Cozze, Schutz and Lilick win features at Grandview
BECHTELSVILLE » Three different feature winners entered the record books on Saturday night at Grandview Speedway in their respective divisions in the Whelen Engineering sponsored racing events. The total different feature winners this season, out of 21 feature races presented, now stands at 18.
Veteran campaigner Frank Cozze piloted the Tom Umbenhauer-owned/ Harry’s U-Pull-It No. 4 to his first win of the season in the TP Trailers 358 Modified NASCAR 30-lap feature. Cozze, a DIRT Hall of Famer, who had a disappointing finish last week, held off the last lap challenges of two others veterans of the sport Ray Swinehart and Craig Von Dohren to become the seventh different winner in the Modified division.
The BRC NASCAR Late Model division had a fifth different winner. Defending point champion and current point leader Chuck Schutz, who drove Andy Cassel’s car the previous week when the Ty Zeigler-owned No. ONE experienced problems, finished by a comfortable margin over runner-up and last week’s feature winner Ron Kline for his first 25-lap feature win of the season to be the fifth different winner in his normal ride.
Kyle Lilick was sidelined early in the NASCAR Sportsman 25-lap feature last week, but he more than made up for it on his next outing. The younger of the racing Lilick’s in the duo made up of older brother Ryan a two-time winner this year, overtook Jack Butler on the 18th lap and went on to capture his first career victory and become sixth different Sportsman winner of the season.
All feature winners received monetary awards from T.P. Trailers providing they met the requirements and product awards from V.P. Fuels if they run gas and have the proper decals and other specifications.
John Willman put the Dennis Bailey-owned No. 81 into the early lead at the start of the Modified feature with pressure from Colt Harris, Steve Swinehart, Cozze and Ray Swinehart.
By the conclusion of ten laps Harris erased the deficit Willman opened up to challenge him for the top spot.
The pack regrouped when Mike Kellner, who had a strong second place finish the previous week, stopped in the first turn for the 15th lap caution. On the restart Willman and now Cozze lined up side-by-side. When action resumed Cozze got somewhat out of shape. Willman ran over Cozzes’ front end and hit the homestretch infield tire for the yellow putting him out of contention and Cozze was the new leader. Cozze maintained the first spot on the next attempt.
Behind Cozze wheeling and dealing never giving up in their battle for positions were R. Swinehart, Mike Gular, Kevin Hirthler and Harris. In the thick of things for sixth through tenth were Doug Manmiller, Von Dohren, Ryan Watt, Jeff Strunk and Duane Howard.
By the 20th lap the order behind Cozze consisted of R. Swinehart, Von Dohren, Gular, Manmiller and Hirthler with the spots constantly being swapped back and forth.
Harris’ fine run ended when he found himself in the third turn wall bringing out the yellow on the 21st lap. Cozze didn’t falter on the restart leaving R. Swinehart, Hirthler, Von Dohren and Gular in pursuit.
While running third with five laps to go, Hirthler hopped the first turn cushion and lost valuable positions. By the time he got recollected, Von Dohren, Gular and Strunk already passed him.
Jared Umbenhauer, who got into the feature by virtue of winning the consi, and was on the move; set up a one lap shoot-out when he hit the homestretch wall with heavy impact for the final yellow. He was uninjured, but the car sustained considerable damage. Cozze kept the competition at bay on the restart and went on to chalk up his fifth career win at the oval. Chasing him across the line were Swinehart, Von Dohren, Gular and Strunk.
Kenny Gilmore, who was supposed the start fourth in the feature only to be towed off before the event started, Harris and Brett Kressley were the heat winners. Picking up the consi win was Umbenhauer.
Kyle Merkel set the pace for two laps of the Late Model feature before Wayne Pfeil stopped along the backstretch for the yellow. On the restart Merkel went too high off of turn four. Schutz took advantage of the situation and charged into the lead.
With Schutz now showing the way, Kline, Merkel, Steve Todorow and Andy Cassel diced for positions.
The comfortable lead Schutz built up was erased on the 16th lap caution needed when Steve Wilson and Lou Egrie Sr. tangled in turn three. When action went green Kline made a strong bid for first, but in no time Schutz pulled away again.
No one could catch Schutz to challenge him as he pulled into victory lane for his 45th career win trailed by Kline, Todorow, Merkel and Egrie Sr.