Kenny Gilmore Returns to Grandview Victory Lane for First Win of 2021 Season & Pit Notes

Under clearing skies and warm and conditions Grandview hosted a 3 division show with the modified and sportsman divisions racing in their 10^th point race of the season along with the sportsman and modified vintage cars.   A brief shower before the gates opened delayed the heat races a few minutes and presented heavy and challenging track conditions for the heat races.

The sportsman feature was led for 18 green flag laps by outside pole sitter Logan Bauman over Lex Shive and Parker Guldin until the first caution on lap 18 for a 3 car tangle.  On the restart; Kenny Gilmore made a strong move from 4^th to 2^nd before the second and final caution few on lap 19.   Coming from the front row Gilmore made his move on lap 21 to pass Bauman for the lead and take his first win of the 2021 season.

In victory lane Kenny Gilmore commented “The track was tonight and turn 1/2 were better on the bottom and 3/4 better on the top.  I didn’t think I was going to be able to catch Bauman because my car was running hot and vapor locking but it cleared up on the last two laps and the power returned and I was able to get the victory.  Some days you’re the bug and some days you’re the windshield and tonight the breaks went my way and here we are in victory lane.  I haven’t won a sportsman race since 2015.  We really got banged up in the heat race and my crew put in a lot of work to keep this car out on the track tonight.  This is a team effort and I’d like to thank my crew and sponsors for everything they do for Gilmore Racing.  In 1996 I got wrecked and won and tonight we keep the trend going with tearing up some stuff in the heat race wreck but I’m real happy we are here in victory lane.”

The top ten was rounded out by Logan Bauman in second place followed by Cole Stangle, Kyle Lilick, Lex Shive, Nathan Mohr, Dylan Hoch, Brian Hirthler, Mark Kemmerer and Parker Guidin in 10^th place.

The heat races were won by Lex Shive, Nate Mohr, and Tommy Miller.  The last chance consolation was won by Brian Hirthler.

Sportsman Feature Results (25-laps):

 1. Kenny Gilmore, 2. Logan Bauman, 3. Cole Stangle, 4. Kyle Lilick, 5. Lex Shive, 6. Nathan Mohr, 7. Dylan Hoch, 8. Brian Hirthler, 9. Mark Kemmerer, 10. Parker Guldin, 11. Jimmy Leiby, 12. Jesse Landis, 13. Chris Esposito, 14. Steve Young, 15. Tom Miller, 16. Kyle Smith, 17. Matt Clay, 18. Dakota Kohler, 19. Decker Swinehart, 20. Mike Schneck, 21. Bryan Rhoads, 22. Kenny Bock, 23. Gary Wagner, 24. Joey Vaccaro.

DNQ: Brad Force, Adrianna Delliponti, Ryan Laise, Mark Gaugler, Paul Effrig, Nick Faust, Cody Manmiller, Wayne Rotenberger and Tyler James.

Sportsman Pit Notes – 6/26/21

Kenny Gilmore’s sportsman motor win this week brings the open sportsman motors into a tie with the crates at 5 wins each in the open sportsman division.  Brian Hirthler (open) has 2 wins; Dylan Hoch (crate) 3 wins; Dylan Swinehart (crate), Jesse Landis (open), Logan Bauman (crate), Kyle Lilick (open) & Kenny Gilmore (open) all have points race wins in 2021.

Kenny Gilmore got his first win of the 2021 from the 11^th starting position on the grid.  In his heat race Kenny was in a 3 car tangled but was able to keep his car moving and maintain his track position despite sustaining significant sheet metal damage.  The first key to the night was when Kenny secured the 4^th and final handicap spot for the feature which placed him in the 11^th starting position.  Late in the feature a vapor lock developed when the car was on the top but by taking the car back to the bottom the vapor lock went away and the power returned allowing Kenny to power past Bauman for his first win of the 2021 season.  Kenny adds the win to 4 top five finishes and 5 top ten finishes in 10 races which currently puts him in the points lead by 284 points over Dylan Hoch in second.

 Postrace Kenny reflected “This week we made a change in the shop from our own designed left side pan hard bar back to the right side pan hard bar and we were able to win with it first time out this year.  In the heat we were in a tangle and only had cosmetic damage with no major components being damaged.  Our handicap this week was the 11^th starting position which was better than normal since we are the points leader.  In the feature we had a good car and all the breaks went our way which allowed us to win.  The car started to vapor lock when I went to the top and the rpms were up; but once I went back to the bottom it cooled off and started to run better again with the power returning and I was able to make the pass for the lead.  Got to thank everyone who helped us this week Dennis Bailey, Brian Fritz, Colby and Brett.”

Logan Bauman finished 2^nd and led 20 laps until Kenny Gilmore took the lead over on lap 21. Logan has had an amazing last 5 weeks of his rookie season at Grandview.   He won his first sportsman race in only his 4th outing at Grandview.  The very next week he breaks the motor and ends up as a DNQ.  The 3^rd week he jumps in a new car and shakes it down which also results in a DNQ.  In the 4^th week he races his new coil suspension car for the second time and finishes 2^nd to Kyle Lilick.  In the 5^th week he goes back to the old car with a new motor and the old bars suspension and secures another 2^nd place finish.  Logan has quickly jumped right into the thick of racing in the sportsman division at Grandview.  Postrace at the trailer Logan mentioned “We can’t really complain about tonight’s results.   We got 2^nd and simply got out motored and out experienced by the winner Mr. Gilmore who has been racing at Grandview before I was even a thought.  So running 2^nd & behind a guy like that is a great learning experience.  I’ve been switching every other week from bars car to the coil car without any problems.  I’m definitely excited to see how we make out in the 40 lapper next week.”

Cole Stangle finished 3^rd from a 14^th starting position in only his second Grandview start of the season.  Not to mention that the night before Cole also placed 3^rd in the Big Diamond modified feature.  Back at the trailer Cole reflected “Our night was good to say the least.  We did get a little lucky in the heat and missed the big wreck and was able to get in the handicap.  We started 14^th and Dad set the car up great and I was able to drive it well.  I did my part and he did his and we got 3^rd.  A few more laps and I think we could had contested for the lead.  In tech dad and I were talking like we always do and he pointed out that the 18 green flag laps didn’t give us a lot of time but that’s racing.  With a 3^rd tonight and a 3^rd last night in modified at Big Diamond we had a great weekend.  I’m learning a lot, my confidence is getting there and dad is learning the car.  I wouldn’t be here without all my sponsors and I’m very grateful for this opportunity.”

Kyle Lilick finished 4^th from the 15^th starting position.  Kyle commented “track was good from top to bottom but the laps were clicking off quickly with 18 green flag laps.  We were 10^th on the second restart and able to pick-up 6 spots in the final 7 laps for a 4^th place finish.”

Lex Shive finished 5^th in the feature with his strongest run of the season.  Lex also won his heat race and is starting to dial in both his heat race and feature setup.  Back at the trailer Lex commented “We went at it all night with Bauman in both the heat and feature.  I made a top run in the heat and was able to hold Bauman off.  In the feature it was Bauman again for 18 laps battling for the lead.  In the feature I skated around for a while and held second down for 18 laps.  I tried a lap up on the top but the car didn’t feel that great.  On a restart I threw the Hail Mary and it stuck and I was side by side out front for the lead but the yellow came out and it all got wiped out.  After the second and final restart I got stuck on the bottom and couldn’t move and settled in and took our best finish of the season.”

After a strong start to the season with 2 top ten finishes in the first two weeks; Nate Mohr fell into 7 weeks of back of the pack finishes.  But this week he was able to move back into the top ten with a 6^th place finish and his best of the season.  Back at the Trailer Nate commented ‘Our day started great with a heat race win.  We made some changes for moisture in the track that worked.  We had a shot at this one but the setup went away on the last restart and we got bottled up on the bottom.  Wish we didn’t have that last restart and we would have probably been sitting pretty for a possible win but that’s all part of racing.”

Brian Hirthler finished 8^th from a 19^th starting position in his 2^nd outing back with his 4* sportsman entry after a month of running the 117 crate. The 4* had been out of action for about a month being repaired for engine damage.  A flat tire in the heat sent Brian to the consolation which he was able to win.  Brian noted “The stars haven’t been aligning recently but it happens and best thing is to just keep trying and not get frustrated.  Car is fast and the driver has got to get use to the extra sportsman motor power again.  We should pick up a couple of tenths with the sportsman motor.  We will be running the modified Tuesday and it normally helps me adjust to power differences between the crate and sportsman.”

Mark Kemmerer finished 9^th from a 23^rd starting position for a top ten finish to a day that looked like it could easily turn into a complete DNQ bust for the F10 team.   Mark missed hot laps; got involved in a tangle in the heat race and had to come from 10^th in the last chance consolation to get the 5^th transfer position.   Postrace Mark reflected “Typical full moon night on the hill.  Very frustrating the car was ready for two weeks and we discover a pin hole on the water expansion tank during warmups for hot laps.  Got it fixed in time for the heat race.  Typical heat race where no one gives an inch and we get behind a tangle that we get the worst of it.  Had to change an axle for the consolation and was able to qualify in the 5^th transfer spot from a 10^th starting position.  When we got to the feature we had a good run and the track was finally two lanes.”

Parker Guldin had a season best finish of 10^th and he was running in the top 5 for 20 laps before getting boxed in on the bottom on a late race restart.  Postrace Parker reflected “We had an awesome night because this was the best car we had in about a year and a half.  Almost everywhere I put the car it was consistent even though the bottom was slow and I was comfortable and confident in the car.  I think the track had a lot to do with our success tonight because it was the first time in my racing career I’ve ever saw a cushion like tonight.  To say I had fun is an understatement.’’

Jimmy Leiby finished 11^th after starting 24^th on the field.  And now the rest of the story.  Jimmy came into this race sitting 6^th in the points so a DNQ was not an option for a team in the season points chase.  A heat race incident with a two car tangle broke Jimmy’s shock and sent him to the pits on the hook with a heat race DNF.  That sets the stage for a last chance consolation that transfers 6 with Jimmy starting 14^th.   After a strong move around side by side back markers and a perfectly timed caution Jimmy was able to win the battle with Cody Manmiller to secure the 6^th and final transfer spot to the feature.  The feature was the easy part as Jimmy just ran back to front on a track with equal top and bottom lines to move from 24^th to 11^th and keep his points standings as 6^th.   Postrace Jimmy reflected “Started 7^th in the heat and on lap 1 used the top and was already in 4^th when I got dumped and broke a shock ending our heat as a DNF.  This made the last chance consolation our big moment of the night as we started 14^th with only 6 transferring to the feature.  I almost lost hope when I got stuck in 9th behind two slower cars running side by side with 3 laps to go; but suddenly a hole opened up and I got past them and it stuck just before the caution came out.  On the last restart and final 2 laps; I was able to move up the one spot I needed to get the 6^th and final transfer spot and keep our points chase going.  In the feature the car didn’t handle well because we didn’t have the same left rear shock as a backup and the shock we had to use didn’t work as well.  Actually the car handled the worst it has all year and I had to adjust my driving to be able to make the gains that we did.  In the last 6 laps the track seemed to come to the car and it worked better than it had all race long.”

Sportsman will be in the spotlight on Saturday, July 3rd, when the annual Firecracker 40 is presented with a large field of T.P.Truck Equipment Sportsman expected to battle for the $2,000 first place money. The T.P. Trailers Modifieds will be the second part of the show. Adult admission is $22 while youngsters 6 thru 11 pay $10 Under 6 are admitted free. Action gets the green at 7:30 p.m.