Von Dohren grabs 2nd win of season at Grandview

BECHTELSVILLE » Craig Von Dohren of Oley, Pa. was able to race from 12th starting position and into the lead by lap seven, then outduel Jeff Strunk of Boyertown,in the final laps to score his second point race victory of the season in the 30-lap T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modified feature Saturday night at Grandview Speedway.

In the T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman 25-lap feature event, Lex Shive of Pennsburg was able to take the lead away from Anthony Raisner of Fleetwood on a fifth lap restart and race onto his second career Grandview Speedway victory. His first and only previous win came on September 11, 2021.

Both winners received bonus money from T.P. Trailers and Truck Equipment ($300-Modified, $200-Sportsman) provided they had the proper decals on their cars. The night’s racing program was part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series.

The 30-lap T.P. Trailer Modified feature got off to a slow start as three caution flags on lap one slowed the action. First Duane Howard of Oley slowed with a flat front tire, then a twocar tangle in turn one involving John Willman of Birdsboro and Justin Grim of Orefield, followed by a four-car scramble in turn four involving Ron Haring Jr. of Alburtis, Nate Brinker of Macungie, Kevin Hirthler of Boyertown and Howard, that saw all four drivers pulling away.

During this final caution, early leader Darrin Schuler of Stroudsburg pulled pit side with a flat tire, handing the lead to Joe Funk of Coopersburg.

Funk led for several laps following the restart while things heated up behind him, as Strunk was flying around the top groove of the speedway advancing quickly from his 11th starting spot to third by lap three. Von Dohren was also on the move, quickly advancing to fourth by lap four and joined the battle up front for the lead.

It was a great four car battle under a blanket for several laps, as Funk led with Mike Laise of Pottstown, alongside followed by Strunk and Von Dohren side by side right behind.

This great battle ended on lap seven as the group ran through turns three and four, when Laise made a pass on Funk for the lead on the high side at the same time as Von Dohren cleared the other two with a high side move to grab second, then quickly darted to the bottom off turn four down the front straight, past Laise and into the lead on lap seven to take command.

Following the final caution on lap 11, which saw point leader Brett Kressley of Orefield duck to the pits and then quickly return, the race ran green to the end.

For several laps after the restart, Laise, Funk, Jesse Leiby of West Milford, NJ battled for the top five spots soon to be joined by Tim Buckwalter of Douglasviland Doug Manmiller of Shoemakersville.

As the green flag stretch ran on, Von Dohren was chased by Strunk and the two moved into some heavier lapped traffic which allowed Strunk to close on Von Dohren at times, and other times allowed Von Dohren to use the lapped cars to fend of the Strunk challenges.

Meanwhile Buckwalter and Manmiller had their own battle going on for position three through traffic, while Laise and Leiby were joined by a charging Kressely in another battle for top ten positions during some furious action in the late stages of the race.

Von Dohren worked the traffic to perfection during the final 10 laps to score his second win of the season and the 116th of his Grandview career over Strunk, Buckwalter, Manmiller, and a fast-closing Kressley, returning from the earlier pitstop.

Rounding out the top 10 finishers were Leiby, Howard after his lap one pitstop, Brad Brightbill of Sinking Spring with his third straight top 10, Mike Lisowski of Minersville up from 22nd starting spot and Laise with his best finish of the season.

The T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman 25-lap main event saw Hunter Iatalese of Germansville lead for the first two laps until Anthony Raisner was able to take command on lap three. Lex Shive was quick to challenge Raisner for the lead while six other drivers battled for third position, but this ended quickly on lap five, as a multi-car scramble on the backstretch brought out the caution on lap five.

On the restart, Shive was able to take the lead and open a sizeable advantage on the rest of the field, while a great race for position was ongoing behind him between Matt Clay of Lebanon, Colton Perry of Breinigsville and two drivers who were moving quickly through the field, defending champ Kenny Gilmore up from 16th starting spot, along with Dakota Kohler from his 13th starting position.

As the race continued other challengers moved into contention for top five spots including Decker Swinehart of Fleetwood and Logan Bauman of Boyertown. Another driver who made huge late race gains was Dylan Hoch of Mertztown, who advanced from a consolation win and 21st starting spot to continue passing cars to the end and was a challenger into the top five.

Shive was the class of the field on this night, as he easily survived a late race caution on lap 18 to motor on to his first win of the season and second of his Grandview career.

Raisner finished second for his career best run, Gilmore was third, Hoch with the late race charge ended in fourth and Kohler was fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were Clay, Bauman, Cody Manmiller of Philadelphia, Chris Esposito of Telford and Kyle Smith of Fleetwood. also up from a consolation win and 22nd starting spot.