BECHTELSVILLE, Pa. – Dylan Swinehart took on a big responsibility taking over the driving reins of the Bailey Fabrications 358 Modified No. 81 owned by his grandparents, Dennis and Joanne Bailey, this year at Grandview Speedway.
The third generation driver of the Swinehart/Bailey racing family has been struggling with not qualifying and other obstacles along the way. He finally had a change of luck on Saturday night when he took home the checkered flag in the 30-lap TP Trailers NASCAR 358 Modified feature that was part of the Hatfield Quality Meats sponsored night of racing.
A jubilant victor thanked his grandparents and commented he almost lost it since he was running the car so hard as he went on to become the sixth different winner in the division.
Rookie Richie Hitzler led the first two laps of the Modified feature before Kevin Hirthler brought out the only yellow with a right rear flat tire. Following a quick pit stop he was able to rejoin the action. On the restart Swinehart, another rookie, charged into the lead with Hitzler, Joe Funk III, another rookie in the division; Kory Fleming and Ray Swinehart in tow.
Funk III took chase after Swinehart once he moved into second on the fifth lap.
For the next several laps the top five order continued to be Swinehart, Funk III, Hitzler, Fleming and Ray Swinehart. Attempting to break into the top five were Timmy Buckwalter and Brett Kressley. Buckwalter got into fourth by the 16th lap, but it wasn’t until the 23rd lap that Kressley was fifth with both drivers on the move to advance.
By lap 25 Swinehart approached lap traffic and it didn’t take Funk III long to reel him in along with the rest of the top five consisting of Buckwalter, Kressley and Doug Manmiller.
Swinehart kept the competition behind him to pull into victory lane. Grabbing second as they crossed the line was Kressley followed by Funk III, Buckwalter and Manmiller.
Brad Brightbill was in the right position at the right moment when track officials put leader Jack Butler back two positions on the 23rd lap restart because of his cat and mouse tactics on previous restarts that created numerous problems in the Firecracker 40-lap T. /P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman feature.
Brightbill inherited the lead through this decision and went on to claim his third win of the season in the division and claimed a $2,000 payday.
In the 15-lap Blast From The Past feature, Andy Cassel won the Modified portion while Curt Neiman was the winner for the Vintage class.