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46 MODIFIEDS PRACTICE FOR FREEDOM 76 CHAMPIONSHIP RACE TONIGHT AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY
BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – Logan Watt of Boyertown, Pa., the newly crowned two-time track champion in the T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman division, scored the win in the division’s most prominent race, the 11th annual Freedom 38 championship race on Friday night at Grandview Speedway.
Watt entered the evening’s event as the only guaranteed starter by virtue of being the 2024 Track Champion, and was afforded the opportunity to by-pass qualifying action, but joined heat race qualifiers in the feature redraw which saw him select the pole starting position for the 38-lap championship feature race.
Watt led the race from start to finish, but had to survive some serious pressure following a lap ten restart from Mike Schneck Jr. of Lebanon, Pa., which saw the two drivers circle the track nearly side-by-side for two laps before Watt was able to pull away to a safe advantage.
Watt also had to work through some serious lapped traffic during a 21 lap stretch of green flag racing between laps 10 and 31 when he had some trouble working through traffic at times, and other times was able to pick his way by the very heavy field of cars ahead of him to continue to lead, with Schneck Jr. able to close in at times but never close enough to mount a serious challenge.
The winner’s share included the $2062 posted payoff, a $500 bonus from the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, and another $500 bonus from the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series for making all the point races at Grandview Speedway during the 2024 season. Watt also received lap money from Jimbo’s Gutters and Stringer’s Collision Center for leading selected laps during the main event, bringing his winning total to $3487 for the victory.
Early in the T.P. Truck Equipment Freedom 38 Sportsman Championship feature, Watt held the lead while some great racing action was going on behind him for top five positions between Adrianna Delliponti of Norristown, Pa., Nate Horn of Slatedale, Pa., and Jordan Henn of Kutztown, Pa., while another three car struggle was happening between Brad Brightbill of Sinking Spring, Pa., Colin Cox of Perkasie, Pa., and Jesse Hirthler of Boyertown, Pa. who was on the move from starting position twelve.
Positions continued to change among the top runners, and by the half-way mark Hirthler had continued his march forward and joined Delliponti and Henn in a three car under a blanket battle for third spot that lasted for a dozen laps until Hirthler was able to slowly work by the other two into third position.
The long stretch of great side by side racing and green flag action would end with a caution for Steve Young of Collegeville, Pa. who slowed with a flat tire on lap 31, and at the same time top running Jordan Henn would drop out with mechanical troubles.
Following what was some seriously good racing, the final seven laps turned into a disaster for many drivers, with several cautions in the closing stages and a ten car pile-up that damaged several cars on a single file restart, eliminating several drivers who had good runs going.
When things settled down, Watt continued to lead, but second running Schneck Jr. dropped out with a broken race car, ending his good night, leaving HIrthler to challenge for the win.
Hirthler kept it close to Watt in the final laps, but could not put on a serious challenge in the final laps with both drivers running the bottom lane, while Delliponti was battling hard to stay in third, under pressure from Cox and Joe Toth of Upper Makefield, Pa. down to the finish.
At the checkered it was Watt in for his third win of the season, and first win in the Freedom 38 championship race, followed by Hirthler for his best finish of the season, Delliponti for her best run of the year, Toth, Cox, Horn, Ryan Graver of Lehighton, Pa., Dylan Swinehart of Fleetwood, Pa., Brightbill, and Bryce Bashore of Bethel, Pa. up from 30th starting position.
Qualifying heats for the 67 cars on hand were won by Jordan Henn, Addison Meitzler of Kempton, Pa., Adrianna Delliponti, Mike Toth of Hellertown, Pa., Joe Toth, Dylan Swinehart, and Jax Yohn of Boyertown, Pa., with Decker Swinehart of Fleetwood, Pa., Ryan Conrad of Northampton, Pa., and Matt Peck of Gibbstown, N.J. winning the consolations.
The T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman followed the Freedom 76 race format for the first time and had a B main, which saw the top three heat race finishers qualify to the feature, positions four and five to the B main, while the remaining heat finishers went to the three consolations, which each qualified three cars to the B main.
The 20-lap B main which started 23 cars then qualified the remaining eight drivers to the Freedom 38 feature race for the 30-car starting field.
Steve Young led at the start of the Colonial Clash B main, followed by Nate Mohr of Reading, Pa. and Brad Arnold of Womelsdorf, Pa. who were battling for second place.
Brett Grim of Coplay, Pa. started in seventh position and went to the top of the track and started to pick off cars one by one, and eventually made a neat outside move down the back stretch to grab the lead on lap 14 and go on to win the event.
Grim was followed to the finish by Young, Mohr, Brian Hirthler of Green Lane, Pa., Arnold, Nick DeSantis of Temple, Pa., Dakota Kohler of Kutztown, Pa., and Bryce Bashore who all qualified for the Freedom 38 feature event.
Grandview Speedway will be presenting the biggest race event of the season, the 54th annual Freedom 76 for the T.P. Trailer Modifieds on Saturday night starting at 7 pm.
The program will include qualifying heats, consolation races, cash dash, along with the Minuteman 20, leading to the 76-lap championship feature.
Pit gates open at 9 am for car inspections, fans will be able to enter the Grandstand areas between 9 am, and 12 Noon to reserve seats with blankets. Grandstand ticket windows open at 3 pm, pill draw for position is at 4:30 pm, with the drivers meeting at 5 pm, warm-ups are at 6 pm, with racing starting at 7 pm.
Adult Grandstand tickets on Saturday will be $40, while students ages 10-15 with ID are $20, with children ages 9 and under admitted for free. Pit admission will be $45, and no license is required. There will be no advanced tickets sold for this 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.
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR SPORTSMAN FREEDOM 38 FEATURE FINISH (38 laps): LOGAN WATT ($3487), Jesse Hirthler, Adrianna Delliponti, Joe Toth, Colin Cox, Nate Horn, Ryan Graver, Dylan Swinehart, Brad Brightbill, Bryce Bashore, Jax Yohn, Dakota Kohler, TJ Mayberry, Steve Young, Addison Meitzler, Ryan Higgs, Logan Bauman, Gavyn Krupp, Brian Hirthler, Kenny Bock, Nick DeSantis, Mike Schneck Jr., Jordan Henn, Mike Toth, Brett Grim, Jared LaBagh, Brett Gilmore, Nathan Mohr, Brad Arnold, Tom Miller Sr.
COLONIAL CLASH B MAIN – Top 8 Transfer to feature (20 laps): BRETT GRIM, Steve Young, Nathan Mohr, Brian Hirthler, Brad Arnold, Nick DeSantis, Dakota Kohler, Bryce Bashore, Matt Martino, Matt Peck, Anthony Raisner, Decker Swinehart, Teague Miller, Parker Guldin, BJ Joly III, Ryan Conrad, Kyle Hartzell, Stephen Laubach, Lawson Szerencits, Mark Gaugler, Jesse Landis, Tyler James, DNS – Brian Krummel
DID NOT QUALIFY: Matt Martino, Matt Peck, Anthony Raisner, Decker Swinehart, Teague Miller, Parker Guldin, BJ Joly III, Ryan Conrad, Kyle Hartzell, Stephen Laubach, Lawson Szerencits, Mark Gaugler, Jesse Landis, Tyler James, Brian Krummel, Ryan Lilick, Mark Mohr, Shannon Slaughter, Chase Gular, Talan Carter, Nicholas Hamm, Dallas Breidenbach, Zach Steffey, Xavier Sprague, Tyler Vidal, Ronnie Solomon, Troy Bollinger, Joey Vaccaro, Stephen Smith III, Brayden Shelton, Kaitlyn Bailey, Colton Perry, Kyle Borror, Brandon Banos, Nick Faust, John McGeoy, Ebby Ridge
HEAT WINNERS: Jordan Henn, Addison Meitzler, Adrianna Delliponti, Mike Toth, Joe Toth, Dylan Swinehart, Jax Yohn
CONSI WINNERS: Decker Swinehart, Ryan Conrad, Matt Peck
GRANDVIEW $100 HARD CHARGER: Bryce Bashore +20
DICKIE JONES $100 HARD CHARGER: Bryce Bashore +20
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS CERTIFICATES: Logan Watt ($75), Jesse Hirthler ($50), Adrianna Delliponti ($25)
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Logan Watt
FEATURE WINNER’S BONUS NASCAR ADVANCE AUTO PARTS WEEKLY SERIES – $500 – Logan Watt
FEATURE WINNER’S BONUS NASCAR ADVANCE AUTO PARTS WEEKLY SERIES (IF TRACK REGULAR) – $500 – Logan Watt
STRINGERS COLLISION CENTER HEAT WINNERS BONUS – ($75 each) – Jordan Henn, Addison Meitzler, Adrianna Delliponti, Mike Toth, Joe Toth, Dylan Swinehart, Jax Yohn
STRINGERS COLLISION CENTER CONSOLATION WINNERS BONUS – ($50 each) – Decker Swinehart, Ryan Conrad, Matt Peck
JIMBO’S GUTTERS LEADER OF LAP 9 BONUS – $100 – Logan Watt
JIMBO’S GUTTERS LEADER OF LAP 19 BONUS – $100 – Logan Watt
STRINGERS COLLISION CENTER LEADER OF LAP 23 BONUS – $50 – Logan Watt
JIMBO’S GUTTERS LEADER OF LAP 29 BONUS – $100 – Logan Watt
SDS PHOTOGRAPHY 13th PLACE FINISHER BONUS – $100 – TJ Mayberry
STRINGERS COLLISION CENTER 23rd PLACE FINISHER BONUS – $50 – Jordan Henn
$2525 total bonus money and certificates!
UPCOMING EVENTS –
Saturday, September 21 – 54th annual FREEDOM 76 MODIFIED CLASSIC – T.P. Trailer Modifieds 76 laps – 7 pm
Saturday, September 28 – Outlaw Racing Series Enduro, Outlaw Racing Series Vintage, Xcel 600 Modifieds – 5 pm (Freedom 76 Rain date)
Friday, October 18 – Outlaw Racing Series Enduro, Outlaw Racing Series Vintage, Slingshots, Xcel 600 Modifieds – 6 pm (Halloween party prior to races)
