Von Dohren & Gilmore Crowned 2021 Points Champions; Howard and Shive Claim Season Finale Wins at Grandview Speedway

By Grandview PR Staff

Former Grandview Modified titleholder Duane Howard put the Butch Getz-owned No. 15G into the lead on the 14th lap of the 30-lap 358 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series T.P. Trailers feature on Saturday night at Grandview Speedway in the race activities sponsored by Hope Mortgage Team and went on to chalk up his second win of the season. He drove the Bicknell chassis which is his normal mount for Friday night that he feels comfortable with. Howard thanked the entire team for all their support and not being a quitter.

Howard collected quite a hefty pay as he received a total of $3,800. $1,000 was from Hope Mortgage, the track prize money and $300 from T.P. Trailers of Limerick and also the Dan’s Deli ½-Hoagie bonus award.

Lex Shive picked an appropriate night to win his first career T.P. Truck Equipment 25-lap Sportsman feature. It was his race sponsor Hope Mortgage night for a $1,800 payday which included $1,000 from Hope, $200 from T.P. and the regular prize money.

Howard and Shive may have won the features, but Craig Von Dohren was crowned the Grandview 2021 NASCAR Modified point championship for the 12th time. All season long he swapped leading the points with Brett Kressley who led it for quite some time and had an advantage when Von Dohren didn’t finish well, but then Von Dohren gained ground when Kressley suffered setbacks. Kressley continued to fight back to remain in the hunt.

Kenny Gilmore, who has raced Modifieds and Sportsman for 26 years at the speedway, earned his first career NASCAR Sportsman championship over runner up Dylan Hoch.

Ron Haring Jr. led nine laps of the Modified feature before the red was thrown after a third turn multi-car tangle in which Craig Whitmoyer flipped. The safety, track officials and tow truck crews put Whitmoyer’s car back on all 4 wheels, he drove it back to the pits, did extensive sheet metal and body work and came out again. He completed more laps until pulling out of competition after a few more laps. On the restart Funk III charged into the lead trailed by Jordan Henn, Howard, Timmy Buckwalter and Jeff Strunk while Haring Jr. started to go toward the back.

Howard took over second on the 13th lap and one lap later he was setting the pace.

Behind Howard the battle for positions developed between Buckwalter, Strunk, Kressley and Henn.

With five laps to go, Strunk and Kressley were in a heated dual for second which allowed Howard to open more distance. Back further Buckwalter and Von Dohren completed the top five.

Once Howard took control, he continued to show the way until he pulled into the winner’s circle for his 80th career victory. Chasing him across the line were Strunk, Kressley, Buckwalter and Von Dohren. Jared Umbenhauer, Henn, Kevin Hirthler, Mike Lisowski and Funk III completed the top ten.

Eric Biehn, Funk III and Henn were the heat winners worth $166 from Hope Mortgage. Ryan Grim won the consi. Also courtesy of Hope Mortgage, Von Dohren earned an extra $100 for the Hard Charger while Whitmoyer got the $100 Hard Luck bonus.

In the T.P.Truck Equipment Sportsman feature Tyler James led for four laps until he got high in turn two and almost hit the wall relinquishing the top spot to Bryan Rhoads.

With Rhoads now first, James, Joey Vaccaro, Shive and Steve Young jockeyed for positions.

On the 18th lap Vaccaro was spun in the third turn by James in which James was sent to the rear. The restart was void as Young spun along the backstretch.

When action resumed Shive charged into the lead and immediately started to pull away as he was motivated the entire evening.

Shive never gave up first and pulled into victory lane chased by Rhoads, Kenny Gilmore, Dylan Hoch and Brian Hirthler. Rounding out the top ten were Parker Guldin, Kenny Bock, Chris Esposito, Kyle Lilick and Jimmy Leiby.

Earning an additional $166 for heat wins were Mike Stofflet, Young and Rhoads. The consi was won by Jimmy Leiby.

Hoch was the Hard Charger while Vaccaro received the Hard Luck award which both were worth an additional $100.

The Sportsman drivers used this race as a warmup for the Friday, September 17 Freedom 38-lap race which will attract other drivers for a $2,000 payday.

RACE RESULTS

T.P. Trailers Modified Feature (30-laps):

1. Duane Howard, 2. Jeff Strunk, 3. Brett Kressley, 4. Timmy Buckwalter, 5. Craig Von Dohren, 6. Jared Umbenhauer, 7. Jordan Henn, 8. Kevin Hirthler, 9. Mike Lisowski, 10. Joe Funk III, 11. Doug Manmiller, 12. Ron Haring Jr., 13. Eric Biehn, 14. Justin Grim, 15. Brad Arnold, 16. Nate Brinker, 17. Dave Dissinger, 18. Chris Gambler, 19. Ray Swinehart, 20. John Willman, 21. Ryan Lilick, 22. Craig Whitmoyer, 23. Dylan Swinehart, 24. Ron Kline, 25. Brad Grim, 26. Brad Brightbill, 27. Brett Gilmore, 28. Ryan Grim.

 DNQ: Jesse Leiby, Carroll Hine III, Bobby Gunther Walsh, Cory Merkel, Mike Laise, Jack Butler and Dan Lane.

T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman Feature (25-laps):

 1. Lex Shive, 2. Bryan Rhoads, 3. Kenny Gilmore, 4. Dylan Hoch, 5. Brian Hirthler, 6. Parker Guldin, 7. Kenny Bock, 8. Chris Esposito, 9. Kyle Lilick, 10. Jimmy Leiby, 11. Jesse Landis, 12. Logan Bauman, 13. Anthony Raisner, 14. Nathan Mohr, 15. Zack Steffy, 16. Tyler James, 17. Ron Wasyluk, 18. Joey Vaccaro, 19. Steve Young, 20 Mark Kemmerer, 21. Decker Swinehart, 22. Colton Perry, 23. Matt Yoder, 24. Jesse Hirthler, 25. Mike Stofflet.

 DNQ: Mark Gaugler, Nick Faust, Dakota Kohler and Ryan Beltz.

Coming up next on Friday, September 17 7:30 p.m. is the Freedom 38 for Sportsman plus Modifieds practicing. There is no rain date. Both nights Gary Balough, winner of hundreds of Modified and Late Model features, will have his most famous race car on display, the Batmobile. He will also be autographing copies of his book, “A Checkered Past: My Story, Gary Balough”.

Saturday, September 18 7 p.m. 51st Annual Freedom 76 for Modifieds paying $30,000 to win—Chapel service has been moved outside of main gate area starting at 2:45 p.m. BRING YOUR BLANKET OR CHAIR. Entry blanks for this event can be found at www.grandviewspeedway.com under the rules and forms section. Rain date is Saturday, September 25.