By Ernie Saxton
BECHTELSVILLE, PA July 21, 2014. . . The results of the second Open Wheel Spectacular at Grandview Speedway have been written in the record books. While that chapter may be closed, it is not likely that the talk about this racing event will end any time soon.
Race fans saw Steve Buckwalter set a blistering pace on his way to his second consecutive win in American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) action on the high banks of the Grandview Speedway Sunday night. The Tri-State Race Savers (TSRS) Sprint Car feature saw three different leaders during the final six laps with multiple lead changes on several laps before Jeff Geiges took command and the win.
Current ARDC point leader, Steven Drevicki and Alex Bright led the field of wingless midgets to the green flag with Bright using the outside line to take the lead on lap one. Bright ran and hid from the field as he extended his lead lap after lap. Bright was already reeling in the back of the field by lap eight as Drevicki, Brenden Bright, Tim Buckwalter and Ryan Watt raced in the top five.
But disaster would strike for the young Collegeville, PA driver on lap eleven. Bright was preparing to negotiate his way through lapped traffic when contact was made between the Lightcap Electric #77 and the car driven by Eric Heydenreich. Bright took a wild ride in turn two before coming to rest on the inside of the track. Bright exited the car uninjured but his bid for his third ARDC win of the season ended before the half way mark.
Drevicki took the lead on the restart as Brenden Bright and Tim Buckwalter battled for second in front of Watt. Tim Buckwalter took over second when the pair raced through turn three. Steve Buckwalter slid into third before the half way mark. After a two lap battle with Tim Buckwalter, Steve Buckwalter moved up to second. The caution waved for Tyler Brehm who sat on the infield just off of turn four.
Drevicki now had Steve Buckwalter on his back bumper for the single file restart. Drevicki led through lap fifteen but Buckwalter took the lead for good on the next go round.
Drevicki held off Tim Buckwalter’s challenges to finish second. Brenden Bright followed S. Buckwalter, Drevicki and T. Buckwalter across the finish line with Kyle Lick completing the top five at the checkered.
Kyle Purks and Rick Stief paced the field of TSRS Sprint Cars to the green flag with Purks quickly exerting his muscle to take the lead.
A red flag brought the racing to a half on the first lap as Scott Frack made hard contact with the wall coming out of turn two before going over. Frack escaped injury but his race ended prematurely on this night. Adam Carberry, the feature winner in the first Sunday night Open Wheel Spectacular, exited the race as a result of wing damage incurred in the same incident. Tim Tanner, who was the TSRS point leader coming into this race, exited under the lap one stop with motor issues.
Purks went into the lead on the complete restart and caught the rear of the field on lap six. Even with lapped traffic to hinder his progress, Purks continued to pull away. With ten laps complete, Jeff Gieges ran in second and began to close the gap on Purks while two time TSRS Champion, Mike Haggenbottom raced in third.
Stef Palmai drew a caution when she ran into problems with seventeen laps complete, setting up a single file restart with just eight laps left to run.
Purks had Geiges, Haggenbottom, Tom Carberry Jr. and Ryan Stillwaggon lined up nose to tail right behind him as he led the field back to green flag racing.
And then things got interesting. Purks led lap eighteen as Geiges took a look to the inside. Haggenbottom took his car to the outside, passed Geiges for second and then took the lead from Purks to lead lap nineteen. Purks came right back to take the lead as the field exited turn two. Haggenbottom was back in front as he and Purks crossed the line on the next lap but the lead changed hands around the speedway. Haggenbottom was scored as the race leader on laps twenty-one through lap twenty-three when Jeff Geiges overtook Purks for second and then passed Haggenbottom for the lead. Haggenbottom fought back and regained the lead momentarily before Geiges took the lead and led the way to the checkered flag.
It was Geiges for the win followed by Haggenbottom, T. Carberry, Purks and Brennflect.
The third Open Wheel Spectacular of the season is set for Sunday, August 31st again featuring the TSRS Sprints and ARDC Midgets. Racing will start at 7:30 p.m.
This Saturday, July 26th, 7:30 p.m. Atlas Paving Corporation of Wayne, NJ will sponsor the night which will feature the Pepsi-Bashore Challenge One-on-One Modified Challenge races along with a full card of NASCAR 358 Modifieds, BRC Late Models and Sportsman stock cars. Spectator gates open at 5:30 p.m. and as the gates are opened the popular Low Down and Dirty Meet & Greet will be presented featuring modified standout Duane Howard along with father and son Late Model racers Lou Egrie Sr. and Jr. Again this Saturday fans will have the opportunity to win valuable tickets for the NASCAR race events being presented at Pocono Raceway on August 2nd and 3rd topped by the GoBowling 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Tickets are courtesy of WNPV-1440AM Radio of Lansdale and Pocono Raceway.
ARDC WINGLESS MIDGET FEATURE RESULTS (25 LAPS) 1. Steve Buckwalter 2. Steven Drevicki 3. Tim Buckwalter 4. Brenden Bright 5. Kyle Lick 6. Nick Wean 7. Trevor Kobylarz 8. Brett Arndt 9. PJ Gargiulo 10. Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. 11. Tony DiMattia 12. Tommy Kunsman Jr. 13. Austin Burke 14. Clayton Glassman 15. Brian Gilmore 16. Greg Fitzpatrick 17. Ryan Watt 18. Tyler Brehm 19. Alex Bright 20. Eric Heydenreich 21. Brett Wanner
HILBORN TRI-STATE RACE SAVER 305 WINGED SPRINT CAR FEATURE (25 LAPS) 1. Jeff Geiges 2 Mike Haggenbottom 3. Tommy Carberry Jr. 4. Kyle Purks 5. Jon Brennflect 6. Ryan Stillwaggon 7. Rick Stief 8.. Jon Haegele 9. Bryant Davis 10. Mike Esposito 11. Eddie Wager 12. Dave Brown 13. Sean Kirkpatrick 14. Stephanie Stevens 15. Dave Graber 16. Mares Stellfox 17. Scott Krauss 18. Ian Detweiler 19. Harris Kohen 20. Stef Palmai 21. Karl Freyer 22. Shane Smith 23. Tim Tanner 24. Scott Frack 25. Adam Carberry
Grandview Speedway is located on Passmore Road just off Route 100 in Bechtelsville, PA, 10 miles north of Pottstown. For information telephone 610.754.7688 or check in at www.grandviewspeedway.com. Also on Twitter97@grandviewspeedway and www.facebook.com/grandviewspeedwayinc.