Grandpa Grynewicz Shows the Way in P&H Minepro Service FASTRUCKS
by Dave Westerman
The FASTRUCK Racing Series returned to New Smyrna Speedway in support of the USAR Hooter's Pro Cup race Saturday night with veteran driver Paul Grynewicz having a stellar evening.
The 50-lap race was sponsored by P&H MinePro Services of Bowling Green, FL, suppliers of walking dragline equipment to a number of mines throughout the Southeast U.S. A busload of P&H customers from around the country were in attendance at the speedway, taking a break from a conference in Orlando.
Thirty FASTRUCKS made the trip to New Smyrna with Grynewicz setting quick time of 20.730 seconds to earn a $100 bonus from Eddie King's Automotive Sales & Service in Bartow, FL. Tommy King, who is sponsored by P&H MinePro Services, didn't disappoint his large crowd of fans by setting second quick time.
Grynewicz drew the six pill while son Paul Grynewicz III drew the pole position and King drew outside pole.
As Honorary Marshall Steve Willis, world wide mobile equipment manager of SEMEX, dropped the green flag, King took off from his outside pole position into a quick early lead. Brandon Anderson spun his machine in turn one just as the second lap was being completed to bring out the first caution of the race.
When the green came back out Grynewicz was on the move. As he worked his way to the outside of the lead pack, slight contact was made and the rear "tailgate" of his truck was ripped off, sliding high up against the turn two wall. The debris was far enough from the racing groove that no caution was needed and Grynewicz moved by King for the lead on lap six, just before the second yellow flag of the night came out when Kelly Caudill spun in turn one. At the same time, Bobby Owens' truck suffered an engine problem and he left the track.
Grynewicz continued to lead the way through a long green flag period with King still within striking distance as the duo pulled well ahead of the rest of the field, putting many trucks a lap down in the process.
The third caution didn't come out until lap 28 when Brian Luloff spun on the front straight and got stuck in the mud between the racing surface and the inside wall.
Again Grynewicz and King pulled away on the restart to a comfortable advantage. Caution four was displayed on lap 37 when Patrick Thomas hit the turn two wall to end his evening.
Shortly after the restart, Pat Dunn and Curt Haywood made hard contact on the frontstretch with Haywood's truck hitting the inside wall and needing a tow from the racing surface.
On the restart, Jimmy Gill, who had started 19th, moved into the top five and set his sights on the lead group.
Caution flew for the final time on lap 44 as George Gorham spun coming out of turn four to set up a final six lap dash to the checker. Grynewicz, who set fast time at New Smyrna two weeks ago and led most of the race only to have a tire go flat, had it all together on this night as he took the win in his Chevy just in front of King, who padded his current point lead with the runner-up finish in his Ford. Marty Wolf drove a steady race to end up third in his Family Oasis Restaurant sponsored Chevy Silverado with James Wright III taking fourth. Jimmy Gill took the fifth spot and earned the Southern Road Builders Hard Charger Award.
B.J. Gill was sixth with John Mitchell, Mason Love, Wendell Bristol and Big Al Neumann completing the top ten.
Grynewicz was immediately joined in victory lane by two of his young granddaughters and accepted a unique trophy featuring a die-cast model of a P&H walking dragline from George Patrick and Ken Kallas from P&H MinePro Services.
There's no rest for the weary as the FASTRUCK drivers head for their next race this coming Friday night at Orlando Speedworld.
ESULTS: NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY - 3/29/03 (50 Laps):
1) Paul Grynewicz, Hudson #40 2) Tommy King, Bartow #16 3) Marty Wolf, Edgewater #9 4) James Wright III, Auburndale #56 5) Jimmy Gill, Sarasota #5 6) B.J. Gill, Sarasota #24 7) John Mitchell, High Springs #17 8) Mason Love, St. Petersburg #21 9) Wendell Bristol, Auburndale #18 10) Al Neumann, Ellenton #4 11) Tim Schaffner, Ft. Lauderdale #29 12) Paul Grynewicz III, Hudson #44 13) Richard Houston #41 14) Kelly Caudill, South Daytona #33 15) Tom North, Plantation #83 16) George Gorham, Lakeland #10 17) Donald Davis, Jacksonville #3 18) Gary Foxworth, Lutz #42 19) Billy Barstow, Lakeland #01 20) Bill Stacy, Daytona Beach #32 21) Jeff Guibault, Bradenton #92 22) Curt Haywood, Oakland Park #97 23) Pat Dunn, Titusville #121 24) Patrick Thomas, Orlando #55 25) Graham McCorvey, Gibsonton #78 26) Brian Luloff, Dade City #7 27) Jeff Firestine, Nokomis #93 28) Bobby Owens, Orlando #1 29) Andy Breedlove, Sarasota #50 30) Brandon Anderson, Alva #46
