Brent Marks of Myerstown, PA claimed his first NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series event win in dramatic fashion on Tuesday night at Grandview Speedway. The event, presented by Levan Machine and Truck Equipment and RichMar Florist, featured the highly competitive Kubota High Limit 410 Sprint Car Series at the Bechtelsville oval.
Marks’ victory – his second on the Kubota High Limit Sprint Car Series season – was hard fought. He regained the lead on the final lap, sneaking by to score the $20,000 top prize, along with a $2,000 bonus from Pioneer Pole Buildings as a Pennsylvania-based racer.
“It’s about damn time we won a race here,” Marks, a veteran at the Grandview oval, stated during victory lane ceremonies. “What an amazing night, this has been a long time coming and this win means a lot to me.” Marks, a Pennsylvania local has been to Grandview numerous times but never made it to victory lane. On Tuesday night, he changed all that topping a field of some forty-three 410 sprint cars.
Starting on the pole after winning the FK Rod Ends Dash, Marks set a blistering pace early in the main event, closely followed by Brad Sweet of Grass Valley, CA.
The pair weaved in and out of lapped traffic, creating thrilling moments as the lap counter clicked away. Slower cars erased the gap between the top five competitors which included defending race winner Rico Abreu and High Limit Series Standings leader and Tyler Courtney.
With top-five nose-to-tail, Marks shot to the inside lane to avoid an upcoming lapped car and with just 10 laps remaining, allowed Brad Sweet to take the top spot. Sweet’s lead was short-lived as a few circuits later his car got sideways in turn 4, handing the lead back to Marks and giving Courtney the second position.
Capitalizing on difficult-to-navigate lapped traffic, Courtney charged hard into the lead with 3 laps remaining taking the white flag for the final lap as the race leader. He set his sights on the $20,000 payday and darted to the high side of one-third-mile oval to get around a lapped car.
“I got impatient early on and lost the lead to Brad. Then got it back. When Tyler got by me, I thought ‘Not this again.’ and just tried to run as hard as I could to stay on his bumper and hope he would leave a door open.”
Marks remained relentless, seizing the opportunity when Courtney misjudged a move around a lapped car. Marks snuck inside, battling side-by-side down the backstretch and ultimately edged him to the finish as the checkered flag flew, claiming his first win at Grandview Speedway.
Courtney would settle for second in the finish with Abreu in third, Sweet in fourth and Corey Day in the fifth position.
Marks swept the events he competed in winning the FK Rod Ends and his heat race event. Brad Sweet set the quick time with a lap of 11.848 around the one-third mile speedway.
Gage Phillips of Fleetwood, PA won the 12-Lap F&L Doors Outlaw Vintage Racing Series Modified feature event by a full straightaway lead. Mike Stofflet finished in second, followed by Rich Baker, Kevin Kuser, and Dom DeGlas. The Sportsman portion of the Outlaw Vintage Racing Series doubleheader was won by Sven Olsen of Virginville, PA. Finishing in second was J.R. Roth, Scott Schaeffer, and Jake Foster rounded out the field.
The NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series returns on Tuesday, June 11 when Pioneer Pole Buildings presents the 17th running of the Jesse Hockett Classic for the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series with 40 Laps and $6,000 to win, plus the 358 NASCAR Modifieds in a 30 Lap, $3,000 to win. Gates open at 5 PM, with racing at 7:30 PM. For advance tickets and more information call 443-513-4456
Race Results
Heat 1 (8 Laps) – 1. Brent Marks 2. Cory Eliason 3. Spencer Bayston 4. Danny Dietrich 5. Brad Sweet
Heat 2 (8 Laps) – 1. Reese Nowotarski 2. Tyler Ross 3. Parker Price Miller 4. James McFadden 5. Cole Macedo
Heat 3 (8 Laps ) – 1. Tyler Courtney 2. Anthony Macri 3. Justin Peck 4. Tanner Thorson 5. Cap Henry
Heat 4 (8 Laps) – 1. Corey Dey 2. Zeb Wise 3. Rico Abreu 4. Sye Lynch 5. Kyle Reinhardt
C-Main (8 Laps) – 1. Freddie Rahmer 2. Ryan Newton
B-Main (10 Laps) – 1. TJ Stutts 2. Kasey Kahne 3. Lucas Wolfe 4. Briggs Danner
Dash (7 Laps) – 1. Brent Marks 2. Tyler Ross 3. Tyler Courtney 4. Brad Sweet 5. Rico Abreu 6. Justin Peck 7. Reese Nowotarski 8. Corey Dey
A-Main (35 Laps) – 1. Brent Marks 2. Tyler Courtney 3. Rico Abreu 4. Brad Sweet 5. Corey Day 6. Parker Price Miller 7. Tyler Ross 8. Tanner Thorson 9. Spencer Bayston 10. Zeb Wise 11. Justin Peck 12. Anthony Macri 13. Danny Dietrich 14. James McFadden 15. Cole Macedo 16. Cap Henry 17. Kyle Reinhardt 18. Reese Nowotarski 19. Kasey Kahne 20. Sye Lynch 21. Jacob Allen 22. Lucas Wolfe 23. TJ Stutts 24. Brenham Crouch 25. Briggs Danner 26. Cory Eliason
COMING EVENTS:
Tuesday, June 11 7:30 PM
Pioneer Pole Buildings Night
17th Annual Eastern Storm USAC Non-Wing National Tour
The Jesse Hockett Classic 40 laps $6,000 to Win!
Plus 358 Modifieds* PPB $2,000 first time Modified Winners Bonus
Tuesday, July 2 7:30 PM
HVAC Distributors Partners for Success Night
Red Robin PA 410 Sprint Speed Week
The Hodnett Cup $10,000 to win 35 laps
Plus 358 Modifieds* PPB $2,000 first time Modified Winners Bonus
*NASCAR points
Grandview Speedway Contact Information Track Phone: 610-754-7688
GPS USERS: 43 Passmore Road, Bechtelsville, PA 19505
Located less than a mile off Route 100, 10 miles north of Pottstown, PA
Thunder on the Hill Racing Series Phone: 443-513-4456
Series Website: http://www.thunderonthehillracingseries.com
Track Website: http://www.grandviewspeedway.com
Twitter/Instagram: @TOTHRACING
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thunderonthehill
Thunder On The Hill RAcing PR
