Craig Von Dohren Captures 51st Forrest Rogers Memorial at Grandview Speedway

After threatening forecasts predicted once again; the skies cleared again at Grandview Speedway for the 51^st annual Forrest Rogers Memorial.   A $10,000 to win purse drew the attention of some 40 Grandview regulars who were on hand to take their shot at the second big check of the season at Grandview Speedway.

Craig Von Dohren patiently worked his way through 9 cautions to take the lead on lap 31 and cruised to nearly a 3 second margin of victory over Timmy Buckwalter to take his 9^th Forrest Rogers Memorial Title and the $10,000 winner’s check for the 2021 Forest Rogers Memorial. 

At the green pole sitter Ron Haring took the lead until lap 6.   Danny Bouc took over the lead on the 3^rd restart/lap 6 and was able to hold off Timmy Buckwalter and Craig Von Dohren through 8 restarts in the first 30 laps.  But lap 30 brought the 9^th restart where Von Dohren made a two for one pass move of both Timmy Buckwalter and Danny Bouc to take the lead that he would not give back.  From there Von Dohren drove the final 20 laps with only one more caution and took a comfortable 3 second lead right in to victory lane over Timmy Buckwalter in second and Danny Bouc in third place.

In victory lane Von Dohren commented “Timmy has been pretty good but we were able to make the move on the lap 30 restart from the outside to take over the lead.  From there I just rolled the bottom and didn’t want to slip up and make a mistake.  The car was good and Jason has it spot on again.  We have so many good partners behind and I’m am blessed to be here. The big money is the best part of these wins.  I don’t know how many more of these big wins I got left in me.”  

The top 10 was rounded out by Timmy Buckwalter in second place followed by Danny Bouc, Brett Kressley, Ray Swinehart, Duane Howard, Brett Gilmore, Jared Umbenhauer, Craig Whitmoyer, and Ron Kiline in 10^th place.

The heat races were won by Joe Funk, Brett Kressley, Ray Swinehart and Timmy Buckwalter.  The twin last chance consolations were won by Brad Grim and Kyle Merkel.

Forrest Rogers Memorial Modified Feature (50-laps):

 1. Craig Von Dohren, 2. Timmy Buckwalter, 3. Danny Bouc, 4. Brett Kressley, 5. Ray Swinehart, 6. Duane Howard, 7. Brett Gilmore, 8. Jared Umbenhauer, 9. Craig Whitmoyer (provisional), 10. Ron Kline, 11. Jesse Leiby, 12. Kevin Graver Jr., 13. Cory Merkel, 14. Carroll Hine III, 15. Joe Funk III, 16. Kevin Hirthler, 17. Kyle Weiss, 18. Kyle Merkel, 19. Ron Haring Jr., 20. Justin Grim, 21. Doug Manmiller, 22. Eric Biehn, 23. John Willman, 24. Brad Grim, 25. Mike Lisowski, 26. Glenn Owens, 27. Ryan Lilick, 28. Ryan Grim, 29. Jeff Strunk.

DNQ: Dylan Swinehart, Brad Arnold, Darrin Schuler, Chris Gambler, Mark Levy, Bobby Gunther Walsh, Mark Kratz, Brad Brightbill, Aaron Bowes, Jack Butler and Nate Brinker.

The sportsman feature had newcomer Adrianna Delliponti lead the first 21 laps while Cole Stangle and Brian Hirthler moved through the field on the top to set up a 3 car shootout in the final 5 laps.  Contact between Delliponti and Stangle on lap 21 was all that the veteran Hirthler needed to make a two for one pass into the lead and drive to his 4^th win of the season in the sportsman division. 

Brian Hirthler commented “I got shuffled back in the beginning; but got on the outside and the top was better for a while.  The bottom was burnt off causing the cars down there to hang.  I was hanging on the top too; so I had to diamond the corner on the top to get going pass some cars on the bottom.  I started catching the crate cars and when they would break down to the bottom I went to the cushion to pass them.  I didn’t know who the leader was when I got in third but then saw Adrianna was leading Cole.  I got by Cole, and he got back by me, and then Adrianna and Cole made contact, a little teamwork I guess and one heck of a race.  The mojo from the meet and greet with Whippy was going tonight.”  

The top ten was rounded out by Cole Stangle rounded out by Adrianna Delliponti, Logan Baumann, Decker Swinehart, Dylan Hoch, Kenny Gilmore, Cody Manmiller, Steve Young and Jimmy Leiby in 10^th place.

The heat races were won by Adrianna Delliponti, Steve Young and Dylan Swinehart.

Sportsman Feature (25-laps):

 1. Brian Hirthler, 2. Cole Stangle, 3. Adrianna Delliponti, 4. Logan Bauman, 5. Decker Swinehart, 6. Dylan Hoch, 7. Kenny Gilmore, 8. Cody Manmiller, 9. Steve Young, 10. Jimmy Leiby, 11. Nathan Mohr, 12. Mark Kemmerer, 13. Dakota Kohler, 14. Parker Guldin, 15. Doug Snyder, 16. Mike Schneck, 17. Kenny Bock, 18. Kyle Lilick, 19. Hunter Iatalese, 20. Chris Esposito, 21. Ryan Beltz, 23. Wayne Rotenberger, 24. Mark Gaugler, 25. Kyle Smith.

Next on the schedule is a tripleheader with the Modifieds, Sportsman and the 602 Mini-Series Sportsman on Saturday August 21 with racing at 7:30.