Joey Grammes Holds On For First Win Of Season At Penn Can

Story By: BRYAN CHASE / PENN CAN SPEEDWAY – SUSQUEHANNA, PA – Joey Grammes of Kunkletown held off a hard-charging Dan Pompey to secure his first win of the season. The Hurricane made landfall in the Crate Modifieds, picking up his first win since returning to Penn Can. Chuck Culbertson, Shane Wolf Jr, Nick Kennedy and Chris Jordan also victorious.

Butch Getz and Alan Rudalavage brought the 21-car field to the green flag. The mighty modifieds roared down the front stretch, as another great crowd looked on. It would be Rudalavage taking the early advantage. The veteran had his beautiful blue #145 hooked up and looking strong out front. Unfortunately a handful of early cautions would keep the group bunched together, allowing the others to keep pace behind him. This proved to be beneficial to Joey Grammes, as he was the man on the move. Grammes, who started 5th, chipped away at the cars in front of him. Soon enough, he was on Rudalavage’s bumper.

Another caution flew right before the halfway point. The group then went double file for the last time, which allowed Grammes to use the outside position to get a good run on Rudalavage. As the two entered the first turn, Grammes carried the momentum to the backstretch, getting around Rudalavage for the lead. Grammes would then stretch the field out his HigFab #5, however Dan Pompey was on the move from his his 9th starting position. Pompey would crack the top 3 and battled with Rudalavage for 2nd place. With a handful of laps remaining, Pompey overtook Rudalavage and bee-lined for Grammes, closing in on him every lap. Fortunately for Grammes, Pompey ran out of time. Pompey settled for 2nd. Rudalavage finished 3rd. Kevin Hartnett and Butch Getz rounded out the top 5.

Being one who is never afraid to wear his emotions on his sleeve, an emotional Grammes spoke on the microphone during the victory lane interview. Grammes thanked the Getz family and his brother Brad for providing him with the best equipment he’s ever had in his many years of racing. Grammes is now the 3rd different modified feature winner of the season.

The Hurricane Michael Schane picked up where he left off the previous two seasons. Randy Brokaw would take the early lead as him and Jeremy Williams brought the cars around to go green. Williams appeared to get loose on the start, allowing Nick Branning and Schane to slip underneath. Schane, who started 4th, got his Safelite AutoGlass m16 hooked up, powered around both Branning and Brokaw and would remain out front for the duration of the race. However, a bunch of great battles were going on behind him.

Matt Brewer and Carl Bittenbender both made charges to the front, using both the high and low sides of the track. Bittenbender, who’s been strong every week, started 8th. He worked his way into the top 5 and made a late race pass to finish 4th. Randy Brokaw showed some staying power again for the 2nd week in a row, finishing 2nd. Matt Brewer was 3rd. Mike Nagel Jr, who started 7th, finished 5th.

The always entertaining factory stock division saw Jason Thomas and Cyrus Homer bring the crunch bunch around for the start of their feature. Shortly after the start, the caution came out for Thomas. His night was over as the rear end of his car decided to blow apart on the front stretch. This opened up the lead for Homer. Charlie Towner would come charging through the field though. A few laps later, Towner challenged Homer for the lead. As the two went down the front stretch, Towner cleared Homer as the two passed the flag stand, however Towner’s motor would let go as fire could be seen from the engine bay, effectively ending his night. Last weeks feature winner, Tommy Groover, also would succumb to mechanical issues and would be forced to retire early.

As the checkered flag fell, it would be Cyrus Homer coming across the line 1st. The 2017 track champion, Chuck Culbertson, made his return to action and would battle Dusty Decker for 2nd place. Culbertson would eventually finish 2nd, while Decker would manage a great run after coming back through the pack and finish 3rd. Decker looked fast and comfortable and could become a contender going forward. Nate Hill and Ned Fitch rounded out the rest of the top 5. However, during tech inspection, Homer was deemed out of compliance with Penn Can’s factory stock rules, removing his title as repeat winner, giving the win to Culbertson.

Popular driver Shane Wolf Jr made his first visit to victory lane in 2018 with his win in the street stock feature. Shane got out front early and would dominate the rest of the way. The local driver looked the best he has all season and may have finally got the gremlins out of the one he calls “Sophia.” Doug Polhamus, Eric Beach, Buck Mills and Doug Stack Jr rounded out the top 5.

Captain Quick Nick Kennedy continued his early season dominance and would collect the win in the 4-Cylinder division, leading every lap. Chris Taylor would stay with Kennedy early, but Kennedy had the car to go the distance in the end. Taylor would settle in for 2nd. Tom Kapish, Joshua Wilder and then Jason Colwell would be your top 5.

Chris Jordan started P1 in his feature event and never turned back. Jordan powered his 600cc mod to victory. While Dana Davis, Jared Green, Tyler Smith and Dakota Anderson crossed the line behind Jordan in that order.

The Jr Modified program saw Kaden Ayre, Aubrey Ayre and Matthew Backus finish 1, 2 and 3. While Nolan Smith, Calvin Wheelock and Trevor Houghton also gave chase and rounded out the finishing order after the conclusion of their 10-lap feature.

Racing action resumes next Friday 6/1 with a full program. Be sure to check out www.penncanspeedway.net for all the updates!

5/25/18 OFFICIAL RESULTS

MODIFIEDS (21 CARS): JOEY GRAMMES, Dan Pompey, Alan Rudalavage, Kevin Hartnett, Butch Getz, Bobby Trapper, Mike Loney, Nick Petrilak, Brad Schaffer, Alan Kellogg, Nick Rochinski, Mike Nagel, Brian Malcolm, Mike Dougherty, Steve Davis, Mike Walsh, Joe Krum, Eric Bonham, Dan Solomon, Dan Allen, Bobby Trapper Jr

CRATE MODIFIEDS (16 CARS): MICHAEL SCHANE, Randy Brokaw, Matt Brewer, Carl Bittenbender, Mike Nagel Jr, Nick Branning, Ray Leonard, Tom Creed, Kam Maby, Jeremy Williams, Ryan Stone, James O’hara, Moose Gulley, TJ Frost, Tom Hampton, Devon Zona

FACTORY STOCK (12 CARS): CHUCK CULBERTSON, Dusty Decker, Nate Hill, Ned Fitch, Charlie Towner, Alecia Towner, Brady Simpson, David Acosta, Tommy Groover, Matt Millard, Jason Thomas, Cyrus Homer (DQ)

STREET STOCKS (9 CARS): SHANE WOLF JR, Doug Polhamus, Eric Beach, Buck Mills, Doug Stack Jr, Doug Stack, Brett Relyea, Keith Beach, Steve Polhamus

4-CYLINDERS (10 CARS): NICK KENNEDY, Chris Taylor, Tom Kapish, Joshua Wilder, Jason Colwell, Jason Colwell Jr, David Fox Jr, Brian Salmini, Bryant Beach, Brandom Gumaer

600cc MODIFIEDS (6 CARS): CHRIS JORDAN, Dana Davis, Jared Green, Tyler Smith, Dakota Anderson, Jacob Waibel

JR MODIFIEDS (6 CARS): KADEN AYRE, Aubrey Ayre, Matthew Backus, Nolan Smith, Calvin Wheelock, Trevor Houghton