BECHTELSVILLE, Pa. — Tim Buckwalter’s misfortune was Mike Gular’s benefit in the NASCAR 358 Modified feature during Tuesday’s NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series program at Grandview Speedway.
The winningest driver in Grandview Speedway history, Craig Von Dohren, started on the pole of the 30-lap feature event, alongside Buckwalter. Buckwalter took the lead at the drop of the green flag, followed by Matt Stangle moving into the second position.
The only caution of the evening flew on lap six when Von Dohren spun on the backstretch. Buckwalter held control on the restart, while the battle for second heated up with Stangle, Ryan Krachun, Mike Gular and Jeff Strunk.
Buckwalter maintained a rapid pace for the bulk of the event, with his sight set on a $5,000 payday sweetened by the Pioneer Pole Building first-time winner bonus – that came to a halt when Buckwalter’s No. 23X machine slowed on the backstretch suffering from a flat right-rear tire.
Buckwalter kept the lead until the white flag flew, but Gular closed quickly, with Ryan Krachun and Matt Stangle right behind. Gular would inherit the lead and earned $3,500 since he was a previous Thunder on the Hill feature winner.
Krachun finished in the second position, Matt Stangle in the third spot, Craig Whitmoyer in fourth and Jeff Strunk in fifth.
The finish:
Feature (30 Laps): – 1. Mike Gular 2. Ryan Krachun 3. Matt Stangle 4. Craig Whitmoyer 5. Jeff Strunk 6. Duane Howard 7. Danny Bouc 8. Jared Umbenhauer 9. Timmy Buckwalter 10. Brett Kressley 11. Rick Laubach 12. Alex Yankowski 13. Craig Von Dohren 14. Dylan Swinehart 15. Davey Sammons 16. Jack Butler 17. Ryan Beltz 18. Brian Hirthler 19. David Burns 20. Aaron Bowes 21. MeMe DeSantis 22. Justin Grim 23. Kevin Hirthler 24. Kenny Gilmore