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WILL IT BE A REGULAR OR AN INVADER SCORING THE PRESTIGIOUS VICTORY ON APRIL 5
BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – After a spectacular turnout of race teams jammed the pit area this past Saturday with 96 race cars taking part in the traditional free-to-the-public open practice session, Grandview Speedway is set to officially open the 2025 racing season this Saturday night.
This Saturday, April 5 will see the track gates swing open for Big/Small Block Modified competitors to compete for top honors in the season opening VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker, the eighth consecutive year the event is run in honor of long-time track owner and promoter Bruce Rogers. The feature race will be 50-laps, paying a cool $7500 to win as well as a remarkable $1000 to qualify and take the green flag in the main event. An added bonus to the winner will be a guaranteed starting spot in the September 20 Freedom 76!
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.
VP Racing Fuels is the sponsor of the Season Opener through distributor Road Runner Fuels who can be contacted by phone at 717.587.1693.
For nearly 50 years, VP Racing Fuels has powered more race winners than any brand worldwide. VP’s experts design more than 70 proprietary blends of race fuel for every application. They also formulate custom blends. VP is the undisputed World Leader in Fuel Technology. Their race fuels give you consistent quality you can count on, race after race.
In addition to offering a wide line of race-proven fuels, VP Fuels also has lubricants & engine oils, gear oils, coolants, additives, diesel care, small engine fuels and cleaners for your racecar, bike, or truck! VP Racing is involved in all types of motorsports all over the world with a growing roster of VP-fueled champions across the entire spectrum of motorsports.
To find an authorized dealer or distribution center in your area, further information is available by calling 210-635-7744 or on their website at http://VPRacingFuels.com/ or tech@vpracingfuels.com.
Scoring a win on Opening Day has always been considered a special event, and looking at the history of Opening Day at Grandview, there have been 39 different drivers that have reached victory lane in the previous 62 season opening events, including adding a new name to the list last season when invader Mike Mahaney scored the popular victory.
Leading the list with the most Opening Night wins is Duane Howard, who has recorded eight first night victories. Howard won an incredible four in a row (2006-2009) and six out of seven openers between 2006 and 2012.
Craig Von Dohren has seven victories in the season opener and his wins have been spread out over a period of time. Von Dohren’s first win in the opener was in 1982 with the most recent in 2022.
Jeff Strunk has six opener wins, the first coming in 1996. He also dominated at the beginning of the new century when he won five out of six season openers between 2000 and 2006.
Other drivers with multiple wins in the opener include Fred Rahmer, Tom Mayberry, Davey Wenger, Meme DeSantis and Stewart Friesen.
Drivers who took single wins include Lauden Potts, Dick Grimley, Red Coffin, Chris Skias, Bucky Williams, Charley Gilmore, Warren Mutter, Paul Fitzcharles, Ed Mumford, Dave Kelly, Mike Erb, Ronnie Peck, Mike Geiser, Francis Hardner, Pete Damiani, Russ Smith, Larry Solomon, Doug Hoffman, Dennis Thomas, Charlie Eckert, Rick Schaffer, Billy Schinkel, Kenny Brightbill, Paul Koch, Randy Bailey, John Willman, Kevin Hirthler, Matt Sheppard, Tim Buckwalter, Mike Gular, and now Mike Mahaney.
The last seven seasons, the opener has been expanded to include Big Block Modifieds in addition to the track’s regular Small Block Modifieds running in a combination event. Winning the first seven VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorials were Stewart Friesen, Matt Sheppard, Timmy Buckwalter, Duane Howard, Craig Von Dohren, Mike Gular, and last year Mike Mahaney. All the other openers were for the 358 Modifieds except the very first race in 1963 which was a Big Block event.
In addition to the Modifieds, the Sportsman will also be a part of the Opening Night activities running a full program with qualifying and feature action.
Jared Umbenhauer won the first two for the class (2012, 2013), followed by Brett Kressley winning the next two in (2014, 2015). Craig Whitmoyer was a winner in 2016 before the Hirthler brothers took over with Brian winning three times (2017, 2020, 2023) and Kevin (2018, 2019). For the 2021 season it was Kyle Lilick grabbing the opening victory, followed by Jordan Henn scoring a win in 2022, and last season Logan Watt scored his first Opening Night win.
The VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial will also feature a special opening to the program as the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) unit from North Penn High School will be on hand for the opening ceremonies to present our Nation’s flags for the National Anthem.
The unit is under the direction of ROBERT P. STORM, SMSgt, AZANG, (Ret.) Aerospace Science Instructor at North Penn High School, they will be a great addition to the history and tradition of the Grandview Speedway 63rd anniversary Season Opener.
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.
The T.P. Truck Equipment 602 Sportsman will also begin their point season on the Opening Night program in a full show which includes qualifying events and a 25-lap feature race.
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. NOTE; All Modified and Sportsman teams are reminded that starting with the VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial, all race cars must be using the right side pan hard bar suspension setup.
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.
If needed, Saturday, April 12 has been set aside as a rain date for the VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker season opener, following the same time schedule.
Once again for the 2025 race season, Penske Racing Shocks of Reading, Pa. will be presenting gift certificates to the top three feature finishers in both the T.P. Trailer Modified and T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman divisions.
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 5 – 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 12 – T.P. Trailer Modifieds, T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman – 6 pm (Bruce Rogers Memorial Rain date)
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
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 Strunk |
| 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 |
| 2024 – | Mike Mahaney |
