Manmiller Motoring South To Georgetown; Set To Begin Silver Anniversary Modified Season

Column By: RUSTY RHOADES / RPW – SHOEMAKERVILLE, PA – As I was catching up with Doug Manmiller and getting some information and numbers for this story, it kind of dawned on both of us. Out of nowhere, we realized that 2018 would be the 25th anniversary of the driver nicknamed “The Handler” strapping in behind the wheel of a dirt modified the Mid-Atlantic Region.

But anyone who’s spent any time with Doug can probably understand this, considering how humble and unassuming he usually is when discussing all his success and consistency for such a long span of time up against both difficult competition and circumstances.

Grandview Speedway has been the primary home of Manmiller and whichever modified he’s handled from the outset of this long run. It all started in 1994 when an acquaintance from Doug’s successful go-karting days, Gary Spotts, offered him a seat in he and his wife Donna’s 358. Now he sits in the top 10 on Grandview’s All-Time Modified win list, with 26, even during the same era as the “Big 3” of Craig Von Dohren, Jeff Strunk and Duane Howard have gobbled up an extremely high percentage of all the other wins there and everywhere else in the PA/NJ/DE region.

Those 3 have the top spots on “The Hill” comfortably covered, however Manmiller sits tied with Meme DeSantis and within striking distance of Ray Swinehart and even Tom Mayberry within the next couple years. With a track leading five victories as recently as the 2014 season, the consistency over time speaks for itself. He’s also had numerous runner-up point finishes at the track as well, taking season-long battles with the Big 3 down to the last week of point racing several times.

Those point titles did come at other facilities Doug ventured out to over the years. A great battle with Von Dohren at Big Diamond in 2010 came down to the final week, with Manmiller starting behind CVD in the feature and needing to stay right with him to win the title, yet going out and passing him during the race to earn that coveted weekly modified championship.

He also has a point title in Central Pennsylvania, winning one of Susquehanna Speedway’s final modified titles back in 2003. And my personal favorite statistic is that Manmiller has managed to put eight different modified owners (including himself) into victory lane at tracks all over the area, most frequently at Grandview but including places like the now defunct East Windsor Speedway.

There’s been a time or two when things just seemed like too much effort for a lack of having fun or quality results, and it’s tested Doug as recently as just a couple years ago.

“I was running my own stuff and the results were just not there, and sure it makes you wonder if you want to keep doing it,” Manmiller commented.

Doug’s son Cody was also starting to race in the 600 Modified class around the same time.

“But like in the past, I had all the support and reassurance possible from my wife (Colleen) and family, as well as some fortunate timing with Jason (Miller) deciding to join up for weekly Grandview shows,” he said.

It sure was fortunate, with Manmiller parking that combination in victory lane within a couple weeks to bring a positive end to the season.

“I knew right away when I started driving for Jason part-time how great of a person he and his family are,” he said. “As we’ve evolved to weekly racing, that friendship has only gotten stronger and expanded away from the race track.”

This weekend Manmiller will venture to Georgetown Speedway for the first time in a couple of years and take to Brett Deyo’s upgraded facility for his Melvin Joseph Memorial Weekend and Short Track Super Series opener. He’s getting a bit of an early start compared to recent years in what will be his fourth driving a Jason Miller owned Bicknell.

“The plan as of now is to race both Deyo shows over the weekend, as well as some of his other shows and some Big Diamond early, depending on time for the crew,” Manmiller described in his plans on top of Grandview regularly and their Thunder on The Hill specials.

The Grandview Speedway regular season opens with a practice session on Saturday afternoon March 31st, followed by their first ever Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker paying tribute to the legendary owner of the facility who passed away last year. That will be a 50 lap big/small block special paying a hefty $7,500 to win this early in the year!