Von Dohren scores first season win at Grandview

BECHTELSVILLE » Craig Von Dohren recorded his first 30-lap T.P Trailers NASCAR 30-lap Modified feature win of the season at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night. Wayne Pfeil and Kyle Lilick were season repeat winners in the Late Model and Sportsman features in the activities sponsored by T.P. Trailers and Truck Equipment.

All feature winners received monetary awards from T.P. Trailers and merchandise awards from VP Fuels providing they met the necessary requirements.

Von Dohren’s 103rd career win didn’t come easily for the defending and tentime point champion. The Oley lead foot had to hold off the continuous challenges of Jared Umbenhauer, who returned with a back-up car after his primary one was destroyed by last week’s fire. Von Dohren had to weave in and out of lap traffic once he merged ahead on the 20th lap.

Von Dohren credited crew chief Jason Bashore and all the pit crew members plus sponsors for their continuous support and was thankful that the breaks were in his favor for a change.

Bobby Gunther-Walsh set the pace for five laps before the yellow was out for debris along the homestretch. When action resumed Danny Erb, who returned after missing a few weeks, charged to the front of the pack leaving GuntherWalsh, Mark Kratz, Umbenhauer and Doug Manmiller dice for positions.

Manmiller overtook second on the seventh lap to pressure Erb, who stuck to the high groove while Manmiller tried to duck underneath him.

While Erb and Manmiller battled for the lead this allowed Umbenhauer to reel the pair in to make it a three-way battle for first.

The lead changed for the third time on the 18th lap when Umbenhauer, who overtook the runner up spot on lap 16, proceeded to charge into the lead, but Erb stayed with him trying to regain control.

The running order behind Umbenhauer by this

time now consisted of Erb, Von Dohren, Manmiller and Duane Howard.

Umbenhauer went high coming off of turn four on the 20th lap and Von Dohren took advance of the situation and went through the middle to put the Nick Gatto powered No. 1C at the head of the class.

Lapped traffic came into the picture as the front runners had to use heads up driving to maneuver past them. This allowed last week’s feature winner Jeff Strunk to close the distance and made it a threeway race for the top spot.

Von Dohren hit all the right marks to proceed into victory lane for the win. Following closely across the line were Umbenhauer, Strunk, Manmiller and Howard.