BACK AT THE TRACK
Drivers and fans are revved up for the 2023 season at Grandview Speedway, which began last weekend with the Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker
As fans poured out of the bleachers following the Freedom 76 on Sept. 17, 2022, many thought they had just witnessed the final modified race in Grandview Speedway history.
A pending sale between the Rogers family and Copart for the speedway property created uncertainty surrounding the future of the one-third mile dirt track located outside Bechtelsville in Washington Township, creating a bittersweet feeling at the speedway’s biggest race of the year.
After finishing third in the race, veteran driver and 10-time track champion Jeff Strunk got out of his car and shared his thoughts on Grandview.
“Hopefully it’s not done, and we can come back next year,” Strunk said following the race. “If not, then we’ll take all of what we had here, the good times and the great times, and cherish them.”
Just over a month into the offseason, the agreement between Copart and the Rogers family was terminated, and it was announced that Grandview would be open for a full season of racing in 2023. The highbanked track waved the green flag on its 61st season of racing with the Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker on Saturday night.
“It makes me really happy,” Strunk said following a practice session at the track on March 30. “Didn’t know what we would have done or where we would have went otherwise. I’m glad that it’s still alive. Hopefully it stays forever.”
The track will continue to host the 358 modified and sportsman divisions as part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series. The Thunder on the Hill Racing Series will also bring special events to the track again in 2023, including the Pennsylvania Sprint Speedweek series Hodnett Cup and the debut of the High Limit Sprint Car Series at Grandview.
Saturday’s racing will conclude with a 50-lap feature for the 358 modifieds, paying $1,000 to the winner. The sportsman division will also be in action.
“(It’s) an awesome place to race,” said Strunk, a Boyertown resident who grew up a quarter mile from the track. “I love racing here, and wouldn’t know what to
do without it.”
While last year marked the debut of new lights at the track, Grandview will unveil new lights in the pit area this season, as well as new lights around the bleachers.
“I think it will be good for the drivers and people walking (around),” Grandview co-event organizer Tina Rogers said. “This whole area is really lit up nice.”
With 77 career 358 modified wins at Grandview, Strunk will look to contend for a track championship this year alongside defending champion and Hall of Fame driver Craig Von Dohren — the winningest driver in track history — Duane Howard, Brett Kressley and a slew of others.
While he is eager to chase a
championship, Strunk is grateful for another season of racing at Grandview.
“(I’m) thankful for the Rogers family for having such a great place for 61 years,” Strunk said. “Hopefully it’s another 61 after this year.”
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Fans of Grandview since they were young kids, Brad Klinger and fiancée Vanessa Yerk made the drive from Gordon, Schuylkill County to attend the practice session on March 30.
However, this year, the start of a new season is as significant as ever given the uncertainty that surrounded the speedway in 2022.
“It means the world,” Klinger said. “We grew up coming to the track. It means a lot to come
back.”
The pair got engaged at the speedway, and now bring their two young children to watch the races every Saturday night and cheer on their favorite driver, Von Dohren.
“Just means a lot to have the track back,” Klinger said. “Racing is a lot about family. We play cornhole (beforehand) and we have a good time.”
The connection between racing and family is also strong for brothers Todd and Edward Guistwite of Schuylkill County. The pair has attended races at the track for more than 40 years, and look forward to returning year after year.
“It’s just good, family fun,” Todd Guistwite said at the practice
session on March 30. “It’s tradition. If you get into racing, it’s in your blood. And once it’s in your blood, you can’t get it out.”
While they are excited for another season, the pair are also grateful the track is still in operation.
“I’m just thanking God that they’re here,” Edward Guistwite said. “If this place was to die, I wouldn’t know where I would go.”
And similar to the Guistwite brothers, when the fans flock to the track on Saturday for the season opener, many will be thrilled to just be back on “the hill.”
“They love Grandview,” Rogers said about the fans. “We’re thankful that they love Grandview. We appreciate that.”