Kevin Hirthler Takes Modified Win Saturday At Grandview; Lilick Takes “Hard Charger Challenge”
Story By: ERNIE SAXTON / GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Saturday night stock car racing at Grandview Speedway got off to a big start with young Ryan Lilick able to drive to victory in the 22 lap “Hard Charger Challenger” giving him his first career Modified victory.
Finishing second was Richie Hitzler who led the early laps. Dan Waisempacher came home third.
Kevin Hirthler topped the 28 car starting field in the 30-lap T.P.Trailers NASCAR Modified feature giving him his third win of the season. Dillon Steuer came home a close second followed by Jeff Strunk.
Closing out the night was the Tom Miller winning the 25-lap T.P.Truck Equipment Sportsman feature race becoming the 11th different feature winner in that division. Kyle Smith was a close second and Cole Stangle came home third.
Finishing fourth and fifth in the “Hard Charger” were Eric Biehn and Bobby Gunther Walsh who challenged for the top spot early. This special event was for racers who had not previously won a Modified feature at Grandview. The winner took home at least $1,022 for his efforts.
Modified point leader Craig Von Dohren grabbed fourth following Strunk across the finish line with Craig Whitmoyer coming home fifth in the Modified feature.
The Sportsman feature saw Nate Brinker finish fourth while Brad Arnold grabbed fifth. Kyle Smith, the second place finisher, earned a $100 bonus from the track for being the top finishing Crate Sportsman.
The title winners will be decided!!! The chase for the NASCAR track championships is scheduled to finish up on Saturday, September 12 with a doubleheader Hope Mortgage Team Night for the T.P.Trailers Modifieds and T.P.Truck Equipment Sportsman. Thanks to the folks at Hope the features will pay an extra $1,000 to win in both divisions. That has the Modified feature winner earning $3800 including the big bucks from Hope along with the T.P.Trailers weekly $300 bonus.
The Sportsman winner, thanks to Hope Mortgage Team and T.P.Truck Equipment, will earn $1,800. Each division will also have a Cash Dash, Hard Charger and Hard Luck giving racers more chances to earn more money.
The biggest and richest event of the season is set for Saturday, September 19th when the 50th Annual Freedom 76 Modified Classic is presented PAYING $35,550 TO WIN plus lap money. Some of the area’s top dirt track Modified talents are expected to enter. And the night before the Freedom 38 is presented for Sportsman racers and paying $3,550 to win plus practice sessions for Modified racers taking part in the 76’er. Full details on this exciting weekend will be released in the next few days.
Race teams are reminded that entry blanks for the 50th annual Freedom 76 set for September 19th are available at the track or at www.grandviewspeedway.com. For those planning to camp at the track during the 76’er weekend rules can be found on the website.
Time is running out to take advantage of opportunities for event sponsorships including $20 lap sponsorships by contacting Tina Rogers or Tommy Kramer at the track or telephone Ernie Saxton at 267.934.7286.
