Grandview Speedway set to host 52nd annual Freedom 76 on Saturday night

Matthew Knaub, Reading Eagle, Pa.
·2 min read

Sep. 16—Grandview Speedway will once again conclude its modified racing season with its crown jewel event.

The one-third mile dirt track outside Bechtelsville will host the 52nd annual Freedom 76 on Saturday at 7 p.m. with $31,060 going to the feature winner of the non-points race.

"It has become one of the premier events in (dirt) short-track racing in the whole United States," Grandview Speedway co-event organizer Kenny Rogers said. "The reason is because of the purses and the amount of money being paid out over the years."

This year, the historic race will be held amid uncertainty surrounding the future of the speedway. In August, it was announced that Grandview Speedway owner Theresa Rogers had agreed in principle to sell the track property to Copart, Inc., pending local approval.

While the fate of Grandview remains undetermined, Kenny Rogers reminded all fans to please be respectful of the event and facility.

"It may not be the last Freedom 76, so please be respectful of things," Rogers said. "Please be respectful of the property."

Saturday's race is expected to feature local favorites Craig Von Dohren, Jeff Strunk, Duane Howard and Brett Kressley against some of the top 358 modified drivers from the northeastern United States, including New Jersey's Billy Pauch Jr. Ryan Godown, who is also from New Jersey, is the defending race winner.

"(We are) very excited," Rogers said. "We love seeing the different competition come in and run against our regular guys."

First held in 1971, the Freedom 76 was the creation of the late Bruce Rogers, the former owner and operator of the track. With many other tracks hosting 50 or 100-lap special events, Bruce Rogers looked to establish something unique at his racing facility.

"He wanted to have a big event for the drivers at the end of the year," Kenny Rogers said. "The patriotic person my father was — he was very patriotic — he wanted something different. He came up with the Freedom 76, 76 laps."

Over the next 50 years, the race developed into one of the top 358 modified races in the United States, paying as much as $50,000 to win in 2012. In addition to the local drivers who compete at Grandview on a weekly basis, the race has attracted competitors from across the northeastern U.S. and even Canada.

"It's become a staple in short-track racing," Rogers said. "It is one of the premier events in the whole United States for short-track dirt racing. It set the bar in dirt modified racing for purses."

Grandview officially will conclude its 2022 racing season with Outlaw Racing Series Enduro and Vintage events on Sept. 24 and Oct. 15. Beyond the pair of races, the future of the speedway remains unknown.

"I may be back (hosting) racing again next year," Rogers said. "There's no guarantee that we won't be, and there's no guarantee we will."