Jeff Strunk Takes Tuesday Night 358-Mod Feature At Grandview

Story By: BOB MILLER / THUNDER ON THE HILL – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Jeff Strunk won the 358-Modified feature which accompanied the 410 sprint cars Tuesday night at the Grandview Speedway as part of the PA Sprint Speedweek event. Strunk earned an attractive $3,000 first place prize for the win.

Ryan Watt jumped to the early lead from his front row starting position followed closely by Jared Umbenhauer. A lap 3 yellow flag slowed the field for the first time.

On the restart, Watt continued on in the top spot with Umbenhauer in second and Craig VonDohren moving into the third position.

The top-three competitors battled side-by-side for the lead, with Umbenhauer slipping past Watt on multiple occasions but unable to hold the top spot.

Lap-by-lap Watt maintained a command on the field with Umbenhauer and VonDohren forming a three car chase for the checkered.

A lap 21 restart offered Strunk an opportunity to pounce, first on VonDohren and then on Umbenhauer one lap later.

Strunk raced outside Watt’s No. 14W on the 23rd lap and finally completed the pass after multiple attempts. Strunk would go on to claim his 13th NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series win and his first since 2015.

Watt settled for second place, Craig VonDohren finished in third, Jared Umbenahuer in fourth, and Doug Manmiller in the fifth position.

Thunder Notes

Modified Heat Races were won by Brian Papiez, Ron Kline, and Ryan Watt.

Jeff Strunk maintains his position as the winningest driver in NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series Modified history scoring his 13th Modified feature event win.

358 Modifieds

Heat 1 – 1. Brian Papiez 2. Brett Kressley 3. Timmy Buckwalter 4. Danny Erb 5. Ryan Grim 6. Jordan Henn
Heat 2 – 1. Ron Kline 2. Mike Lisowski 3. Brian Hirthler 4. Billy Pauch 5. Louden Reimert 6. Kyle Weiss
Heat 3 – 1. Ryan Watt 2. Jared Umbenhauer 3. Craig VonDohren 4. Doug Manmiller 5. Ryan Beltz 6. Ray Swinehart

Feature – 1. Jeff Strunk 2. Ryan Watt 3. Craig VonDohren 4. Jared Umbenhauer 5. Doug Manmiller 6. Timmy Buckwalter 7. Ron Kline 8. Brian Hirthler 9. Danny Erb 10. Mike Lisowski 11. Steve Swinehart 12. Billy Pauch, Jr. 13. Kyle Weiss 14. Ray Swinehart 15. Loudon Reimert 16. Kory Flemming 17. Ryan Grim 18. Jordan Henn 19. Ryan Beltz 20. Brian Papiez 21. Don Norris, Jr. 22. Justin Grim 23. Mark Kratz 24. Brett Kressley 25. Kenny Gilmore

DNS: Chris Esposito, Meme DeSantis