Defending Modified Champion Howard and Past Sportsman Champion Brian Hirthler Lead Point Battles at Grandview Speedway

By admin July 28, 2020 Grandview, NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series

$10,000 Up for Grabs in 50th Annual Forrest Rogers Memorial for Modifieds Saturday Night

BECHTELSVILLE, PA July 28, 2020 . . . The battle for the NASCAR T.P.Trailers Modified title is tight at Grandview Speedway with defending champion Duane Howard, without benefit of a feature win, leading the standings with 1315 points. Ten-time champion Craig Von Dohren, the only driver in the top five to have a win so far this season, sits second with 1296, Doug Manmiller is third with 1259 followed by Jared Umbenhauer at 1166 and Ryan Grim sitting with 1096 counters.

All the point chasers, part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Racing Series, are looking forward to Saturday’s 50th Annual Forrest Rogers Memorial. The 50-lapper for Modifieds will reward the winner with $10,000 and, of course, a bunch of championship points.

The T.P.Truck Equipment Sportsman will be part of the Saturday night action with point leader Brian Hirthler leading the field. The early season feature winner Hirthler has 1017 points and that gives him a 15 point edge over Brad Arnold sitting with 1002. Mark Kemmerer has tallied 963 points to hold on to third followed by Chris Esposito at 930 counters and Jack Butler earning 897 points

With just five point events completed so far because of the late-season start caused by the virus issues, the season looks to be a tight battle for the championships in each division and the big bucks that wait for the title winners.

And T.P.Trailers Modified talents can’t forget the big bucks available this Saturday for competitors taking part in the Forrest Rogers Memorial. The field of entries will include popular racers such as Von Dohren, Howard, Jeff Strunk, Rick Laubach, Manmiller, Umbenhauer, John Willman, Ray Swinehart, Mike Gular, Kevin Hirthler, Craig Whitmoyer and a long list of others. And there are some outsiders expected. A full slate of qualifying events will be presented with the top performers moving on to the 50-lap Classic.

This will be the 50th annual race remembering Forrest Rogers, the man who had the idea for the speedway and was the creator. The Rogers Family carry on the operation of the track now in its 58th year.

Longtime fan Jim Gilmore has posted $200 for the leader of the 7th lap in the name of the late Charley Gilmore, a long time standout racer at Grandview and other area tracks.

An added attraction will be the Acoustic Band featuring 1973 Freedom 76 winner Roger Knappenberger and his son Pete an auto racing radio personality. The band titled Maddie-Pearl will perform in the first turn pavilion from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

And as is the norm the folks from the Low Down and Dirty Radio show will be presenting their Meet & Greet at the main gate starting at 5 p.m.

Adult admission is $25 while youngsters 6 through 11 pay just $5. And kids under 6 are admitted free. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for spectators and racing starts at 7:30 p.m. Rain date is Saturday, August 8th.

Additional information is available at www.grandviewspeedway.com, Facebook, or telephone the speedway office at 610.754.7688.

The one-third-mile, banked clay track is located on Passmore Road, just off Route 100, in Bechtelsville, PA 10 miles north of Pottstown.

UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS FOR NASCAR T.P.TRAILERS MODIFIEDS AS OF JULY 28, 2020

  1. Duane Howard, Oley, PA #66/357H1315
  2. Craig Von Dohren, Oley, PA #1C              1296*
  3. Doug Manmiller, Shoemakersville, PA #44M1259
  4. Jared Umbenhauer, Richland, PA #191166
  5. Ryan Grim, Laury’s Station, PA #171096
  6. Jeff Strunk, Boyertown, PA #126       1026
  7. Rick Laubach, Hellertown, PA #7L/18/14             1024
  8. Craig Whitmoyer, Hamburg, PA#99      984
  9. Louden Reimert, Oley, PA #16975
  10. Brett Kressley, Orefield, PA #19K972
  11. Mike Gular, Boyertown, PA #2A    866*
  12. Dylan Swinehart, Fleetwood, PA #81760*
  13. Kevin Hirthler, Boyertown, PA #117756**
  14. Mike Lisowski, Minersville, PA #15751
  15. Briggs Danner, Allentown, PA #78702
  16. Ryan Lilick, Collegeville, PA #49675
  17. John Willman, Birdsboro, PA#74W      631
  18. Justin Grim, Orefield, PA #61582
  19. Dan Waisempacher, Springtown, PA #01578
  20. Brad Grim, Allentown, PA #23564
  21. Ryan Watt, Boyertown, PA 14W557
  22. Kyle Weiss, Hamburg, PA #21K522
  23. Clay Butler, Bloomsbury, NJ #4B 488
  24. T J Lilly, Pen Argyl, PA #17L453
  25. Ray Swinehart, Boyertown, PA#33        448
  26. Ron Kline, Salford, PA #3447
  27. Eric Biehn, Barto, PA #87440
  28. Tim Buckwalter, Douglassville, PA #23X404
  29. Joe Funk, Coopersburg, PA#14R376
  30. Brett Gilmore, Fleetwood, PA #7B369

UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS FOR NASCAR T.P.TRUCK EQUIPMENT SPORTSMAN AS OF JULY 28, 2020

  1. Brian Hirthler, Green Lane, PA #41017*
  2. Brad Arnold, Bethel, PA #271002*
  3. Mark Kemmerer, Green Lane, PA, #F10 963
  4. Chris Esposito, Hatfield, PA #31A930
  5. Jack Butler, Phillipsburg, NJ #5897*
  6. Ryan Beltz, Barto, PA #221872
  7. Kyle Lilick, Collegeville, PA #104743
  8. Brad Brightbill, Sinking Springs, PA #19 740
  9. Nate Brinker, Allentown, PA #14 728
  10. Jimmy Leiby, Milford, NJ #9L710
  11. Kyle Smith, Fleetwood, PA #77 663
  12. Jesse Leiby, Milford, NJ #66641
  13. Brandon Edgar, Lehighton, PA #57586
  14. Ryan Higgs, Nazareth, PA #16474
  15. Parker Guldin, Fleetwood, PA#11         427
  16. Kenny Bock #6420*
  17. Mike Mammana, Nazareth, PA #31416
  18. Lex Shive, Pennsburg, PA #5K399
  19. Decker Swinehart, Fleetwood, PA #38392
  20. Derrick Smith, Fleetwood, PA #20382
  21. John McGovern #327381
  22. Dakota Kohler, Boyertown, PA #12S370
  23. Nathan Mohr, East Greenville, PA #17M348
  24. Ken Eckert Jr., Orwigsburg, PA #29327
  25. Scott Kohler, Boyertown, PA #12S290*

* denotes feature win (Feature wins listed are only for those that are NASCAR point events.)

Sources: Ernie Saxton Communications