Grunda Runs Away with MSA Opener
By: C. Meyers
(South Amherst, Ohio) - Union City, Michigans Dorman Snyder and Lagrange, Ohios Jon Henes paced the field of twenty Enerco/ Mr. Heater supermodifieds to the green flag at Lorain Speedway. The rookie Dorman Snyder, jumped out for the early lead. Back behind Snyder, Pat Shullick and Joe Grunda moved up a spot apiece on lap one. On lap two 2005 MSA Points Champion, Dave Shullick Jr. took the ACME Racing 49 to the pits for repairs. He rejoined the field on lap four, two laps down. On lap four Randy Burch coasted to a stop on the front chute bringing out the first caution of the evening. Burchs night came to an end with motor issues. Also exiting was the leader at the time, Snyder with motor troubles and Lehnert Jr. with mechanical issues. (click "read more")
With the leader going pitside, veteran supermodified pilot Pat Shullick inherited the lead, but not for long. On the restart Grunda continued his charge to the front getting around Shullick on lap five in turn three. Henes, Rich Reid, and Schultz rounded out the top five. Behind Schultz was Dawson. Schultz and Dawson exchanged positions on lap eight. On lap ten Matt Palmer spun to bring out the caution. On the restart Jim Moran dove into the infield to bring out another caution. On the lap ten restart Grunda led the field into turn one with the veteran Shullick hot on his heels. On lap twelve Hinckley Ohios, Jim Moran made hard contact with the backstretch wall bringing out a red flag to repair the guardrail. Although Jim escaped without injury, the number 32 suffered heavy rear end damage ending his night. Rich Reid who was running fourth at the time spun to avoid Jim and was given his position back.
Racing resumed with Schultz making a hard charge in turn one passing Dawson and Reid to get into the fourth spot. The race would remain the same with Palmer bringing out the next two cautions for spins on lap nineteen and twenty-six. On the lap twenty-six restart Schultz made his move into a podium finish getting around Henes. South Amhersts Bobby Dawson made his move into the top five with his new Mirage Chassis getting around Reid also. Henes lived up to his nickname as Mr. Consistency staying in the top five all night long. However, the night belonged to Fernandina Beach, Florida resident Joe Grunda who was not challenged for the lead after lap ten.
Grunda driving part-time in the 2006 season won his first feature in his new car. The last time he saw victory lane was in 1998 with his independent suspension car. Lorain Speedway was the site of his first supermodified feature win in 1983.
Amazingly the car was put together after being in pieces just three days before the race. Id like to thank Tom Rich, my brother in-law Dave Harrington who put the car together for me because I didnt even plan on racing this weekend, and Coco Adams. A special thanks to Brian Allegresso as well, said the smiling Florida attorney in victory lane.
MSA will take a week off and return to racing action on Saturday May 13th at Sandusky Speedway. This is the first of four stops at the half-mile oval.
Earlier in the day saw Pat Shullick and Jon Henes claim caution free heat race wins . Sanduskys Jack Smith was top qualifier on the night with a 12.732, and Joe Grunda marked the 11th different feature winner in 12 races. Predicting feature winners this year is just as tough as last year.
Heat 1: Pat Shullick, Charlie Schultz, Rich Reid, Randy Burch, Dave Shullick Jr., Kyle Edwards, John Dirk, Don Johnson, Dave Koyan, Denny Fisher, Robb Stasick
Heat 2: Jon Henes, Joe Grunda, Bobby Dawson, Jack Smith, Dorman Snyder, Larry Lehnert Jr., Moe Lilje, Jim Moran, Matt Palmer, Sean Sauer
Feature (12 car inversion) Grunda, P. Shullick, Schultz, Henes, Dawson, Reid, Fisher, Lilje, Smith, Johnson, Palmer, Dirk, Shullick Jr., Moran, Edwards, Stasick, Snyder, Lehnert Jr., Burch, Koyan, Sauer (DNS)
Lap Leaders: Snyder (1-4), Grunda (5-30)
