Vondohren, Kline & Umbenhauer NASCAR Winners at Grandview Speedway
BECHTELSVILLE, PA. June 8, 2014. . . Defending NASCAR 358 champion Craig VonDohren held off the challengers to win his second 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modified feature race at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night. The win came during T.P. Trailers Night with the Oley, PA based seven time champion earning $2,900 for his efforts including $250 bonus bucks from T.P.Trailers and $150 worth of racing gasoline from VP Racing Fuels.
In the 25-lap NASCAR BRC Late Model feature, Ron Kline, who appeared to be on his way to his first win of the season the previous week until he ran over a muffler on the track and punctured his tire which eventually caused him to spin, led from start to finish to “finally get the monkey off his back,” and pick up the win. The Salford, PA racer also received $100 from T.P. Trailers plus an additional $100 from J & H Automotive owner Harry Gallagher.
For the second week in a row Jared Umbenhauer, who calls Richland, PA home, won the 25-lap NASCAR Sportsman feature for his fifth win of the year and received $100 from T.P. Trailers.
Rookie Brad Arnold was the early race leader for seven laps of the Modified event before DeSantis charged to the front of the 30-car starting grid.
Kyle Borror, another rookie this year, spun in the fourth turn to bring out the caution on the 10th lap. DeSantis restarted on the inside, but by now Von Dohren was second. DeSantis wasted no time motoring away on the restart with Von Dohren by his side making numerous moves.
By the Dan’s Deli ½-way mark lap, the order consisted of DeSantis, Von Dohren, Mike Gular, Ryan Grim and Arnold with the outcome anyone’s guess.
DeSantis’ slight edge was eliminated when the field regrouped for a multi-car first turn accident on the 17th lap. The restart was voided when Kyle Weiss spun between turns one and two. DeSantis held his inside line on the next attempt and kept Von Dohren at bay with Gular trying to stick his nose in the mix.
Von Dohren and Gular made contact on the 23rd lap and as a result Gular went around in the fourth turn for another caution. Gular showed his displeasure with Von Dohren. Also caught up was Hirthler, fourth-place runner, as his run ended when he had to pit with a flat front tire. The restart was brought back to the line after Terry Meitzler, who was having a strong run, found himself facing the wrong direction in turn two. The leader continued to be DeSantis when action went green again and Von Dohren worked at moving from his second place position.
The lead switched hands on the 26th lap when Von Dohren got past DeSantis.
VonDohren kept the Nick Gatto powered/K.L. Harring Transportation No. 1C in front the remaining laps of the exciting event to captured the victory trailed by DeSantis, who posted his best finish; Strunk, Doug Manmiller and Frank Cozze, who came from the 27th starting spot. R. Grim, Arnold, Eric Biehn, John Willman and Ray Swinehart, Cargo Trailer product certificate recipient, were sixth through tenth.
Last week’s feature winner Duane Howard pitted on the 10th lap, rejoined the race, was involved in the 17th lap melee and finished 16th. Strunk’s third place finish returned him to the point lead in the Modified division with just 115 points separating leader Strunk from second place Howard and third place VonDohren as the season approaches the halfway mark.
Heats were won by Hirthler, Mike Laise, Arnold and Jon Kellner. Kyle Follweiler and Willman won the consolation races.
Late Model action saw Kline charge past rookie Cory Merkel and into the lead on the start and immediately opened daylight over the rest of the competition.
Sean Merkel, last week’s winner, spun in turn two for the ninth lap yellow. That didn’t deter Kline as he held the lead on the restart with C. Merkel, Dan Green, Randy Stoudt and Rick Todorow in tow.
Green and Stoudt advanced to second and third at the Dan’s Deli ½-way mark to try to reel in Kline, but with them battling one another it allowed Kline to outdistance himself.
Kline never faltered and went on to chalk up his first win of the year followed by Green, who recorded his best finish after the crew burned the midnight oil after the car sustained considerable damage last week; Stoudt, C. Merkel, who turned in a very impressive run and Chuck Schutz. Sixth through tenth were Wayne Pfeil, Todorow, Kory Fleming, S. Merkel and Sam Schlosberg.
C. Merkel and Kline won the heats.
The Sportsman feature went non-stop last week, but the same didn’t hold true in this week’s event. After three tries to complete a lap and six cars eliminated, Jamie Undercoffler was the early leader.
Undercoffler led until the ninth lap when Mike Lisowski, absent a few weeks with motor problems, charged ahead with Brett Kressley close behind.
Lisowski stuck with the inside lane while Kressley pressured him from the high groove.
Kressley, trying to give himself a birthday present, motored into first on the 17th lap.
Ron Krex spun on the backstretch for the final yellow on the 21st lap. Kressley’s left front tire was going soft, but it wasn’t down on the rim so he could continue. Kressley and Umbenhauer, runner-up at the time, made contact on the restart and Umbenhauer was the new leader.
Umbenhauer went on to garner another win with Lisowski, Kenny Gilmore, Kressley and Brian Hirthler chasing him across the line. Sixth through tenth were Ken Eckert Jr., Guy Germano, Undercoffler, Jordan Henn and Chris Jenkins, Cargo Trailer certificate recipient.
Mike Stringer, Undercoffler and K. Gilmore were the heat winners. The consi was won by Henn.
RESULTS
Modified Feature (30-Laps): 1. Craig Von Dohren, 2. Meme DeSantis, 3. Jeff Strunk, 4. Doug Manmiller, 5. Frank Cozze, 6. Ryan Grim, 7. Brad Arnold, 8. Eric Biehn, 9. John Willman, 10. Ray Swinehart, 11. Tommy Scheetz III, 12. Nate Christman, 13. Andy Ressler, 14. Jordan Umbenhauer, 15. Don Norris Jr. (provisional starting position), 16. Duane Howard, 17. Mike Gular, 18. Kyle Borror, 19. Kevin Hirthler, 20. Chris Esposito, 21. Justin Grim, 22. Ryan Kunkel, 23. Chris Gambler, 24. Terry Meitzler, 25. Kyle Weiss (provisional), 26. Jon Kellner, 27. Ron Seltmann Jr., 28. Kyle Follweiler, 29. Todd Smith, 30. Mike Laise. DNQ: Brian Houseknecht, Bobby Gunther-Walsh and Mike Kellner.
Late Model Feature (25-Laps): 1. Ron Kline, 2. Dan Green, 3. Randy Stoudt, 4. Cory Merkel, 5. Chuck Schutz, 6. Wayne Pfeil, 7. Rick Todorow, 8. Kory Fleming, 9. Sean Merkel, 10. Sam Schlosberg, 11. Dave Ogin, 12. Joe Fanelli, 13. John Giesler, 14. Buddy Mertz, 15. Steve Wilson, 16. Lou Egrie Jr., 17. Lou Egrie, 18. Bill Henning, 19. Steve Butler.
Sportsman Feature (25-Laps): 1. Jared Umbenhauer, 2. Mike Lisowski, 3. Kenny Gilmore, 4. Brett Kressley, 5. Brian Hirthler, 6. Ken Eckert, 7. Guy Germano, 8. Jamie Undercoffler, 9. Jordan Henn, 10. Chris Jenkins, 11. Sean Weiss, 12. Jim Housworth, 13. Brandon Whitmoyer, 14. Erik Renninger, 15. Ron Krex, 16. Tom Miller, 17. Kaitie McCardle, 18. Mike Stringer, 19. Ryan Beltz, 20. Dean Bachman, 21. Brett Gilmore, 22. Craig Whitmoyer, 23. Joe Funk, 24. Ryan Lilick. DNS: Lex Shive, Kevin Dries and Joe Masiado.
COMING EVENTS:
Saturday, June 14, 7:30 p.m. PBGW Night featuring NASCAR 358 Modifieds, BRC Late Models and Sportsman stock cars.
Saturday, June 21, 7:30 p.m. RCN-TV Night – NASCAR 358 Modifieds and URC Sprint cars.
Sunday, June 22, 7:30 p.m. ARDC wingless midgets and TSRS winged sprints
Saturday, June 28, 7:30 p.m. Bashore Trucking-BFP Specialty Night NASCAR 358 Modifieds, Sportsman (40 laps) and BRC Late Models – RCN-TV coverage
Tuesday, July 1, 7:30 p.m. NAPA Thunder on the Hill Series Penna. Sprint Speed Week 410 sprints plus Race of Champions Modifieds.
Saturday, July 5, 7:30 p.m. Firecracker 40 for Late Models, Sportsman and 358 Modifieds plus Fireworks.
All regular Saturday night racing events have a ticket price of $15 for adults with youngsters 12 and under admitted free. Active military with proper ID are admitted free.
UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS FOR NASCAR MODIFIEDS AS OF JUNE 7, 2014
1. Jeff Strunk, Pottstown, PA #4* 2230*
2. Duane Howard, Oley, PA #66 2183**
3. Craig VonDohren, Oley, PA #1C 2115**
4. Doug Manmiller, Shoemakersville, PA #46 2035***
5. Frank Cozze, Wind Gap, PA #357 1977
6. Mike Gular, Green Lane, PA #53 1856
7. Kyle Weiss, Hamburg, PA #21K 1673
8. Ray Swinehart, Perkiomenville, PA #33 1579
9. Jordan Umbenhauer, Richland, PA #19 1553
10. Don Norris, Douglassville, PA #976 1529
11. John Willman, Birdsboro, PA #74W 1525
12. Nate Christman, Fleetwood, PA #37 1480
13. Kevin Hirthler, Bechtelsville, PA #117 1386
14. Eric Biehn, Bechtelsville, PA #87 1350
15. Ryan Grim, Laury’s Station, PA #17 1340
16. Meme DeSantis, Temple, PA #88D 1297
17. Terry Meitzler, Kutztown, PA #81 1288
18. Jon Kellner Sr., Lansdale, PA #41 1278
19. Kyle Borror, Minersville, PA #B4 1208
20. Tommy Scheetz III, Boyertown, PA #37X 1111
21. Kyle Follweiler, Slatington, PA #85K 998
22. Justin Grim, Orefield, PA #61 996
23. Chris Esposito, Green Lane, PA #31 946
24. Andy Ressler, Bechtelsville, PA #10 909
25. Tim Buckwalter, Royersford, PA #11 896
26. Mike Kellner, Lansdale, PA #A1 889
27. Brad Arnold, Kenhorst, PA #830 857
28. Ron Seltman, Lower Pottsgrove, PA #R19 753
29. Todd Smith, Hatfield, PA #39 750
30. Mike Laise, Pottstown, PA #15 710
Also Feature Winner: Steward Friesen
UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS FOR NASCAR
LATE MODELS AS OF JUNE 7, 2014
1. Randy Stoudt, Pottstown, PA #10 2247*
2. Chuck Schutz, Pottstown, PA #1 2109*
3. Sam Schlosberg, Green Lane, PA #70 2039*
4. Sean Merkel, Gilbertsville, PA #118 1987***
5. Lou Egrie Sr., Willow Grove, PA #X4 1808
6. Kory Fleming, Milford, NJ #704 1755
7. Dan Green, Coatesville, PA #46 1738
8. Wayne Pfeil, Mohnton, PA #72 1702*
9. Bill Henning, Lansdale, PA #80 1635
10. John Giesler, Aston, PA #ZT1 1624
11. Ron Kline, Salford, PA #3 1568
12. Rick Todorow, Quakertown, PA #93 1558
13. Jason Miller, New Tripoli, PA #44 1519
14. Bryan Sipe, Leesport, PA #33S 1370
15. Cory Merkel, Gilbertsville, PA #16 1342
16. Steve Butler, Quakertown, PA #91 1178
17. Dave Ogin, Bechtelsville, PA #31 1158
18. Buddy Mertz, New Berlinville, PA #00 1123
19. Lou Egrie Jr., Willow Grove, PA #4E 1087
20. Joe Fanelli, Exton, PA #22 1059
* denotes feature win (Feature wins listed are only those that are
NASCAR point events.)
UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS FOR NASCAR
SPORTSMAN AS OF JUNE 7, 2014
1. Jared Umbenhauer, Richland, PA #5 2393*****
2. Brett Kressley, Orefield, PA #19K 2277**
3. Jordan Henn, Kutztown, PA #77H 1819
4. Kenny Gilmore, Fleetwood, PA #7 1785
5. Brian Hirthler, Green Lane, PA #4* 1773
6. Jim Housworth, Reigelsville, PA #72 1731
7. Erik Renninger, Bridgewater, NJ #51 1587
8. Joe Funk, Coopersburg, PA #14J 1481
9. Kaitie McCardle, Honeybrook, PA #11 1472
10. Ron Krex, Harleysville, PA #9K 1469
11. Ken Eckert, Orwigsburg, PA #29 1467
12. Craig Whitmoyer, Hamburg, PA #99 1455*
13. Ryan Beltz, Harleysville, PA #221 1447
14. Brandon Whitmoyer, Harrisburg, PA 99X 1407
15. Guy Germano, Richlandtown, PA #542 1388
16. Ryan Lilick, Collegeville, PA #142 1328
17. Tom Miller, Gilbertsville, PA #77 1311
18. Dean Bachman, Reading, PA #65 1200
19. Mike Stringer, Germansville, PA #23 1134
20. Dave Bartram, Quakertown, PA#28 894
Sources: Vicki Gehris/Ernie Saxton Communications