Strunk Drives Back To The Front

Grandview Speedway's 2011 track champion and NASCAR state champion Jeff Strunk in victory lane at the Bechtelsville, Pa., clay oval. Chris Budihas

Wins Record 9th Grandview Modified Title

Jeff Strunk’s already astounding racing numbers continued to increase in 2011.

He won a record ninth 358 Modified division championship at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Penn., and his third NASCAR state championship. He also upped his career feature win total to 54 at the .333-mile banked clay oval.

“We go out to win the championship every year,” Strunk said, “and that’s tough to do at Grandview.”

“We had such a good season to get back on top. Winning the title over Duane Howard says a lot. He’s been so dominant it was good just to be able to run with him.”

Howard won his fourth career Grandview championship in 2010 and placed third in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national standings. Strunk won the 2011 track title over Howard by more than 300 points and was ranked 37th in the nation.

In a rain-abbreviated, 15-event season, Strunk collected two wins 11 top-fives and 14 top-10s. Grandview's handicapping system meant Strunk often started the features in the back pack.

Strunk has won his nine track titles over 12 seasons at Grandview. This year he added to a string of winning a Grandview championship for every owner he’s driven for there.

“That’s a trend I’m glad I could continue,” Strunk said. “The seat in Norm Hansell’s car opened up for this year and things worked out real well. Norm has a great crew chief, Jay Thomas, and crew who’ve been together a long time.”

Strunk won Grandview’s 358 Modified division Rookie of the Year Award in 1988, and owned his own cars for the first seven years of his career. He didn’t win a championship as an owner-driver.

“I’m glad I owned my own cars when I started out because you learn so much and you learn to take care of your car. Back then you might be able to outwork other teams and be successful. You can’t do that anymore. You have to have great equipment and a great team.”

He said he never planned to change car owners as often as he has.

“I’m not hard to get along with,” he said. “Sometimes a team or driver changes in some aspect.”

Grandview Speedway attracts a lot of great drivers and high quality teams. Feature events are just 30-laps and starts are inverted. The fastest cars and drivers try to get to the front in a hurry.

“Having patience at Grandview is huge for a driver,” Strunk said. “You’ve got to be cool-headed. If you go to Grandview with a chip on your shoulder you’ll leave with a boulder on it.

“It helps to know your competition on the track and how they drive. The surface of the track has been much more consistent in recent years, but you still want to keep an eye on things.

Strunk enjoyed the opportunity to race against his younger brother Glenn for the first time in seven years in 2011. Glenn Strunk took over the Gagliardo Motorsports ride that Jeff vacated for 2011. Glenn won in his “audition” appearance in the car in Sept. of 2010, and placed 13th in the 2011 track point race.

Greg VonDohren is second to Strunk on the all-time championship list with six. VonDohren, who finished third in the 2011 track standings, is Grandview’s all-time leading race winner with 80. Strunk is second with 54 wins.

The cars Strunk drives are Morrison Performance-powered Troyer chassis.

While Strunk is still a fulltime racer, he also added a fulltime job this year. He’s a welder for All Fab, Inc. The company is operated by Glenn Hyneman, one of his former car owners.