Howard Wins Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker at Grandview & Pit Notes

Grandview Speedway opened up their 2021 season with the 4^th annual Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker under spectacularly clear blue skies with diminishing winds.  45 modifieds and 33 Sportsman entries were on the grounds for the opening day of Grandview’s season and the Bruce Rogers Memorial.

It’s was close to happening last week at Bridgeport but Duane Howard’s engine failure after taking the lead delayed it one more week.  In only his 5^th start for Butch Getz Motorsports Duane Howard waited until he was on his home track to pick up first win with Getz Motorsports and took home the $7,500 Bruce Rogers Memorial check and trophy.

The 50 lap modified feature was lead to green by John Willman who stormed to the early lead over outside pole sitter Doug Manmiller and the field.  By lap 6 Duane Howard had moved from 12^th position to 3^rd place and was already stalking Willman and Manmiller.  Howard quickly disposed of Manmiller for the second position and then made a strong high side pass of Willman for the lead on lap 11 while Brett Kressley was using the high side to move into 2^nd on lap 17.  The bad news for Kressley was that Howard was pulling away by more than 3 seconds while Craig Von Dohren was closing in on Kressley for 2^nd place.  With Howard, Kressley and Von Dohren all running the identical high side line like three ducks in a row; Kressley decided to try the low line which did not have any grip and allowed Von Dohren to pass him for second place.  Von Dohren than set his sights on Howard for the final 17 laps of the 50 lap feature event.  Von Dohren closed Howard’s lead to less than 2 car lengths on lap 33 and 46 but in the end Howard was able to use lapped traffic to break away from Von Dohren and drive into victory lane for his first win in the Butch Getz Motorsports # 15g and first win of the 2021 season.  Duane Howard has registered many Grandview victories in his career but none have more anticipated than his first victory for Butch Getz Motorsports in only five starts.

Postrace at the trailer Duane Howard noted “We were really tight and snug in the heat race and the car told me what to change.  We made some changes which really freed the car up and we were able to sail around the top in the feature.  This Penske Race Shop Bicknell was really good and comfortable going around the top.  The top was a little too fast tonight and as the race went on you had to be on the top side.  We happened to be in the right spot when the top opened up and we were good to go.”

Brett Kressley commented “I hit the midrace restart perfect and had a chance to take over but unfortunately I didn’t get through 1&2 the way I should have to maintain the lead.  The car and driver were one or two small adjustments away from contending for the win.  All in all great night and we will take a 3^rd to start the year.”

4^th place John Willman stated “We started on the pole and I knew right away we were way too tight.  I could feel the bottom slowing so I tried the middle on lap 10 but there was nothing there so I just went to the top and stayed up there the rest of the night.   This was our first time at my home track with our new 2021 Teo Elite car and with only 5 races on the car I already know what I got for a car and I am very comfortable with this car.”

The modified top ten was rounded out by Craig Von Dohren in 2^nd followed by Brett Kressley, John Willman, Ryan Watt, Mike Maresca, Jared Umbenhauer, Tim Buckwalter, Louden Reimert and Danny Bouc.

The heat races were won by Craig Von Dohren, Kyle Weiss, Mike Maresca and Brett Kressley.  The last chance Consolations were won by Brad Grim and Tim Buckwalter.

MODIFIED RACE RESULTS GRANDVIEW – 4/3/21– Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker Feature (50-laps):

Winner – Duane Howard, 2. Craig Von Dohren, 3. Brett Kressley, 4. John Willman, 5. Ryan Watt, 6. Mike Maresca, 7. Jared Umbenhauer, 8. Tim Buckwalter, 9. Louden Reimert, 10. Danny Bouc, 11. Brad Grim, 12. Eric Biehn, 13. Kyle Weiss, 14. Mike Lisowski, 15. Dillon Steuer, 16. Doug Manmiller, 17. Jeff Strunk, 18. Ron Kline, 19. Kris Graver, 20. Dylan Swinehart, 21. Ryan Beltz, 22. Kevin Hirthler, 23. Brad Brightbill, 24. Brian Hirthler.

Did Not Qualify: Cory Merkel, Joe Funk Jr., Craig Whitmoyer, Brett Gilmore, Jesse Leiby, Nate Brinker, Justin Grim, Mark Levy, Jack Butler, Steve Young, Ryan Lilick, Richie Hitzer, Darren Schuler, Bobby Gunther Walsh, Scott Frack, Kyle Merkel, Jordan Henn, Alex Yankowski, Mark Kratz, Brad Arnold and Ryan Grim.

Money Maker Pit Notes

Craig Von Dohren finished a strong second place from a 14^th place starting position. The 2020 track champion was within striking distance of Howard and made two runs almost side by side with Howard but just couldn’t complete the pass before the 50 lap feature was completed.  Von Dohren will be in the # 30 this year and Howard the 15g and it looks like the numbers may have changed but the story is going to be the same as the past two years with Von Dohren and Howard battling for 1^st and 2^nd week in and week out as well as for the point championship.  The points champion was Howard in 2019 and Von Dohren in 2020 and they are already battling with one another in the first race of the 2021 season.

Brett Kressley is usually on the high side with no one else up there with him but tonight he had company and it was a bit crowded  so he tried the low side to go where the leader wasn’t but couldn’t find grip and fell in line and returned to the top for a 3^rd place finish.  No doubt Kressley is looking on improving his 8^th place finish in the 2020 Grandview Speedway points and he’s already racing with the two guys he hopes to surpass in 2021 for his first Grandview points championship.

John Willman is looking and feeling good in his 2021 Teo Elite car.   Willman had good speed in the heat race with a 2^nd place finish from a 9^th starting position.  He had the good fortune to draw the pole for the feature and finished a solid 4^th place with only the big three of Howard, CVD and Kressley in front of him.  Willman noted “I was one spring adjustment away from having a winning car tonight and I’m ready to go for the start of the Grandview racing season next week.”

The defending 2020 Money Maker champion Timmy Buckwalter made a strong 8^th place run in the feature from an 18^th place starting position.

Danny Bouc made his Grandview debut in Norm Hansell’s iconic 357 entry.  Bouc made the field from the last chance consolation and started the feature in the 19^th position on grid and moved forward +9 in the feature to a solid 10^th place finish in his 2021 Grandview debut.  Danny commented “I thought things went well.  I definitely have room for improvement on my end getting the car to turn better.  Once we get that I think we will be very good.”

Upstate New York’s Mike Maresca has found a liking to Grandview ever since driving Kevin Hirthler’s backup modified last year at the “Freedom 76er”.  Maresca brought his 7mm entry and won his heat race from his 6^th starting position and went on to the feature where he finished 6^th from a 13^th starting position.

Eric Biehn drew the #50 at the heat race draw and it looked like another one of those days the # 87 father and son team.  Biehn had a decent car and finished the heat 7^th from his 12^th and dead last starting position.  This moved him to a 4^th starting position in his heat race where he managed to finish 4^th and take the final transfer position in the last chance consolation and earn his first ever $1,000 to start qualifying position.  Biehn started the feature in the 23^rd starting position moved forward to a 12^th place finish in the feature for the 87 entry.  Eric noted “We were somewhat off last night as the car wasn’t driving off the right front but we were very happy with how the night turned out with the terrible draw.” 

Mark Levy and the 711J have high hopes for 2021 with some updated equipment and motors in their shop for the 2021 season.  Levy got collected in a heat race jingle that took him back to the pits on the hook.  Levy noted “We bent the shock tower, axle and rods tore up the door and ripped the hood off but thanks to my crew and all my friends in the pits we were able to get out for the last chance consolation which is something we couldn’t have done last year.”  Levy finished 9^th in the consolation but just making the call for the consolation was a huge step forward for 711J team.

Jeff Strunk made his 2021 debut in the Zubi 88Z entry.  In the heat race Strunk struck the wall in the opening lap and had to go into the pits for repairs.  On the opening lap of his consolation Strunk again found himself in the back of the 12 car consolation after spinning.  This time Strunk was able to come through the field and qualify in 3^rd position for the feature.  In the feature Strunk was again in and out of the pits and this time his day ended in a tangle with teammate Dillion Steuer which resulted in two flat tires for Strunk.  Team Zubi’s focus now goes toward wins and track championships as both Strunk and Steuer are competing at Big Diamond on Fridays while Strunk will spend Saturdays at Grandview and Steuer will spend Saturdays at Bridgeport.

Brad Brightbill debut as the driver of a beautiful Breitenstein Motorsports #14.  Brightbill had a contact incident in turn 3 during the feature and rolled the car several times.  Brightbill exited the car without injury but was done for the night. 

Next up at Grandview is the first point race of the 2021 season with modified and sportsman divisions on the slate for Saturday April 10^th and hot laps at 6:00 and racing starting at 7:00.