Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Decker Swinehart scored a convincing Grandview Speedway Sportsman victory on Saturday night. Swinehart powered to the front of the pack from his 6th place starting spot with 11 to go and wrestled the lead away from a fast running Steve Young.
Once out front, Decker had to keep up the pace as Brian Hirthler hit 2nd by lap 22 and was looking to go 3 in a row. Swinehart was not to be denied and took his Décor Home / Maidencreek Distributing/ Bailey Fab #83 to victory lane for his 3rd career trip to the Grandview Speedway T.P. Truck Equipment victory lane.
Steve Young and Nathan Horn led the 24 car T.P. Truck Equipment Bob Hilbert Sportswear field to the green flag.
Steve Young took the lead at the drop of the green with Horn, Joly, Vaccaro and Swinehart in tow.
The yellow lights were flashing on lap 2 as Dylan Hoch, Kenny Bock, Hunter Iatalese, Dakota Kohler, and Mike Schneck were collected in Turn 3. Kenny Bock, Dakota Kohler, Hunter Iatalese, and Dylan Hock all visited the pits and returned to action. With 2 down Young is the race leader, Horn, Vaccaro, Joly, and Swinehart are the Top-5.
The field goes back to green on lap 3 and Steve Young takes command of the race. It is short-lived as the caution is once again out for Kyle Smith who spun off the racing surface and into a infield light pole. Kyle was ok and walked away. The Smith 77 was not, as it was towed off. Young remains the leader, Horn, Vaccaro, Swinehart and Joly.
We are back to green flag racing with Steve Young back out front. Decker Swinehart is showing early speed as he powers from 4th to 2nd on the restart. Nathan Horn falls back to 3rd, Joey Vaccaro is 4th and Adrianna Delliponte has the Gilmore 7 on the move in 5th.
At the 10 down mark, Steve Young continues to the be the race leader. Decker Swinehart is starting to run down Young and is stalking for the lead. Nathan Horn with a great run in 3rd, Joey Vaccaro 4th, Adrianna Delliponte 5th, Cody Manmiller 6th, Nathan Mohr 7th, Lex Shive 8th, Jimmy Leiby 9th and Brian Hirthler has cracked the Top-10.
On Lap 14 the Yellow lights were once again flashing for an infield tire that was struck and in the racing surface.
With 11 to go, the field was restacked and showing Young as the race leader, Swinehart 2nd, Horn 3rd, Vaccaro 4th, Delliponte 5th, Manmiller 6th, Shive 7th, Mohr 8th, Hirthler 9th and Leiby 10th. Jimmy Leiby was 10th from 19th starting spot and Jesse Hirthler was 11th from 20th starting spot.
On the lap 15 restart Decker Swinehart powered around the Steve Young 187 for the race lead. Nathan Horn with a great restart to sneak by Young for 2nd. Young fell back to 3rd, Adrianna Delliponte was 4th, and Joey Vaccaro in 5th. Brian Hirthler was also on the move late in the race as he was now showing 6th followed by Cody Manmiller and Lex Shive.
On Lap 16, Brian Hirthler cracked the Top 5. Dylan Hoch who pitted for the lap 2 accident was making a run to the front from the rear as he was showing in 10th.
As the field scored lap 20 with 5 to go Decker Swinehart was powering out front. Nathan Horn was 2nd, Brian Hirthler was 3rd, Adrianna Delliponte was 4th, and Steve Young rounded out the Top-5.
On Lap 22 Brian Hirthler moved into 2nd and set his sights on the Swinehart 83 out front.
Decker Swinehart cruised to the victory, Brian Hirthler ran out of time in his bid to go 3 for 3 and finished 2nd, Nathan Horn with a great 3rd place finish, Adrianna Delliponte with a solid 4th, Cody Manmiller bringing home a 5th place. Joey Vaccaro 6th, Dylan Hoch 7th, Lex Shive 8th, Jimmy Leiby 9th, and Jesse Hirthler 10th.