Willman breaks through
John Willman led the past three T.P. Trailers NASCAR 358 Modified 30-lap features, but always fell laps short of being in victory lane at the drop of the checkered.
The veteran racer missed several Saturday nights at the 1/3-mile Grandview Speedway oval due to engine problems or lack of crew help.
The “Ultimate Underdog” hasn’t won a feature since April 3, 2010, but Willman changed the status of that to be the ninth different winner this season in the Modified division. He ran every groove possible once he put the Hampton Bros./ Carroll Hine powered No. 74W in front on the seventh lap. No matter which lane runner-up and current point leader Duane Howard ran he couldn’t get around or underneath him for the pass. Not only did Willman have to deal with Howard, Jeff Strunk joined the mix near the end for a three-way battle.
Willman dedicated the win to his father-in-law who is in ill-health and his wife Beth who was not in attendance since she was home with him.
In the TP Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman 25-lap feature, 16-year-old rookie Jimmy Leiby, who became a regular competitor with a crate motor in late July, took over the lead on the eighth lap and went on to win his first-ever career victory by holding off a fast closing second place Mike Mammana who gained ground as they approached lap traffic. Leiby is the 14th different winner in the division
Andy Cassel won the 10-lap Modified feature in the Blast From The Past while Rich Decker collected the win in the Vintage division.
Providing the feature winners met the necessary requirements, they received monetary awards from T.P. Trailers and a certificate from VP Fuels for product awards. The Dan’s Deli ½-way hoagie award recipients were Willman and Leiby. An extra $100 went to Leiby for being the highest finishing crate engine driver.
The final NASCAR point races of the season are set for Saturday, September 14 as WNPV-AM Radio Champion’s Night is presented. The T.P.Trailers NASCAR 358 Modifieds and T.P.Trucks Equipment Sportsman racing talents will battle it out for the lucrative championships and top point finishing positions.