BECHTELSVILLE, Pa. — Six-time NASCAR Whelen All American Series modified champion Jeff Strunk  had a relatively easy time of it as he led all but eight laps of the THP Freedom 76 Modified Classic, picking up $20,000 plus lap money for his impressive victory Saturday night at Grandview Speedway.
Strunk, who calls nearby Mohnton, Pa. home, also picked up $1,000 for his win in the 10-lap Cash Dash. Ryan Watt drove to victory in the Schaeffer Motorsports Minuteman 20.
Once Duane Howard, driving the Mavericks MC Club/Alex’s Lemonade Stand No. 4, was able to get by a lapped car, Strunk’s lead had increased to the point that Howard, who had finished one point behind Strunk in the chase for the track championship, could not challenge and had to settle for second, which earned him $10,000.
Kenny Gilmore drove a fantastic race at the wheel of the BPG Racing/Chad Sinon Motorsports No. 114 — a first time ride for him — finishing third.
Six-time track champion Craig VonDohren finished fourth with his Stauffer Construction No. 1C. VonDohren also encountering problems with lapped traffic late in the race. VonDohren had started 16th. Jimmy Horton put on an impressive display, running the high and low grooves to finish fifth after starting 23rd.
The finish:
Jeff Strunk, Duane Howard, Kenny Gilmore, Craig VonDohren, Jimmy Horton, Kevin Hirthler, Shawn Reimert, Jason Hamilton, Mike Gular, Terry Meitzler, Ryan Watt, Tommy Sheetz, Jr., Meme DeSantis, John Willman, Ray Swinehart, Sean Merkel, Don Norris, Greg Humlhanz, Mark Kratz, Tommy Scheetz, Sr., Ryan Godown, Keith Brightbill, Ryan Grim, Jason Smythe, Kenny Brightbill, Cliff Quinn, Jon Kellner, Jr., Rick Schaffer, Doug Manmiller, Todd Marburger, Brad Brightbill, Donny Erb, John Tschudy.