BECHTELSVILLE, Pa. — Brad Brightbill, the Grandview Speedway 2019 NASCAR Sportsman champion who garnered 11 career wins in the division, took over the reins of driving the Breitenstein Motorsports No. 14 in the NASCAR Modified ranks. The team ran a limited schedule and had their share of unforeseen misfortunes.
Saturday night at Grandview Speedway, things went better for them and Brightbill went on to chalk up his first career victory in the 30-lap 358 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series T.P. Trailers Modified feature.
Ron Haring Jr. led two laps of the modified feature before Darrin Schuler spun in turn two for the yellow. On the restart Brightbill outgunned him and took over first.
Duane Howard, Kevin Hirthler and Bobby Gunther Walsh were eliminated from competition on the fourth lap caution after Gunther Walsh spun in turn two and the others were unable to avoid contact. Brightbill kept the pace on the restart with rad Grim, Haring Jr., Justin Grim and Eric Biehn in tow.
Positions were constantly changing behind Brightbill and second through fifth consisted of B. Grim, J. Grim, Manmiller, in an attempt to make it two-in-a-row, and Brett Kressley. Trying to break into the top five was Craig Von Dohren and he did when he worked his way up to fourth on lap 19.
Despite numerous cautions which is one thing a driver doesn’t want when they’re leading the race on a track surface to their liking, Brightbill kept the competition behind him, even though B. Grim made valiant efforts at times to pass him; to pull into the winner’s circle. Chasing him across were B. Grim, J. Grim, Von Dohren and Manmiller. Kressley, Jared Umbenhauer, Danny Bouc, Brad Arnold and Jeff Strunk rounded out the top 10.
Another driver struggling in the NASCAR Sportsman class is Cole Stangle, but he finally had a change of luck and was able to claim his first career win in the T.P. Truck Equipment 25-lap Sportsman feature.
In the 12-lap Outlaw Vintage Racing Series features Todd Lapp won the Modified portion and Dave Dissinger was the Sportsman feature winner.
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