Lisowski wins 40-lap race at Grandview
Mike Lisowski, behind the wheel of the M&J Construction No. 15, stayed patient and held off the constant challenges of Jason Neidlinger Saturday night at Grandview Speedway.
Mike Lisowski, behind the wheel of the M&J Construction No. 15, stayed patient and held off the constant challenges of Jason Neidlinger in the NASCAR Sportsman Summer Splash 40-lap feature sponsored by Bashore Trucking/BFP Specialty on Saturday night at Grandview Speedway. Lisowski actually lost the lead to Neidlinger at one point, but regained control and later withstood runner-up Craig Whitmoyer’s bids to collect a $1,500 payday. “My car was tight early in the race, but it got better when fuel burned off,” commented an elated Lisowski in victory lane after posting his second win of the season.
The T.P. Trailers NASCAR Whelen 30-lap Modified feature went non-stop and produced a well-earned career first win for veteran campaigner Ron Seltman Jr. Fighting handling issues all season long, the dedicated crew members stuck with him and had the car in top notch form. The win didn’t come early for Seltman Jr. since he had to deal with lapped traffic and constant pressure from secondplace finisher Ray Swinehart, who ironically helps him set up his car, from the 14th lap until the end. Seltman Jr. beat him out by a tire at the line. Seltman Jr. said “the win means more to him than anyone can imagine and in addition to Ray’s help he also thanked defending point champion Jeff Strunk and Mike Gular for their input.”
Randy Stoudt was able to claim his second 25-lap BRC Late Model feature by a comfortable margin over runner-up Dave Ogin, who posted his season best finish.
All three feature winners received monetary awards from T.P. Trailers and also the Dan’s Deli ½-way lap hoagie award. The top finisher in each feature that was using VP Racing Gas earned product awards.
Coming up on Saturday, June 13th at 7:30 p.m. the exciting 305 Winged Sprinters will make their first Saturday appearance of the season at Grandview featuring defending TSRS champion Mike Haggenbottom, recent winner Stef Palmai,Karl Freyer, David Brown Jr. (won a Thunder sprint event earlier in season), Kyle Purks, Mike Kostic Jr., Ryan Stillwagon and a host of others. In addition to the 305 Sprints the NASCAR T.P.Trailers 358 Modifieds and Sportsman will be in action. The night will be sponsored by A.D. Moyer Lumber. Adult admission will be $18 with kids 11 and under admitted free. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with the popular Low Down and Dirty Meet & Greet with drivers from the Modifieds, Sprints and Sportsman.
Then on Sunday it will be racing action for the Outlaw Enduros and Blast from the Past Vintage racers. Action gets underway at 1 p.m. Adult admission is $10.
In the 40-lap Sportsman event Paul Houseknecht led seven laps before Lisowski charged to the outside for the pass and the lead on the restart needed when Brett Gilmore stopped in the third turn. Neidlinger and Dean Bachman followed for second and third the same time as Houseknecht dropped to fourth and Sean Weiss fifth.
The side-by-side battle for first went on lap after lap with Lisowski on the high side and Neidlinger trying the inside to dive underneath.
Neidlinger managed to make the pass stick for the 22nd and 23rd lap, but Lisowski was back on top the 24th circuit.
A three-way dual for first ensued by the 26th lap between Lisowski, Neidlinger and Craig Whitmoyer with Brian Hirthler and Brett Kressley just waiting in the wins for a slip-up.
Neidlinger, who was having his best run of the season, bounced off the homestretch wall on the 30th lap and kept going, but lost valuable positions.
Behind Lisowski, Whitmoyer, Hirthler, K. Gilmore and Kressley were bumperto-bumper which gave him some breathing room.
Lisowski kept everyone at bay and didn’t make a mistake to capture the victory. Chasing him across were Whitmoyer, Kressley and K. Gilmore. Sixth through tenth were Neidlinger, Jim Housworth, Erik Renninger, Jeff Sechrist and Paul Kline.
Hou s ek ne c ht , Sean Weiss and Neidlinger won the heats. The consi went to K. Gilmore.
Seltman Jr. started on the outside pole in the Modified main and quickly charged past Mike Bailey, who is getting adjusted to the car after returning a few weeks ago, to be the new leader on the second lap.
Within a few laps Seltman Jr. opened daylight and was being chased down by Swinehart, Bailey, Jarrad Miller and Eric Biehn.
By the 12th lap Swinehart began to reel Seltman Jr. in as lap cars came into play. Two laps later Swinehart was on Seltman Jr.’s tailpipe and the pair went side by side with neither one giving in.
The race behind them was a heated one between Don Norris Jr., Miller and Bailey. Trying to get into the top five mix were Doug Manmiller, Mike Gular and Craig Von Dohren.
Coming on for the checkered Swinehart gave it his all and made one last effort to pass Seltmann Jr., but fell short by a wheel and 0.035 seconds. Third went to Norris Jr. with Miller, fourth and Gular, fifth to score their season best finishes. VonDohren, Bailey, Manmiller, John Willman and Kyle Weiss rounded out the top ten.
Heats were won by Norris Jr., Bailey and Kevin Hirthler. Nate Christman was the consi winner.
Stoudt led from the wave of the green until the drop of the checkered for his second win in the Late Model feature.
Cory Merkel, while running second, spun in the fourth turn for the fifth lap caution. Stoudt continued his rapid pace on the restart while Ogin, Chuck Schutz, Dan Green and Joe Fanelli trailed. Wayne Pfeil soon joined the thick of the battle.
No one got close enough to Stoudt to challenge him as he was victorious again followed by Ogin, Schutz, Green and Pfeil. Sixth through tenth were Fanelli, Sean Merkel, Kyle Merkel, Mike Wharton and Kory Fleming, last week’s feature winner.
C. Merkel and Stoudt were the heat winners.