4.4.15 Grandview Speedway Results
BECHTELSVILLE, PA April 5, 2015 . . . Former NASCAR 358 Modified track champion Duane Howard started from sixth-place in the 30-lap feature event, advanced to the number one position by lap 13 and went on to register his seventh career Opening Night feature triumph, most ever at the third-mile high-banked clay Grandview Speedway, and push Oley, PA racer?s career win total to 65 on a windy and very chilly night, as the raceway celebrated 53 consecutive years of racing.
Wayne Pfeil of Mohnton, PA started outside the front row in the 25-lap Late Model feature event, took the top spot at the start and never was seriously challenged as Pfeil went on to easily score his seventh career victory and his first-ever Opening Night main event win at Grandview Speedway Saturday night.
Young Brett Kressley started the 25-lap Sportsman feature from ninth-place and picked his way through traffic to get out in front by lap 10 and continue on to an easy non-stop feature win in just 7 minutes, giving the Orefield, PA pilot 9 career wins at the Route 100 clay oval, completing an exciting and crowd pleasing tripleheader program in front of a strong fan turnout.
With opening night out of the way NASCAR 358 Modified racers turn their attention to the special 35-lap feature that will be offered on Saturday, April 11th. The race will offer the winner $3,000 plus a T.P. Trailers bonus of $250 and VP Racing Fuels bonus of $150 in product (the winner must meet sponsor requirements to collect the bonuses). The BRC Late Models and Sportsman stock cars will be part of the special tripleheader show. Adult admission is $20, youngsters 5 through 11 pay $5 and children under 5 are admitted free. Racing will start at 7 p.m.
The first feature of the night saw Pfeil jump out in front at the wave of the green for the 25-lap Late Model feature beating Kory Fleming into the first turn, who started from the pole, and third-place starter Dan Green. Pfeil quickly pulled away with a large lead, as seasoned racer Dan Green tangled on the front straightaway with Cory Merkel to bring out a caution on lap 17. The new green saw Pfeil immediately jump in front, again, over Fleming and, now, former track champion Chuck Schutz, who started from fifteenth-place, was running solidly in third by lap 19. Schutz moved to second-place with 5 to go, just ahead of a yellow flag waving for Pottstown, PA chauffeur Cory Merkel, spinning in turn 2. Pfeil easily went on to win the event, with Schutz, Fleming, Sean Merkel and Joe Fanelli rounding out the top 5 finishers.
Heat race wins for the 16 Late Model entries went to Fleming and Pfeil.
Afterward, Pfeil announced, ?I always seem to struggle here until, maybe, May or June, but tonight this thing was on rails. It is the first-time I have won here on Opening Night. I didn?t hear any cars, so, I figured, I was out there pretty good. We?ll take it, tonight.?
A field of 26 Sportsmen racers saw third generation Fleetwood, PA racer Brett Gilmore, immediately jump out into a safe lead, after starting the race from outside the front row, and stay on top through the first 8-laps. Brad Arnold, who started from the pole, ran runner-up until the young racer pulled off and dropped out on lap 1. Brian Hirthler, who started third, on the next circuit replaced Arnold as the second-place runner and remained there until Kressley quickly moved past him and into second-place by lap 5.
Kressley and Gilmore raced wheel-to-wheel crossing the line on lap 9. On lap 10, Kressley moved into the lead, dropping Brett Gilmore to second-place just in front of his father, fellow Fleetwood, PA resident, Kenny Gilmore, who was the sixth-place starter on the initial green and moved up to third by lap 8.
Kenny Gilmore slipped by Brett Gilmore for second-place on lap 15 and hung on to finish the race solidly behind Kressley at the checkered, as Kressley made his way through a lot of lapped traffic, late.