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BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – As the saying goes in the world of show business, take two!
Following two on-track events for the month of March (Enduro March 22 & Open Practice March 29), Grandview Speedway was all set to officially begin the 63rd anniversary season of professional stock car racing this past Saturday, April 5, but the weatherman had other ideas with a miserable on and off rainy day, and the race program had to be postponed until this week on Saturday, April 12.
So, Grandview Speedway will try for a second time to officially open the 2025 season with the VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker for Big/Small Block Modifieds, with a 50-lap feature paying a cool $7500 to win as well as a remarkable $1000 to qualify and take the green flag in the main event, along with a full show for the T.P. Truck Equipment 602 Sportsman which includes qualifying events and a 25-lap feature race.
The VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker is run 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 was alongside his father Forrest when the track was 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.
The little track on the hill, with great support from local star drivers and super loyal fans, became a great success. After a period of time, national touring series and nationally known drivers began passing through the gates of Grandview Speedway, and still do to this day!
Bruce promoted many race events during his life, including over 1100 Saturday Night stock car races, over 10 seasons of Sunday Night Midget races and over 100 Sprint car events. He was at Grandview for the first ever race in August of 1963, the 25th anniversary season in 1987, the 40th anniversary season in 2002 and the 50th anniversary season in 2012, which included a big celebration by paying the Freedom 76 winner $50,000 to win that season!
Bruce Rogers and wife Theresa worked together with several different people over the years including Jerry Stinson as a partner in the early years, and for special events Ed Darrell in the Sunday Night Midgets series and in more recent years Bob Miller for the Thunder on the Hill events, this was done to give his great fans a variety of racing action. Bruce once said that “The fans at Grandview can’t be beat. They are the ones that make it happen for all of us.” THANK YOU!!!
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.
Now his family continues the tradition of operating Grandview Speedway and for the eighth consecutive year will present the opening race in his honor.
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.
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.
The following week will see Grandview Speedway hosting a special night at the races with Autism Awareness and Acceptance Night on Saturday, April 19.
There will be activities throughout the day leading up to the evening’s race program, which will include a raffle at the pre-race meet and greet, which also includes the hand print Autism race car on display.
There will also be a raffle for the charity of various race items (including door panels) donated by several racing teams to be held in the turn one picnic pavilion.
The hi-lite of the pre-race activities will be the cornhole tournament fundraiser organized by the Black Diamond Cornhole group.
Further information on the tournament is available at www.blackdiamondcornhole.org or blackdiamondcornhole@gmail.com.
The race program on April 19 will be a double-header including the T.P. Trailer Modifieds and the T. P. Truck Equipment Sportsman, with gates opening at 4 pm and racing starting at 6 pm.
Grandstand admission for Adults is $20, Students ages 10-15 with ID are $10, while ages 9 and under are admitted free of charge. Pit admission is $35 with a license and $45 without a license.
In the event of inclement weather, Saturday, May 10 has been set aside as the rain date for the Autism Awareness and Acceptance night activities.
Fast approaching on the Grandview calendar is the first Thunder on the Hill race program on Tuesday, May 20, as Levan Machine & Truck Equipment presents the Rich Mar Florist Kubota High Limit 410 Sprints for the third time in track history.
This event will see the national touring stars invade Grandview to challenge the Pennsylvania Posse drivers in a night of exciting action starting at 7:30 pm. Wednesday, May 21 is reserved as the rain date for this special night of racing.
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 12 – 63rd Anniversary Season Opener – 8thAnnual VP Racing Fuels BRUCE ROGERS MEMORIAL MONEY MAKER – Big Block/Small Block Modifieds 50-Laps, Sportsman – 6 pm
Saturday, April 19 – AUTISM AWARENESS & ACCEPTANCE NIGHT – T.P. Trailer Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman – 6 pm
Friday, April 25– Outlaw Racing Series Enduro, Outlaw Racing Series Vintage, Slingshots – 7 pm.
Saturday, April 26 – T.P. Trailer Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman, TRIVIA NIGHT – 6 pm
Tuesday, May 20 – THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES – Levan Machine & Truck Equipment presents the Rich Mar Florist Kubota High Limit 410 Sprint Car Series – $20,000 to win 410 Sprints – 7:30 pm (Rain date 5/21)
