Kyle Larson picks up victory at Grandview
NASCAR driver picks up Sprint Car win at Grandview Speedway
BECHTELSVILLE >> The NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series packed the Grandview Speedway, but the 410 Sprint Cars delivered a show on Tuesday Night for PA Sprint Car Speedweek presented by Red Robin. NASCAR driver Kyle Larson picked up the Sprint Car win and Ryan Godown dominated the NASCAR 358 Modified feature event.
Larson kept the fans on the edge of their seat. Aboard the No. 57 Silva Motorsports Sprint Car, he led the final stretch of the event collecting the $10,000 prize and getting his name etched on the Greg Hodnett Cup Perpetual Trophy. This marks Larson’s fourth Grandview win in the past five PA Speedweek appearances.
“It’s always cool coming to Grandview, and I love running Pennsylvania Speedweek,” Larson said in Victory Lane.
While Larson picked up the win, it was no easy task, with Brent Marks and Danny Dietrich right on his tail.
“Brent got into some water on the bottom of the track and slipped up,” Larson explained. “That gave me the chance to get by him. I could hear and feel them coming up on the top.”
Marks finished in second and started in second driving by Anthony Macri to secure the top spot on Lap 1 and never looked back.
“The Myerstown Missile” sliced and diced his way through the back markers as laps quickly ticked away on the 1/3-mile oval.
A close call for the leaders halted the action on lap 7 when Jeff Halligan spun, barely clipping third-placerunner Christopher Bell and collecting the #13 of Justin Peck – the winner of the night prior.
Marks continued his reign on the restart with Macri close behind, while Christopher Bell and Larson – who usually race in NASCAR-style race cars – battled in their open-wheel machines.
The action halted on lap 10 for a multi-car incident that ended with Michael “Buddy” Kofoid upside
down in turn three while running mid-pack. The accident also involved fan favorites Ryan Smith and Freddie Rahmer.
The top four runners stayed the same when the green flag flew, with Larson moving into the runner-up spot at the mid-way point and Dietrich moving into fourth and then taking third just two circuits later.
The field tightened as lapped traffic proved tricky before a lap 26 caution for Paul McMahan.
Larson made a move on Marks at the restart taking the top spot and racing on for the victory. Marks settled for second, Dietrich came home in third, Macri in fourth and Kyle Moody completing the top-five finishers.
Marks set quick time with a lap of 11.888, collecting a $100 bonus dedicated to the Memory of
Steve Smith Sr., who passed away in early June. Smith was the winner of the inaugural Thunder on the Hill Racing Series event in 1990.
410 Sprint Car Heat races were won by Macri, Rico Abreu, and Larson – who picked up ZEMCO Header Gift Certificates. Sprint Car B-Main was won by Ryan Taylor.
Ringoes, NJ’s Ryan Godown – a two-time Thunder on the Hill winner – picked up his first Grandview victory since 2018. By luck of the draw, Godown started in the second position on the field and took the lead on the initial circuit around the Bechtelsville oval.
With Godown leading, all eyes were on the battle for second with Brett Kressley and Duane Howard battling back-and-forth, while Jeff Strunk moved into fourth from a ninth-place starting position and then moved into second two circuits later.
The only caution of the program flew on lap 28 for Blaine Bracelin, but that didn’t stop Godown from sailing onto victory and the $3,500 winner’s share. Jeff Strunk finished in second, Howard in third, Kressley in fourth, and Craig VonDohren in fifth.
NASCAR 358 Modified GT Radiator Heat Races were won by Justin Grim, Howard and Kevin Hirthler – each picked up a $100 bonus courtesy of Harry & George Turner of GT Radiator. Modified B-Main was won by Doug Manmiller.
The NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series returns Tuesday, Aug. 3 with the Ken Brenn Midget Masters featuring the NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Tour and the NASCAR 358 Modifieds.