Grandview Speedway Jeff Strunk, Kyle Pensinger lead the way

BECHTELSVILLE, PA MAY 6, 2000 . . . For the second time this season Jeff Strunk was a winner in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Modified feature at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night. And for the first time in his career Kyle Pensinger was able to grab the victory in the 20-lap NASCAR Exide ShorTrack Late Model feature race. In a special 8-lap feature for WAEB-AM Radio celebrities Ron Angle, a Northampton, PA City Council member and talk show host, was able to top the field. WAEB-AM and on-air personality Bobby Gunther Walsh, also a modified driver at Grandview, gave away more than $1200 worth of prizes to the fans. And it was Dustin Hollenger winning the 8-lap 4-Cylinder Pure Stock feature race. In the 30-lap NASCAR Modified feature Donny Erb was able to survive three accidents before the first lap was officially completed and set the pace for 24 laps. In fact it was, for most of the feature, the Erb, Sam Schoenly and Dave Faust show. However late in the race Jeff Strunk brought the Kenworth/Cummins sponsored Olsen entry into contention. With just a handful of laps remaining Strunk, in the heat of a battle with Sam Schoenly, Faust, Terry Meitzler and younger brother Glenn Strunk, had fans standing and screaming for more as he nudged his way forward. With six laps to go, Glenn Strunk and Sam Schoenly tangled in turn two bringing out a caution. For the final five laps it was Jeff Strunk in front being chased by Donny Erb and at the finish Strunk (Bethel, PA) was just a few feet in front of Erb to grab the victory. Erb (Douglassville) settled for second followed by defending champion Terry Meitzler (Kutztown), Dave Faust (Boyertown) and Tom Mayberry (Sellersville). Doug Manmiller earned the Timber Wolf Smokeless Tobacco Hard Charger award coming from 26th to finish 12th. And Barry Readinger got the Kochel Equipment First Alternate award check. In victory lane Strunk, still hurting from an accident he had been involved in the night before, said, "We did not have the fastest car here tonight. It was the restarts that helped us. I was not 100% (after last night's accident) tonight but as a team we were able to make up the difference." Strunk thanked his sponsors and team members for their efforts to bring him to victory lane and thanked the fans for coming out to the races. The 20-lap feature for NASCAR Late Models had Chris Wojnar in front at the start and setting the pace for the first three laps. Kyle Pensinger, hungry for his first career win, took command and control of the race on the 4th lap and stayed in front for the remainder of the 20 lap event. The Lyons, PA driver had his hands full holding off the strong efforts of Ed Trimbur. In fact a couple of times Trimbur had run side-by-side with Pensinger but at the finish it was Pensinger who crossed the finish line first. It was just two years back at Pensinger had lost his home to a tornado that ravaged his hometown. He has been rebuilding since then. The feature victory will help in that effort. Ed Trimbur of Eagleville finished second followed by Pottstown's Sam Schlosberg, current point leader Dean Stoudt of Green Lane and Lou Egrie (Philadelphia). The 8-lap feature for 4-cylinder Pure Stocks was a three car race to the finish with Dustin Hollenger able to hold off the hard charging Leroy Long. Tom Gray, the early leader, finished third. Qualifying heats for the 62 modifieds in the pits went to Dave Faust, Tom Mayberry, Jeff Strunk, Shawn Reimert and Rick Schaffer. The consolation wins were taken by Jon Kellner, Tracy Readinger and Jack Hartnett. Strunk made a clean sweep of the night winning the Cash Dash worth $405 plus a 55 gallon drum of fuel from Profile Trailers of Boyertown, PA. In the late model qualifiers wins went to Sam Schlosberg, John Durling and Doug Walton while Terry Snyder, the feature winner the previous week, winning the consolation race. NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Modifieds and Exide ShorTrack Late Models return to Grandview Speedway on Saturday, May 13, 7:30 p.m. At least 13 events of stock car racing topped off by a 30-lap feature for the Modifieds and 20-lap feature race for the Late Models. Grandview Speedway is located on Passmore Road, just off Route 100, in Bechtelsville, PA, 10 miles north of Pottstown. For information telephone 610.754.7688 or visit their website at www.grandviewspeedway.com.

NASCAR WEEKLY RACING SERIES MODIFIED FEATURE, 30 LAPS, (TOP 20 FINISHERS) Jeff Strunk, Donny Erb, Terry Meitzler, Dave Faust, Tom Mayberry, Kenny Gilmore, Doug Pannepacker, Dennis Bailey, Kerry Kratz, Rick Schaffer, Smokey Warren, Doug Manmiller, Keith Brightbill, Glenn Strunk, Shawn Reimer, Warren Kohler, Danny Erb, Cliff Quinn, Ryan Beltz, Sam Schoenly. NASCAR EXIDE SHORTRACK LATE MODELS FEATURE, 20 LAPS, (TOP 20 FINISHERS)Kyle Pensinger, Ed Trimbur, Sam Schlosberg, Dean Stoudt, Lou Egrie, Jeff Teets, John Giesler, Casey Ebright, Terry Snyder, Chris Wojnar, Doug Walton, Rick Todorow, Junior Grebe, Bill Henning, John Durling, Chuck Sennott, Dave Conover, Mike Bedell, Donald Hale, David Brown.

GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY NASCAR MODIFIED POINT STANDINGS (TOP TEN)Terry Meitzler 772, Dennis Bailey 736, Kenny Gilmore 716, Jeff Strunk 689, Shawn Reimert 683, Glenn Strunk 663, Smokey Warren 657, Tom Mayberry 637, Kerry Kratz 636 and Rick Schaffer 535.

GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY LATE MODEL POINT STANDINGS (TOP TEN) Dean Stoudt 867, Jeff Teets 802, Lou Egrie 792, Ed Trimbur 783, Rick Todorow 762, Sam Schlosberg 755, Terry Snyder 738, John Durling 703, Junior Grebe 663, Chuck Sennott 657.

MOTORTRUCK EQUIPMENT CO. KENWORTH CUMMINS PA DUAL TRACK MODIFIED CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES(TOP TEN) (Modified racers at Big Diamond Raceway on Friday nights and Grandview Speedway on Saturday nights) Meme DeSantis, Temple, PA 1560; Terry Meitzler, Kutztown, PA 1555; Glenn Strunk, Bechtelsville, PA 1545; Dennis Bailey, Kutztown, PA 1540; Shawn Reimert, Oley, PA 1490; Doug Manmiller, Wyomissing, PA 1430; Kerry Kratz, Bechtelsville, PA 1420; Jeff Strunk, Bethel, PA 1410; Ray Swinehart, Bechtelsville, PA 1380; and Smokey Warren, Jonestown, PA 1280.