Stewart Friesen Earns More Than $25,000 for Freedom 76 Win at Grandview
Battle of Bechtelsville Freedom 76 Modified Classic Won by Stewart Friesen at Grandview
Bechtelsville, PA September 21, 2014 . . . Stewart Friesen started the regular Saturday night season at Grandview Speedway in victory lane behind the wheel of the Norm Hansell No. 357 and he closed it out by winning the 44th annual Freedom 76 Modified feature driving the Jeff Bailey & Sons sponsored/Teo No. 44F for a $25,000 plus payday. In addition to the top prize money Friesen, the second Canadian to win the prestigious event – Doug Carlyle doing it in 1977, collected the lion’s share of lap money leading laps 32 through 76. Next to winning Syracuse, this was Friesen’s biggest triumph. He commented that Grandview was a “cool track and to be out front was a real privilege.”
The race, billed as the “Battle of Bechtelsville,” pitted New York racers against Penna. Racers with Friesen, who is a winner on a regular basis at New York tracks, claiming the win for the New York contingent. Close to 70 racers took part in the 44th annual running of the Classic.
The next event on the schedule at Grandview Speedway is a tripleheader show of Enduro, Vintage and Slingshot racing starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 5th.
The top 26 cars in the 32-car field drew for starting positions with the other six getting into the main event via the Schaeffer Motorsports Minuteman 20.
At the wave of the green by starter Ray Kemp, Duane Howard, starting on the outside of the front row outgunned pole sitter Ryan Watt to grab the front spot.
Howard held the lead for six laps before Watt charged ahead on the seventh lap restart needed when John Willman slowed with a flat tire.
Watt ran the highest line coming close to the boilerplate on occasion, while Howard stayed low trying to wrestle the lead away.
While these two diced for the lead and approached the obstacle of lap traffic, it allowed Friesen and Danny Johnson, the guaranteed starter for winning the Forrest Rogers Memorial, sixth- and tenth-place starters to close in and make it a four way dual for the lead.
New York invader Andy Bachetti slowed along the backstretch for the 31st lap caution. It took two attempts to complete the next lap, but when it finally counted Friesen was at the front of the pack trailed by Watt, Howard, Johnson, and Anthony Perrego.
Howard regained second on the 35th lap and set sail after Friesen who was distancing himself from the competition.
Nate Christman regrouped the pack when he spun between turns three and four on the 44th lap. At this time a mandatory fuel stop brought out the red. When service was completed and racing resumed, it was still Friesen, running the inside groove, first while Howard, Watt, Johnson and Craig Von Dohren completed second through fifth.
The final caution was on the 50th lap when something on Rick Laubach’s car broke and he headed into the first turn wall collecting Keith Hoffman, who was left with no place to go, in the process. Friesen held his own on the restart, but Watt emerged with a full burst of speed running the outside lane and gave him a run for the money.
Once Friesen saw Watt’s front end, he picked up his pace and moved his path to the outside lane as opposed to staying low.
Howard was back in second on the 62nd circuit and set his sights on Friesen. The battle for fifth was a heated one between Doug Manmiller, Von Dohren and 2014 Modified point champion Jeff Strunk, who started 15th, 17th, and 26th respectively.
No one was able to close in on Friesen as he wheeled through the lapped traffic and no more yellows were needed after the 50th lap restart and at the drop of the checkered Friesen was in victory lane for a well-deserved win to be the 25th different winner of the event. Following Friesen across were Howard, Johnson, Manmiller and VonDohren. Sixth through tenth were Watt, Strunk, recipient of the Bobby Gunther-Walsh and sponsored Hard Charger worth $300 since Strunk started 26th and advanced 19 positions; Tim Buckwalter, Perrego, Cargo Trailer product certificate recipient, and Jared Umbenhauer.
Buckwalter, Ray Swinehart, Willman, Jared Umbenhauer, Christman, and Kyle Weiss were the heat winners. The consolation races went to Mike Mahaney, Justin Grim, and Don Norris Jr. allowing them to advance to the Minuteman 20 and the final shot at making the main event. Weiss won the 10-lap Cash Dash worth $1,000.
Jon Kellner Sr. won the Minuteman 20 with Brett Kressley, Kevin Hartnett, Mike Mahaney, Jordan Umbenhauer, and Ron Seltmann Jr. second to sixth to qualify for the Freedom 76.
Brett Kressley received an additional $500 from the Conrad Family in memory of their father Ray Conrad. The special Hard Luck award went to him because he was the first drop out of the event and finished 32nd.
44th Annual Freedom 76 Modified Feature Finish: 1. Stewart Friesen, 2. Duane Howard, 3. Danny Johnson, 4. Doug Manmiller, 5. Craig Von Dohren, 6. Ryan Watt, 7. Jeff Strunk, 8. Tim Buckwalter, 9. Anthony Perrego, 10. Jared Umbenhauer, 11. Craig Whitmoyer, 12. Terry Meitzler, 13. Mike Mahaney, 14. Jordan Umbenhauer, 15. Kyle Weiss, 16. Nate Christman, 17. Brian Kressley, 18. Jarrad Miller, 19. John Willman, 20. Andy Ressler, 21. Brad Brightbill, 22. Rick Laubach, 23. Keith Hoffman, 24. Kevin Hartnett, 25. Eric Biehn, 26. Ray Swinehart, 27. Frank Cozze, 28. Jon Kellner, 29. Colt Harris, 30. Andy Bachetti, 31. Ron Seltmann Jr., 32. Brett Kressley. DNQ: Jerry Higbie Jr., Kevin Hirthler, Meme DeSantis, Mike Gular, Ron Haring Jr., Mike Kellner, Matt Sheppard, Justin Grim, Don Norris Jr., Brian Hirthler, Danny Erb, Tommy Scheetz III, Scott Albert, Danny Creeden, Kyle Borror, Ryan Anderson, Chris Esposito, Dale Hartz, Paul Moyer, Ryan Grim, Mike Laise, Jamie Speers, Bobby Gunther-Walsh, Mario Dinatale, Glenn Owens, Steve Swinehart, Todd Smith, Rusty Smith, Kenny Gilmore, Brian Houseknecht, Jeremy Banos.
Grandview Speedway is located on Passmore Road just off Route 100 in Bechtelsville, PA, 10 miles north of Pottstown. For information telephone 610.754.7688 or check in at www.grandviewspeedway.com. Also on Twitter97@grandviewspeedway and www.facebook.com/grandviewspeedwayinc.
COMING EVENTS:
Sunday, October 5 – 1 p.m. – Outlaw Enduro Racing, Blast from the Past Vintage Racers and Slingshots
Saturday, October 18, 6 p.m. – Thunder on the Hill Racing Series Halloween Party featuring 358 Modifieds, ARDC Midgets, URC Sprints, Sportsman, Legends, Monster Smash Demo Derby and Blast from the Past Vintage Racers – Rain date is Sunday, October 19, 4 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, November 1 & 2: Fall Jamboree featuring SpeedSTRs, Slingshots, Junior Slingshots, and Wingless 600s, 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 9, Annual Fall Racer’s Flea Market starts at 7 a.m.
Saturday, November 15, 52nd Anniversary Awards Banquet, Doors open 4 p.m., Dinner 6 p.m. at Gilbertsville Fire Co.
2015 TENTATIVE Opening Date: Annual Practice Day, Saturday, March 28, 2015
Sources: Vicki Gehris & Ernie Saxton/Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc.