BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – It was a down to the wire photo finish to open the Freedom weekend of racing Friday night at Grandview Speedway.
Addison Meitzler of Kempton, Pa. just edged out Jesse Hirthler of Boyertown, Pa. at the finish line by about a wheel’s length, following a thrilling back and forth lead swapping battle to score the win in the 12th annual T.P. Truck Equipment Freedom 38 Sportsman championship on Friday night.
The victory for Meitzler, his third of the current season and his fifth career feature win in the division, was worth a base pay of $2063, and included two bonuses from the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series of $500, and a second $500 for being a track regular, along with a Penske Racing Shocks certificate, Dan’s Deli certificate for leading at half-way, a custom made Winner’s Jacket from Bob Hilbert Sportswear, and $532 in lap money, bringing his total winnings to $3920 for the feature victory.
It was a busy night on the track, as the T.P. Trailer Modifieds were also on hand for practice rounds to prepare for the Saturday Freedom 76, with 40 cars taking part in the practice sessions.
The Freedom 38 T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman championship race got off to a slow start, with multiple cautions waving in the first four laps, all for minor tangles which reset the running order.
Upon returning to green flag condition following a lap four restart, the drivers produced 31 straight laps of electrifying racing action right to the final lap.
Dylan Swinehart of Fleetwood, Pa. led the early laps of the feature, while everyone else behind him were battling hard for positions, including Bryce Bashore of Bethel, Pa., Gavyn Krupp of Barto, Pa. and point champion Colin Cox of Perkasie, Pa., who were all riding the top lane of the speedway and quickly advancing to the front of the field.
Swinehart’s small but comfortable lead would soon be gone, as Meitzler moved in to challenge for the top spot, while twelfth starting Jesse Hirthler would catch the lead duo and join in the battle for the lead on lap 16, just as the leaders reached lapped traffic.
The action up front for the lead really intensified with all three drivers practically running under a blanket while racing for the lead, with Meitzler powering by Swinehart with an outside lane move off of turn two on lap eighteen to become the new leader.
Meittzler, as the new leader, now was the one who had to navigate the lapped traffic, trying to hold off Hirthler, while Kenny Gilmore of Fleetwood, Pa., Swinehart, Bryce Bashore, and Jax Yohn of Boyertown, Pa. were all fighting for third position.
By lap 27 Meitzler opened up a small lead over Hirthler while still working through lapped cars, with Gilmore in third spot, and a real intense battle behind him involving Swinehart, Yohn, Bashore, Gavyn Krupp who was advancing forward after winning the Patriot 20 B main, and Colin Cox moving up from 25th starting position.
By lap 26 Hirthler moved back in on Meitzler and the battle for the top spot was on once again, with an unbelievable final twelve laps of intense racing action.
Meitzler stayed in the bottom lane working by the lapped cars, occasionally moving out a lane to clear the traffic, while Hirthler put on a show rim-riding the top groove of the speedway, including bouncing off the outside wall a time or two.
The final laps were wild and frantic, with Hirthler finally making the outside lane pass of Meitzler to become the new leader on lap 33.
Meitzler never gave up and kept the pressure on all the while passing lapped cars in the process. Meitzler and Hirthler would exchange the lead numerous times on either end of the speedway, with Hirthler still being scored as the leader every time they crossed the line.
The back and forth crowd pleasing lead swapping battle would continue right to the final lap, with Hirthler holding the edge running the top, while Meitzler ran down low.
Meitzler made one last effort on the last lap, blasting into the final corners trying to make a move. As the two drivers exited turn four with Hirthler ahead in a drag race to the finish, however it was Meitzler able to power off the bottom lane down the front straightaway and edge Hirthler by about a wheel’s length, and a 0. 037 second margin of victory in the breath taking finish.
Meitzler picked up his third T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman win of the season, becoming the division’s leading winner in the process, followed by Jesse Hirthler, Kenny Gilmore with a solid race, Colin Cox who was the race’s Hard Charger up from 25th starting spot, Jax Yohn, Bryce Bashore, Dylan Swinehart, Adrianna Delliponti of Norristown, Pa., Gavyn Krupp, and Parker Guldin of Temple, Pa.
Qualifying heats for the huge 62 car field on hand were won by Decker Swinehart of Fleetwood, Pa., Mark Gaugler of Boyertown, Pa., Parker Guldin, TJ Mayberry of Sellersville, Pa., Jax Yohn, Richie Hitzler of Lebanon, Pa., Nathan Mohr of Reading, Pa., and Brett Grim of Coplay, Pa. while Brayden Shelton of Hatfield, Pa. and Ebby Ridge of Upper Black Eddy, Pa. won the two consolations which transferred the top three into the Patriot 20 B main.
Following the qualifying heats and consolations, heat winners ran a 10-lap Cash Dash sponsored by Roy Miller II of Keller Williams Real Estate, with Brett Grim picking up the $500 win over Nathan Mohr and Decker Swinehart.
The last qualifying event of the night prior to the main event was the Patriot 20 B main, which saw Matt Peck of Gibbstown, N.J. lead the early laps before engaging in a battle with Gavyn Krupp for the lead.
Krupp was able to make the winning pass off of turn four to score lap twelve, leaving some great action behind him with Peck second, Teague Miller of Barto, Pa. in third, and a wild multi-car battle for the final qualifying spots between Todd Smith of Towamencin, Pa., Chase Gular of Pennsburg, Pa. Jimmy Leiby of Gilbertsville, Pa. and an outside running Jesse Landis of Gilbertsville, Pa.
At the checkered Gavyn Krupp took the victory, followed by Peck, Miller, Leiby and on the final turn Landis was able to grab the fifth and final qualifying position to the Freedom 38.
The T.P. Trailer Modifieds took practice laps for the Saturday night Freedom 76, with 40-cars on hand to participate. Dom Buffalino of Sayreville, N.J. was quickest in session one with a lap of 15.335, while Track Champion Duane Howard was fastest in round two with a lap of 15.600, and Billy Pauch Jr. of Frenchtown, N.J. the fastest of the final round with a lap of 16.026.
Grandview Speedway will be presenting the biggest race event of the season, the 55th annual Freedom 76 for the T.P. Trailer Modifieds on Saturday night starting at 7 pm.
Saturday, September 20, will feature the 55th annual Freedom 76 for the T.P. Trailer 358 Modifieds. The program includes qualifying heats, consolations, GT Radiator Repair $1000 to win cash dash, and the Schaeffer’s Motorsports Minuteman 20, all leading up to the 76-lap Championship main event.
On Saturday pit gates open at 9 am, for car inspections, fans will be able to enter the Grandstand areas between 9 am, and 12 Noon to reserve seats with blankets, with grandstand ticket windows opening at 3 pm. Pill draw for position is at 4:30 pm, with the drivers meeting at 5 pm, warm-ups are at 6 pm, with racing starting at 7 pm.
Adult Grandstand tickets on Saturday will be $40, students 10-15 with ID are $20, while children ages 9 and under are admitted free of charge. Pit admission will be $45, and no license is required. There will be no advanced tickets sold for this event.
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.
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR SPORTSMAN FREEDOM 38 FEATURE FINISH (38 laps): ADDISON MEITZLER, Jesse Hirthler, Kenny Gilmore, Colin Cox, Jax Yohn, Bryce Bashore, Dylan Swinehart, Adrianna Delliponti, Gavyn Krupp, Parker Guldin, Matt Peck, Matt Martino, Joey Vaccaro, Jimmy Leiby, Mike Schneck Jr., Decker Swinehart, Nathan Mohr, Brett Gilmore, Kyle Hartzell, Teague Miller, Scott Kohler, Mark Gaugler, Brad Brightbill, Joe Toth, Jesse Landis, Stephen Smith III, Richie Hitzler, Brandon Banos, Brett Grim, TJ Mayberry
PATRIOT 20 – B MAIN – Top 5 Transfer to feature (20 laps): GAVYN KRUPP, Matt Peck, Teague Miller, Jimmy Leiby, Jesse Landis, Todd Smith, Ebby Ridge, Brayden Shelton, Lawson Szerencits, Chase Gular, Colton Perry, Xavier Sprague, John McGeoy, Dakota Kohler, Troy Bollinger, Jason Graber, Alex Bartorillo, Brad Force, Jeese Leiby, Mike Stofflet, Christopher Buffalino, Nate Horn
DID NOT QUALIFY: Dennis Graber, Troy Bollinger, John McGeoy, Duncan Molesworth, Mark Mohr, Mike Toth, BJ Joly III, Mike Stofflet, Brayden Shelton, Steve Young, Todd Smith, Xavier Sprague, Kaitlyn Bailey, Nate Horn, Jason Graber, Brad Force, Ebby Ridge, Taylor Kramer, Colton Perry, Chase Gular, Shannon Slaughter, Dirk Rimrott, Alex Bartorillo, Mark Behm, Lawson Szerencits, Troy Conrad, Christopher Buffalino, Zach Steffey, Jesse Leiby, Dakota Kohler, Mike Loney, Matt Ellery
HEAT WINNERS: Decker Swinehart, Mark Gaugler, Parker Guldin, TJ Mayberry, Jax Yohn, Richie Hitzler, Nathan Mohr, Brett Grim
CONSOLATION WINNERS: Brayden Shelton, Ebby Ridge
FEATURE WINNER’S BONUS NASCAR ADVANCE AUTO PARTS WEEEKLY SERIES – $500 – Addison Meitzler
FEATURE WINNER’S BONUS NASCAR ADVANCE AUTO PARTS WEEEKLY SERIES (IF TRACK REGULAR) – $500 – Addison Meitzler
STRINGERS COLLISION CENTER HEAT WINNERS BONUS – ($50 each) – Decker Swinehart, Mark Gaugler, Parker Guldin, TJ Mayberry, Jax Yohn, Richie Hitzler, Nathan Mohr, Brett Grim
ROY MILLER II OF KELLER WILLIAMS REAL ESTATE FREEDOM 38 CASH DASH – $500 TO WIN – Brett Grim
YOCOM DRYWALL FREEDOM 38 HARD CHARGER – $100 – Colin Cox +21
BOBBY GUNTHER WALSH AND ALL HIS SPONSORS (Featuring Res Q Natural Supplements, Just Born Quality Confections) ERNIE SAXTON SPORTSMAN HARD CHARGER – $512 – Colin Cox +21
MANMILLER ELECTRIC TOP FINISHING DRIVER WITHOUT A FEATURE WIN BONUS – $500 – Matt Martino
VP RACING FUELS HARD CHARGER: Colin Cox +21
RICK’S TOWING & HAULING FREEDOM 38 SPORTSMAN HARD LUCK AWARD – $200 – (First car on hook in feature) No winner/carry over to Freedom 76
BOB HILBERT SPORTSWEAR FREEDOM 38 CUSTOM WINNER’S JACKET – Addison Meitzler
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS CERTIFICATES: Addison Meitzler ($75), Jesse Hirthler ($50), Kenny Gilmore ($25)
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Addison Meitzler
DRIVEN RACE OIL/JOHN WILLMAN MOTORSPORTS OIL & FILTER KIT 7th PLACE: Dylan Swinehart
$5539 total bonus money and certificates!
UPCOMING EVENTS –
Saturday, September 20 – 55th annual FREEDOM 76 MODIFIED CLASSIC – Modifieds 76 laps – 7 pm
Saturday, September 27 – TIM PAUCH MEMORIAL – Outlaw Racing Series Enduro, Outlaw Racing Series Vintage, Pro 4 Racing Series, Slingshots, Xcel 600 Modifieds, Halloween for the Kids – 5 pm (Rain date October 4)