PAUCH JR. WINS THRILLING MODS AT THE MADHOUSE
Big race marks end of season at Grandview
With a full moon looming over the Grandview Speedway, it was Billy Pauch Jr., of Frenchtown, N. J., battling back from a mechanical issue early in the evening to claim a hard fought win in a wild and exciting Mods at the Madhouse main event. Pauch topped a field of forty-two modifieds, taking home the $5,000 prize during Saturday night’s NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series event presented by Pioneer Pole Buildings. This festive Halloween event delivered a spooky scenario with Pauch Jr, Ryan Watt and Craig VonDohren finishing first, second and third, all carrying the car number 14.
“We got off to a rough start this evening breaking the driveshaft in warm ups,” an elated Pauch Jr. explained. “Winning here is really special and I’m glad we could grab one for the Breitenstein team.”
Orefield’s Brett Kressley – aboard the Norm’s Save Station No. 357 machine – set the pace early on and held the lead through some early race cautions, battling with second place starter, John Willman.
Pauch Jr., aboard the Rod Breitenstein-owned No. 14 machine, charged around the outside of Kressley at the conclusion of the third circuit, as Boyertown’s Ryan Watt moved into the third position and claimed second just a few laps later.
The caution flew for the fourth
time on the ninth lap, as a mechanical issue ended the night for Kressley – who was holding on to the third position.
Watt slid inside Pauch Jr. on the restart, as Willman battled 10-time Grandview Speedway champion Jeff Strunk for the third position
The pair of No. 14 machines of Watt and Pauch Jr. diced around lapped traffic as competitors got the halfway signal, with ‘The Kid’s Kid’ taking the lead for the second time on lap 23.
A lap 30 yellow retired the machines of Hellertown’s Rick Laubach and Frenchtown, N. J.’s Billy Pauch – both with left-side flat tires while running in fifth and sixth respectively.
Watt shot like a rocket on the restart taking the lead from Pauch Jr., only for Pauch Jr. to battle back to the top spot one lap later. Pauch Jr. set his sights on the $5,000 top prize holding off Watt and claiming his second NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series victory.
Ryan Watt settled for the second position, electrifying the crowd with some daring moves. Craig VonDohren of Oley, finished in the third position, Mike Gular came home in fourth, Jeff Strunk in fifth.
Ryan Godown, of Ringoes, N. J., charged from the 22nd starting position to finish sixth, Kyle Weiss in seventh, John Willman in eighth, Doug Manmiller in ninth and John McClleland battling back from an early race caution to finish tenth.
Brad Arnold of Sinking Spring picked up the $1,300 top prize in the 25lap Sportsman main event, dominating the event from the first-place starting position. Arnold’s second Grandview Speedway win of the season was no easy task as he held off previous Thunder winner Paul Kline and Freedom 76 prelude winner Brandon Grosso – who finished in second and third position. 2016 Grandview Track Champion Jordan Henn finished in the fourth position and Jim Houseworth rounded out the top five finishers.
Ringoes, NJ’s Tommy Carberry claimed his first TSRS Sprint Car career victory dominating A-Main. The 29-year-old racer led the field to the green flag and led all of the 20 laps, holding off five-time TSRS Champion Mike Haggenbottom after a lap 19 caution f lag. Haggenbottom finished in the second po- sition, Dave Brown finished in third, Tim Tanner Jr. finished in fourth and Chris Allen came home in the third position.
The second running of the Mods at the Madhouse event marked event number 124 of the 27 year history of NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series.