With the racing world paused amid the COVID-19 outbreak, SPEED SPORT is highlighting race tracks around the United States. This is part of that ongoing series.
Track of the Day: Grandview Speedway
Address: 43 Passmore Road, Bechtelsville, PA 19505
Website: www.grandviewspeedway.com
History: Grandview Speedway was built by Forrest Rogers, with construction taking place in 1962 and throughout 1963 prior to the track opening on Aug. 11, 1963, with Lauden Potts claiming the first victory at the track.
However, a heart attack ended Rogers’ life four years after the track opened and the operation of the facility was handed over to his son, Bruce Rogers.
Throughout the track’s lengthy history many things have changed, including the seating capacity, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the size of the track. The dirt oval remains a third-mile in length, exactly as it was on opening day in 1963.
Dick Havens was crowned the inaugural track champion in 1963 in the headlining modified division. Sportsman and sportsman modifieds took turns as the premier division at Grandview over the years before the modified class took over as the top class in 1998.
Among those who have claimed track titles at Grandview include Warren Mutter, Fred Rahmer, Smokey Warren, Craig Von Dohren and Jeff Strunk. Duane Howard, a six-time track champion, is the defending track champion in the premier modified class.
Bruce Rogers died in 2017 and the track continues to be operated by the Rogers family, with the annual running of the Freedom 76 for modifieds in mid-September serving as the track’s biggest race.
The track also plays host to several special events — dubbed the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series — each year. Thunder on the Hill typically features touring divisions such as the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions, USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series and USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series.
