From Bob Miller
Bechtelsville, PA — (May 25, 2014) — A big night of racing unfolded Sunday night at the Grandview Speedway as the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series opened its twenty-fifth season with the Lucky 7 features only event. The seven twenty-five lap feature events produced some great racing including the ARDC feature that saw Alex Bright start twenty-first and score the win. The Legends feature was equally entertaining with Travis McClelland take the win in action packed event. In the 25 lap Sportsman feature, Jared Umberhauer was the winner as Billy Pauch Jr and MeMe DeSantis won the two modified features. For the Rislone URC Sprint Series feature event, eight time URC Champion Curt Michael scored a win a Ed Aikin was the evening finale for URC. The well attended event ran off in three and a half hours.
In the opening Legends feature, Travis McClelland led the entire twenty-five laps but was challenged on numerous times by Chris Spidle. While making a challenge for the lead late in the race, Spidle spun causing the first yellow of the race. On the restart, McClelland remained in control and went on to score the win over Jacob Feltch and Chris Spidle who advanced to third after restarting at the rear of the field.
The ARDC feature could possibly be the best feature of the night. Alex Bright, who started twenty-first took the lead on lap fifteen went on to win the feature after a hard fought battle with early race leader Billy Pauch Jr. In the closing laps Ryan Greth and Steven Drevicki battled for second with Drevicki earning the spot followed by Greth , Billy Pauch and Kyle Lick who really offered a late race challenge.
In the 25 lap sportsman feature, Joe Funk set the early pace until lap ten when Kenny Gilmore took the top spot. Jarred Umbenhauer caught Gilmore on lap thirteen, and took the lead. Umbenhauer took the win over Brett Kressley, followed by Joe Funk, Kenny Gilmoree and Ryan Belt.
In the opening 358 Modified feature, Jared Umbenhauer set the early pace with Kyle Weiss and John Kellner making up the top three. All eyes were on Billy Pauch JR as he worked his way to the front. Pauch moved into third on lap sixteen. The big lead once held by Umbenhauer was starting to go away with Kyle Weiss now being challenged by Pauch. With two laps remaining, the caution flag was displayed for moisture on the racing surface. On the restart, Pauch challenged for the lead and on the white flag lap, he became the new leader. Pauch held on for the win, worth $3,000 and his first every Thunder on the Hill victory. Making up the top five were Pauch, Umbenhauer, Kyle Weiss, Ryan Grim and Frank Cozze.
The second modified feature was a thriller as well but this time MeMe Desantis led all twenty-laps to take the win. Mike Gular challenge DeSantis for the win but had to contend with a fast closing Jeff Strunk. Strunk moved into second on lap twenty-four but ran short of time to challenge DeSantis for the win. DeSantis was the winner with Strunk second Gular third Billy Pauch Jr. fourth and Craig VonDohren fifth.
The first of two URC sprint features saw Ed Aikin lead the first lap with Curt Michael taking the lead on lap two. Boyertown, PA driver Randy West motored his way to second on lap seven and began to reel in Michael. West never gave up, challenging Michael lap after lap. On lap nineteen, West took the lead only to have Michael regain the top spot. With the checker flag waiving, Curt Michael of Ocean View, DE took the win over Randy West, Ed Aikin, Michael Carber and Billy Pauch Jr.
The final URC feature of the night saw Ed Aikin lead the entire distance. Early in the race, Scott Lutz challenged for the lead, but each time, Aikin was up to the challenge. Lutz finished a strong second followed by Randy West, Troy Betts and Brian Carber.
LEGENDS 25 LAP FEATURE: #51 Travis McClelland, #13 Jacob Feltch, #09 Chris Spidle, #90 Scott Spidle, #18 Chris Transeau, #45 Andy Whaling, #35H Ron Haring, #39 Adam Meier, #7 CJ Quirk, #890 Tim Bauer, #35 Keith Haring, #45X Matt Whaling.
ARDC Midget 25 LAP FEATURE: #77 Alex Bright, #19 Steven Drevicki, #4 Ryan Greth, #33 Billy Pauch Jr., #8 Kyle Lick, #83 Bruce Buckwalter Jr., #95 Jim Radney, #1 Trevor Kobylarz, #78 Nick Wean, #5 PJ Gargiulo, #46 Brett Arndt, #12 Drew Heistand, #92 Brenden Bright, #7 Shawn Jackson, #44 Brett Wanner, #50 Tony Dimattia, #15 Johnny Barnett, #13 Brian Gilmore, #21 Thomas Kunsman, #54 Austin Burke, #17 Clayton Glassman, #10 Mark Gilmore, #75 Bill Courtwright,
#28 Greg Fitzpatrick.
SPORTSMAN 25 LAP FEATURE: #5 Jared Umbenhauer, #19K Brett Kressley, #14J Joe Funk, #7 Kenny Gilmore, #221 Ryan Beltz, #99B Craig Whitmoyer, #88x Dave Dissinger, #77H Jordan Henn, #29 Ken Eckert, #27J Chris Jenkins, #4* Brian Hirthler, #142 Ryan Lilick, #00 Brett Gilmore, #24 Sean Weiss, #65 Dean Bachman, #97 Wayne Witmer
URC SPRINT 25 LAP FEATURE #1: #5G Curt Michael, #8C Brian Carber, #56 Randy West, #7 Ed Aiken, #28 Billy Pauch Jr., #28F Dave Franek, #4 Jimmy Stitzel,
#77 Will Eggiman, #22 Troy Betts, #88B Andy Best, #9D Kevin Darling, #08 Jason Clauss, #7C Chad Trout, #17J Jonathan Swanson, #2 Art Leidl, #X Dan Mazy,
#33 Scott Lutz, #9 Wes Irwin, #12B Brad Franks, #76 Larry Kellher, #74 JR Berry, #25 Josh Weller, #39 Nate Snyder.
MODIFIED 25 LAP FEATURE #1: #15x Billy Pauch Jr., #11 Jared Umbenhauer, #21K Kyle Weiss, #17 Ryan Grim, #357 Frank Cozze, #11C Craig VonDohren, #41G Glenn Strunk, #88D Meme DeSantis, #117 Kevin Hirthler, #4* Jeff Strunk, #41 Jon Kellner Sr., #14 Doug Manmiller, #33 Ray Swinehart, #74W John Willman,
#976 Don Norris Jr., #19 Jordan Umbenhauer, #53 Mike Gular, #19K Brett Kressley, #15 Mike Laise, #81 Terry Meitzler, #62 Joe Mooney.
URC SPRINT 25 LAP FEATURE #2: #7 Ed Aiken, #33 Scott Lutz, #56 Randy West, #22 Troy Betts, #8C Brian Carber, #28 Billy Pauch Jr., #9D Kevin Darling
#4 Jimmy Stitzel, #5G Curt Michael, #X Dan Mazy, #88B Andy Best, #2 Art Leidl, #17J Jonathan Swanson, #25 Josh Weller, #7C Chad Trout, #28F Dave Franek,
#77 Will Eggiman.
MODIFIED 25 LAP FEATURE #2: #88D Meme DeSantis, #4* Jeff Strunk, #53 Mike Gular, #15X Billy Pauch Jr., #11C Craig VonDohren, #357 Frank Cozze, #117 Kevin Hirthler, #19K Brett Kressley, #17 Ryan Grim, #81 Terry Meitzler, #11 Jared Umbenhauer, #21k Kyle Weiss, #976 Don Norris Jr., #19 Jordan Umbenhauer, #62 Joe Mooney, #41G Glenn Strunk, #15 Mike Laise, #41 Jon Kellner Sr., #33 Ray Swinehart, #14 Doug Manmiller, #74w John Willman.
NEXT EVENT:
Tuesday, June 3 7:30 PM Jesse Hockett Classic USAC National Non-Wing Sprint Tour & ARDC Midgets. The eighth annual USAC Amsoil EASTERN STORM visits Grandview Speedway & Thunder on the Hill Tuesday night, June 3. The 40 lap Jesse Hockett Classic will pay $6,000 to the winner. Twenty-one year old Jarrett Andretti from Indianapolis, IN will have his Window World USAC sprint car in the field.
“I have always heard great things about Grandview Speedway and appreciate their support of the USAC Sprint Car series. The larger Pennsylvania tracks, Grandview included, are really able to show fans what the cars are capable of and give us a break from the Indiana bullrings. I am looking forward to my first trip to PA and thankful for USAC and all the tracks for making it all possible,” said Andretti.
The ARDC non-wing midgets will be on the program as well with race time set for 7:30 PM. Adult admission tickets are $25, children 6-11 $10 and children 5 and under will be admitted for free. The Pit admission is $35.
Websites: www.
Thunder on the Hill fans are encouraged to engage on social media platforms using the hashtag #TOTHRacing before, after and during racing events. #TOTHRacing content will be promoted across the Thunder on the Hill official social media platforms on Facebook: www.facebook.com/