Pauch Sr. & Strunk Set To Enter Freedom 76 At Grandview

Story By: ERNIE SAXTON / GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Two of the top talents in dirt track Modified stock car racing, Billy Pauch Sr. and Jeff Strunk, will be trying to claim their seventh win in the rich 47th Annual Freedom 76 Classic In Memory of Bruce Rogers.

The race, which attracts many of the best racers in the business, will pay at least $30,000 to the winner on Saturday, September 16th at Grandview Speedway.

Current NASCAR TP Trailers Modified point leader Craig VonDohren has five wins in the Classic and will be looking for his sixth while veteran Duane Howard tries for his fifth victory. Meme DeSantis is rumored to be ready to try for his fourth victory. Those looking for their second Freedom 76 win will include Ray Swinehart and possibly Stewart Friesen.

Popular racing talents that have not been able to win this event include Mike Gular, Brett Kressley, Doug Manmiller, Jared Umbenhauer, Ryan Watt and a long list of others. They are all hoping to be able to add their name to the list.

Early entries for the Freedom 76 include Jeff Strunk, Mike Gular, Jared Umbenhauer, Mike Mahaney, Danny Erb, Doug Manmiller and Mike Lisowski. Billy Pauch Sr. and Jr. have advised track management that they will be participating.

A full series of qualifying events will lead up to the 47th Freedom 76 with a Cash Dash paying $1,000 thrown in.

Adult admission on race day is $40 but fans buying advance tickets will pay just $35. Advance tickets are sold at the speedway each Saturday night when NASCAR races are presented. Youngsters 6 through 11 pay $10 and kids under 6 are admitted free. Rain date is Saturday, September 23.

On Friday, September 15th, Modified racers looking for some practice time will be able to do just that as a doubleheader featuring Sportsman and Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series Sprinters is presented. Adult admission is $12 while youngsters 6 through 11 pay $5 and kids under 6 are admitted free. The Sportsman will be racing for $1500 to win in the Freedom 38’er. There is no license required for the Sportsman racers. There is no rain date in place for this event.

Rain date for the Freedom 76 is September 23 but there is not rain date for the Friday event.

Those wishing to be a lap sponsor for the race that honors the memory of the late Bruce Rogers can get information from Tina Rogers and Tommy Kramer at the track or telephone Ernie Saxton at 215.752-7797 or Esaxton144@aol.com. Lap sponsorships are priced at $20 and gets your lap listed in the special event program and has your name mentioned on the public address system.

Qualifying event sponsorships are available for just $200. Stoudt Auto Sales of Reading and Manmiller Electric of Shoemakersville have signed on as heat race sponsors.

Just Two Weeks Remain In Point Battles

Just two more point races remain for the BRC Late Models and Sportsman stock cars while three point races remain in the chase for the TP Trailers NASCAR 358 Modified point title at Grandview Speedway. No driver has clinched a title going into the final two weeks.

At present Craig VonDohren sits on top of the NASCAR Modified standings with 3784 points while Jeff Strunk is second with 3551 counters. Both drivers have been titleholders at Grandview several times. Mike Gular is third with 3550 points and looking for his first championship. Duane Howard is fourth having earned 3506 points without benefit of a feature win while veteran Doug Manmiller has 3318 tallies putting him fifth in the standings. There has been 12 different feature winners during the season in the Modified division so far.

Brian Hirthler leads the Sportsman standings, as he has most of the season, with 2801 points with Craig Whitmoyer and Brad Grim closing in. Whitmoyer sits with 2665 points and Grim has a total of 2641.

And in the Late Models current point leader and defending champion Chuck Schutz has 3585 points, a 300 point edge over Bryon Sipe’s 3285. Steve Todorow is third with 3206.

Four features, including two 30-lap features for the TP Trailers 358 Modifieds, a 25 lapper for the Sportsman and a 20 lapper for the BRC Late Models, plus qualifying events, is set for Saturday, September 2nd with a 7:30 p.m. starting time. Adult admission is just $15 while youngsters 11 and under are admitted free.

The Blast from the Past Vintage Racers appearance scheduled for this Saturday, September 2nd has been rescheduled for Saturday, September 9th as part of the WNPV-AM Radio Champions Night that will also feature the TP Trailers 358 Modifieds, BRC Late Models and Sportsman racers in the final point races of the season.

Fans ordering tickets for the 47th Annual Freedom 76 Run in Memory of Bruce Rogers by mail are reminded that no tickets will be mailed after September 11. Those ordering tickets are reminded that adult tickets for the September 16th Classic are priced at $35 in advance ($40 on race day). Young people, 6 thru 11, pay $10 and kids under 6 are admitted free. When ordering make checks payable to Grandview Speedway and mail to 87 Wilt Road, Bechtelsville, PA 19505. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope to speed delivery.

There is no saving of spots in the ticket line on race day.

Sportsman racers planning to participate in the Friday, September 15th Freedom 38’er are reminded that there is no license required and the winner of the 38 lap feature walks off with $1500. Also included in the night before the Freedom 76 doubleheader is the excitement of Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series along with practice time for the Modifieds. Adult admission is $12 with youngsters 6 through 11 paying just $5. Kids under 6 are admitted free.

Racers seeking rules information can contact Ed Scott at 484.239.7583.

Spectator gates for the Freedom 76 open at 3:30 p.m. with advance ticketholders admitted at 3 p.m. On Friday night the spectator gates open at 5:30 p.m. Racing both nights start at 7 p.m. Rain date for Freedom 76 is September 23rd while there is no rain date for the Friday night events.

Camping is permitted on the grounds of the speedway. All campers, and tents set up in turn 4. No boxing in of campers. No tarping, No roping off. Fires contained. No burning of any skids. All four wheelers and golf carts parked by 11:00 pm. No loud music after 10:00 pm. Anyone who needs to be reminded of these rules will be asked to leave the grounds immediately.