway oval.
Grandview Speedway is known for some of the best racing competition any in the USA, Saturday Night once again proved it, Craig Von Dohren, Brett Kressley, Ryan Watt, Mike Gular all came from outside the Top 10 starting spots and were all battling for the win.
Kormann snuck past Brian Hirthler in lapped traffic, But Von Dohren and Kressley who battled lap after lap side by side without touching each other, caught the leaders with 5 to go. John Willman, Ryan Watt, and Mike Gular were only a few car lengths back.
Bryan Rhoads and Brian Hirthler led the 29-car T.P. Truck Equipment field to the green flag.
Brian Hirthler would take the early lead with Eric Kormann quickly driving to 2nd, followed by John Willman, Bobby Trapper Jr. and Justin Grim
On Lap 2, Brett Kressley in the Kressley’s Auto & Truck Sales 19k drove into 8th, and Craig Von Dohren drove into 10th.
With 5 laps complete, Brian Hirthler is showing the way in the Four Star 4*, Kormann, Willman, Trapper Jr, Ryan Watt, Cody Manmiller, Bryan Rhoads, and Brett Kressley in tow.
Lap 6 Ron Haring Jr. retires from the event
Brian Hirthler continues to set the pace out front with 7 down, Kormann, Willman, Trapper Jr., Watt, and Kressley follow. Jeff Strunk is on the move from 24th, he is already cracking the Top-15.
Lap 10 is scored, Hirthler remains out, but Kormann is stalking the 4* in the Bailey Bunch Bailey Fab #81. Willman, Trapper Jr. and Watt are the balance of the Top-5
Brian Hirthler hits lap traffic at Lap 14, The is starting to come to the leader now. Eric Kormann is only a car length back, Willman, Watt, Kressley are the new Top-5. Craig Von Dohren and Bobby Trapper Jr. are just outside of the Top-5.
The Dan’s Deli Halfway Leader Bonus goes to Brian Hirthler, but you can throw a blanket over the Top 3- Hirthler, Kormann, and Willman are bumper to bumper now in lap traffic.
On Lap 16, Eric Kormann makes the move of the race, taking control from Brian Hirthler. Hirthler, Willman, and Brett Kressley are now closing in.
Lap 18 is scored and Kormann and Hirthler are not done out front, lap traffic remains in play, Hirthler wants the lead back as he goes side by side with Kormman, Brett Kressley has now cleared John Willman for 3rd, Willman has Von Dohren, Ryan Watt, and Bobby Trapper Jr. all over him. To this point, no cautions, all green flag racing.
Lap 20 is clicked off, Kormann has cleared Hirthler and getting away a bit. Hirthler, Kressley, Von Dohren, and Willman are the Top-5.
Timmy Buckwalter pulls off on lap 21.
Lap 22 the field remains in full lap traffic, Eric Korman is driving the race of his life out front, Brian Hirthler is trying to get back to the bumper of the Bailey Fab 81, Brett Kressley and Craig Von Dohren are side by side for 3rd and 4th, John Willman and Ryan Watt are battling for 5th.
The 5 to go hand signals from Ray Kemp is dropped to Eric Kormann, Hirthler is car length back, Von Dohren, Kressley, Willman, Watt, Mike Gular, and Kevin Hirthler are the Top-8.
Lap 28, 2 to go Flags are displayed, We have gone all green flags, the field is in the middle of lapped traffic bumper to bumper with Kormann keeping pace out front. Brian Hirthler was only a car length back, Von Dohren and Kressley are at the bumper of the Four Star 4*, Willman, Watt, and Gular and a few car lengths back from the lead pack.
The White Flag is dropped to Eric Korman, Hirthler is right and makes his move in Turn 3, You can hear it over the roar of the race cars “Scores Stand Ready” – Eric Kormann and Brian Hirthler race to a photo finish, Eric Kormann wins the feature, Brian Hirthler is 2nd, Craig Von Dohren and Brett Kressley are 3rd and 4th respectively and were right there as well. John Willman 5th, Ryan Watt 6th, Mike Gular 7th, Kevin Hirthler 8th, Ryan Grim 9th, and Grandview Speedway Modified Point Leader Jeff Strunk 24th to 10th. All green flag laps – NO CAUTIONS, 7 minutes – 42 Seconds.
Upon exiting the car, Eric immediately asked the fans to pray for Logan Watt who left the track in the Bally Ambulance after an accident in the 1st Sportsman Heat. (Editor Note: Logan Watt was cleared and safe after a visit to Lehigh Valley Hospital). Eric mentioned that Logan is like a son to him, it was not easy watching that happen. Korman dedicated the victory to Randy Bailey, Bailey who lost his life earlier this season and was big part of the Bailey Bunch team.
Kormann, who lives in Carneys Point, NJ and started his racing career at Bridgeport Speedway stated “Grandview Speedway is the toughest place to win at anywhere”, “Chico, his wife, kids, the crew – They deserve this”
The next goal for the Kormann team – Qualifying for the Freedom 76, It would cap the season for the team.
Congrats to the Bailey Bunch on one of the best races this season!
T.P. TRAILER NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 laps): ERIC KORMANN, Brian Hirthler, Craig Von Dohren, Brett Kressley, John Willman, Ryan Watt, Mike Gular, Kevin Hirthler, Ryan Grim, Jeff Strunk, Doug Manmiller, Duane Howard, Bobby Trapper Jr., Cody Manmiller, Louden Reimert, Jon Kellner, Jared Umbenhauer, Justin Grim, Jimmy Leiby, Mike Laise, Kyle Smith, Eddie Strada, Frank Yankowski, Joe Funk, Darrin Schuler, Bryan Rhoads, Tim Buckwalter, Kevin Graver Jr., Ron Haring Jr.
