BECHTELSVILLE, Pa. — Craig Von Dohren scored a $5,250 payday at the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series season kick off at Grandview Speedway on Sunday night.
The Pioneer Pole Buildings Balls to the Wall 50 had Von Dohren claim the final checkered flag, with Duane Howard and Kevin Hirthler each scoring a segment win at laps 30 and 40, respectively.
“There wasn’t a lot of strategy involved,” Von Dohren claimed in post-race ceremonies. “You just get in quick and keep moving.”
‘Keep Moving’ was the motto of the night with action all over the race track in an event that saw a top 10 payout and the top-four inverted at each segment.
Duane Howard set a rapid pace at the start of the event, with Douglasville’s Tim Buckwalter in the second position. The opening stages of the event went smoothly until the caution flag flew on lap-15 for a slowing Mike Lisowski.
Lisowski was running in the fifth position before retiring the car with a billow of smoke.
On the restart, Howard and Buckwalter battled for the top position, while four cars — Craig Von Dohren, Kevin Hirthler, Brett Kressley and Jeff Strunk — battled for third spot. Strunk won the four-car war, having moved up from the 22nd starting position.
Howard claimed the checkered flag and a $1,500 payday for winning the first segment. Buckwalter was in second, Strunk in third, and Hirthler in fourth.
The top-four finishers inverted for the start of segment two, giving Hirthler the prime starting position for the lap 31 green flag.
Hirthler dominated the second segment, taking the lead early while Howard faded backwards and Von Dohren moved into the third spot.
Hirthler scored a $1,500 payday, Strunk finished in second, Von Dohren in third, and Buckwalter in fourth.
The third and final segment of the event saw Buckwalter and Von Dohren on the front row in a 10-lap shootout to the finish – and a $5,000 payday. Von Dohren took the lead quickly, while Buckwalter and Strunk fought it out for the runner-up spot.
Von Dohren easily sailed to victory and the first ever Balls to the Wall 50. Tim Buckwalter finished in second, Jeff Strunk in third, Kevin Hirthler in fourth, and Billy Pauch Jr. in fifth.
Billy Pauch Jr. won the 25-lap SpeedSTR main event collecting $2,500.