Glenn Strunk returns to victory lane with Leiby Racing at Grandview Speedway

Not so long along, I remember talking to these new guys from New York when they started coming to Grandview in mid-June 2019 and they said Grandview was going to be their new home.  Then about a month later; this hippie guy with a Gilligan hat was driving an old school truck and trailer that Jimmy Leiby and I helped park his trailer next to the Leiby’s encampment.

The Leiby’s have since turned out to be track regulars to this day and are actually from New Jersey but are near the New York border.  The hippie guy with the Gilligan hat has turned out to be Glenn Strunk who had quite a resurgence in late 2019 driving the Vince Gagliardo # 41 to some good runs on a limited schedule at Grandview.

Fast forward to 2021; Glenn Strunk is now a fixture in the Leiby encampment on race day. Jimmy “Cowboy” Leiby is dating Carlee Strunk and looking for his first Grandview Sportsman championship this year in his 2021 HIG.  Jesse Leiby is back in modified with the 456 entry looking for his first Grandview modified victory.

Jimmy Leiby noted “So when Grandview presented the opportunity to run in the modified; sportsman and crate divisions in the same day; that started the wheels turning on how we should approach this opportunity with two drivers and three available cars.  We decided to bring all 3 cars so we can compete in all 3 classes and have a backup car for sportsman or crate feature.  Then on the morning of race day it hit us that we have a 3rd driver in our pits every week. Around 1:00 on race day I called Glenn Strunk and told him I had an offer he could not refuse and we had our 3^rd driver.”

Glen Strunk reflected “I’m sitting home worrying about dad who is in the hospital and Jimmy calls and tells me he has a question for me.  My first reaction was “why do you do this to me kid” but I told him I’d think about it and get back to him.  Never did get back to him.  Then my daughter Carlee calls and tells me I have to come to the track because I’m already signed in.  So I went to only my 2^nd race in my life without my dad.  In Strunk tradition I didn’t manage to get out for hot laps. Then I asked myself is driving really like riding a bike?”

It turned out to be an extremely busy day as expected with Jesse going out with the 456 and winning his first modified heat of the 2021 season to start things off.  Jimmy follows with a 4^th place finish in the sportsman division in the 9L from an 11^th starting position.    The 9L HIG is fueled, adjusted for Glenn and maintained to go out for crate heats.  Jimmy jumps in his brothers black 9 crate entry for the crate heat races. 

After a 4^th place finish in the sportsman division with Jimmy Leiby; the 9L is back on the track with Glenn Strunk behind the wheel and finishes 2^nd in the heat race to Ryan Grim in the Beau Drobot # 119.  Next out is Jimmy in the black 9 crate which he qualifies for the feature with a 6^th place finish.

Jesse is back on track with the 456 in the modified feature and some steering box issues has Jesse park it early and save it for another day.

Then both Glenn and Jimmy hit the track at the same time for the crate feature.  Glenn started in the 4^th position with the yellow 9L and Jimmy in the 18^th in his brother’s black # 9.  Jimmy had another top 10 finish with a 10^th place finish from an 18^th starting position in the one caution flag feature. 

Strunk was in second for the first 15 laps giving chase to Ryan Grim when yellow flew on lap 15.  On the restart Strunk was able to make the pass for the lead as Grim’s tires went away which allowed Strunk to check-out for his first Grandview win since 2010 and another trip to victory lane but this time with his daughter Carlee who had never been in victory lane with her dad before.

In victory lane Glenn Strunk noted “The car worked really well and I didn’t make any adjustments during the caution laps.  The car was on the edge of being tight but very smooth up top.  On the restart Ryan didn’t block me and then I was able to get away from him.  I want to thank Ryan Grim and Decker Swinehart for running me clean.  This was one of my most enjoyable and fun races that I’ve ever won at Grandview.  I liked to dedicate this race to my dad who is in the hospital.  I can’t thank John, Jesse, Jimmy and the entire Leiby family enough for this wonderful opportunity.”

Glenn Strunk’s dad is doing much better and expected to be out of the hospital soon. And yes; Glenn we don’t know if you remember how to ride a bike but we certainly found out you didn’t forget how to drive & win at Grandview.