Gular breaks Big 3’s Grandview reign with consistency
For the first time since 1999 when Terry Meitzler won the NASCAR 358 Modified title at Grandview, there is a champion not named Jeff Strunk, Craig Von Dohren or Duane Howard.
For the first time in his career, Boyertown racer Mike Gular was able to win the T.P.Trailers NASCAR 358 Modified championship at Grandview and he did it without benefit of a feature win. Relying on consistent performances that kept him in front of the standings from the early part of the season to edge out 10time track champion Craig Von Dohren for the lucrative championship.
The son of former Grandview standout Rudy Gular tallied 3536 points on his way to the title.
“My car owner provided us with great equipment,” said Gular. “Over the years my parents have been very supportive of my racing and have sacrificed for my racing. My dad was there to see us race many nights and was so happy that we won the tile.
“A big thanks goes to car owner Rich Stankiewicz and his roofing business along with Conestoga Valley Custom Kitchens of course a huge thanks for a great team effort. Our consistency paid off for us with the title.”
Finishing second was Von Dohren, the all-time leading feature winner at the Bechtelsville clay oval with more than 100 wins during his career, with 3386 counters and three feature wins.
Another 10-time Modified champion Jeff Strunk came home third in the standings with two wins and 3351 points keeping the battle for the championship close all season.
Duane Howard, shut out of victory lane all during the championship chase, tallied 3057 points. However Howard came back to win the season closing Freedom 76 Classic earning more than $25,000.
Three feature winner Brett Kressley, point leader early in the season, finished fifth in the standings
Young Louden Reimert, in his sophomore season, took the top honors in the NASCAR Sportsman division. Louden’s dad, Shawn, was a five feature winner in the Modifieds during his career and Grandfather Terry was also a winner. The Oley, PA racer also took the title without a feature win and used consistency to tally 2684 points to top second place Brad Grim. With one feature win to his credit Grim stayed close to Reimert in the final weeks but fell a little short of the title with 2549 tallies. Two time feature winner Mike Lisowksi came home third in the final standings with 2448 points. Veteran Craig Whitmoyer, a feature winner, earned fourth in the standings with 2,381 counters and fifth was taken by Brad Brightbill with 2298 points and no feature wins.
After being away from weekly competition at Grandview for a few years racing talent Danny Snyder, of Frederick, Pa., won three features on his way to the championship in the NASCAR Late Model division. Danny also comes from a racing family as his dad, Terry, was a multi-feature winner at Grandview and did race a few times during the season. Nine time champion Chuck Schutz put on a late season charge but fell short of a tenth title. The veteran racer won three features and chalked 2,053 points. Two time feature winner Wayne Pfeil came home third in the standings with 2,023 points while Kyle Merkel had 2002 and a feature win to grab fourth. Steve Todorow earned a win and 1,956 counters on his way to a fifth place finish.
More than 100 racers took part in the three divisions of Saturday night stock car racing on the onethird-mile, banked clay oval during the season. Unfortunately nine events fell to rain.
Nine different drivers won Modified features while eleven drivers visited victory lane in the Sportsman and there were seven winners in Late Models.
Racing action will get the green on March 30th with a free-to-the-public practice session set to start at noon.
2019 will be the 57th consecutive season of stock racing at the Bechtelsville clay oval. Information is available at www.grandviewspeedway.com.