Dietrich steals Thunder Cup in dramatic fashion

BECHTELSVILLE » A wild finish and wet weather highlighted a thrilling night of racing at Grandview Speedway, on Thursday, for the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series Thunder Cup presented by Levan Machine & Truck Equipment. Grandview Speedway and Thunder on the Hill pull off another upset, beating Mother Nature, her rain, thunder and lightning to complete the double header event by 11 PM. And the show was a thriller on an exceptionally well prepared and fast track. A field of twentyfive sprint cars and thirty-three modifieds were in the pits for the 139th Thunder on the Hill Racing Series event at Grandview.

In dramatic fashion, Danny Dietrich scored the Ollie’s All Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprint Car victory, and Craig VonDohren won the NASCAR 358 Modified portion of the event.

Dietrich, of Gettyburg, Pa., found himself in second place when the white flag waved, with Aaron Reutzel in the lead and on his way to a third-consecutive All Star win at Grandview Speedway. The leaders swapped the top spot on lap 20 of the feature with Reutzel regaining the lead from Dietrich. But on the final lap, with slower traffic ahead, the leaders made contract entering turn one. Dietrich took the lead and the contact sent Reutzel spinning in turn one displaying the yellow flag.

“There’s not really a lot to say,” Dietrich explained about the altercation during Victory Lane ceremonies. “Our car was good, and I wanted to win.”

Dietrich would roll on through a green, white, checkered finish to claim the Thunder Cup win and the $5,000 prize money. Christopher Bell finished in second position, Freddie Rahmer in the third position, James McFadden in fourth, and Paul McMahan in fifth.

In the NASCAR 358 Modified main event, Boyertown’s Craig VonDohren battled with Reading’s Doug Manmiller to win the 30 lap, $3,000 to win main event.