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BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – It was another spectacular race for the history books, with the 56th running of the Freedom 76 Saturday night at Grandview Speedway.
When the checkered flag dropped on the 56th annual Trailers & Truck Equipment NASCAR Modified season finale honoring late track owner Theresa Rogers, it was Louden Reimert of Oley, Pa. who scored the historical win, overcoming many obstacles and challenges to score his fourth and biggest win of the season, worth an astounding $41,913 for the 76-lap feature win!
Reimert started in fourth position for the Championship feature event, quickly moving past Jared Umbenhauer of Richland, Pa. to take the lead on lap two, then spent the next twenty-eight laps battling with Umbenhauer for the lead, including losing the lead to Umbenhauer following a lap twenty-four restart only to gain it back one circuit later, an encounter with an infield equipment tire that was clipped by another driver, pulling out in front of Reimert who somehow withstood the hard contact, Reimert then had to fend off relentless pressure from Matt Stangle of Neshanic Station, N.J. for ten laps between laps 50 and 60 to maintain the lead, then held back some serious late race pressure from Jeff Strunk of Bechtelsville, Pa, in the final three laps to earn the huge feature win.
For the Freedom 76 feature win, Reimert picked up a whopping $35,531 from the speedway in purse money (which included an increase in the winner’s share of $5531 in honor of Theresa Rogers whose birthday was May 31), a $1000 bonus from the NASCAR Local Series, another $1000 bonus from the NASCAR Local Racing Series for being a track regular, a Bob Hilbert Sportswear $150 gift certificate, a Penske Racing Shocks $75 gift certificate, a Dan’s Deli gift certificate for leading at the half-way mark, plus the bulk of the lap leader prize money of $4157 to bring his winnings to an amazing $41 913!
With a field of 63 T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment NASCAR Modifieds signed in to compete in the season ending Freedom 76 race program, it was an intense night of racing right from the start, with six qualifying heats, two consolations, the GT Radiator Repair Cash Dash, and the Schaeffer Motorsports Minuteman 20 all being run to set the 34-car starting field for the season’s biggest and most prestigious race.
During the 76-lap Championship feature, the action was so wild and intense that fans did not know where to watch, with battles ragging for position throughout the entire feature, including the Reimert and Strunk battle for the win that went down to the final laps.
The 56th annual Freedom 76, run this season in honor of Theresa Rogers, got off to an amazing start, with pole sitter Brian HIrthler of Green Lane, Pa., Reimert and Umbenhauer going three wide for the lead entering turn one following the opening green flag from Starter Ray Kemp, with Umbenahuer forging into the top spot to lead lap one.
Reimert went to work grabbing the top spot on the following circuit, followed by a great battle between Joe Funk of Coopersburg, Pa., DJ Hunt of Pennington, N.J., Duane Howard of Oley, Pa. Jon Kellner of Lansdale, Pa., and Ryan Godown of Ringoes, N.J. who were all fighting for spots in the top five.
Reimert would reach lapped traffic by lap eleven, allowing Umbenhauer to move back in to challenge, setting up a great dual for the top spot that would continue until lap sixteen, when someone cut the first corner short, clipping an equipment tire along the infield apron, dragging it out onto the speedway as the leaders were entering the corner with Reimert striking the loose tire, but somehow did not damage his car.
During the caution period, it was noted that Reimert had a glowing red rear brake rotor, but he continued to lead after the restart, once again locking into a great battle with Umbenhauer who was able to retake the lead following a lap twenty-four caution, only to see Reimert turn up the heat and take back the lead on lap twenty-six.
While this super action was happening for the lead, the action right behind them saw many positions changing, with Hunt, Howard, Hirthler, Colin Cox of Perkasie, Pa., sixteenth starting Matt Stangle, Mike Gular of Harleysville, Pa. and Jeff Strunk all swapping spots with every passing lap.
Reimert would reach lapped traffic again on lap thirty-seven during a twenty-lap stretch of green flag racing, which at lap thirty-six, saw Umbenhauer keeping the leader close, with Howard, Stangle, Strunk, Hunt, Cox, Gular and last place starting (34th) Craig Von Dohren of Oley, Pa. charging into contention.
By lap forty, Howard, Stangle and Strunk were in a serious battle for third spot, with Reimert in heavy lapped traffic, running the high outside groove to get through traffic, all the while being able to keep Umbenhauer from catching him.
Cautions on laps 48 and 50 briefly slowed the torrid action which then continued through the final twenty-six laps around the one-third-of-a-mile speedway.
Stangle continued his forward march, including sweeping around the outside of both Howard and Umbenahuer following the lap forty-eight restart, and then engaged in a ten lap battle with Reimert for the lead, with Reimert staying in the bottom groove and Stangle flying in the outside groove, putting on an entertaining race for the lead.
Several times Stangle would get alongside of Reimert, but was not able to complete the pass on the leader, with Reimert eventually putting a little distance between the two contenders after the great ten-lap battle for the lead.
By lap sixty-four, Strunk who reached fifth on lap fifty, would slowly and steadily work his way to third, and after a quick battle with Stangle, would grab second spot by lap sixty-six.
Reimert would reach lapped traffic again by lap sixty-six, with Strunk now trying to catch him, as the top two weaved their way through the heavy traffic.
Strunk would catch leader Reimert with five laps to go, with the two talented drivers locking into the battle for the top spot, with Strunk trying both the inside and outside grooves, trying to find a way to make a pass.
With just two laps to go Strunk got a run on the outside lane down the backstretch, with the two leaders making some contact entering turn three as Reimert and Strunk were both working hard to maneuver through lapped traffic.
Reimert would maintain the lead over the final two circuits, with Strunk right on his back bumper, but Strunk tried all he could in the final moments to get by Reimert, but to no avail, as Reimert would motor home to his first ever Freedom 76 victory.
Reimert is the third generation member of his family to race at Grandview Speedway, and the first in his family to score the history-making win.
Strunk, who has won more Freedom 76 races than anyone with eight, had to settle for a hard earned but disappointing second place, with Matt Stangle ending up third for a great run for the young invader, Duane Howard, Jared Umbenahuer, Mike Gular, Tim Buckwalter of Douglassville, Pa. who advanced from twentieth starting spot, Craig Von Dohren who captured the Bobby Gunther Walsh and sponsors Hard Charger as well as the Joe Shimanski Taxidermy Hard Charger, Eddie Strada of Lake Ariel, Pa. up from twenty-fifth staring spot, and Rick Laubach of Quakertown, Pa. who advanced from twenty-second starting spot to grab a top ten finish.
Schaeffer Motorsports sponsored the Minuteman 20 last chance qualifier, with Billy Pauch Jr. of Frenchtown, N.J. scoring the win, grabbing a $100 bonus from Ken Bruce & Bill Brown & Co.
The entire 20-lap race ran non-stop in a time of 5:17.20, with Pauch Jr. taking the lead on the green, and running out front without any challengers, while the action was intense behind him for the remaining qualifying spots between Ryan Krachun of Branchburg, N.J., Jax Yohn of Boyertown, Pa., Dillon Steuer of Bohemia, N.Y., Ryan Watt of Boyertown, Pa., and Justin Grim of Orefield, Pa.
Pauch Jr. reached lapped traffic by the half-way mark, but was able to work through without issue, while the other five continued their fight for the top five qualifying positions.
Steuer and Grim continued their fight for the fifth and final transfer spot right down to the final lap, with Pauch Jr. scoring the win over Krachun, Yohn, Watt and Grim who won the battle for the fifth position.
GT Radiator repair sponsored a heat winners/guaranteed starter $1000 to win 10-lap Cash Dash, with Tim Buckwalter sweeping around the outside of Louden Reimert and Danny Creeden of Middletown, N.Y. on the second lap to motor home with the dash victory.
Qualifying heats for the 63 cars on hand were won by DJ Hunt, Ryan Grim of Laurys Station, Pa., Danny Creeden, Tim Buckwalter, Colin Cox, and Ryan Graver of Lehighton, Pa. who all picked up a $50 bonus from Stringer’s Collision center, while Dylan Swinehart of Fleetwood, Pa., and Cody Manmiller of Philadelphia, Pa. won the consolations, which transferred the top five in each to the Schaeffer Motorsports Minuteman 20.
Grandview Speedway will be presenting one more racing event for the 2026 race season on Saturday, September 26 for the Outlaw Racing Series Enduro/Vintage series presenting a double program joined by the Xcel 600 Modifieds, Keystone Sport Compact Series, and the Atlantic Coast Old Timers starting at 5 pm. There will also be a Halloween session for the Kids. Grandstand admission for adults is $10, children ages 12 and under are free, while pit admission is $35. Rain date for the event is October 3.
Grandview Speedway management also announced that the 2027 season would begin on Saturday, April 3 featuring the Bruce & Theresa Rogers Memorial Money Maker 50 for 358 Modifieds plus Sportsman.
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 September, 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.
56th ANNUAL FREEDOM 76 MODIFIED CHAMPIONSHIP RACE SUMMARY – SEPTEMBER 19, 2026
T.P. TRAILERS & TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR MODIFIED FREEDOM 76 FEATURE FINISH (76 laps): LOUDEN REIMERT, Jeff Strunk, Matt Stangle, Duane Howard, Jared Umbenhauer, Mike Gular, Tim Buckwalter, Craig Von Dohren, Eddie Strada, Rick Laubach, Colin Cox, Logan Watt, Ryan Graver, Larry Wight, Ryan Godown, Max McLaughlin, Ryan Watt, Brian Hirthler, Sam Martz Jr., Craig Whitmoyer, Danny Creeden, Joe Funk, Justin Grosso, DJ Hunt, Jax Yohn, Brett Kressley, Ryan Grim, Kevin Beach Jr., Mike Lisowski, Jon Kellner, Nate Brinker, Billy Pauch Jr., Justin Grim, Ryan Krachun
SCHAEFFERS MOTORSPORTS MINUTEMAN 20: (Top 5 to Freedom 76): BILLY PAUCH JR., Ryan Krachun, Jax Yohn, Ryan Watt, Justin Grim, Dillon Steuer, Brett Tonkin, Bobby Trapper Jr., John Willman, Danny Bouc, Jesse Hirthler, Dylan Swinehart, Kyle Smith, Kevin Olenick, Jim Housworth, Cody Manmiller, Eric Kormann, Adrianna Delliponti, Nathan Mohr, WB James, Jimmy Leiby, Bobby Butler
DID NOT QUALIFY: Dillon Steuer, Brett Tonkin, Bobby Trapper Jr., John Willman, Danny Bouc, Jesse Hirthler, Dylan Swinehart, Kyle Smith, Kevin Olenick, Jim Housworth, Cody Manmiller, Eric Kormann, Adrianna Delliponti, Nathan Mohr, WB James, Jimmy Leiby, Bobby Butler, Mike Laise, Bobby Gunther Walsh, Jared LaBagh, Chris Esposito, Mark Gaugler, Ron Haring Jr., Ken Eckert Jr., Kenny Bock, Chris Gambler, Carroll Hine III, Brandon Grosso, Bobby Trapper Sr.
HEAT WINNERS: DJ Hunt, Ryan Grim, Danny Creeden, Tim Buckwalter, Colin Cox, Ryan Graver
CONSOLATION WINNERS: Dylan Swinehart, Cody Manmiller
LAP LEADERS: Jared Umbenhauer – 1, 25 ($85), Louden Reimert – 2-24, 26-76 ($4157)
NASCAR LOCAL RACING SERIES FREEDOM 76 FEATURE WINNER’S BONUS – $1000 – Louden Reimert
NASCAR LOCAL RACING SERIES FREEDOM 76 FEATURE WINNER’S BONUS (IF TRACK REGULAR) – $1000 – Louden Reimert
VICTORY AUTO GLASS CHARGE TO VICTORY (starting 12th or further back) – $300 – No winner
BOBBY GUNTHER WALSH & SPONSORS MODIFIED HARD CHARGER – $1000 – Bobby Gunther Walsh and his sponsors with special thanks to Res Q Natural Supplements, Just Born Quality Confections, Dr. Eric Lebby and Dr. Thomas DiBennedetto Orthopedic Specialists, and Yocco’s the Hot Dog King – Craig Von Dohren + 26
JOE SHIMANKSI HARD CHARGER (Go Pauch Jr.) – $100 – Craig Von Dohren +26
GT RADIATOR REPAIR FREEDOM 76 CASH DASH – $1000 TO WIN – Tim Buckwalter
LOW DOWN ENTERTAINMENT CASH DASH BONUS ($150): Tim Buckwalter
BREITENSTEIN MOTORSPORTS FIRST NON-QUALIFIER IN MEMORY OF BRUCE & THERESA ROGERS – $256 – Dillon Steuer
T.P. TRAILERS & TRUCK EQUIPMENT LYNN HIMES GREAT EFFORT AWARD – $100 – (Presented to the highest finishing driver NOT in the top 10 in Grandview Points) – Duane Howard
TRACK OFFICIALS MODIFIED NON-QUALIFIER AWARD – FREE ENGINE RESEALING FOR 2027 SEASON – $225 – Brett Tonkin
RICK’S TOWING & HAULING FREEDOM 76 MODIFIED HARD LUCK AWARD – $200 – (First car going off track on hook in Freedom 76) – No winner (Rolled over to Hard Luck Awad) – Chris Esposito
PIT LIZARD LARRY HARD LUCK AWARD – $390 – Chris Esposito
STRINGERS COLLISION CENTER HEAT WINNERS BONUS – ($50 each) – DJ Hunt, Ryan Grim, Danny Creeden, Tim Buckwalter, Colin Cox, Ryan Graver
STRINGERS COLLISION CENTER 23rd PLACE BONUS – ($50) – Justin Grosso
BOB HILBERT SPORTSWEAR WINNER’S BONUS GIFT CERTIFICATE ($150 or $300) – Louden Reimert
MANMILLER ELECTRIC FIRST DRIVER ACROSS THE FINISH TO NOT HAVE WON A FEATURE IN 2026 ($400) – Matt Stangle
KEN BRUCE & BILL BROWN & COMPANY MINUTEMAN 20 WINNER’S BONUS ($100): Billy Pauch Jr.
VP RACING FUELS HARD CHARGER: Craig Von Dohren +26
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS CERTIFICATES: Louden Reimert ($75), Jeff Strunk ($50), Matt Stangle ($25)
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Louden Reimert
$6721 – in bonuses $4292 – in lap money $11,013 – total bonuses and lap money!!!
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR A GREAT FREEDOM 76 WEEKEND AND 2026 RACING SEASON!!!!!
UPCOMING EVENTS –
Saturday, September 26 – TIM PAUCH MEMORIAL – Outlaw Racing Series Enduro, Outlaw Racing Series Vintage, Keystone Sport Compact Series, Xcel 600 Modifieds, Atlantic Coast Old Timers, Halloween for the Kids – 5 pm (Rain date October 3)
Saturday, March 27, 2027 – FREE-to-the-Public Open Practice – All Divisions – 12 Noon
Saturday, April 3, 2027 – 65th Anniversary Season Opener – 10th Annual BRUCE & THERESA ROGERS MEMORIAL MONEY MAKER – 358 Modifieds 50-Laps, Sportsman – 6 pm
