Henn joins old Grandview guard
Manmiller, Todorow, Papiez grab wins in season finale
The crowning of the 2016 point champions after Saturday night’s season finale at Grandview Speedway was a mere formality.
At this point, Craig Von Dohren and Chuck Schutz know that formality well. Jordan Henn hopes to know it just as well in the coming years.
VonDohren, of Oley, won his ninth NASCAR T.P. Trailers Modified title with 4,509 points over runner-up Mike Gular. It was championship No. 8 for Pottstown’s Chuck Schutz in the BRC NASCAR Late Model division who finished with 3,683 points ahead of Wayne Pfeil.
In the NASCAR Sportsman class, Kutztown’s Henn captured his first champion with 3,078 points over runner-up Mike Lisowski.
The season was one of the most competitive in years at the Bechtelsville oval with 26 different drivers winning features, including the winners on Sept. 3.
Popular veteran racer Doug Manmiller has been grinding all year long in the T.P. Trailers 358 Modified class at Grandview. He lost his ride with the Dave Zubikowski No. 00 mid-season, then debuted his own mount and still struggled. He finally teamed up with Jason and Theresa Miller and after that things began to gel for the new team. Shut out of victory lane since August 30, 2014, the Shoemakersville talent finally got the monkey off his back Saturday night. He was in fourth on the 22nd lap, shot past Ryan Grim and John Willman and proceeded to dive between a lapped car and underneath leader Justin Grim to take over the lead on the 23rd lap. He kept everyone at bay behind him the remain-
der of the race to win his first 30-lap Modified feature of the season behind the wheel of the Lee Miller Auto Sales No. 44M, in the event sponsored by WNPV1440 AM radio. He also collected $250 from T.P. Trailers plus $150 in VP products for running gas.
Steve Todorow took over the driving reigns of the No. 93 NASCAR Late Model normally chauffeured by his dad Rick at mid-season. The team had their share of ups and downs, but he finally had Lady Luck on his side and was able to hold off five-time feature winner and two-time point champion Brian Shuey to win his first-ever career 25-lap BRC Late Model feature and pick up an additional $100 from T.P. Trailers.
It was Brian Papiez at the head of the pack for his fourth NASCAR 25-lap Sportsman feature win as he took the lead from Paul Kline and then held off the challenges of Mike Lisowski for the triumph in which he collected an additional $100 from T.P. Trailers.
Coming up on Friday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m., the TSRS 305 Sprints along with the Sportsman stock cars in a doubleheader show topped by a 38-lap feature for the Sportsman. Modifieds will also be allowed practice time.
And on Saturday, September 10th, 7 p.m. the biggest event of the season takes place with the running of the $25,000 to win 46th Annual Freedom 76 Modified Classic featuring many of the top names in dirt track Modified stock car racing.
It took several cautions before the Modifieds could string consecutive green flag laps together, but once they did Justin Grim was leading the 28-car starting grid trailed by John Willman, Kory Fleming, Ryan Grim and Ray Swinehart.
Manmiller joined the thick of the battle as he advanced into fourth on the fifth circuit.
Lap-after-lap the order continued to be J. Grim, Willman, R. Grim, Manmiller and Swinehart with neither one giving an inch. Trying to break into the top five were Fleming and Frank Cozze.
By the 21st lap the slowermoving cars entered the picture and the front runners had to use heads up defensive driving.
As the head of the pack came out of turn four to complete lap 23, Manmiller made a very daring maneuver. He went from fourth past the others and then proceeded to shoot between the leader and a lap car to take control of first.
Cautions were needed once Manmiller was in front and positions behind him constantly changed, but he made sure he was always first as the laps clicked off at the drop of the checkered he claimed a well-deserved 24th career win. Chasing him across were R. Grim, Cozze, Willman and Jeff Strunk. Rounding out the top ten were last week’s feature winner Duane Howard, Kevin Hirthler, who started dead last; Kenny Gilmore, Mike Gular and Craig VonDohren.
Heats were won by Brett Kressley, Manmiller and R. Grim.
Steve Todorow set the pace for two laps in the Late Model feature before the red was thrown when Joe Fanelli hit the backstretch wall with heavy impact and almost flipped. He was uninjured, but the car was badly damaged. When action resumed Todorow was still in front behind chased by Shuey, Dan Green, Bill Henning and Schutz.
Green relinquished third on the fourth lap when he spun in the second turn for the fourth lap caution. It was still Todorow running the high lane being pressured by Shuey on the inside. Shuey made several advances, but to no avail and Todorow pulled away.
The lead never changed and Todorow was victorious being followed by Shuey, Henning, Schutz and Ron Kline.
Shuey and Todorow were the heat winners.
Rookie B.J. Joly led the first six laps of the Sportsman feature before a multicar fourth turn accident brought out the yellow. On the restart Papiez charged into first while Joly, Jack Butler, Kline and Lisowski diced for second through fifth.
Derrick Smith slowed his pace along the homestretch for the ninth lap caution period. This time when action went green again Paul Kline stormed into the lead.
Papiez just regained the lead on the 15th lap when Dylan Swinehart slowed in turn four.
Kline, Lisowski, Henn and Ken Eckert Jr. jockeyed for positions while Papiez held onto first.
Lisowski took over second on the 18th lap restart which was needed when Brad Arnold broke along the backstretch. Lisowski made several bids for first, but was unsuccessful.
Papiez kept everyone at bay to collect another win in his Grandview rookie season at the drop of the checkered. Second went to Lisowski followed by Kline, Henn and Ryan Lilick.
Kyle Lilick, Ryan Higgs and Kenny Bock won the heats. The consolation went to Joe Funk III.