Umbenhauer, Manmiller, Schutz and Swinehart win at Grandview
BECHTELSVILLE » Jared Umbenhauer, Doug Manmiller, Chuck Schutz and Dylan Swinehart were in the limelight in their respective divisions in Saturday night’s A.D. Moyer Lumber Co. NASCAR stock car racing action at Grandview Speedway.
Umbenhauer, shut out of the winner’s circle since his rookie win September 5, 2015, has been close on various occasions to claim a victory; but was always hampered with some kind of problem. Things turned around for the Richland Rocket when he overtook Kenny Gilmore on the 24th lap of the T.P. Trailers 358 NASCAR Modified 30-lap feature that was postponed by rain on June 24 to claim his first win of the season to become the tenth different winner.
Manmiller became the first repeat Modified feature winner in the A.D. Moyer sponsored portion of the show after a hardfought battle with Brett Kressley and Mike Gular that went down to the wire.
The BRC NASCAR Late Model 20-lap feature wasn’t decided until the wave of the checkered. Bryon Sipe led from the start until the 18th lap when Chuck Schutz got by him, Sipe regained it the next lap, but in a drag-out down-to-the line dual off the final corner, it was Schutz chalking up his third win of the season. Sipe displayed sportsmanship by congratulating Schutz.
In NASCAR Sportsman action the 25-lap feature was up for grabs between Swinehart, Brad Arnold and Joe Funk III. Swinehart, who was sidelined the previous week due to engine problems, was back in top form and prevailed the victor for his second triumph of the current campaign.
All feature winners received monetary awards from T.P. Trailers and also product certificates from VP Racing Fuels providing they met the necessary requirements.
On the restart of the rained-out Modified feature Gilmore grabbed the early lead trailed by Steve Swinehart, Kyle Weiss, John Willman and Duane Howard, before Howard dropped out with mechanical problems.
Weiss took over second on lap six to put his bids in for the lead.
A second turn spin by Kyle Borror brought out the 12th lap caution. The restart was void after Clay Butler and Mark Kratz tangled in turns one and two. Gilmore maintained the pace, but now Umbenhauer was second trying to outmaneuver Gilmore.
Gilmore stuck to the inside trek while Umbenhauer ran the high line as the laps wound down.
The lead changed for the final time on the 24th lap when Umbenhauer switched lanes as he experienced trouble with the right front when he ran the outside and made the move stick.
Umbenhauer never surrendered first to capture the win. Chasing him across was Gilmore, who never gave Umbenhauer a chance to slip-up; Manmiller, Weiss and Jeff Strunk.
Once that portion was completed qualifying events were run with Howard, Harris and Gilmore winning the events. The consi went to Brian Krummel.
Brian Houseknecht was the early leader in the second feature that was redflagged when Kevin Hirthler somehow was on top of the third turn boilerplate. He injured his elbow and the car was done for the night. Houseknecht was still first when action resumed while Esposito, Brett Kressley, John Willman and Frank Cozze tussled for positions.
The yellow was out on lap nine after Willman and Howard made contact off turn four and until things cleared Colt Harris hit the second turn wall and was out of contention. Behind Houseknecht on this restart was Kressley and he was trying feverishly to pass him.
While running third and fourth in the thick of the battle, Cozze and Gular made contact and Cozze spun in the third turn for the 13th lap caution. This restart saw the front three get together and kept going, but veteran campaigner “The Handler” Manmiller took advantage of this incident to put the Jason Miller-owned No. 44M at the front of the pack.
Manmiller ran the bottom while Kressley gained ground on the outside to pressure him.
Behind Manmiller and Kressley, the battle brewed between Gular, Howard and Strunk.
Manmiller never looked back and was in victory lane for his 26th career win followed by Kressley, Gular, Howard and Strunk.