BECHTELSVILLE, Pa. – Tim Buckwalter banked $7,500 for winning Saturday’s third annual VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker 50-lap Big Block/Small Block Modified feature at Grandview Speedway.
Brian Hirthler took home the win money in the 25-lap T.P.Truck Equipment Sportsman main event. Each driver that qualified for the 50-lapper earned at least $1,000.
Before the green could be thrown in the Modified feature, a tangle occurred in the third turn during the four-abreast parade lap. Through it, Buckwalter got a flat tire, but he was allowed to go to the pits and change it and not lose a position.
Billy Pauch Jr. maintained the lead when action resumed trailed by Kyle Weiss, Ryan Krachun, Dylan Swinehart and Buckwalter.
The running order remained the same for several laps with Buckwalter and Krachun swapping third and fourth coming upon lapped traffic.
Meme DeSantis brought out the yellow on the 14th lap when he slowed along the homestretch. Before the restart Weiss, who was running a solid second constantly gaining ground on Pauch had to pit with a left flat tire relinquishing second for Buckwalter. Pauch held his ground on this restart, but one lap later Buckwalter was the new leader.
While Buckwalter showed the way action behind him was hot and heavy between Pauch Jr., Jared Umbenhauer, Krachun and D. Swinehart.
By the 25th lap Buckwalter had a full straightaway lead built up in his mount powered by a Morrison Race Engine, but by now he was being chased by Umbenhauer, Von Dohren, Pauch and Ryan Watt, who loaned Buckwalter parts earlier in the evening.
Von Dohren finally cleared Umbenhauer after battling for second for many laps and set sail after the rapid running Buckwalter.
Despite the fact Von Dohren closed the distance, he ran out of laps to try to get the lead away from Buckwalter as Buckwalter pulled into the winner’s circle trailed by Von Dohren, Watt, Umbenhauer and Jeff Strunk, another driver that had to run the consi to make the show.
Interesting to note that multi-time track champions Von Dohren and Strunk had to qualify through the consolation events.
In the 25-lap Sportsman feature it appeared that Brandon Edgar was possibly on his way to his second career victory at the track. Former point champion Hirthler had other ideas and with two laps to go he managed to take the lead away and go on to claim the win which was his sixth career triumph. The last two openers were won by his brother Kevin, but this year Brian decided it was his turn.