Excitement Builds For Two Big Nights Of Racing At Grandview This Weekend

Story By: ERNIE SAXTON / GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – The excitement continues to build for two big nights of auto racing action at Grandview Speedway this weekend topped by the 48th Annual Freedom 76 Modified Classic that rewards the winner with $25, 000 plus lap money on Saturday night.

The weekend kicks off with the action packed Freedom 38 for Sportsman stock cars paying the winner of the 38-lapper $1,500. And the Delaware Auto Exchange Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series, featuring the popular 305 Sprints, will have current point leader Tim Tanner leading a large field of entries as they battle in the Delphi Contractors & Demolition sponsored 25-lap main event.

Also on Friday night, action starting at 7:30 p.m., the Modified racers planning to participate in the Freedom 76 will be given practice time during the evening’s events.

Pits open at 3 p.m. and main grandstand gates open at 5:30 p.m.

Adult admission is $12 with youngsters 6 through 11 paying $5 and kids under 6 admitted free.

Advance tickets for the Freedom 76 will be available Friday night for just $35 while on race day they will sell for $40. Youngsters, 6 through 11, on Saturday will pay $10 while kids under 6 are admitted free.

Saturday will see pit gates open at 9 a.m. Advance ticketholders are admitted to the main grandstands at 3 p.m. while the ticket windows open at 3:30 p.m.

Before the action starts on the track Saturday the Grandview Speedway 2018 champions will be featured in an autograph session at the photo stand from 3:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Modified champion Mike Gular, Sportsman champion Louden Reimert and Late Model champion Danny Snyder will have their Sharpies ready to sign autographs for the fans. And MS Motorsports Leslie Donegan will be part of the activities.

At 5:30 p.m. there will be a photo session and interviews featuring the 2018 Champions in Victory Lane.

And then it will be on track action as Modified racers warm up, participate in qualifying events, the $1,000 to win Cash Dash, the Schaffer Racing Minuteman 20 and topped off by the 48th edition of the Freedom 76, “The Granddaddy of Modified Stock Car Classics”.

Heading up the Modified action will be many top visiting talents including Stewart Friesen (fresh from action in the Las Vegas NASCAR Camping World Truck race), Billy Pauch Sr. and Jr., Ryan Watt, Rick Laubach, Ryan Godown, Alan Johnson along with others taking on Grandview champion Mike Gular, Craig Von Dohren, Jeff Strunk (last year’s winner), Duane Howard, Jared Umbenhauer, Frank Cozze and so many more. And as always there will be some surprise entries.

GUARANTEED STARTERS ANNOUNCED FOR 48TH ANNUAL FREEDOM 76 AT GRANDVIEW

One of the rewards of winning the NASCAR T.P.Trailers 358 Modified title at Grandview Speedway is that in addition to cash and prestige there is the guaranteed starting spot in the 48th Annual Freedom 76 taking place on Saturday, September 15th.

Mike Gular is the new and first time Modified title winner and he will have a guaranteed starting spot in the race that rewards the winner with $25K plus lap money. Gular won the title with consistent performances but did not win a feature all season. As he pointed out in recent interviews this would be the perfect time to top off his season with a win in the biggest event of the season.

Other guaranteed starters include last year’s winner Jeff Strunk. The ten time track champion is a seven time winner of this race and is the defending race winner. Ray Swinehart gets a guaranteed starting spot as a result of winning the recent Pioneer Pole Buildings Forrest Rogers Memorial. The 66-year-old racer is also a former winner of the Freedom 76.

Former winners of the 76’er, during the past 25 years, will be added to the starting field as long as they make an effort to qualify.

Grandview racer and WAEB790-AM radio personality Bobby Gunther Walsh, along with his sponsors, has posted a $1,000 Hard Charger Award. Some of Walsh’s sponsors include Dr. Eric Lebby, Ironton Telephone, Res-Q Natural Supplements, Yocco’s the Hot Dog King, Mrs. T’s Pierogies, Altronics Security Systems, Just Born and a number of others.

American Racer Tires is giving a tire to two lucky racers.

Manmiller Electric and Stoudt Auto Sales are sponsoring events during the night of racing.

Fans are reminded to be sure to purchase a copy of the special Freedom 76 edition of The Grandview Groove program book that will be loaded with photos and information. It has sold out in past years.

Weekend racing action includes the MASS 305 sprinters and Sportsman stocks on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Modified racers planning to run in the Saturday action will be allowed practice laps during the Friday night program.

And on Saturday, 7 p.m., the 48th Annual Freedom 76, featuring many of the top names in the sport, will be presented.

Admission for Friday night racing is $12 for adults, $5 for youngsters 6 through 11 and under 6 are admitted free. Friday night is also a good time to purchase advance tickets for the Freedom 76 at $35 for adults while on race day they will cost $40.

On Saturday adult admission is $40 while youngsters 6 thru 11 pay $10 and under 6 are admitted free.

There is no rain date for Friday racing but September 22nd is the rain date for the Freedom 76.