Kressley, Kline, Lisowski score wins at Grandview
Ma Nature was defeated at Grandview Speedway on Saturday as afternoon showers looked as if they would force another show to be cancelled. However management held off and the track crew did a great job to make racing possible.
Brett “The Threat” Kressley, the 2016 Grandview Modified rookie, struggled early in the season with numerous mechanical and engine issues. Making a rare Grandview appearance on Saturday night, the Orefield leadfoot took the lead on the fourth lap of the TP Trailers 358 NASCAR Modified 30-lap feature on Saturday night at the 1/3mile oval. He then went on to capture his first win of the year to be the eighth different winner in the class. Runner-up Duane Howard was closing fast in the later stages, but ran out of time. Kressley gave a shout out to his dad Brian as the victory was an early Father’s Day present.
The BRC NASCAR Late Model 20-lap feature saw Ron Kline lead from green to checkered and win his fourth feature behind the wheel of the Wanda Brown-owned No. 3.
Mike Lisowski, who has been having his share of bad luck, finally had things go his way for a change. The Minersville speedster pulled into the winner’s circle to chalk up his first triumph of the season in the 25-lap NASCAR Sportsman feature.
All events were televised by RCN-TV and every feature winner received monetary awards from T.P. Trailers and product awards from V.P. Race Fuels providing they met the proper requirements.
Bobby Gunther-Walsh led three laps of the Modified feature before Kressley made a bold outside move going into the third turn and emerged as the new leader when the pair came out of the fourth turn.
While Kressley began to pull away from the pack, Gunther-
Walsh, Kenny Gilmore, Ryan Grim and Mike Gular diced for second through fifth.
Gilmore overtook second on the eighth lap and set said after Kressley to try to reel him in.
The pack regrouped on the tenth lap when last week’s feature winner Frank Cozze was spun in the second turn by Kyle Borror who was placed to the rear for the incident. Kressley held his own on the restart, but now Gular was the one pressuring him for first while Howard, Gilmore and Jeff Strunk were right behind waiting for a false move.
The front runners led by Kressley encountered lap traffic at the conclusion of 20 laps and had to use heads-up driving tactics.
After the tenth lap caution period, no more restart were needed and even though the pack closed in on Kressley through the slower traffic he never faltered and was able to record his second career with a rapidly closing Howard followed by Gular, Gilmore, for his season best finish and Strunk. Strunk’s fifth-place finish put him at the head of the point leader board since Craig Von Dohren, the point leader going into the show finished back in ninth.
Gunther-Walsh, Joe Fanelli and Kressley won the heats. The consi went to Borror.
Next on the schedule at Grandview is the first appearance of the new Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series. The 305 Sprint group will be part of the June 24th Bechtelsville Car Wash Night featuring the Sprints, TP Trailers 358 Modifieds and Sportsman.
RACE RESULTS NASCAR T.P. Trailers Modified Feature (30-Laps): 1. Brett Kressley, 2. Duane Howard, 3. Mike Gular, 4. Kenny Gilmore, 5. Jeff Strunk, 6. Doug Manmiller, 7. Jared Umbenhauer, 8. Kevin Hirthler, 9. Craig Von Dohren, 10. Ryan Grim, 11. Frank Cozze, 12. Clay Butler, 13. Brian Krummel, 14. Ray Swinehart, 15. Kyle Borror. DNF: 16. Brian Houseknecht, 17. Bobby Gunther Walsh, 18. Joe Fanelli, 19. Chris Gambler, 20. John Willman, 21. Blaine Bracelin, 22. Kory Fleming, 23. Mike Kellner, 24. Addison Meitzler, 25. Tim Buckwalter, 26. Dan Waisempacher. DNS: 27. Danny Erb, 28. Mike Mahaney. DNQ: Ron Seltmann Jr., Mark Kratz, Briggs Danner and Chris Esposito. BRC Late Model Feature (20-Laps): 1. Ron Kline, 2. Wayne Pfeil, 3. Kyle Merkel, 4. Brian Shuey, 5. Chuck Schutz, 6. Bryon Sipe, 7. Lou Egrie Sr., 8. Shawn Horning, 9. Steve Wilson, 10. Andy Cassel, DNF: 11. Jordan Knepp, 12. Dan Hoffman, 13. Todd Ravel, 14. Danny Snyder, 15. Steve Todorow, 16. Matt Carter, 17. Damon Neff. NASCAR Sportsman Feature (25-Laps): 1. Mike Lisowski, 2. Craig Whitmoyer, 3. Brian Hirthler, 4. Ryan Lilick, 5. Paul Houseknecht, 6. Kurt Bettler, 7. Dean Bachman, 8. Derrick Smith, 9. Steve Young, 10. Brad Grim, 11. Kyle Lilick, 12. Louden Reimert, 13. John McGovern, 14. Dylan Swinehart, 15. Nathan Mohr, DNF: 16. Brad Arnold, 17. Mike Mammana, 18. Mark Kemmerer, 19. Ryan Higgs, 20. Jim Housworth, 21. Kenny Bock, 22. Joe Funk III, 23. Jeremony Guistwite, 24. Jack Butler. DNQ: Andy Clemmer, Andy Kreis and B.J. Joly.