By Bob Miller
JJ Grasso of Middletown, DE scored an impressive win Saturday night at the Selinsgrove Speedway, winning the 8th Annual URC/358 Jack Gunn Memorial. The thirty lap feature win earned Grasso $3,600 in a thriller that saw Grasso chase down race leader Pat Cannon in the final five laps. A late race caution brought the field nose to tail for the final three laps. Grasso was closing on Cannon prior to the yellow, but when the green flag fell, Cannon developed motor problems, handing the lead over to Grasso. It was certainly no gift as Grasso was the fastest car on the track in the second half of the race. On the final lap, Grasso lost his brakes and on the cool down lap, developed a right rear flat tire on the Kenny Eldreth owned sprinter. For Grasso, it was his first career win at the Selinsgrove Speedway.
At the start of the 30 lap Jack Gunn Memorial, Jason Shultz led the twenty-six car starting field into turn one. Before exiting turn two, the red flag was displayed for a nine car crash. Chad Trout and Derek Locke sustained the most damage of the cars involved. On the restart, Shultz set the place and led the first lap with Cody Keller taking the top spot on lap two. Keller set the pace until a lap four caution for debris. On the restart, Keller was on top with Pat Cannon now in second. A caution was displayed on lap five, this time for Eric Tomecek.
The field restarted with Keller, Cannon and Mark Smith holding down the top three spots with URC’s JJ Grasso racing in fourth. On lap eight, Jason Shultz popped a tire on the homestretch and as the yellow was displayed, Matt Horst flipped out of the track, exiting over the fourth turn guardrail. Horst was not injured in the crash.
On the restart, Cody Keller remained the race leader with Cannon and Smith still in the chase. JJ Grasso and TJ Stutts made up the top five and were reeling in the leaders. At the halfway point of the race, Keller and Cannon were in a battle for the lead then one lap later, Pat Cannon powered into the top spot. At the same time, Grasso moved into third and was charging
With just five laps to go, Grasso moved past Keller and now had the task of chasing down Cannon. Grasso was definitely closing then on lap twenty-seven, the yellow was displayed for Dave Ely.
The restart was going to be a thriller with just three laps to go and Cannon and Grasso nose to tail. A sudden puff of smoke going into turn one and Cannon was off the pace and Grasso was now in command. Grasso mastered the final laps to take the victory with Cody Keller second, Mark Smith third, TJ Stutts fourth and Aaron Ott fifth. Making up the top ten were Josh Weller, Ryan Kissinger, Colby Womer, Randy West and Jason Shultz.
8TH ANNUAL JACK GUNN MEMORIAL 30 laps $3,500 to win. Finish: JJ Grasso, Cody Keller, Mark Smith, TJ Stutts, Aaron Ott, Josh Weller, Ryan Kissinger, Colby Womer, Randy West, Jason Shultz, Art Liedl, Davie Franek, Brian Carber, Pat Cannon, Dave Ely, Robbie Stillwaggon, Joey Biasi, Duane Mausteller, Matt Horst, Eric Tomecek, Andy Best, Chad Trout, Larry Kelleher, Bryn Gohn, Derke Locke, Kevin Darling
DNQ—Kramer Williamson, Billy Pauch Jr., Scott Lutz, JR Berry, Jonathan Swanson, Dan Mazy, Troy Betts, Tim Kelly, Tim Berkheimer, Scott Wilson, Jimmy Stitzel, Ryan Wilson, Steve Downs, David Swanson
Fast Time JJ Grasso 17,329 110.021mph, 40 cars took times, 26 URC sprints, 14 358 sprints.
Heat 1- – Brian Carber, Dave Ely, JJ Grasso, TJ Stutts
Heat 2- -Randy West, Chad Trout, Andy Best, Aaron Ott
Heat 3- – Mark Smith, Pat Cannon, Josh Weller, Bryn Gohn
Heat 4- -Coby Womer, Larry Lelleher, Cody Keller, Joey Biasi
Heat 5- -Eric Tomecek, Davie Franek, Jason Shultz, Robbie Stillwaggon
B Main- -Derek Locke, Art Liedl
B Main- -Matt Horst, Duane Mausteller
Next Event: May 18 Delaware International Speedway, Delmar, DE 7 PM