JEFF STRUNK AND LOGAN WATT ARE 2024 GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY TRACK CHAMPIONS
BRETT KRESSLEY AND LOGAN WATT ARE TOP WINNERS IN HIGHLY COMPETITIVE 2024 SEASON WITH TWELVE DIFFERENT MODIFIED & FOURTEEN DIFFERENT SPORTSMAN FEATURE WINNERS
GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY TO HOST TWO MORE ENDURO & VINTAGE RACING EVENTS IN 2024
BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – The 62nd anniversary season of auto racing action at Grandview Speedway for the T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds and the T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman concluded this past weekend with two exciting and action packed racing events during the Freedom 76 weekend of racing.
However, racing is not quite over yet this year, as this Saturday, September 28 will feature another program with the Outlaw Racing Series Enduro and Outlaw Racing Series Vintage Cars along with the Xcel 600 Modifieds in action starting at 5 pm. Pit gates open at 1 pm., Grandstand gates open at 3 pm. Grandstand admission will be $10, with children ages 12 and under admitted for free. Pit admission is $30 for the Outlaw Racing Series event.
The final racing events of the 2024 season will also be with the Outlaw Racing Series Enduro and Outlaw Racing Series Vintage Cars on Friday, October 18 in another double header plus the addition of the Slingshots and Xcel 600 Modifieds starting at 6 pm. All Prices for the October event are the same as the September 28 event, and there will be a Halloween party for the kids before the races starting at 6 pm.
The 2024 season for the T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds was brought to an exciting conclusion this past Saturday night with the running of the 54th annual Freedom 76 Championship race which was won by Alex Yankowski, who scored his first ever win in the prestigious event and second ever Grandview Speedway feature win, having previously won a Thunder on the Hill Racing Series event in August of 2022.
Yankowski worked his way forward from his tenth starting spot, and hooked up in a great battle for the top spots first with Kevin Hirthler for second position, then was able to outrun race leader Jeff Strunk on a lap 47 restart to motor on to the victory worth $32,187 including purse, bonus, and lap prize money!
The entire evening was a spectacular night of racing action, as 73 race teams participated in seven qualifying heats, three consolations, a cash dash and the Schaeffer Motorsports Minuteman 20 leading into the Freedom 76 lap Championship feature finale for the 2024 racing season.
Jeff Strunk was officially crowned the 2024 T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modified Grandview Track Champion one week prior on September 14th, capturing his 11th career point title at the track. Strunk won the point title without the benefit of a feature win, scoring 8 top five’s, and 16 top ten finishes in 18 events this season.
The remaining drivers completing solid seasons in the top five positions in points include Craig Von Dohren, Mike Gular, Jared Umbenhauer, and Duane Howard.
The entire 2024 season of T.P. Trailer Modified racing was competitive from beginning to end, as twelve different drivers reached victory lane. Defending 2023 Champion Brett Kressley was the leading winner with five checkered flags, followed by Louden Reimert with three. Doug Manmiller and Eric Kormann each scored two wins (one plus a Thunder Series win), while one time feature winners included Nate Brinker, Mike Mahaney, Cody Manmiller, Bobby Trapper Jr., Craig Von Dohren, Ryan Watt, John Willman, and Freedom 76 winner Alex Yankowski.
The final top twenty in points for the T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds are 1. Jeff Strunk – 4377, 2. Craig Von Dohren – 4107, 3. Mike Gular – 3863, 4. Jared Umbenhauer – 3536, 5. Duane Howard – 3534, 6. Eddie Strada – 3387, 7. Doug Manmiller – 3347, 8. Louden Reimert – 3214, 9. Brett Kressley – 3210, 10. Tim Buckwalter – 3063, 11. Ryan Watt – 2815, 12. Kevin Hirthler – 2701, 13. Kyle Smith – 2080, 14. Ryan Grim – 2035, 15. Mike Lisowski – 2034, 16. Jimmy Leiby – 2022, 17. Justin Grim – 2006, 18. Jon Kellner – 1989, 19. John Willman – 1932, 20. Eric Kormann – 1819.
The T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman season was also super competitive, with Logan Watt ending the season as the 2024 Track Champion and the leading feature winner with three victories, and he also scored the win in the 11th annual Freedom 38 Championship race last Friday evening. Watt picked up $3487 for the win including purse, lap and bonus money.
It was also a huge final night of action for the season for the T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman, as a huge field of 67 drivers arrived for competition and participated in seven qualifying heats, three consolations, and a B main leading into the Freedom 38-lap Championship feature race.
Logan Watt was officially crowned T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman Champion on September 14th after a very close late season point battle with Dylan Swinehart, after leading the points for most of the season. Watt finished the year with three wins, 8 top five’s, and 12 top ten finishes in 18 events.
Following Watt in the final point standings were Dylan Swinehart, Mike Schneck Jr., Brett Gilmore, and Addison Meitzler.
For the 2024 season, fourteen different drivers visited the winner’s circle led by Watt who scored three wins. Dylan Swinehart and rookie Gavyn Krupp each scored two wins, with Alex Bartorillo, Kenny Bock, Brett Gilmore, Brian Hirthler, Mark Kemmerer, Dakota Kohler, Jared LaBagh, Jesse Landis, Addison Meitzler, Colton Perry, and Zach Steffey each taking one checkered flag.
The final top twenty in points for the T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman are 1. Logan Watt – 3648, 2. Dylan Swinehart – 3594, 3. Mike Schneck Jr. – 3536, 4. Brett Gilmore – 3225, 5. Addison Meitzler – 3217, 6. Jesse Hirthler – 3201, 7. Adrianna Delliponti – 3172, 8. Ryan Graver – 2941, 9. Logan Bauman – 2618, 10. Nathan Mohr – 2428, 11. Jesse Landis – 2393, 12. TJ Mayberry – 2165, 13. Gavyn Krupp – 2072, 14. Brett Grim – 1952, 15. Kenny Bock – 1891, 16. Dakota Kohler – 1849, 17. Joey Vaccaro – 1848, 18, Parker Guldin – 1841, 19. Mark Mohr – 1809, 20. Teague Miller – 1759.
A final wrap up on the Friday night Freedom 38 T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman Championship, saw several bonus awards and lap money posted, which totaled $2275 in extra prize money for the competitors. THANKS to all who added to the success of the 11th annual event!
Some final totals for the bonus and lap prize money for Saturday night’s Freedom 76: Cole Stangle led laps 1-7 and earned $442 in lap money, Justin Grosso led laps 8-11 and earned $170 in lap money, while Jeff Strunk led laps 12-47 and picked up $1501 in lap money, while winner Alex Yankowski lead from lap 48-76 and picked up $1025 in lap money. All totaled the lap prize money, which saw some additions on race night, totaled $3138. THANK YOU to all sponsors who contributed to the 76-lap race!
The bonus money for the Freedom 76 totaled $4847 and combined with the lap prize money, the total extras for the race came out to $7985!!! THANK YOU once again to everyone who helped make the 2024 Freedom 76 weekend a successful one!
Grandview Speedway management has announced that the 2025 63rd anniversary season of professional auto racing will open with the traditional Free-to-the-Public Open Practice on Saturday, March 29, followed by the season opening Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker for Modifieds plus 602 Sportsman on Saturday, April 5. Mark your calendars now and don’t miss it!!!
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 http://www.grandviewspeedway.com or on Facebook, or by telephone at 610.754.7688.
UPCOMING EVENTS –
Saturday, September 28 – Outlaw Racing Series Enduro, Outlaw Racing Series Vintage, Xcel 600 Modifieds – 5 pm
Friday, October 18 – Outlaw Racing Series Enduro, Outlaw Racing Series Vintage, Slingshots, Xcel 600 Modifieds – 6 pm (Halloween party prior to races)