Brian Hirthler Wins Thunder on the Hill “Balls to the Wall 50” at Grandview for his First Career Modified Win

What does Brian Hirthler and Moses Malone have in common?

After last night 4-4-4 wins.  Brian started the 50 lap Balls to the Wall 50 in 4^th starting position.  At the end of the first 20 lap invert phase Brian was in 4^th and earned the invert to the pole position.  At the end of the 35 lap Invert phase, Brian earned the 4^th finishing position once again and this time by just inches over Jeff Strunk earning.  Just like Moses Malone, Brian Hirthler turned 4-4-4 into a championship win.  Moses may have won the NBA Championship, but Brian Hirthler won the Thunder on the Hill “Ball to the Wall 50 Championship” at Grandview Speedway.

Brian started the race off in 4^th starting position and after 20 laps found himself still in first with only Billy Pauch Jr., Duane Howard, and Brett Kressley in front of him.  The first invert moved Brian to first place for the start of phase two on lap 20.

After the 2^nd phase concluded on lap 35 Brian found himself again in 4^th place by inches over Jeff Strunk taking the pole position again after then 2^nd and final invert.

When the race ended on lap 50, Brian was in victory lane having survived an assault from Brett Kressley from the high side and Mike Gular from anywhere he could find.

This win was also Brian Hirthler’s first modified win of his racing career followed by Mike Gular, Duane Howard, Brett Kressley, and Jeff Strunk in 2^nd through 5^th.  The race ran with only two invert cautions during the entire 50 lap feature.

Heat winners: Jeff Strunk, Doug Manmiller and Duane Howard

Consolation winners: Ryan Watt and Craig Von Dohren

Feature (50 Laps): 1. Brian Hirthler 2. Mike Gular 3. Duane Howard 4. Brett Kressley 5. Jeff Strunk 6. Craig Von Dohren 7. Billy Pauch Jr. 8. Doug Manmiller 9. Jack Butler 10. Jared Umbenhauer 11. Louden Reimert 12. Rick Laubach 13. Mike Lisowski 14. Alex Yankowski 15. Ryan Watt 16. Jimmy Leiby 17. Eddie Strada 18. Kevin Beach 19. Bobby Gunther Walsh 20. Eric Kormann 21. John Willman 22. Ron Haring Jr. 23. Steve Young 24. Bobby Trapper Jr.

Did Not Qualify: Kevin Graver, Dylan Swinehart, Kyle Smith, Mark Kratz, Eric Biehn, Craig Whitmoyer, Bobby Trapper Sr, Jesse Leiby, Justin Grim, Adrianna Delliponti and Ray Swinehart

The next Thunder on the Hill event is the “Jesse Hockett Classic Easter Storm on Tuesday, June 13^th at Grandview Speedway with racing at 7:30.