BECHTELSVILLE, Pa. — The 30th anniversary season of the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series finished in fine fashion on Saturday night at Grandview Speedway, with a Triple Thunder Thriller of racing action.
Jeff Strunk won the 22nd annual Modified Traffic Jam in commanding style as Brian Hirthler claimed the Sportsman victory, and Kevin Nagy won the MASS Sprint Car Series 25-lap feature.
A super-fast racing surface saw track records being established throughout the night. Three of the four 10-lap modified heat races inked new track records.
Strunk’s victory in the Big-Block vs. Small-Block Modified challenge was his third NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series win of the season.
“We had some great racing tonight,” Strunk said in Grandview Speedway victory lane. “The starting spot helps, and we had a close scare almost getting in an accident – you have to be quick on your toes.”
Strunk started sixth on the 24-car field and moved passed Brian Hirthler in lapped traffic on the sixth circuit.
Hirthler chased Strunk for the lead for the first half of the event before Duane Howard moved in the second position. Howard, Grandview’s Modified track champion’s chase for the lead didn’t last long breaking just past the halfway point.
Twentieth-place starter, Mike Gular, charged into the second spot in the closing stages of the event, battling back-and-forth swapping the runner-up spot with Brian Hirthler.
Strunk walked away with the 40-lap win — his 16th Thunder on the Hill win, Gular finished in the second spot, Brian Hirthler finished in third, Richie Pratt Jr. finished in fourth, and Rick Laubach finished in fifth.
Brian Hirthler hopped out of his third-place Modified finishing No. 4* machine and jumped right into his Sportsman car, where he started on the pole of the 25-lap feature event.
Hirthler held off a hard charge from second-place starter Jared Umbenhauer, with duo battling in and out of lapped traffic.
Hirthler dominated to pick up the win, Umbenhauer settled for second-place, Ryan Lilick finished in third, Mike Mammana finished in fourth and Brad Brightbill completed the top five.
Kevin Nagy led flag to flag in the MASS Sprint Car Series feature event, despite a mid-race challenge from second-place starter Eddie Wagner.
Nagy picked up the Mid Atlantic Sprint Car Series win, Tim Tanner rallied from an 11th place starting position to finish second, Eddie Wagner finished in third, Larry McVay finished in fourth, and Jon Haegele finished in the fifth position.