Rolling Thunder
Larson makes move on Rahmer to win Hodnett Cup; Watt tops modifieds
BECHTELSVILLE » A late race slider led California driver Kyle Larson to a $10,000 win in the Pennsylvania 410 Sprint Car Speed Week event presented by Red Robin as part of the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series at Grandview Speedway on Tuesday night.
Ryan Watt, of Boyertown, picked up the NASCAR 358 Modified victory and $3,000. With scattered showers over Grandview Speedway from noon to 7 p.m. the track crew and staff of Thunder on the Hill was determined to get this event in the books, and they did. The win also earned former NASCAR standout Larson his place on the Greg Hodnett Cup and perpetual trophy. Hodnett, a six-time Thunder champion and nine-time Thunder on the Hill feature winner was remembered Tuesday night after losing his life in a racing accident in 2018.
In the 410 Sprint Cars, Larson overtook Freddie Rahmer to win was his third Grandview win in four years after scoring the 2017 and 2018 editions of the Speed Week event.
“Freddie (Rahmer) set such a
good pace on the restarts, I’m surprised I could stay with him,” Larson said while celebrating his big payday. “At times we were good; it’s great to get a win.”
NASCAR Cup Series competitor Christopher Bell set Fast Time and by the luck of the draw started on the pole of the 35-lap A-Main event. At the drop of the green flag, Bell pulled away to about a straightaway lead over Freddie Rahmer setting the pace for the first five circuits around the one-third mile, Grandview high banks.
Bell’s night would come to an end quickly, after Kyle Reinhardt slowed collecting the leader, and handing the lead to Freddie Rahmer.
Rahmer hit lapped traffic on the 11th trip around the track, but that didn’t faze him, he switched lanes sliding passed cars, while Larson had his hands full battling Sammy Swindell for second position.
Larson would move into second on the 20th lap, and closed on Rahmer in lapped traffic.
A late race restart opened the door and Larson pulled a slide job on Rahmer, pulling away for the victory and the Greg Hodnett Memorial Cup.
Rahmer finished in second and Sammy Swindell rounded out the podium. Ryan Smith finished in fourth and Danny Dietrich completed the top five finishers.
There was no cruise control on the way to victory for Ryan Watt in the NASCAR 358 Modified feature event. Kevin Hirthler led the field to the green flag running side-by- side with Watt for the first 6 laps before Watt’s No. 14W machine could complete the pass.
The top five ran nose-to-tail with Watt leading the way followed by Hirthler, Craig VonDohren, Jeff Strunk and Brett Kressley. Kressley tangled with a lapped car, bringing out the first yellow flag of the night.
On the restart, the top-5 used every inch of the Grandview Speedway battling it out, with Strunk claiming the second spot.
Watt picked up the $3,000 win, Strunk settled for second, while Craig VonDohren, Kevin Hirthler, and Doug Manmiller rounded out the top five.
The NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series returns on Tuesday, August 4 with the Ken Brenn Midget Masters featuring the USAC National Midget Series and the return of the NASCAR 358 Modifieds. More information on this and all of the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series events is available at www.thunderonthehillracingseries.com