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FEATURING VP RACING FUELS BRUCE ROGERS MEMORIAL MODIFIED CHAMPIONSHIP PAYING $7500 TO WIN AND $1000 TO START PLUS SPORTSMAN
BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – After all the weeks of anticipation and preparation, Grandview Speedway is set to officially open the 2024 racing season this Saturday night.
This Saturday, April 6 will see the track gates swing open for the first official race meet of the 62nd anniversary season as Big Block/Small Block Modified competitors compete for top honors in the season opening VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker, the seventh consecutive year that the season opening event is run in honor of long-time track owner and promoter Bruce Rogers.
The feature race will be 50-laps in distance, paying a cool $7500 to win as well as a remarkable $1000 to qualify and take the green flag in the main event. A bonus to the winner will be a guaranteed starting spot in the September 21 Freedom 76!
The T.P. Truck Equipment 602 Sportsman will also join in on the Opening Night program in a full show which includes qualifying events and a 25-lap feature race.
VP Racing Fuels is the sponsor of the Season Opener and is advising all race teams that for this program they can do pre-orders with distributor Road Runner Fuels by contacting them at 717.587.1693.
The VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker is run annually to honor the late track owner and promoter who helped his father build the track, then along with his family run it for over 50 years, taking it to national prominence before his death in 2017.
Bruce Rogers worked alongside of his father Forrest when the track was first built in 1963, then took over the track after his father’s sudden passing prior to the start of the 1966 season. Working with his family by his side, Bruce was able to take his father’s dream and make it a reality.
After a lot of hard work, the little track on the hill, soon with great support from local star drivers and super loyal fans, became a great success. The grandstands were filled with cheering fans, and the pits filled with local drivers who became legends and heroes. Eventually national touring series and nationally known drivers began passing through the gates of Grandview Speedway and are still doing so to this day!
Over the years Bruce Rogers worked with different partners like Jerry Stinson in the early years, and for special events Ed Darrell and Bob Miller, to give Grandview’s fans a variety of special events.
Bruce once said that “The fans at Grandview can’t be beat. They are the ones that make it happen for all of us.” Bruce Rogers was a man of few words when it came to public speaking, but his tireless work efforts at Grandview and for auto racing spoke volumes of the great man he was.
Bruce Rogers spent five decades at Grandview Speedway and oversaw many events on his one-third-mile high banked race track. During his tenure he promoted over 1100 Saturday Night stock car events, over ten years of Sunday Night Midget competition in the 1970’s and 80’s and over 100 Sprint car events.
Now the Rogers’ family continues the tradition of operating Grandview Speedway and for the seventh consecutive year will present the opening race in his honor.
Looking at the history of Opening Day at Grandview, there have been 38 different drivers that have reached victory lane in 61 season opening events, including adding a new name to the list last season when Mike Gular scored the victory.
Opening Day has always been a special day, but it has added importance the last six seasons since the first race has been run as the VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial. Winning the Memorial races were Stewart Friesen, Matt Sheppard, Timmy Buckwalter, Duane Howard, Craig Von Dohren and last year Mike Gular.
The defending Track Champion Brett Kressley will be among the favorites looking for his first Opening Day win along with the rest of the top ten-point drivers like Craig Von Dohren, Jeff Strunk, Doug Manmiller, Jared Umbenhauer, Ryan Watt, defending winner Mike Gular, Ryan Grim, Tim Buckwalter, and Eddie Strada along with about three dozen regulars. Six-time Track Champion Duane Howard will be back in action this season, looking to add to his total of Opening Night wins.
A couple of outside invaders have already indicated they will be challenging for top honors in the VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial including the very first winner Stewart Friesen of Sprakers, N.Y. along with fellow N.Y. driver Dillon Smith. Other drivers indicating an intention to compete include Alex Yankowski of Covington Township, Pa., Ryan Krachun of Branchburg, N.J. and Frenchtown, N.J. ace Billy Pauch Jr.
The Opening Night program will be sanctioned by NASCAR and will be the first point race of the new campaign for both the T.P. Trailer Modified and T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman divisions toward both the track and NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Championships.
For the Bruce Rogers Memorial event, all drivers are welcome to compete as in years past, and if any driver is not a track regular, the Speedway will cover the cost of the $25 temporary NASCAR driver license for this one night of competition.
There is no entry fee for this special event, however drivers are encouraged to pre-enter by calling or texting 484.256.4375, providing the driver’s name, contact information and phone number. Drivers are also reminded to visit the speedway website at www.grandviewspeedway.com to print and fill out a W-9 form and bring it with them to the track on Opening Night. The W-9 form must be provided to the pit office to be eligible for drivers to draw for heat race starting spots and to receive any payoff.
Information and car rules are listed for the VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker on the speedway website at www.grandviewspeedway.com under the Bruce Rogers Memorial tab.
Race time on Opening Night is 6 pm, Pit gates open at 1 pm, Grandstand gates open at 4 pm, the Drivers meeting is at 4 pm. followed by the draw for position, then warm-ups at 5 pm.
Grandstand admission for Adults is $30, Students ages 10-15 with ID are $20, while ages 9 and under are admitted free of charge. Pit admission is $40 with a license and $45 without a license.
Just in case, Saturday, April 13 has been set aside as a rain date for the Opening Night event.
Since the 1960’s, Grandview Speedway has been presenting exciting wheel to wheel NASCAR stock car racing every Saturday Night starting in April and running through October, plus special events. Grandview Speedway is located at 43 Passmore Road, Bechtelsville, Pa. 19505, just off Route 100, ten miles north of Pottstown, Pa.
Information is always available at www.grandviewspeedway.com or on Facebook, or by telephone at 610.754.7688.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Saturday, April 6 – 62nd Anniversary Season Opener – 7thAnnual VP Racing Fuels BRUCE ROGERS MEMORIAL MONEY MAKER – Big Block/Small Block Modifieds 50-Laps – $7500 to win and $1000 to start, T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman – 6 pm
Saturday, April 13 – T.P. Trailer Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman – 6 pm (Bruce Rogers Memorial Rain date)
Sunday, April 14 – Outlaw Racing Series Enduro and Outlaw Racing Series Vintage – 1 pm.
Saturday, April 20 – T.P. Trailer Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman, CHECKERED FLAG FAN CLUB NIGHT, TRIVIA NIGHT – 6 pm
Saturday, April 27 – T.P. Trailer Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman – 6 pm
GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY OPENING DAY FEATURE WINNERS
| 1963 – | Lauden Potts |
| 1964 – | Dick Grimley |
| 1965 – | Red Coffin |
| 1966 – | Chris Skias |
| 1967 – | Bucky Williams |
| 1968 – | Charley Gilmore |
| 1969 – | Warren Mutter |
| 1970 – | Paul Fitzcharles |
| 1971 – | Ed Mumford |
| 1972 – | Dave Kelly |
| 1973 – | Mike Erb |
| 1974 – | Ronnie Peck |
| 1975 – | Mike Geiser |
| 1976 – | Francis Hardner |
| 1977 – | Pete Damiani |
| 1978 – | Russ Smith |
| 1979 – | Larry Solomon |
| 1980 – | Tom Mayberry |
| 1981 – | Fred Rahmer |
| 1982 – | Craig Von Dohren |
| 1983 – | Doug Hoffman |
| 1984 – | Fred Rahmer |
| 1985 – | Dennis Thomas |
| 1986 – | Charlie Eckert |
| 1987 – | Davey Wenger |
| 1988 – | Davey Wenger |
| 1989 – | Rick Schaffer |
| 1990 – | Craig Von Dohren |
| 1991 – | Billy Schinkel |
| 1992 – | Craig Von Dohren |
| 1993 – | Kenny Brightbill |
| 1994 – | Paul Koch |
| 1995 – | Craig Von Dohren |
| 1996 – | Jeff Strunk |
| 1997 – | Randy Bailey |
| 1998 – | Craig Von Dohren |
| 1999 – | Tom Mayberry |
| 2000 – | Jeff Strunk |
| 2001 – | Jeff Strunk |
| 2002 – | Jeff Strunk |
| 2003 – | Meme DeSantis |
| 2004 – | Jeff Stunk |
| 2005 – | Jeff Strunk |
| 2006 – | Duane Howard |
| 2007 – | Duane Howard |
| 2008 – | Duane Howard |
| 2009 – | Duane Howard |
| 2010 – | John Willman |
| 2011 – | Duane Howard |
| 2012 – | Duane Howard |
| 2013 – | Meme DeSantis |
| 2014 – | Stewart Friesen |
| 2015 – | Duane Howard |
| 2016 – | Craig Von Dohren |
| 2017 – | Kevin Hirthler |
| 2018 – | Stewart Friesen |
| 2019 – | Matt Sheppard |
| 2020 – | Tim Buckwalter |
| 2021 – | Duane Howard |
| 2022 – | Craig Von Dohren |
| 2023 – | Mike Gular |
