Buckwalter Claims Grandview Money Maker

Grandview may have opened their season 2 months late but they continued the traditional of opening with a bang with the 3^rd annual Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker.  An overflow pit area and full grandstands of fans showed the appreciation of all for keeping the Money Maker on the schedule despite the shorten season.  54 modifieds were in attendance looking to grab one of the $1,000 starting positions in the 24 car field and the $7,500 first place purse.  The sportsmen were also on the card and 37 entries were vying for the $1,500 winner’s purse.

The 50 lap modified feature started with Billy Pauch Jr. on the pole in the Breitenstein Racing # 14 and was in command for 15 laps.  The only caution of the event was on lap 15 and on the restart Tim Buckwalter took the lead and with every passing lap created more separation on the field.  By lap 40 Buckwalter led by an entire straightaway as he picked his way through lapped traffic and drove into victory lane with a 3.5 second margin over second place Craig Von Dohren.

 In victory lane an emotional Buckwalter dedicated the win to his father-in-law.   “This is a brand new car we put together this winter and we broke it last night at Diamond and my guys worked hard early this morning to get this car fixed to come here today.  Can’t thank Ryan Watt enough for loaning me parts today and all the advice he gave us this winter.  Really thought my night was done after the parade lap incident and flat tire.  I still think something was not right in the steering.  That thing was fun to drive tonight.”

The top ten was rounded out with Ryan Watt, Jared Umbenhauer, Jeff Strunk, Rick Laubach, Duane Howard, Billy Pauch Jr, Mike Gular and Doug Manmiller.

Heat races were won by Brian Hirthler, Rick Laubach, Brett Kressley, Billy Pauch Jr, Tim Buckwalter and Kyle Weiss.  The 3 consolations were won by Dominick Buffalino, Jeff Strunk and Mike Lisowski.

The sportsmen feature was led to green by a rejuvenated Jessie Landis who led the first 11 laps with the only 3 yellows of the night.   The outside pole sitter Brandon Edgar took over the lead on lap 12.  Edgar quickly built over a 1 second lead by lap 17; but in the next few laps the lead was disappearing as quickly as it was extended and by lap 22 Brian Hirthler ducked underneath Edgar’s high line and took the lead and victory.   The top 3 of Hirthler, Edgar and Lillick were all with .25 of one another for an exciting 3 way dance to the checkered flag.  The final 17 laps went straight green. 

The top ten was rounded out by Brad Arnold, Jesse Landis, Jack Butler, Brad Brightbill, Kyle Smith, Ryan Beltz and Cole Stangle.

Heat races were won by Cole Stangle, Brandon Edgar, Ryan Betz and Brad Brightbill.  Consolations were won by Ryan Higgs and Dakota Kohler.

Modified Pit Notes

The modifieds had a bizarre 6 car tangle during the parade lap on the backstretch while the fireworks were going off overhead.  The parade lap was red flagged and Tim Buckwalter went to pits to change a flat tire.  Despite the parade lap incident once the modifieds got going there was only one yellow on lap 15 for the entire 50 lap feature event.

Ryan Krachun’s recent visits to Grandview have been rough to say the least with a fire, wall contact in practice and a mechanical failure while leading for the last position in last year’s 76.  Ryan continues to return to Grandview and this time he was rewarded with good luck for the first time in two seasons.  Krachun took a 2^nd place finish in the heat race which qualified him for the $1,000 to start feature.   He started 3^rd in the feature and came home with an 11^th place finish.  Ryan was thrilled with the improvement and is looking to return to Grandview this season.  

Kyle Weiss started on the outside pole and was catching leader Pauch Jr when the left front went flat sending him to the pits on lap 14 and ending his chance for the win.

Back to Front Runs:

Craig Von Dohren had to qualify in the consolation and started 22^nd but despite only one yellow moved forward to 2^nd position.

Jeff Strunk qualified in the consolation and finished 5^th from a 20^th place starting position

Doug Manmiller qualified in the consolation and started dead last in 24^th and got a top ten finish with a 10^th place finish in the 50 lap feature.

DNQ: Briggs Danner, Brandon Grasso, Ron Myers, Louden Reimert, Kenny Gilmore, Eric Biehn, Ron Kline, Kevin Hirthler, Joe Funk, Nate Brinker, Tommy Scheetz, Jack Swain, Ray Swinehart, Craig Whitmoyer, Richie Hitzler, Colt Harris, Brad Grim, John Willman, Darren Schuler, Don Waisempacher, Ron Kline, Justin Grim, T.J. Lilly, Clay Butler, Cale Ross, Bobby Gunther Walsh, Jordan Henn, Mark Kratz, Mark Levy, Brett Gilmore.

Modified Results – Grandview Money Maker 6/20/20

Name	Finish	Start
Tim Buckwalter	1	4
Craig Von Dohren	2	22
Ryan Watt	3	11
Jared Umbenhauer	4	14
Jeff Strunk	5	20
Rick Laubach	6	12
Duane Howard	7	17
Billy Pauch Jr	8	1
Mike Gular	9	16
Doug Manmiller	10	24
Ryan Krachun	11	3
Kyle Weiss	12	2
Dylan Swinehart	13	5
Richie Pratt	14	23
Dominick Buffalino	15	19
Ryan Grim	16	7
Ryan Godown	17	18
Matt Stangle	18	10
Brian Hirthler	19	15
Ryan Lillick	20	8
Steve Davis	21	6
Meme DeSantis	22	13
Mike Lisowski	23	21
Brett Kressley	24	9

Sportsmen Pit Notes

Brian Hirthler qualified in both his modified gold 4* and his sportsmen green 4*.   Brian stated “running the modified is physically & mentally more demanding and the car works the driver over much more than a sportsman car.”   Brian was able to qualify for the modified field with the gold 4* and finish 19^th.  He only runs the modified at a handful of special events during the season.  Hirthler was able to get one of the 24 golden tickets and qualify for the Money Maker modified field and $1,000 starting position.   30 modifieds were on the outside looking in.  Hirthler then jumped into the green 4* and started 9^th in the sportsmen feature and got the win with a lap 23 pass of Brandon Edger. 

Sportsman Back to Front Runs: 

Jack Butler started 15^th finished 6^th

Brad Arnold started 14^th finished 4^th

Kyle Lillick started     10^th finished 3^rd

The Grandview season points program finally starts this Saturday night June 27 @ 7:30 PM with Modifieds, Sportsmen and Blast from the Past Vintage Racers.