Grabouski Grabs Gold In Modified Main
Feb 25, 2007
Jordan Grabouski certainly isn’t a household name around Texas, former National and multi-time Regional champion Herny Witt jr. is. So was the 18 year old, Nebraskan intimidated? Obviously not, as Grabouski from the 10th starting spot was undaunted, even after contact, as the duo fought for the win in the 20 lap Modified A-Main in a tremendous battle.
As the green waved on the 20-car field, Kelly Allen beat polesitter Danny Patterson into turn 1, but in the pack Allen Williams spun and David Trauernicht did a 360 into the infield. The next start, Patterson got the jump on Allen and held him off to lead lap 1. Mickey Helms brought out the caution on lap 1 when he had problems dropping fluid on the track, Williams got spun again coming to yellow.
The restart saw, Jason Borlace get turned around after contact with Robby Edwards in turn 1, which was still slick on the bottom. Finally the race got back under green with Patterson on the point and Witt getting inside Harvey Wojtek as they battled wheel to wheel for third. On lap 2 Neal Debord, Wojtek and Grabouski ran three wide for fourth.
Witt grabbed second from Allen on lap 3, while Trauernicht got by Wojtek on the high side for sixth. Trauernicht then saw his top five run come to an end as he spun from fifth on lap 4. When green waved, Grabouski moved past Debord for fourth as he began his run to the front. Lap 5 saw Grabouski get third from Allen as he made the high line pass.
Vince Ogle, Josh McGaha and Levi Hodges were three wide for seventh on lap 7, with the lead trio within a car length of each other up front. Coming to the crossed flags Patterson and Witt were side by side, with Grabouski, Allen and Wojtek rounding out the top five. Witt led lap 11, as Grabouski passed Patterson for second. Bo Newton brought out the yellow on lap 14 after he turned around on the front straight.
On the restart, Grabouski looked high then low as he tried to get by Witt, who was showing he still had his form after a years hiatus. Grabouski got along side Witt on lap 16 and had the bumper of his car ahead at the line to lead lap 16. Witt dove in low going into turn 1, hit the slick spot, slid up and body slammed Grabouski to wrestle the lead back on lap 17.
Grabouski fought back and after a bumper shot on Witt down the back stretch, retook the top spot on lap 18 using the high side. The young Grabouski would then hold off the veteran central Texas hotshoe Witt to snag the victory in his Yancey’s Automotive, North East Auto, Delabar Construction, Williams Farms, Billsbuilt Chassis.
“I just ran around the top the first half of the race, †said the pumped up, Grabouski. “It went away and I had to go to the bottom, by that time I was behind Witt. On a restart I went back to the top and got around him. He came back and door slammed me, as we exchanged the lead. It was a fun race! †“Henry(Witt) is an excellent driver and won a National Championship. We run against some tough competition in Nebraska, Like Johnny Saathoff and David Trauernicht. This is my third year in a modified, coming from the Mini-Sprints. It’s really my brothers car and he’s going to race it later. â€
