Grandview Speedway 2001 season recap

Vondohren And Durling To Reap Harvest Of Awards At Banquet

GILBERTSVILLE, PA November 9, 2001 . . . For the fifth time during his outstanding career Craig VonDohren was able to win the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series championship at NASCAR sanctioned Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, PA. And for the first time in his long career John Durling of Reading, PA was able to earn the NASCAR Late Model stock car championship.

VonDohren, considered one of the top talents in area modified stock car racing, was able to win six feature events including the rich, $20,000 to win, T.H.Properties Freedom 76 during the season. The Oley, PA racer earned 4649 points in grabbing the lucrative modified title.

Car owner Buddy Biever will also share in the end of the season awards and the #114 Mrs T's Pierogies modified crew will get their just due. Biever is the champion car owner in the NASCAR Modified division.

Jeff Strunk, winner of two NASCAR Modified features, finished second in the point chase with 4110 counters. Strunk, from Bethel, PA, was the defending track champion.

Veteran Meme DeSantis, Temple, PA, finished third in the chase for the championship. DeSantis, in the thick of the battle for the entire season, earned just one feature victory.

After 15-years of chasing a championship John Durling of Reading, PA was able to win his first track title taking the NASCAR Late Model stock car crown. Durling had just one feature win in his quest for the title and earned 4249 points.

Durling also brought home a championship for car owners Bill and Kay Wharton. The championship winning car was sponsored by Bill's Remodeling; Whar-Head Chassis; and A.W. Golden Dealerships of Reading along with others. It is a first time championship for Wharton also.

Former champion Lou Egrie of Philadelphia took second in the standings with 4009 points. And he did it without a feature win. Four time champion Dean Stoudt, East Greenville, had one win in taking third with 3924 points.

Both VonDohren and Durling will share in lucrative awards and point fund money (both Grandview Speedway and NASCAR point money). Thousands of dollars will be distributed to top performers.

Twelve different drivers won features during the season of late model competition at Grandview Speedway and in the NASCAR Modifieds there were eight different feature winners.

"We have to consider it a pretty decent season even though we were hit by a half dozen rainouts. We had strong car counts, some great racing and we are already planning our 2002 season, our 40th consecutive season of stock car racing at Grandview Speedway," said track owner Bruce Rogers.

Champions and outstanding performers will be honored at the 39th annual Grandview Speedway Awards Dinner on Saturday, November 17th, 6 p.m., at the Gilbertsville, PA Fire Hall. In addition there will be a number of special awards and appreciation awards for media and others.

Grandview Speedway has tentatively set Saturday, March 30 as the season opening practice day while the season will officially get the green flag on Saturday, April 6. Final details on the new season will be announced in the near future.

COMING EVENT: 39TH ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER, Saturday, November 17, 6 p.m. (Doors open at 4 p.m.) at Gilbertsville, PA Fire Hall.

-GS-