Cozze, Schutz and Kline Each Become Repeat Winners in Whelen Night NASCAR Stock Car Racing at Grandview Speedway
Eight Youngsters Go Home with Bikes Thanks to Kory Fleming’s Sleepy Hollow Racing
BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – Ray Swinehart and Frank Cozze, two of the elder statesmen in Modified action at Grandview Speedway battled for several laps with Swinehart on the high groove and Cozze down low. On the 26th lap coming off turn four, Cozze took Swinehart to the limit and was able to put the Tom Umbenhauer-owned/Harry’s U-Pull-It No. 4 into the top spot. At the same time Jeff Strunk, one of the younger veterans took over second to challenge. Cozze, a DIRT Hall of Famer, never let up and went on to score his second T.P. Trailers NASCAR 358 Modified All-American Racing Series 30-lap feature sponsored by Whelen Engineering. He also received $250 from T.P. Trailers.
Chuck Schutz scored his third 25-lap BRC NASCAR Late Model feature win by holding off runner-up Wayne Pfeil’s bids for first. Schutz picked up an additional $100 from T.P. Trailers.
Paul “The Dude” Kline took home the checkered in the 25-lap Sportsman feature to become the first repeat winner in the division and earned an extra $100 bonus from T.P. Trailers.
Eight lucky youngsters went home with new bicycles courtesy of Kory Fleming and Sleepy Hollow Racing. The bike giveaway has become a great tradition.
Next on the schedule will be the big event of the season for the BRC Late Models as they take part in the Firecracker 40 being sponsored by Chapman Ford Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram dealership in Horsham, PA. They are the No. 1 Volume Dealer in the Philadelphia Region. In addition to the Late Models racing for increased prize money, the TP Trailers NASCAR 358 Modifieds will be in action along with the Sportsman stock cars. Topping off the night will be the annual FIREWORKS display.
All the activities on this night, Saturday, July 9th, get underway at 7:30 p.m. Adult admission is $25 with kids 6 thru 11 admitted for $5 while children under six admitted for free.
Blaine Bracelin Jr. was the early leader in the Modified feature until Swinehart overtook him on the third lap.
While Swinehart showed the way for the 28-car starting grid, behind him dicing for positions were Bracelin Jr., Cozze, Danny Erb and Ryan Grim.
Erb, while running fourth, spun in turn four bringing out the caution on the ninth lap. Cars behind him scrambled and also caught up in the melee was Craig VonDohren as he pitted before the restart. VonDohren returned to action, but his 17th place finish was hit in the points as Strunk is now the current point leader by a narrow margin as he seeks his 11th NASCAR track title. When racing resumed Swinehart remained first, but now Cozze was on his bumper putting heavy pressure on him. Third through fifth waiting for their turn at the leader were Ryan Grim, Kevin Hirthler, and Doug Manmiller. Waiting in the wings was Strunk for a shot at advancement.
With ten laps remaining Strunk joined the Swinehart and Cozze battle. Not only did Cozze have to deal with Swinehart for the lead, he had to be sure Strunk didn’t get past the two of them.
Lap after lap Swinehart and Cozze continued to run their same lines with Cozze moving Swinehart up higher each time off of four hoping to catch him off guard.
With four laps to go Cozze made his move stick and was now first with Strunk coming along for second to attempt to put another win in the books.
Cozze was determined to keep everyone behind him and that’s just what he did as he scored his third career victory at the 1/3-mile oval with Strunk second, for the third time this year. Swinehart hung on for third followed by Brett Kressley, already a feature winner this season and Kenny Gilmore, driving his own car.
Strunk, Kressley, and Hirthler were the heat winners. The consi was won by Duane Howard.
In Late Model action Bryon Sipe overtook Shawn Horning on the second lap to see if he could muster up another win.
Sipe had command of the race until the tenth lap when Schutz charged to the front with Pfeil moving into second at the same time.
Pfeil made several bids for first, but in a few laps, Schutz checked out and increased the distance each lap around.
Horning brought out the last yellow on the 12th lap when he spun in the fourth turn regrouping the field. Before action continued, Bill Henning, who was running a solid fourth, went pit side with a flat tire and was out of competition. Schutz was still the leader on the restart.
No one was able to get the lead away from Schutz and he went on to claim his 43rd career win. Finishing second was Pfeil trailed by Sipe, Devin Frey, and Dan Green.
Drew Weisser and Sipe won the qualifying heats.
Rookie racer Kenny Bock led the Sportsman feature for six laps before Kline put his Precision Landscaping No. 1 into the lead.
Behind Kline jockeying for positions were Bock, Steve Searock, Brad Brightbill and Ryan Beltz.
A multi-car accident in the fourth turn brought out the final yellow on the 12th lap. Brightbill, who was right in the thick of the mix, was out of action for the night since he pitted before the restart and never rejoined the field.
The order behind Kline was constantly changing and at the Dan’s Deli ½-way hoagie mark second through fifth now consisted of Searock, Beltz, Ken Eckert Jr. and Brandon Whitmoyer.
Once Kline advanced to first he stayed there the rest of the laps to pull into the winner’s circle once again. Placing second for his best season finish was Searock followed by Beltz, Eckert and Jordan Henn, the current point leader.
Heats were won by Chris Jenkins, Kline, and Searock. Brian Papiez won the consi.
RACE RESULTS
Whelen Engineering/T.P. Trailers Modified Feature (30 Laps): 1. Frank Cozze, 2. Jeff Strunk, 3. Ray Swinehart, 4. Brett Kressley, 5. Kenny Gilmore, 6. Ryan Grim, 7. Kyle Weiss, 8. Tim Buckwalter, 9. Doug Manmiller, 10. Jared Umbenhauer, 11. Kyle Borror, 12. Kevin Hirthler, 13. Danny Erb, 14. Duane Howard, 15. Mike Gular, 16. Don Norris Jr., 17. Craig Von Dohren, 18. Kory Fleming, 19. Ryan Watt, 20. Chris Esposito, 21. Bobby Gunther-Walsh, 22. Justin Grim, 23. Blaine Bracelin Jr., 24. Ron Haring Jr., 25. Steve Swinehart, 26. Brian Houseknecht, 27. John Willman, 28. Ron Seltmann Jr. DNQ: Carroll Hine III, Eric Biehn, Glenn Owens, Chris Gambler.
Whelen Engineering/BRC Late Model Feature (25 Laps): 1. Chuck Schutz, 2. Wayne Pfeil, 3. Bryan Sipe, 4. Devin Frey, 5. Dan Green, 6. Sean Merkel, 7. Steve Todorow, 8. Lou Egrie, 9. Cory Merkel, 10. Chris Wojnar, 11. Shawn Horning, 12. Dirk Rimrott, 13. Bill Henning, 14. Drew Weisser, 15. Dave Ogin, 16. Eric Hoch, 17. Joe Fanelli.
Bechtelsville Car Wash Sportsman Feature (25 Laps): 1. Paul Kline, 2. Steve Searock, 3. Ryan Beltz, 4. Ken Eckert Jr., 5. Jordan Henn, 6. Craig Whitmoyer, 7. Ryan Lilick, 8. Brett Gilmore, 9. Dean Bachman, 10. Mike Lisowski, 11. Chris Jenkins, 12. Brad Arnold, 13. Derrick Smith, 14. Brian Hirthler, 15. Nathan Mohr, 16. Joe Funk III, 17. Brandon Whitmoyer, 18. Ryan Higgs, 19. Skylar Sheriff, 20. Jesse Landis, 21. Rich Jones, 22. Brad Brightbill, 23. Kenny Bock, 24. Brian Papiez, 25. Kyle Lilick, 26. Jim Housworth. DNQ: John Cole, Dylan Swinehart, Jesse Landis.
Grandview Speedway, a one-third-mile, banked clay track, is located on Passmore Road just off Route 100 in Bechtelsville, PA, 10 miles north of Pottstown. A full assortment of great concessions and novelty items are available. Free parking on the grounds. Fans are invited to the competition area after the events are completed to meet the racers. For information telephone 610.754.7688 or check in at www.grandviewspeedway.com, Twitter@GrandviewSpeedway and www.facebook.com/grandviewspeedway along with Rainedout.com (for rainout information).
COMING EVENTS: Saturday, July 9, 7:30 p.m. Chapman Ford Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, Horsham, PA Night featuring the BRC Late Models in Firecracker 40, T.P.Trailers 358 Modifieds and Sportsman along with GREAT FIREWORKS SHOW
Thursday, July 14, 7:30 p.m. Super DIRTCAR Series Modifieds 19th Annual Traffic Jam Big Block 60-lap feature along with racing for the Sportsman stock cars.
Saturday, July 16, 7:30 p.m. TP Trailers NASCAR 358 Modifieds, BRC Late Models and Sportsman.
Saturday, July 23, 7:30 p.m. Hatfield Quality Meats Night featuring the TP Trailers NASCAR 358 Modifieds, BRC Late Models, and Sportsman.
Sunday, July 24, 1 p.m., Outlaw Enduro Racing plus Blast from the Past Vintage Racing. Twin 75s for Big Cars and Twins 75s for Small Cars, Ladies race, Junkyard race and Vintage races.
Thursday, July 26, 7:30 p.m. Thunder on the Hill Racing Series featuring 410 Sprints and 358 Modifieds including continuation of events postponed from June 28th.
Saturday, July 30, 7:30 p.m. WNPV-1440 AM Radio Night featuring TP Trailers Modifieds, BRC Late Models, Sportsman and Blast from the Past Vintage racing.
Sources: Vicki Gehris and Ernie Saxton/Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc.