Howard And Kline Again in Victory Lane at Grandview Speedway
Bechtelsville, PA
Jun 04, 2007
For the third time this season and the second Saturday in a row Duane Howard of Oley, PA wheeled the BPG Racing/ Troyer Engineering No. 4 to victory in the 30-lap Jeff D’Ambrosio Dodge NASCAR Whelen All American Modified Series feature race at Grandview Speedway. The 20-lap Late Model feature had Ron Kline of Salford, PA bringing his V&M Towing/P. K.Moyer No. 3 to victory lane for the second time this season.
Tommy Sheetz Jr. led the 28-car starting field to the green. Congestion on the main straightaway caused early race problems before a lap could be completed with Craig VonDohren and Rick Schaffer being eliminated from the field.
Sheetz Jr. got credit for leading the first lap with young Don Norris grabbing the top spot on the second circuit of the one-third-mile, banked clay oval. Norris continued to be in command until the ninth lap when Ryan Watt got under him n the fourth turn and took the lead.
Once in front Watt looked like he might have what it takes to earn a victory. He set the pace until the 23rd lap when Brad Missimer brought out the caution with a flat tire. On the start after the caution Duane Howard, who had come from 12th starting spot, charged in front of the field.
With control of the race Howard was able to lead the balance of the 30-laps and grab the win and the $2,200 that goes with the victory. The win put Howard in front in the chase for the lucrative track and NASCAR championships.
In victory lane Howard had high praise for the crew and said, “Everything is going our way right now but that could change quickly. ”
Second spot went to Ryan Watt (Boyertown) with Jeff Strunk (Mohnton) coming from 22nd to grab third. John Willman (Birdsboro) had an impressive run gaining a fourth place finish and Cliff Quinn (Coopersburg) had his best effort of the early second grabbing fifth.
The Modified feature had many cautions for a variety of accidents and mechanical problems with no one being injured.
Rick Todorow took control of the 20-lap NASCAR Whelen Late Model feature with the waving of the green. However a five car pileup slowed things early and on the 4th circuit Dean Stoudt ended his night against the third turn wall after an altercation with another racer.
Randy Stoudt, a two feature winner and the point leader, crashed in the third turn in a single car accident and eliminated himself from the race.
Ron Kline turned out to be the class of the field as he grabbed his second win of the season. A great comeback from the week before when he crashed hard in the third turn and his crew worked long hours all week getting the car back in race ready condition.
Kline had a relatively easy time once he got the lead and was able to hold off teenager Mike Kellner in the final laps to grab the win. Second spot went to Kellner (Lansdale) with early racer leader Rick Todorow (Quakertown) getting third followed by last Saturday’s winner Chuck Schutz (Pottstown) and Brian Shuey (Shoemakersville). Shuey is now the Late Model point leader.
Qualifying heat races for the NASCAR Modifieds went to Ryan Watt, Craig VonDohren, Duane Howard and Cliff Quinn with the consolation victories being earned by Tom Umbenhauer and Jeff Strunk.
In the Late Model qualifiers wins were earned by Mike Kellner, Rick Todorow and Kyle Merkel.
The Cornerstone Auto Sales of Fleetwood, PA Hard Charger Awards went to Chuck Schutz in the Late Models going from 18th to finish fourth while in the Modifieds Jeff Strunk earned the award going from 22nd to third.
