Off to a great start.
Grandview Speedway hosted an open test and tuneup practice session on Saturday afternoon, setting the stage for Opening Night this coming Saturday.
Race teams jammed the pit area on Saturday, with a total of 96 race cars taking part in the traditional free-to-the-public open practice session, which allowed drivers to test their cars for the upcoming racing campaign.
Drivers from various divisions were represented and leading the way were the two weekly divisions with 37 T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds and 40 T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman jamming the pit area, along with Outlaw Racing Series Enduro cars, Pro 4 Racing Series Four Cylinders, Vintage cars, winged and non-wing Sprint cars, Late Models, and a Slingshot, which all took practice laps in the 4-hour test session.
Six-time T.P. Trailer Modified track champion Duane Howard was the quickest of all 37 Modified teams, turning a lap of 14.335 and 14.866 seconds, respectively, in two different sessions. Other T.P. Trailer Modified drivers who were quick during practice included 2024 Champion Jeff Strunk at 15.800 and 2023 Champion Brett Kressley at 15.810 during one of the later practice runs.
In the T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman division, the fastest lap of the afternoon was turned in by one of the top 10 points drivers from last year in Adrianna Delliponti who turned a lap of 15.395 seconds, followed by Mike Schneck Jr. at 16.675, and Addison Meitzler who turned a lap of 16.725 seconds.
Several Sprint teams were on hand with Chase Moran of Fultonville, N.Y. in a winged 360 Sprint turning a quick lap of 15.243 seconds, while Patrick Chilmonik in a wingless Sprint turning a quick lap of 17.236.
A robust grandstand crowd was on hand, taking advantage of the free grandstand admission to check out the new cars and drivers for the upcoming season on a partly sunny and rare 80 degree March day.
With practice in the record books, attention now turns to the 2025 season opening VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker, which is open to both Big and Small Block Modified competitors and is run in honor of long-time track owner and promoter Bruce Rogers. The feature race will be 50-laps, paying $7,500 to win as well as $1,000 to take the green flag in the main event. The feature race winner will also receive a guaranteed starting spot in the Sept. 20 Freedom 76!
Opening Night program will be sanctioned by NASCAR and will be the first point race of the new campaign for both the T.P. Trailer Modified and T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman divisions toward both the track and NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Championships.
For the Bruce Rogers Memorial event, all drivers are welcome to compete as in years past, and if any driver is not a track regular, the speedway will cover the cost of the $25 temporary NASCAR driver license for this one night of competition.
There is no entry fee for this event, however drivers are encouraged to pre-enter by calling or texting 484-256-4375, providing the driver’s name, contact information and phone number. Drivers are also reminded to visit the speedway website at www.grandviewspeedway.com to print and fill out a W-9 form and bring it with them to the track on Opening Night. The W-9 form must be provided to the pit office to be eligible for drivers to draw for heat race starting spots.
The T.P. Truck Equipment 602 Sportsman will also begin their point season on the Opening Night program in a full show which includes qualifying events and a 25-lap feature race.
