BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – In another action packed night of NASCAR stock car racing from start to finish, two drivers scored hard fought feature victories Saturday night at Grandview Speedway.
Jesse Landis of Gilbertsville, Pa. charged forward from his thirteenth starting position, taking the lead from a strong running Jared LaBagh of Middletown, N.Y. on a lap eighteen restart, then held off all challenges the rest of the way to score the victory in the 54th annual Firecracker 40 championship race for the T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman division.
Cody Manmiller of Philadelphia, Pa. scored his first career T.P. Trailer Modified feature win after an exciting battle in the final stages of the 30-lap feature event, holding off a late race rally from several challengers including Ryan Grim of Laurys Station, Pa. and defending track Champion Brett Kressley of Orefield, Pa.
Manmiller’s comfortable lead vanished in the final laps after reaching lapped traffic, allowing the five car battle for second position to catch him, but survived the late race challenges including Grim pulling alongside on the final lap, to motor home to his first career T.P. Trailer Modified feature win.
The win for Landis was his first of the season and second career win at the Speedway (his first career win was May of 2021), and was worth a whopping $3375 in purse and bonus money.
The race paid $2000 from the track plus $400 from SDS Photography, $400 from V&M Towing, $250 from JRN Logistics, $100 from Mike & Jill Horn, and $100 from Cast Iron Creation Food Service, plus the weekly bonus of $200 from T.P. Truck Equipment, sponsors of the division. Landis also picked up $50 from Stringer’s Collision Center for leading lap 23 of the Firecracker 40 feature event.
The winners received bonus money (Modified $300, Sportsman $200) from T.P. Trailers and Truck Equipment of Limerick, Pa., sponsors of the two divisions at Grandview Speedway, in a race program run under the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series banner.
The T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman 54th annual Firecracker 40 was the first feature event contested on Saturday night, and young driver Alex Bartorillo of Limerick, Pa. was quick to jump out front and lead at the drop of the green flag.
Jared LaBagh, who has recently started running at Grandview Speedway, was quick to challenge the rookie driver and took the lead with a low groove pass out of turn four to score lap number three.
The early portion of the race would see LaBagh leading followed by a multi-car battle for positions between Bartorillo, Troy Bollinger of Palmerton, Pa., Stephen Laubach of Bangor, Pa., BJ Joly of Oley, Pa., and Kyle Hartzell of Allentown, Pa.
While this action was happening, 13th starting Jesse Landis and 14th starting Dakota Kohler were working their way forward, with Kohler reaching fourth by lap ten and Landis sitting in eighth position.
Following a restart on lap thirteen, LaBagh would continue leading with Joly advancing to second, leaving Kohler and Hartzell in a hard fought fight for third. Landis really started to flex some muscle running the outside groove picking off positions, eventually finding himself in second spot by the time another caution waved on lap eighteen.
LaBagh chose the bottom for the restart leaving Landis in the top lane where he had been running so well, and on the restart Landis would make his move around LaBagh into the lead with a sweeping top groove move through turns one and two to become the new leader.
Several other drivers would make moves advancing forward following the lap 18 restart, including Brett Gilmore of Kutztown, Pa. who started 21st, and Addison Meitzler of Kempton, Pa. who started in 28th, with Gilmore sitting in fourth spot by lap twenty and Meitzler in sixth position.
By lap 25 Landis would lead LaBagh with Gilmore advancing past Kohler after a multi-lap battle, followed by Meitzler who was able to win the fight with Joly for position five.
This action was followed by another fight for position between Zane Roth of Slatington, Pa., Lawson Szerencits of Catasauqua, Pa., Brian Hirthler of Green Lane, Pa. up from 22nd starting spot, Mike Schneck Jr. of Lebanon, Pa up from 29th starting spot, and Jesse Hirthler of Boyertown, Pa.
Two quick cautions on laps 28 and 30 would reset the field, wiping away the heavy lapped traffic that was approaching for leader Landis, and see some positions in the top ten change in the closing laps, with Kohler, Gilmore, Jesse Hirthler, Meitzler and Schneck Jr. all fighting for the top five spots.
In the final five laps Gilmore, Hirthler, and Meitzler were running extremely close, and at times three wide changing positions back and forth in the fight to remain in the top five.
A fire in the car of Mark Kemmerer of Green Lane, Pa. would bring out a red flag with one lap to go, but Landis was smooth on the restart and held on to the lead to score the biggest win of his career at Grandview Speedway.
The final lap dash to the checkered saw Landis score the win, with Kohler beating LaBagh out of turn four to grab second spot followed by Meitzler who picked up the Hard Charger award advancing 24 spots, Jesse Hirthler, Gilmore, Schneck Jr., Dylan Swinehart of Fleetwood, Pa. who advanced from 24th starting spot, Roth and Joey Vaccaro of Reading, Pa.
Qualifying heats for the 44 cars on hand were won by LaBagh, Joly III, Kemmerer, and Gavyn Krupp of Barto, Pa. while Gilmore and Brian HIrthler won the consolations.
The T.P. Trailer Modified feature saw Cody Manmiller, who just moved into the Modified division from the Sportsman at the beginning of June, grab an early lead at the start of the 30-lap main event.
Eric Biehn of Barto, Pa., Ryan Beltz of Barto, Pa., Ryan Grim of Laurys Station, Pa. and Joe Funk of Coopersburg, Pa. would all follow, battling for the top positions.
The second and final caution of the race would fly on lap seven, with Cody Manmiller continuing to set the pace, while Beltz and Grim battled each other, and Gular and Funk waged a battle for position as well.
This action was followed by an exciting battle between Funk, Jared Umbenhauer of Richland, Pa., Tim Buckwalter of Douglassville, Pa., Brett Kressley, Ryan Watt of Boyertown, Pa., and Craig Von Dohren of Oley, Pa. who were in a fight for the top ten spots.
By the half-way point of the feature leader Manmiller would reach lapped traffic, while Beihn, Grim and Gular were following, with Umbenhauer and Kressley in a real battle royal for the fifth spot.
With the lapped traffic making it more difficult for the leaders, the action really heated up by lap 20, with Biehn, Grim and Gular now engaging in a super battle for second, while Umbenhauer and Kressley continued their fight for fifth.
By lap 25 it became a five car race for second spot in and out of lapped traffic, with positions beginning to change, with Grim and Gular slipping by Biehn on lap 27, and Kressley winning his long battle with Umbenhauer to advance to fifth.
Manmiller began fighting his racecar, as he was having trouble entering the corners, along with the lapped traffic, he almost hit the wall in turn one on lap 27, allowing the next five drivers to move right up behind him for the stretch run.
It was complete mayhem and excitement in the final three laps as Grim would try his best to get by Manmiller, while Kressley continued to gain spots reaching third with two laps to go, leaving Gular, Biehn and Umbenhauer to battle it out.
The tight pack of cars would take the white flag practically under a blanket, still in lapped traffic entering turn one, with Manmiller clinging to the lead running in the outside groove.
Heading down the backstretch, more lapped traffic was ahead, leaving Manmiller a decision as to what lane to choose entering turn three.
Manmiller would stay in the high lane using the lapped car momentarily as a block, but Grim cleared the lapped car and made a final bid low in the final turn to come up a car length short at the finish line, with the other three drivers right behind in a stunning multi-car photo finish.
Manmiller would score the exciting win, becoming the sixth different winner this season in Saturday night NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series action, followed by Grim for his best finish of the year, Kressley, Gular, Biehn for his best outing of the season, Umbenhauer, Jeff Strunk of Boyertown, Pa. who was the Hard Charger advancing from 23rd starting spot, Von Dohren up from 22nd starting spot, Eddie Strada of Lake Ariel, Pa. up from 21st starting spot, and Buckwalter.
Qualifying heats for the 33 cars on hand were won by Funk, Buckwalter and Cody Manmiller with Von Dohren winning the consolation.
Grandview Speedway will be presenting another NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series program next week sponsored by T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment featuring the T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds and T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman.
The show on Saturday, July 20 will include qualifying events for both classes leading into a 30-lap T.P. Trailer Modified feature, a 25-lap feature for the T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman, plus the remainder of the T.P. Trailer Modified portion of the June 29th race program that was cut short by rain, which includes the remaining laps of qualifying heat number four, two consolations and a 30-lap feature event.
Pit gates will open at 4 pm, with grandstand gates opening at 5:30 pm, warm-ups starting at 6:15 pm, and the first race of the evening getting the green flag at 7:30 pm.
Adult grandstand admission is $20, students 10-15 with ID are $10, while children ages 9 and under are admitted free of charge. Pit admission is $35 for NASCAR members and $45 for non-members.
Since the 1960’s, Grandview Speedway has been presenting exciting wheel to wheel NASCAR stock car racing every Saturday Night starting in April and running through October, plus special events. Grandview Speedway is located at 43 Passmore Road, Bechtelsville, Pa. 19505, just off Route 100, ten miles north of Pottstown, Pa.
Information is always available at www.grandviewspeedway.com or on Facebook, or by telephone at 610.754.7688.
T.P. TRAILER NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 laps): CODY MANMILLER, Ryan Grim, Brett Kressley, Mike Gular, Eric Biehn, Jared Umbenhauer, Jeff Strunk, Craig Von Dohren, Eddie Strada, Tim Buckwalter, Louden Reimert, Ryan Beltz, Ryan Watt, Kyle Smith, Joe Funk, Mike Lisowski, Jon Kellner, Doug Manmiller, Chris Esposito, Eric Kormann, Justin Grim, Bryan Rhoads, Darrin Schuler, Nate Brinker, John Willman, Frank Yankowski, Kevin Hirthler, DNS – Ron Haring Jr., Kevin Graver Jr.
DID NOT QUALIFY: Glenn Owens, Jimmy Leiby, Duane Howard, Ray Swinehart
T.P. TRAILERS WINNER’S BONUS ($300): Cody Manmiller
VP RACING FUELS HARD CHARGER: Jeff Strunk +14
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS CERTIFICATES: Cody Manmiller ($75), Ryan Grim ($50), Brett Kressley ($25)
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Cody Manmiller
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR SPORTSMAN FIRECRACKER 40 FEATURE FINISH (40 laps): JESSE LANDIS, Dakota Kohler, Jared LaBagh, Addison Meitzler, Jesse Hirthler, Brett Gilmore, Mike Schneck Jr., Dylan Swinehart, Zane Roth, Joey Vaccaro, Adrianna Delliponti, Lawson Szerencits, Mark Gaugler, Logan Bauman, Troy Bollinger, Alex Bartorillo, BJ Joly III, Mark Kemmerer, Brian Hirthler, Gavyn Krupp, Stephen Laubach, Brad Brightbill, Kyle Hartzell, Tyler James, TJ Mayberry, Zach Steffey, Logan Watt, Ronnie Solomon, Ryan Graver, Brett Grim, Parker Guldin
DID NOT QUALIFY: Teague Miller, Kaitlyn Bailey, Kenny Bock, Nate Horn, Stephen Smith III, Mike Stofflet, Nathan Mohr, Mark Mohr, Shannon Slaughter, Steve Young, Colton Perry, Bastian Miller, Brayden Shelton
SDS RACING PHOTOGRAPHY WINNER’S BONUS ($400): Jesse Landis
V & M TOWING WINNER’S BONUS ($400): Jesse Landis
JRN LOGISTICS WINNER’S BONUS ($250): Jesse Landis
MIKE & JILL HORN WINNER’S BONUS ($100): Jesse Landis
CAST IRON CREATIONS WINNER’S BONUS ($100): Jesse Landis
STRINGER’S COLLISION CENTER HEAT WINNERS BONUS ($50 EACH): Jared LaBagh, BJ Joly III, Mark Kemmerer, Gavyn Krupp
FAMILY OF HUNTER IATALESE HEAT WINNERS BONUS ($50 EACH): Jared LaBagh, BJ Joly III, Mark Kemmerer, Gavyn Krupp
JIMBO’S GUTTERS FIFTH PLACE HEAT RACE BONUS ($40 EACH): Joey Vaccaro, Ronnie Solomon, Brad Brightbill, TJ Mayberry
BREITENSTEIN MOTORSPORTS 14th PLACE FINISHER BONUS ($141): Logan Bauman
JIMBO’S GUTTERS 20th PLACE FINISHER BONUS ($50): Gavyn Krupp
FAMILY OF HUNTER IATALESE 22nd PLACE FINISHER BONUS (($200): Brad Brightbill
STRINGER’S COLLISION CENTER 23rd PLACE FINISHER BONUS ($50): Kyle Hartzell
STRINGER’S COLLISION CENTER LEADER ON LAP 23 BONUS ($50): Jesse Landis
HIGH SIDE APPAREL & SPORTSMAN TEAM #777 TJ MAYBERRY HARD CHARGER ($100): Addison Meitzler + 24
ROWE’S GRAPHICS HIGHEST FINISHING NON-WINNER IN 2024 BONUS ($50): Dakota Kohler
VACCARO AUTO BUYERS OF READING 1st ALTERNATE BONUS ($100): Nathan Mohr
V & M TOWING POLESITTER AWARD BONUS ($100): Alex Bartorillo
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT WINNER’S BONUS ($200): Jesse Landis
GRANDVIEW $100 HARD CHARGER: Addison Meitzler +24
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS CERTIFICATES: Jesse Landis ($75), Dakota Kohler ($50), Jared LaBagh ($25)
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Jesse Landis
UPCOMING EVENTS –
Saturday, July 20 – T.P. TRAILERS & TRUCK EQUIPMENT NIGHT – T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman, TRIVIA NIGHT, PLUS 2 consolations & MODIFIED FEATURE FROM 6/29 – 7:30 pm
Saturday, July 27 – T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman, Outlaw Racing Series Vintage – 7:30 pm
Friday, August 2 – Outlaw Racing Series Enduro, Outlaw Racing Series Vintage, Xcel 600 Modifieds – 7 pm
Saturday, August 3 – T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman, KIDS MONEY SCRAMBLE – 7:30 pm
Saturday, August 10 – 54th annual FORREST ROGERS MEMORIAL – T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds 50-laps, T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman – 7:30 pm
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