BECHTELSVILLE, Pa. – Craig Von Dohren earned his first victory of the season in the T.P. Trailers 358 Modified division at Grandview Speedway to bring his career total to 110 victories.
For the second-straight week it was Jesse Leiby who took the early modified feature leader from the pole position. A blocked track in the first turn brought out the yellow/red condition on the fifth lap. Brett Gilmore, who was chasing Leiby since the initial start took to the outside trek on the restart and succeeded in becoming the new pacesetter.
Behind Gilmore a three-way battle for second developed between Leiby, Nate Brinker and Doug Manmiller.
By the 11th lap Manmiller put pressure on Gilmore for the top spot with side-by-side action and two laps later he was showing the way.
Ryan Lilick stopped in the first turn bringing out the yellow on the 13th lap. On the restart Manmiller maintained the lead, however Gilmore drifted high with cars scrambling. When things cleared Von Dohren and Brett Kressley had taken advantage of the situation and were now second and third respectively. Waiting in the wings anticipating advancement were Leiby and Strunk, who started 24th after having to run the consolation to get into the event.
Brad Arnold and Danny Bouc tangled in the first turn on the 23rd lap. Carroll Hine III tried to squeeze by, but got caught up in the mishap. When action resumed, Von Dohren outmaneuvered Manmiller to get by him for first and Kressley and Kressley were right behind for second and third as Manmiller dropped to fourth and Leiby completed the top five.
Von Dohren kept the competition behind him and went on to chalk up the victory trailed by Kressley, Strunk, Manmiller and Nate Brinker for his best finish since moving into the modified ranks this season. Sixth through tenth were Kevin Hirthler, Duane Howard, last week’s feature winner; Leiby, Jared Umbenhauer and Gilmore.
Dylan Swinehart, Kressley and Brinker were the heat winners. The consi was won by Kevin Graver.
For the second week in a row the T.P. Truck Equipment 25-lap Sportsman feature added a new name to the win list. Logan Bauman, who ran Slingshots the previous year before advancing to Sportsman this season, took advantage when leader B.J. Joly went wide coming out of turn four with a developing left rear flat tire and moved into first on the 21st lap. The rookie continued his pace to score his first career win at the track.
Briggs Danner, who runs several different divisions at numerous tracks throughout the area, was able to defeat runner-up Steve Drevicki in the 25-lap Rapid Tire East Coast USAC sprint feature.