Oley’s Von Dohren grabs 3rd modified win of season
BECHTELSVILLE >> Defending Grandview Speedway Modified point champion and current point leader Craig VonDohren damaged his primary car in his qualifying event forcing him to go to a back-up car in the consolation race. The multi-time track champion was able to win the consolation and then started 22nd in the T.P. Trailers NASCAR 358 Modified All-American Racing Series 30-Lap feature sponsored by Bechtelsville Car Wash on Saturday night at Grandview Speedway. By the 14th lap he was in a three-way battle for first with Kenny Gilmore and Kyle Weiss. VonDohren overtook second on the 22nd lap to pressure Gilmore as the pair approached lap traffic. The lead changed with two laps left with VonDohren now in front and he went on to capture his third win of the season and Grandview career win number 98. He also received $250 from T.P. Trailers, Limerick and $150 worth of products from V.P. Racing Fuels for running their gas and carrying the proper decals.
Brad Arnold put a crate engine in the WEEU 830 AM Radio sponsored mount and won his first 25lap Sportsman feature of the season and his second career win – the last one being July 11, 2015. He was also awarded an extra $100 from T.P. Trailers.
The 25-Lap TSRS Sprint feature winner was Dave Brown by a narrow margin over runner-up Tim Tanner Jr.
Tuesday, June 28th, 7:30 p.m. will see the Pennsylvania Sprint Speed Week 410 Sprints in action along with the 358 Modifieds.
The TP Trailers NASCAR 358 Modifieds will head up the tripleheader show set for Saturday, July2nd at 7:30 p.m. Whelen Engineering will sponsor the night
of racing that will also include the BRC Late Models and Sportsman. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. And again on Saturday there will be a Low Down and Dirty Radio Meet & Greet featuring racers and their race cars. It all takes place near the main gate at 5 p.m. and gives fans a chance to meet drivers, collect autographs and take photos.
Brian Houseknecht put the Bechtelsville Car Wash No. 323 ahead of the 28car starting grid and set the pace for six laps before Ryan Grim charged past both Gilmore and Houseknecht to become the new pacesetter.
Grim immediately checked out, but his lead only lasted three laps as he came to a stop in the first turn bringing out the yellow and relinquishing the top spot to Gilmore,.
Weiss, Houseknecht, Tim Buckwalter, Jared Umbenhauer and VonDohren diced for positions behind Gilmore.
Gilmore ran the high groove in the Breitenstein No. 14 while Weiss made several runs trying to dive underneath him to try to take away first, but each attempt was futile.
VonDohren soon made it a three-way tryst for first with neither one giving in. Anticipating a false move by either one in hopes to advance were Mike Gular and Umbenhauer.
The front runners had to use heads up driving tactics when they approached the slower moving cars racing for positions also.
After battling with Weiss for eight laps, Von Dohren was finally able to get around him and set his sights on Gilmore.
VonDohren missed the five lap to go sign since he said it was “dusty” since the week-long head didn’t help matters and also the two to go, but it was on lap 28 that he passed Gilmore.
Once VonDohren took control he held the spot and was “thankful to be in victory lane because of the way the night started.” Having his season best finish in second was Gilmore followed by Gular, Jeff Strunk, last week’s feature winner and Weiss.
Heats were won by Gilmore, Tim Buckwalter and Gular. The 3-lap Bechtelsville Car Wash Cash Dash worth $300 was won by Gilmore.
After three tries to complete a lap in the Sportsman feature, rookie Jesse Landis led the way and held onto first for seven laps when Arnold emerged as the new pacesetter.
Within no time Arnold out-distanced himself from the rest of the competition leaving Landis, Ken Eckert Jr., Kyle Lilick and Joe Funk III dice for the remaining top five spots.
Arnold’s comfortable lead was erased on the 22nd lap when Craig Whitmoyer, who was working his way to the front after being involved in the opening lap mishap, slowed along the backstretch with Mark Kemmerer also involved. It was still Arnold first on the restart.
Arnold never relinquished the lead and went on to the winner’s circle being chased by Landis, Eckert Jr., Lilick and Funk III.
Dean Bachman, Rich Jones and Kyle Lilick won the heats. The consi was won by Ryan Lilick.
In the third heat, rookie Andrew Kreis did a barrel roll several times along the backstretch. He got out of the car and into the ambulance under his own power, but was taken to Reading Hospital as a precautionary measure to be checked out.
Kody Kinser was the early leader in the TSRS feature until Jon Haegele assumed the lead on the fourth circuit.
The red had to be thrown for a multi-car homestretch incident in which all drivers were uninjured. Haegele held the lead on the restart with Kinser trying to regain the top spot.
Scott Frack brought out the yellow on the 14th lap when he slowed his pace. On this restart Brown in third, charged into the lead with Tim Tanner Jr. following for second.
Brown held onto first the remaining laps to take home the win with Tanner Jr., Mike Haggenbottom, Jeff Geiges and Austin Burke behind.
Brown, Haggenbottom and Jason Rochelle won the heats.