BECHTELSVILLE, Pa. – The NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series presented the Triple Roaring 20’s on Tuesday Night at Grandview Speedway where Craig Von Dohren, Billy Pauch Jr., and Alex Yankowski picked up Modified victories.
Yankowski claimed the bulk of the spoils with a $3,000 bonus for winning his first Thunder on the Hill event, bringing his total earnings for the night to $5,525.
This event marked the 149th NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series event at Grandview since the series started in 1990
“Anytime you look at the scoreboard and see (Jeff) Strunk behind you, you have to be ready,” Yankowski said in victory lane. “We got lucky with the invert spot and I just had to watch out and make sure he didn’t put a nose below me.”With the invert from the second feature offering a front row starting position, Yankowski set a rapid pace from the opening as Strunk moved into the second position.With Strunk hot on his heels, Yankowski weaved the Rich Stankiewicz-owned machine in-and-out of lapped traffic to claim the victory and the $3,000 Pioneer Pole Buildings First-Time Thunder winner bonus, for a $5,000 payday.Strunk finished in second, Rick Laubach in third, Mike Gular in fourth, and Brett Kressley in fifth.
In the first feature event, Von Dohren and John Willman started on the front row as a result of the 12-driver redraw that set the line-up for the 20-lap main event.
Von Dohren took the lead heading down the backstretch of the Grandview Speedway, but action was halted quickly for a turn 2 accident that collected Duane Howard, Strunk, Mike Gular and Ron Kline – however, all competitors were able to continue.
On the restart, Von Dohren remained in control while Willman was challenged and overtaken by Kressley for the second position. As Von Dohren approached lapped traffic the caution flew for the second time for the stopped car of Jack Butler.Von Dohren held off Kressley to claim his 11th Thunder on the Hill Feature win. Kressley finished in second, Ryan Watt in third, Kevin Hirthler in fourth, and Billy Pauch Jr. in fifth.An invert of 6 cars gave Doug Manmiller the pole position for the second 20-lap feature event, but Pauch Jr. won a drag race down the frontstretch to pick up the top spot.While Pauch set a rapid pace, all eyes were on Von Dohren, who moved into the third position on the third circuit aiming for that Pioneer Pole Buildings multi-win bonus.The only caution flag flew on lap 5 for the slowing car of Kevin Hirthler.Pauch Jr. held control on the restart and dominated the 20-lap event, despite a late race charge from Manmiller, Von Dohren, and Kressley. Pauch went on to take the $2,000 winner’s share. Manmiller finished in second, Kressley in third, Von Dohren in fourth, and Ryan Watt in fifth.Ryan Grim won the 602 Sportsman 25-lap feature event, where a caution slowed the action with one lap to go offering up a fight for the $1,000 payday. Ryan Grim led Brad Grim in the single-lap shootout to the checkered flag.Brad Grim led the early stages of the feature event, before Ryan Grim took control just passed the halfway point, followed almost immediately by a yellow flag for Jon Josko – who was running in the top five.Ryan Grim held his position on the restart before the lap-24 caution flag slowed the action for the final time.
With their eyes on the checkered, Ryan Grim and Brad Grim made contact on the restart – but Ryan Grim was able to pick up the win and the $1,000 payday. Brad Grim finished in second, Kyle Smith in third, Joe Toth in fourth, and Jesse Landis in fifth.
Keyword: Yankowski, Von Dohren, Paunch Jr. Pocket Grandview Prizes