BECHTELSVILLE, PA (July 2, 2024): A pair of traveling men found their ways to Grandview Speedway for Tuesday night’s Thunder on the Hill event that was part of the Pennsylvania Speedweek 2024 edition. Logan Schuchart, who was given a reprieve by the World of Outlaws, made the relatively short trip from his Hanover home to place his name on the Hodnett Cup. Doug Manmiller left his family at the shore to come to the speedway to compete in the NASCAR Modified portion of the program.

Schuchart Speedweek Star
Logan Schuchart did not race at Grandview Speedway for more than a decade, but he quickly remembered the fastest way to get around the track. After setting the evening’s best time in qualifications (12.073 seconds), he battled with Anthony Macri throughout the thirty-five lap affair. The two young lions swapped the lead a couple of times, with Schuchart leading the final seven laps to claim the $10,000 victory.

“I haven’t been here since 2010, but I’ve watched a lot of videos.” Schuchart explained, “the videos showed the top is better until the rubber comes in on the bottom.” He admitted to having some difficulty deciding when to move down. He said that he took his cue from the cars that he was trying to put a lap down.

“When I had some problems with lapped cars, I knew that it was time to move down.”

Macri, who finished second despite contact with the wall in turn three on the last lap, agreed. “It was pretty hard dealing with lapped cars. I took a chance and he (Schuchart) got by me.”

Devon Borden made another impressive run despite losing his crew chief just before the start of Speedweek. Borden’s father came in from Washington to lend a hand and Devon was appreciative. “I’m feeling really good,” he said. “My guys gave me a good car and I was really comfortable.”

The luck of the draw placed Schuchart and Macri on the front row for the thirty-five lapper. Jesse Attard and Emerson Axsom were in row two, with Borden and Danny Dietrich the last two drivers eligible for the re-draw. Tim Gee and Troy Wagaman, Jr. were matched in row four. The fifth row included Kody Hartlaub and Aaron Bollinger. Taking row six were Ryan Taylor and Lucas Wolfe.

Schuchart entered turn one with the lead, but Macri went upstairs. He built momentum on the top and he surged off turn two with the lead. Tucking into third was Attard, with Axsom, Borden, Dietrich, Wagaman, Gee, Bollinger, and Hartlaub in tow.

Macri ran out front for the first eight laps of the contest. However, Schuchart began to reel him in when Macri had his first encounters with slower cars.

Schuchart had a big run into turn three and he blew by Macri and a lapped car at the same time to grab the lead when the lap counter showed number nine.

Schuchart went on to lead about a dozen laps. Macri stayed close, and he battled Schuchart side by side for a couple of rounds as they tried to work through more traffic. Macri did slip ahead for a few more rounds, but the slower cars were his undoing once again.

Schuchart took command again on lap twenty-eight. Macri remained close in the final laps. He began searching for a better line, but he could not find a place to make a pass.

Macri made one last desperate move on the leader in the final two corners. He sailed into turn three on the outside. However, he got up over what little cushion was still there and he brushed the wall. He kept his car moving, but the impact gave Schuchart extra breathing room to score the win.

While Schuchart and Macri were fighting for the lead, there was a good battle going on between Borden and Dietrich for the third position. Borden controlled it through most of the second half of the race, but Dietrich was in hot pursuit.

Gee made some last lap magic to take the fifth position. Following him across the finish line were Axsom, Wagaman, Hartlaub, Kyle Reinhardt, and Dylan Norris.

Three heats were presented for the twenty-four cars on hand. Dietrich, Borden, and Attard were victorious. There was no B Main.

The tour moved on to Port Royal Speedway. Danny Dietrich saw his point lead shrink to 75 markers over Macri. Wagaman, Borden, and Hartlaub complete the top five with five races remaining.

Manmiller the Mod Man
Doug Manmiller, the “Handler,” made the long ride from the shore alone to go racing at Grandview Speedway on Tuesday. The trip paid off as he took the NASCAR Modified main that was part of Thunder on the Hill. It was career win number thirty-six for the veteran from Shoemakersville, PA. He earned $3,000 for his troubles.

“It was vacation week,” Manmiller explained. “Sometimes, it is a pain to come all the way back alone. Usually, I have somebody riding with me, but they said ‘go have fun,’ and, here we are.”

Manmiller worked the outside to get past the early leader, Tim Buckwalter. “I knew Timmy wasn’t going to give up the bottom, but I knew I had to go.” Manmiller added, “I got him on the top. We had a good side by side run, but I think he bobbled.”

Buckwalter and Manmiller occupied the front row for the thirty lapper that closed out the night. Behind them were Duane Howard and Rick Laubach. Then came Craig Von Dohren and Brian Hirthler. Justin Grim and Danny Bouc were in row four. The fifth paired up Louden Reimert and Dave Dissinger. Jeff Strunk and Mike Gular were in row six.

Buckwalter took the initial lead, followed by Manmiller, Howard, Laubach, Von Dohren, and Brian Hirthler. Just a couple of laps into the fray, Manmiller rode the outside line to take the lead away from Buckwalter.

A caution eight laps in slowed the pace, and set up the first of three double file restarts. Buckwalter could not take advantage of the opportunity to start inside of Manmiller. He fell in line in second, but Von Dohren moved into the third position, followed by Howard, Gular, Laubach, and Strunk.

During the thirteen lap run that followed the first caution, Strunk began to make some forward progress. He was fifth at the halfway mark and fourth by lap twenty.

A pair of cautions, on laps twenty-one and twenty-three gave Strunk the chance to advance again. He took advantage, and he moved ahead to third on the last restart.

Manmiller switched from the outside to the inside for the last two restarts, and he preserved his lead over Buckwalter each time. Strunk crossed in third, followed by Von Dohren and Gular. Positions six through ten went to Howard, Alex Yankowski, Laubach, Billy Pauch, Jr., and Kevin Hirthler.

There were three Modified heats, which were won by Von Dohren, Howard, and Manmiller. There was no B Main.

The Modifieds will be back at Grandview Speedway on Saturday, July 6. With them will be the 602 Sportsmen. There will be double features for that class due to a rain-out the week before. What is more, the admission price will be just $10 as part of the 90’s celebration.