54th Annual Grandview Freedom 76 Weekend is This Friday & Saturday
Friday $5 Grandstand Admission Starts Weekend Action
Only One Repeat Winner in Ten Editions of Sportsman Freedom 38
BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – The action and excitement has been building all season long, and now the biggest race weekend of the 2024 race season has arrived at Grandview Speedway, the Freedom 76 weekend.
Grandview Speedway would also like to thank all of the great businesses and fans who have stepped up to post bonus awards or sponsor laps for the Freedom 76 and Freedom 38 championship races this weekend!
The Freedom 76 weekend begins this Friday, September 20 with the 11th annual Freedom 38 Sportsman Championship race, along with qualifying events, plus practice time for Modified drivers wishing to participate in the Freedom 76.
Friday’s program will be known as Fans for Five Friday as the grandstand admission is just $5, while children ages 9 and under will be free of charge. Pit admission on Friday is $40, and no license is required.
On Friday, pit gates open at 3 pm, with grandstand gates opening at 5:30 pm, drivers meeting at 5:30 pm, with the pill draw following the drivers meeting. Warmups are at 6:15 pm, and racing at 7:30 pm.
Prior to the racing action on Friday will be the weekly Low Down and Dirty Meet and Greet. This week’s drivers include Sportsman drivers Adrianna Delliponti, Gavyn Krupp, and Jax Yohn. The Meet and Greet is held in the main gate area from 4-5 pm. and is a great time for fans to meet the drivers up close, collect some autographs, take photos, and talk racing one one-on-one. This will be the final Low Down and Dirty Meet and Greet of the season, and Thank You to everyone who has been a part of it all season long!
On Saturday, September 21, the 54th annual Freedom 76 will be run for the 358 Modifieds. The program will include qualifying heats, consolation races, cash dash, along with the Minuteman 20, leading to the 76-lap championship feature.
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. Grandstand ticket windows open 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, while students ages 10-15 with ID are $20, with children ages 9 and under admitted for free. Pit admission will be $45, and no license is required. There will be no advanced tickets sold for this event, and the rain date is Saturday, September 28.
SDS Photography will be having an autograph session with track champions Jeff Strunk and Logan Watt on Saturday from 3-4 pm next to the photo stand. Fans will be able to get free autograph collectors cards signed by the drivers in the pre-race session.
The Freedom 38 for the T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman was first contested in 2014, and was won by that season’s track champion Jared Umbenhauer. The following season in 2015 the win was scored by that season’s point runner-up Craig Whitmoyer.
The 2016 contest was the only event so far that was won by an outsider, as New Jersey’s Brandon Grosso scored the win, followed by long time Grandview regular Ryan Beltz picking up a checkered flag in the 2017 event.
The 2018 running saw Modified regular Kevin Hirthler scoring his first 38er victory in a race that would run the entire distance without a caution. Hirthler would follow it up with another win two years later in the 2020 event, making him the only two-time winner of the end-of-season Championship race.
The 2019 race would see that season’s track champion Brad Brightbill put a cap on his great season, scoring the 38er win, which would be his fifth win of the year. The 2021 version would see Grandview’s 2016 Sportsman track champion Jordan Henn score the victory.
The 2022 version would see Ryan Grim pick up the win in a race that saw then invader and now 2023 Track Champion Logan Watt finish a close second place. Brett Gilmore, Cole Stangle, and Kyle Smith completed the top five finishers.
The 2023 edition saw three-time track champion Brian Hirthler score his first Freedom 38 win followed by Joe Toth, Dylan Swinehart, Jordan Henn and Kyle Smith.
So after ten events, only Kevin Hirthler has been a repeat winner in what is becoming a must win championship race.
Lap sponsorships have been collected from generous fans and local businesses that have totaled over $2800 for drivers leading laps in the Freedom 76. In addition, over $4700 in bonus money has been posted for the big race, bringing the total to over $7600 in lap and bonus money for drivers running the Freedom 76.
Lap money will be paid to the drivers leading the laps in the Freedom 76, along with several extra special awards to include:
GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING PERSONS FOR SPONSORING BONUSES FOR THE 54th annual FREEDOM 76 ON SEPTEMBER 21…………
FREEDOM 76 FEATURE WINNER’S BONUS – $1000 – From NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series
FREEDOM 76 FEATURE WINNER’S BONUS – $1000 – From NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series if winner has competed in all Saturday NASCAR point races at Grandview Speedway during 2024 racing season.
MODIFIED HARD CHARGER – $1776 – From Bobby Gunther-Walsh and his sponsors – The following sponsors have contributed to the Hard Charger Award – Res Q Natural Supplements, Drs. Eric Lebby and Thomas DiBenedetto Orthopedic Specialists, Eden East Designs, Just Born Confections, and Agentis Plumbing. The driver advancing the most positions in the Freedom 76 from their scheduled starting spot to their finishing position receives the Hard Charger Award.
MODIFIED HARD LUCK OR NON-QUALIFIER AWARD – $276 – From Bobby Gunther-Walsh and his sponsors – The following sponsors have contributed to the Hard Luck Award – Res Q Natural Supplements, Drs. Eric Lebby and Thomas DiBenedetto Orthopedic Specialists, Eden East Designs, Just Born Confections, and Agentis Plumbing. This award will be determined by the track officials on race night.
LYNN HIMES GREAT EFFORT AWARD – $100 – Sponsored by T.P. Trailers & Truck Equipment & the Perkins Family (presented to the highest finishing driver NOT in the top 10 in Grandview Modified Points) in memory of Carole Lynn Himes, a long-time familiar face at Grandview Speedway
TRACK OFFICIALS MODIFIED NON-QUALIFIER AWARD – $225 – Free Engine re-sealing for 2025 season from Grandview track officials (must be within 50-mile radius)
BILL BROWN & CO. PRINTING AND PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS (OWNER KEN BRUCE) HEAT WINNERS BONUS – $50 – To each Freedom 76 heat race winner
VINCE GAGLIARDO SR. MEMORIAL LAP 41 BONUS – $100 – Last car running on track on lap 41
$4777 – in bonuses $2826 – in lap money $7603 – total bonuses and lap money!!!
GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING PERSONS FOR THE BONUSES FOR THE 11th ANNUAL FREEDOM 38 SPORTSMAN CHAMPIONSHIP……..
FREEDOM 38 FEATURE WINNER’S BONUS – $500 – From NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series
FREEDOM 38 FEATURE WINNER’S BONUS – $500 – From NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series if winner has competed in all Saturday NASCAR point races at Grandview Speedway during 2024 racing season.
STRINGERS COLLISION CENTER HEAT WINNERS BONUS – $75 – To each Freedom 38 heat race winner
STRINGERS COLLISION CENTER CONSOLATION WINNERS BONUS – $50 – To each Freedom 38 consolation race winner
JIMBO’S GUTTERS LEADER OF LAP 9 BONUS – $100 – Leader of lap 9 during Freedom 38
JIMBO’S GUTTERS LEADER OF LAP 19 BONUS – $100 – Leader of lap 19 during Freedom 38
STRINGERS COLLISION CENTER LEADER OF LAP 23 BONUS – $50 – Leader of lap 23 during Freedom 38
JIMBO’S GUTTERS LEADER OF LAP 29 BONUS – $100 – Leader of lap 29 during Freedom 38
SDS PHOTOGRAPHY 13th PLACE FINISHER BONUS – $100 – To the 13th place finisher in Freedom 38
STRINGERS COLLISION CENTER 23rd PLACE FINISHER BONUS – $50 – To the 23rd place finisher in Freedom 38
$2100 – in bonuses!
Sources: Jeff Ahlum/Grandview Speedway PR