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Photo Grandview Speedway
BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – Alex Yankowski of Covington Township, Pa. was able to out maneuver 2024 Track Champion Jeff Strunk of Boyertown, Pa. on a lap 47 restart, then drove home to the biggest win of his young racing career, capturing the 54th annual Freedom 76 T.P. Trailer Modified Championship race Saturday night at Grandview Speedway.
Yankowski fought his way forward from tenth starting position, then battled past Kevin Hirthler of Boyertown, Pa. and eventually race leader Jeff Strunk on a lap 47 restart, to capture the $31,000 plus payday for the win in the prestigious race.
The victory for Yankowski was his first ever in the season ending Championship event, adding his name to the long and storied list of race winners, and his second ever at the track, having won a Thunder on the Hill Series special event in August of 2022. With the race win, Yankowski also became the twelfth different feature winner at the track in T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modified competition this season.
The win paid $30,062 to win plus an additional bonus from the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series of $1000, a $100 Lynn Himes great effort award from T.P. Trailers and Truck Equipment (highest finishing driver not in top ten in track points), plus Yankowski led laps 48-76 and picked up $1025 in lap money for a total of $32,187 for the win!
The 54th annual Freedom 76 saw Cole Stangle of Neshanic Station, N.J. take the early lead over Justin Grim of Orefield, Pa., David Hunt of Bridgewater, N.J., Kevin Hirthler of Boyertown, Pa. and Justin Grosso of Belle Meade, N.J., setting the pace through several early caution flag slowdowns for some minor mishaps that kept regrouping the field.
During these early laps eighth place starting Jeff Strunk and thirteenth starting Brett Kressley of Orefield, Pa. were on the move gaining positions by running the outside groove of the track.
A lap seven restart set up some great action, as Stangle, Grosso, and Strunk entered turn one three wide for the lead, with Grosso pulling off a top lane pass for the lead out of turn two down the backstretch to take command, with Strunk soon following into second spot.
Justin Grosso led for four laps in a great battle, until Strunk was able to use the top lane to make a turn four pass and grab the lead to score lap twelve.
Strunk then set the pace but Grosso stayed right with him, trying to regain the top spot as the leaders reached heavy lapped traffic on lap eighteen.
While this entertaining action was happening, Alex Yankowski, who started tenth, began to make his moves forward, and joined in a great battle for the top five spots with Kevin Hirthler, Cole Stangle, and Ryan Watt of Boyertown, Pa., after reaching the fifth position on lap eleven.
When the long green flag stretch of action slowed with a lap 25 caution, the entire top five of Strunk, Grosso, Hirthler, Yankowski, and Stangle were all tightly bunched together fighting through lapped traffic in fan pleasing action.
Following the restart, Strunk took off again as the leader with Grosso right behind, however Hirthler and Yankowski were fighting each other for position, with Yankowski getting by Hirthler and quickly moving in on Grosso to challenge for second.
Yankowski, who used the top groove to pass Hirthler, continued to stay up high, and was finally able to wrestle the second position away from Grosso with a turn four pass to score lap 36.
All while this was going on, Eddie Strada of Lake Ariel, Pa. was marching through the field after qualifying through the Schaeffer Motorsports Minuteman 20, and started in 31st position.
Strada reached the top ten by lap 22, and joined in a great fight for position with Dom Buffalino of Sayreville, N.J., Doug Manmiller of Shoemakersville, Pa., Kyle Smith of Fleetwood, Pa., Mike Gular of Boyertown, Pa., Danny Creeden of Wurtsboro, N.Y., and Michael Maresca of Baldwinsville, N.Y. who were all fighting for top ten positions.
During another extended period of green flag racing leader Strunk set the pace with a small but comfortable lead, and once again hit lapped traffic by lap 44, when the entire top five were all together to battle each other through the traffic.
A lap 47 caution proved to be the turning point of the race, as Strunk had been leading since lap 12 and was setting a steady and strong pace, but Yankowski was able to get the edge on the restart by the time they hit turn one, only to have the pass wiped away by another caution for a home stretch mixup involving several top running cars including Justin Grosso, Gular, Maresca and Jared Umbenhauer of Richland, Pa.
The second attempt saw Strunk pick the bottom lane again, allowing Yankowski to pull the same outside lane pass entering turn one, to take a lead he would never surrender.
Strada and Craig Von Dohren of Oley, Pa. who started in 34th and last position, were still moving forward using the high lane of the speedway, with Strada moving into the top five, and Von Dohren into the top ten following the restart.
Yankowski moved out to a small but safe lead as the laps clicked off, but eventually Strunk began to close back in on the leader, and make an attempt to regain the lead, while Hirthler, Watt, Strada, and Stangle continued their fight for position.
With Strunk closing back in on Yankowski, disaster struck for Strunk as he suddenly slowed entering turn one on lap 65 and he slowly coasted to the infield out of the race, and his chances for another Freedom 76 win now over.
Yankowski ran the remaining laps unchallenged, going on to score the biggest win of his young racing career, followed by Kevin Hirthler for his best Freedom 76 finish, Strada who picked up the Bobby Gunther-Walsh Hard Charger award for $1776, Watt, Brandon Grosso of Belle Meade, N.J. who ran steady all evening long, Billy Pauch Jr. of Frenchtown, N.J, who recovered from any early mishap, Von Dohren, Sportsman Champion Logan Watt of Boyertown, Pa., Kyle Smith, and Rick Laubach of Quakertown, Pa.
A massive field of 73 T.P. Trailer Modifieds attempted to qualify for the Freedom 76 through seven qualifying heats, with Bill Brown & Co. Printing and Promotional Products awarding $50 to all heat winners who were Mike Gular, Kevin Hirthler, Jared Umbenahuer, Brandon Grosso, Logan Watt, David Hunt, and Dom Buffalino, while Stewart Friesen of Sprakers, N.Y., Eric Kormann of Carneys Point, N.J., and Matt Stangle of Neshanic Station, N.J. won the consolations.
The Schaeffer Motorsports Minuteman 20 was run following the consolations and qualified the final eight starters to the Freedom 76. Michael Maresca took the lead from the drop of the green and led all the way to capture the victory.
There was a fantastic battle for the last four qualifying spots in the last half of the 20-lap event between Louden Reimert of Oley, Pa., Bobby Varin of Sharon Springs, N.Y., Eddie Strada, Tyler Dippel of Wallkill, N.Y., and Cody Manmiller down to the finish.
At the checkered flag, Maresca scored the win followed by Ryan Krachun of Branchburg, N.J., Billy Pauch Jr., Rick Laubach, Reimert, Varin, Strada, and Dippel who would all advance into the Freedom 76.
A $1000 to win 10-lap cash dash was run between heat race winners and the three guaranteed starters (Strunk, Watt, Godown), with Ryan Godown of Ringoes, N.J. picking up the win and the cash.
Bobby Gunther-Walsh of Allentown, Pa. and his sponsors Res Q Natural Supplements, Just Born Confections, Drs. Eric Lebby & Thomas DiBenedetto Orthopedic Specialists, Eden East Designs, and Agentis Plumbing presented the Hard Charger award which was won by Eddie Strada, who advanced 28 positions during the big race from 31st starting spot to third.
Bobby Gunther-Walsh of Allentown, Pa. and his sponsors Res Q Natural Supplements, Just Born Confections, Drs. Eric Lebby & Thomas DiBenedetto Orthopedic Specialists, Eden East Designs, and Agentis Plumbing also presented the Hard Luck award which was won by Ryan Grim of Laurys Station, Pa. who had a bad crash during qualifying action.
Modified division sponsor T.P. Trailers and Truck Equipment provided a $100 bonus in memory of Lynn Himes, a long-time supporter of Grandview Speedway to the highest finishing driver that was not in the top ten in track points, with that bonus going to winner Alex Yankowski.
The Grandview Track Officials sponsored a Non-Qualifier award presented to the first driver that missed qualifying for the feature race, with Cody Manmiller of Philadelphia, Pa. receiving a free engine re-sealing (value $225) for next season.
Grandview Speedway will be presenting two more racing events for the 2024 race season the first of which is on Saturday, September 28 for the Outlaw Racing Series Enduro/Vintage series presenting a double program joined by the Xcel 600 Modifieds starting at 5 pm. Grandstand admission for adults is $10, children ages 12 and under are free, while pit admission is $30.
The final on track event of the year is on Friday, October 18 once again featuring an Outlaw Racing Series Enduro/Vintage double program plus Slingshots and Xcel 600 Modifieds starting at 6 pm. There will be a Halloween party for the youngsters prior to the racing action.
Grandview Speedway management also announced that Opening Day for 2025 will be the Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker on Saturday, April 5th!
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.
GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY MANAGEMENT AND STAFF SENDS OUT A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE FREEDOM 76 WEEKEND AND DURING THE ENTIRE 2024 RACING SEASON!!!!
T.P. TRAILER NASCAR MODIFIED FREEDOM 76 FEATURE FINISH (76 laps): ALEX YANKOWSKI ($32,262), Kevin Hirthler, Eddie Strada, Ryan Watt, Brandon Grosso, Billy Pauch Jr., Craig Von Dohren, Logan Watt, Kyle Smith, Rick Laubach, Jared Umbenhauer, Brian Hirthler, Duane Howard, Cole Stangle, Jeff Strunk, Michael Maresca, Mike Gular, Doug Manmiller, Justin Grim, Tim Buckwalter, Justin Grosso, Dom Buffalino, Stewart Friesen, Ryan Godown, Bobby Varin, Tyler Dippel, Coleby Frye, Danny Creeden, Brett Kressley, Ryan Krachun, David Hunt, Sean Weiss, Jim Housworth, Louden Reimert
DID NOT QUALIFY: Cody Manmiller, Max McLaughlin, Chris Gambler, Eric Kormann, Frank Cozze, Craig Whitmoyer, Kevin Graver Jr., Joe Funk, Mike Laise, WB James, Jon Kellner, Tanner Van Doren, Matt Stangle, Danny Bouc, Lex Shive, Sam Martz Jr., Ryan Beltz, Corey Renninger, Dylan Swinehart, Mike Lisowski, Sam Martz Sr., Matt Yoder, Michael Storms, Nate Brinker, Jesse Hirthler, Chris Esposito, DJ Hunt, Adrianna Delliponti, John Willman, Bobby Trapper Jr., Paul Mancini, Cale Ross, Ron Haring Jr., Bobby Trapper Sr., Darrin Schuler, Bryan Rhoads, Ryan Grim, Kevin Hartnett, Frank Yankowski
SCHAEFFERS MOTORSPORTS MINUTEMAN 20: (Top 8 to Freedom 76): MICHAEL MARESCA, Ryan Krachun, Billy Pauch Jr., Rick Laubach, Louden Reimert, Bobby Varin, Eddie Strada, Tyler Dippel, Cody Manmiller, Max McLaughlin, Chris Gambler, Eric Kormann, Frank Cozze, Craig Whitmoyer Kevin Graver Jr., Joe Funk, Mike Laise, WB James, Jon Kellner, Tanner Van Doren, Stewart Friesen, Matt Stangle, Danny Bouc
HEAT RACE WINNERS: Mike Gular, Kevin Hirthler, Jared Umbenhauer, Brandon Grosso, Logan Watt, David Hunt, Dom Buffalino
CONSOLATION WINNERS: Stewart Friesen, Eric Kormann, Matt Stangle
CASH DASH WINNER ($1000) – Ryan Godown
FEATURE WINNER’S BONUS NASCAR ADVANCE AUTO PARTS WEEEKLY SERIES ($1000) – Alex Yankowski
BOBBY GUNTHER-WALSH AND SPONSORS (Res Q Natural Supplements, Just Born Confections, Drs. Eric Lebby & Thomas DiBenedetto Orthopedic Specialists, Eden East Designs, and Agentis Plumbing) HARD CHARGER AWARD – ($1776) – Eddie Strada +28
BOBBY GUNTHER-WALSH AND SPONSORS (Res Q Natural Supplements, Just Born Confections, Drs. Eric Lebby & Thomas DiBenedetto Orthopedic Specialists, Eden East Designs, and Agentis Plumbing) HARD LUCK AWARD ($276) – Ryan Grim
LYNN HIMES GREAT EFFORT AWARD FROM T.P. TRAILERS & TRUCK EQUIPMENT – HIGHEST FINISHER NOT TOP TEN IN GRANDVIEW POINTS ($100) – Alex Yankowski
TRACK OFFICIALS NON-QUALIFIER AWARD ($225) – Cody Manmiller
BILL BROWN & CO. PRINTING AND PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS (OWNER KEN BRUCE) HEAT WINNERS BONUS ($50 each) – Mike Gular, Kevin Hirthler, Jared Umbenhauer, Brandon Grosso, Logan Watt, David Hunt, Dom Buffalino
DARRYL HAYCOCK 20TH PLACE DRIVER ON LAP 20 BONUS ($20) – Brian Hirthler
VINCE GAGLIARDO SR. MEMORIAL LAP 41 (Last car running) BONUS ($100) – Tyler Dippel
VP RACING FUELS HARD CHARGER: Eddie Strada +28
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS CERTIFICATES: Alex Yankowski ($75), Kevin Hirthler ($50), Eddie Strada ($25)
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Jeff Strunk
UPCOMING EVENTS –
Saturday, September 28 – Outlaw Racing Series Enduro, Outlaw Racing Series Vintage, Xcel 600 Modifieds – 5 pm
Friday, October 18 – Outlaw Racing Series Enduro, Outlaw Racing Series Vintage, Slingshots, Xcel 600 Modifieds – 6 pm (Halloween party prior to races)
