Swinehart and Brightbill win at Grandview
BECHTELSVILLE >> Dylan Swinehart, former Sportsman rookie driver, took on a big responsibility taking over the driving reins of the Bailey Fabrications 358 Modified No. 81 owned by his grandparents Dennis and Joanne Bailey for the 2019 season at Grandview Speedway.
The third generation driver of the Swinehart/ Bailey racing family with Dylan’s other grandfather being two-time Grandview point champion and still a weekly competitor Ray Swinehart, has been struggling with not qualifying, and other obstacles along the way, finally had a change of luck on Saturday night when he took home the checkered flag in the 30-lap TP Trailers NASCAR 358 Modified feature that was part of the Hatfield Quality Meats sponsored night of racing. A jubilant victor thanked his grandparents and commented he almost “lost it” since he was running the car so hard as he went on to become the sixth different winner in the division.
Brad Brightbill was in the right position at the right moment when track officials put leader Jack Butler back two positions on the 23rd lap restart because of his cat and mouse tactics on previous restarts that created numerous problems in the Firecracker 40-lap T. /P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman feature. Brightbill inherited the lead through this decision and went on to claim his third win of the season in the division and claimed a $2,000 payday.
In the 15-lap Blast From The Past feature, Andy Cassel won the Modified portion while Curt Neiman was the winner for the Vintage class.
The night’s activities were sponsored by Hatfield Quality Meats and broadcast live by RCN TV, Allentown.
Providing the Modified and Sportsman feature winners met the necessary requirements, they received monetary awards from TP Trailers and a certificate from VP Fuels for product awards. The Dan’s Deli ½-way hoagie award recipients were Swinehart and Butler. Derrick Smith was the highest finisher in 11th with a crate engine in the Sportsman division and received an extra $150.
Rookie Richie Hitzler led the first two laps of the Modified feature before Kevin Hirthler brought out the only yellow with a right rear flat tire. Following a quick pit stop he was able to rejoin the action. On the restart Swinehart, another rookie, charged into the lead with Hitzler, Joe Funk III, another rookie in the division; Kory Fleming and Ray Swinehart in tow.
Funk III took chase after Swinehart once he moved into second on the fifth lap.
For the next several laps the top five order continued to be Swinehart, Funk III, Hitzler, Fleming and R. Swinehart. Attempting to break into the top five were Timmy Buckwalter and Brett Kressley. Buckwalter got into fourth by the 16th lap, but it wasn’t until the 23rd lap that Kressley was fifth with both drivers on the move to advance.
By lap 25 Swinehart approached lap traffic and it didn’t take Funk III long to reel him in along with the rest of the top five consisting of Buckwalter, Kressley and Doug Manmiller.
Swinehart kept the competition behind him to pull into victory lane. Grabbing second as they crossed the line was Kressley followed by Funk III, Buckwalter and Manmiller.
Polesitter Steve Desmelyk led the Sportsman feature for six laps until Jesse Leiby stopped in the second turn for the caution. On the restart, third place runner Jack Butler took the inside lane and got past Chris Esposito and Desmelyk for the lead.
It didn’t take Butler long to build up a straightaway lead and just as he caught the back of the pack, Nathan Mohr spun along the homestretch. Butler brought the field in for the restart very slow bunching everyone else up behind him with Parker Guldin, already a feature winner this year; early leader Desmelyk and Mohr tangling in turn one. The next restart was no better and Andrew Kreis slowed in the first turn. Butler was warned on both occasions to pick up the pace on the restarts. Butler kept the lead, but by now Kyle Lilick was second followed by Brightbill, Esposito and Dean Bachman.
The yellow was out again when Ryan Beltz was spun along the backstretch. Brian Hirthler was placed to the back for the incident. Once again it was a slow start with everyone sideby-side bumper-to-bumper, but Butler maintained first.
Desmelyk spun again on the 22nd lap for another caution. At this time officials deemed it necessary to place Butler back to third for ignoring their warnings. This put Brightbill and Kyle Lilick trying to overtake him.
Towards the closing stages Brightbill approached lapped cars, but that didn’t hinder him and he went on to victory. Brightbill said in victory lane that “he didn’t like to win the race like that putting Jack back, but there’s nothing he could do about it.” Finishing second was Lilick followed by Butler, Brad Arnold and Dean Bachman.
Desmelyk, Esposito and Sean Weiss won the heats. The consi was won by Brandon Edgar.
Andy Cassel, running their Modified class, led the Blast From The Past feature, from start to finish with only one caution period to interrupt. Following Cassel across were Brett Peters, Jeff Paulson, Mike Stofflet and Todd Lapp. Curt Neiman, a Vintage car, finished sixth and won the division’s class segment.