BECHTELSVILLE, Pa. – Jeff Strunk became the new leader on the 14th circuit and went on to capture back-to-back victories in the 30-lap TP Trailers NASCAR 358 Modified feature on Saturday night at Grandview Speedway.
Strunk also won the Modified feature the last time they had run back on May 25.
John Willman, out of Modified action for a few weeks due to engine problems, returned and wasted no time resuming the lead from the pole being chased by Mike Lisowski, Ron Seltmann Jr., Kenny Gilmore and Kevin Hirthler.
Within eight laps, Willman had a sizeable lead built up, but by the 10th lap Lisowski was gaining ground.
A second turn tangle involving Clay Butler and Ryan Grim erased Willman’s margin as the yellow was thrown on the 11th lap. Willman’s hopes of a possible victory vanished when he slowed his pace stopping in the second turn. Willman’s loss was Lisowski’s gain since he was the new leader with Strunk in hot pursuit.
The caution was out again when Doug Manmiller found himself shoved into the first turn infield on the 13th lap. On the restart Strunk charged ahead to become the new pacesetter while Lisowski, Gilmore, Timmy Buckwalter and Craig Von Dohren composed the top five.
Von Dohren took over second on the lap-20 restart, needed when Butler spun in the fourth turn to attempt to overtake Strunk, who had already began distancing himself again.
Despite lapped traffic which sometimes a driver isn’t sure what they’ll do and use heads up driving, it didn’t slow Strunk down enough to allow anyone the opportunity to reel him in to challenge and he pulled into the winner’s circle for Saturday night career Grandview win No. 71. Second was Von Dohre
Brian Hirthler, running third, took advantage of the situation when leader Brad Brightbill developed mechanical problems and swung around Ryan Beltz and Brightbill to take over first on the 22nd lap to score the triumph in the TP Truck Equipment 25-lap Sportsman NASCAR feature for his second win of the season in the event rained out June 1
In the regularly scheduled Sportsman feature, Derrick Smith, who hasn’t been in victory lane since Aug. 26, 2017, led from the moment the green flag waved until the waving of the checkered to record his first win of the current campaign.