Brett Kressley of Orefield, Pa. won out on a three car mid-race duel for the lead, then raced home with a comfortable advantage during the final laps to score his second victory of the season in the 30-lap T.P. Trailer Modified feature Saturday night at Grandview Speedway.
Mark Kemmerer of Green Lane, Pa. had a strong car from start to finish, leading all 25-laps of the T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman main event to score his first win of the season, fifth of his career, and first since August of 2022.
Justin Grim of Orefield, Pa. and Nate Brinker of Macungie, Pa. were locked in a terrific side by side duel for the lead, when Kressley joined them following a lap 13 restart. The three drivers circled the track practically under a blanket battling for the lead, with Grim and Brinker swapping the lead back and forth a couple of times before Kressley swept by Brinker and then one lap later Grim to secure the lead on lap seventeen.
Kressley would run the remaining laps far enough ahead of the pack including second place running Kevin Hirthler of Boyertown, Pa. to pick up his second win of 2024 and his 26th career Saturday night NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series victory, moving him into the top ten on the all-time winner’s list.
The winners received bonus money (Modified $300, Sportsman $200) from T.P. Trailers and Truck Equipment of Limerick, Pa., sponsors of the two divisions at Grandview Speedway, in a race program run under the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series banner and sponsored by A.D. Moyer Lumber Company with locations in Gilbertsville, Pottstown, Bethlehem, and Kutztown, Pa.
The A.D. Moyer Lumber Company night T.P. Trailer Modified feature saw Frank Yankowski of Throop, Pa. lead the opening seven laps of the main event followed by Nate Brinker, Carroll Hine III of Reading, Pa., Justin Grim, and a great three car battle for fifth spot between John Willman of Birdsboro, Pa. Mike Lisowski of Minersville, Pa. and Brett Kressley.
Following a restart on lap seven, Brinker would grab the lead from Yankowski leaving a position swapping battle behind him between Hine III, Grim, Lisowski, Kressley, Willman, and Kevin Hirthler who quickly joined in the action up front.
Another restart on lap eleven set up a hotly contested wheel rubbing battle for the top position, as Grim would take the lead from Brinker only to see Brinker take it back, but that pass was negated by a caution again on lap twelve putting Grim back on top.
Only one more lap could be scored before another caution, this time involving three cars. Jared Umbenhauer of Richland, Pa., who was flying forward through the field circling the top lane of the track, had a tire go flat at a most unfortunate time after having just reached the fifth position. This caused him to spin and collect Tim Buckwalter of Douglassville, Pa. and Duane Howard of Oley, Pa. with only Howard able to continue.
The restart on lap thirteen set up the most thrilling and dramatic racing of the feature, as Grim would take off with the lead and Brinker would apply pressure trying to regain the lead. The two would then run side-by-side for several laps for the top spot.
Kressley would then secure third after his own duel with Hirthler and quickly reel in the two leaders. For several laps the three ran practically under a blanket with Brinker and Grim still wheel to wheel and Kressley right behind changing lanes trying to find a way to pass either one of them.
Brinker would lead laps 14 and 15, then Grim would lead lap 16 while Kressley would slide by Brinker for second. Kressley would then make his final pass, this one for the lead on Grim down the backstretch on lap 17 to take a lead he would never surrender the remainder of the race.
Hirthler would continue his charge forward, grabbing second on lap 20, then took off after Kressley who had already built up a sizable advantage. Hirthler spent the remainder of the race trying to close in on Kressley but would be unable to do so in the remaining laps.
Jeff Strunk of Boyertown, Pa. and Eddie Strada of Lake Ariel, Pa. who started in 16th and 17th positions, were moving forward during the second half of the feature, with Strunk using the outside lane of the track to pick off positions one at a time, hitting the fifth spot on lap 21 and finally reaching third at the finish, while Strada finished a season best in sixth.
At the checkered flag it was Kressley in for his second win of the season followed by Hirthler, Strunk, Justin Grim for his best finish of the year, Lisowski with his best run of the year, Strada, Willman, Hine III, Craig Von Dohren of Oley, Pa. who rebounded from a pit stop for a flat tire, and Louden Reimert of Oley, Pa. who also returned form a mid-race flat.
Qualifying heats for the 37 cars on hand were won by Lisowski, Strunk, Kyle Smith of Fleetwood, Pa., and Willman while Reimert and Ray Swinehart of Perkiomenville, Pa. won the consolations.
Mark Kemmerer took advantage of a front row starting spot and quickly darted out front at the drop of the green to start the T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman feature on A.D. Moyer Lumber Company night.
Steve Young of Collegeville, Pa., Mark Gaugler of Boyertown, Pa., Colton Perry of Topton, Pa., and Jesse Landis of Gilbertsville, Pa. were all right behind fighting for the top five positions.
While this was going on, further back in the pack some tight racing was happening, as Dakota Kohler of Kutztown, Pa., Brett Grim of Coplay, Pa., Addison Meitzler of Kempton, Pa., and Logan Watt of Boyertown, Pa., were making things exciting running the outside groove trying to gain positions and move forward.
Kemmerer continued to lead at the half-way mark as a great battle was raging for top ten spots between Mike Stofflet of Mertztown, Pa., Perry, Landis, Gaugler, Kaitlyn Bailey of Alburtis, Pa., Parker Guldin of Temple, Pa., Watt, Zane Roth of Slatington, Pa., and Brett Gilmore of Kutztown, Pa.
Two quick cautions setup restarts on laps 20 and 21, but Kemmerer was up to the challenge, and pulled away from Young in the closing laps with a strong running race car to race to his fifth career Grandview Speedway win, and first of this season, becoming the fifth different winner in the division this year.
At the finish it was Kemmerer in for the win followed by Young for his best outing of the year, Perry, Landis, Stofflet, Watt, Gaugler for his best outing of the year, Bailey, Guldin, and Roth.
Qualifying heats for the 44 cars on hand were won by Young, Perry, Landis and Kemmerer with Mike Schneck Jr. of Lebanon, Pa. and Decker Swinehart of Fleetwood, Pa. winning the consolations.
The next racing event will be a Thunder on the Hill race program featuring the USAC National Sprint Tour along with the 358 Modifieds in a classic double-header on Tuesday, June 11 starting at 7:30 pm.
The USAC non-wing Sprints will compete in the 40-lap Jesse Hockett Classic which is the opening race of the 17th annual USAC Eastern Storm, with $6000 going to the race winner following a series of qualifying events.
The 358 Modifieds will also see qualifying events and a 30-lap $3000 to win main event, with a Pioneer Pole Buildings $2000 winner’s bonus should the driver be a first time Thunder Series winner, making for a possible $5000 payday!
Advance ticket holders may enter the grandstand at 4:30 pm, with general admission tickets going on sale and gates opening at 5 pm. Adult grandstand tickets are $35, children 6 to 11 are $10, while kids 5 and under are admitted for free. Pit admission is $40 and no license is required.
Grandview Speedway will be presenting another NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series program next week featuring the T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds and T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman.
The show on Saturday, June 15 will be sponsored by Macmillan Oil Company of Allentown and include qualifying events for both classes leading into a 30-lap T.P. Trailer Modified feature and a 25-lap feature for the T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman.
Macmillan Oil Company of Allentown (MOCA) is your local motor oil and industrial lubricant distributor servicing the greater Lehigh Valley area for almost 100 years. Visit their website at MOCAoils.com.
Pit gates will open at 4 pm, with grandstand gates opening at 5:30 pm, warm-ups starting at 6:15 pm, and the first race of the evening getting the green flag at 7:30 pm.
Adult grandstand admission is $20, students 10-15 with ID are $10, while children ages 9 and under are admitted free of charge. Pit admission is $35 for NASCAR members and $45 for non-members.
Race fans will be taking a trip down memory lane on Saturday, July 6 when Grandview Speedway presents 90’s night.
The highlight of the night will be the roll back of the grandstand admission to 1990’s pricing, as fans will pay just $10 for a complete night of T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modified and T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman competition.
Since the 1960’s, Grandview Speedway has been presenting exciting wheel to wheel NASCAR stock car racing every Saturday Night starting in April and running through October, plus special events. Grandview Speedway is located at 43 Passmore Road, Bechtelsville, Pa. 19505, just off Route 100, ten miles north of Pottstown, Pa.
Information is always available at www.grandviewspeedway.com or on Facebook, or by telephone at 610.754.7688.
A.D. MOYER LUMBER COMPANY NIGHT RESULTS SUMMARY – JUNE 8, 2024
T.P. TRAILER NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 laps): BRETT KRESSLEY, Kevin Hirthler, Jeff Strunk, Justin Grim, Mike Lisowski, Eddie Strada, John Willman, Carroll Hine III, Craig Von Dohren, Louden Reimert, Frank Yankowski, Craig Whitmoyer, Duane Howard, Michael Storms, Jimmy Leiby, Kyle Smith, Jon Kellner, Nate Brinker, Jared Umbenhauer, Tim Buckwalter, Mike Gular, Doug Manmiller, Cody Manmiller, Chris Gambler, Ryan Grim, Bobby Trapper Jr., Ray Swinehart, Chris Esposito
DID NOT QUALIFY: Bryan Rhoads, Mike Laise, Darrin Schuler, Kevin Graver Jr., Ron Haring Jr., Bobby Gunther-Walsh, Glenn Owens, Ryan Watt, Eric Kormann
T.P. TRAILERS WINNER’S BONUS ($300): Brett Kressley
VP RACING FUELS HARD CHARGER: Jeff Strunk +13
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Nate Brinker
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (25 laps): MARK KEMMERER, Steve Young, Colton Perry, Jesse Landis, Mike Stofflet, Logan Watt, Mark Gaugler, Kaitlyn Bailey, Parker Guldin, Zane Roth, Brett Gilmore, Mike Schneck Jr., Dakota Kohler, Dylan Swinehart, Adrianna Delliponti, Ronnie Solomon, Brett Grim, Nathan Mohr, Teague Miller, Ryan Graver, Jesse Hirthler, Joey Vaccaro, Shannon Slaughter, TJ Mayberry, Kenny Bock, Addison Meitzler, Tyler James, DNS – Decker Swinehart
DID NOT QUALIFY: Brian Hirthler, Zach Steffey, Bobby Kupp, Mark Mohr, Troy Bollinger, Randy Graber, Lawson Szerencits, Logan Bauman, BJ Joly III, Gavyn Krupp, Nicholas Hamm, Alex Bartorillo, Nick Faust, Stephen Laubach, Kyle Hartzell, Dennis Graber
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT WINNER’S BONUS ($200): Mark Kemmerer
GRANDVIEW $100 HARD CHARGER: Brett Gilmore +14
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Mark Kemmerer
UPCOMING EVENTS –
Tuesday, June 11 – THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES –JESSE HOCKETT CLASSIC EASTERN STORM – USAC National Sprint Tour, 358 Modifieds – 7:30 pm
Saturday, June 15 – MACMILLAN OIL CO. OF ALLENTOWN NIGHT – T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman – 7:30 pm
Saturday, June 22 – T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman, Outlaw Racing Series Vintage – 7:30 pm.
Saturday, June 29 – T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman – 7:30 pm
Tuesday, July 2 – THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES – 34th annual Pennsylvania 410 Sprint Car Speed Week Series – $10,000 to win 410 Sprint Hodnett Cup, 358 Modifieds* – 7:30 pm
Saturday, July 6 – BACK TO THE 90’S NIGHT – $10 GRANDSTAND ADMISSION – T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman – 7:30 pm
Grandview Speedway PR
