BECHTELSVILLE, Pa. – It was a thrilling start to the Freedom weekend of racing at Grandview Speedway Friday night, and when all the action was completed, Ryan Grim was standing in victory lane following the T.P. Truck Equipment Freedom 38 Sportsman Championship race.
Officially there were only two drivers scored as the leaders of the race, Grim and early leader Jordan Henn, but Cole Stangle was involved at one point in a back-and-forth battle with Grim for the top spot.
Grim was also challenged by Logan Watt in the final 12 laps through lapped traffic, but was able to hold on and win by a few car lengths at the finish.
Also, on the program on Friday evening were the T.P. Trailer Modifieds taking practice laps in preparation for Saturday night’s 52nd annual running of the Freedom 76.Â
The pit area was overflowing on Friday evening, as 54 modified competitors were on hand to take practice laps and tune their cars for the big race. Quite a few drivers who are pre-entered were not on hand for practice, so the number of competitors will be even larger for the big championship race on Saturday night.
The Freedom 38 Championship race began with last year’s winner Jordan Henn taking the lead from his second starting spot, and pull out to a safe advantage over the rest of the field.
During the early laps Grim would run second and Stangle a close third, with Mike Schneck Jr. and Nate Brinker close behind. By lap 10 Brett Gilmore would move by Brinker into the top five to join the battle up front.
The leaders would reach lapped traffic by lap eleven, with Henn working through traffic maintaining the top spot, while Grim and Stangle were in a great battle for second, at times side by side.
Traffic would prove to be a factor, as Grim would fight off Stangle and catch Henn, passing him for the lead off turn four coming in to score lap 17.
The first caution waved at the half-way point on lap 19 for Brad Brightbill slowing the great battles all around the track.
The restart proved no good, as a turn four tangle would see Dakota Kohler able to restart, but Brad Grim towed off the track.
Another two laps would run off before Michael Burrows would suffer mechanical problems, and drew the final caution on lap 21.
At this point, second place Henn pulled to the pits with mechanical issues, putting Cole Stangle in second spot.
Following the restart, the top two drivers swapped the lead several times, throwing sliders at each other, until Grim was able to finally settle in as the leader.
After Grim slowly pulled away, an intense multi-car race developed for position behind him between Stangle, Watt who had been steadily working forward from his 17th starting spot, Gilmore and Kyle Smith.Â
Watt would move to second on lap 26 after a good tussle with Stangle and begin to track down Grim.
Watt caught Grim and began applying some pressure to the leader as they diced through lapped cars.
Watt would at one point jump the cushion in turn three and lose ground on the leader, only catching him again with just a couple laps to go.
Watt threw everything he could into the final two laps, but lapped traffic worked to the leader’s advantage, with Grim scoring the win by a couple car lengths at the finish line.
At the checkered flag it was Ryan Grim a winner for the first time in T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman action over Watt.
The Finish:
Feature (38 Laps): Â RYAN GRIM, Logan Watt, Brett Gilmore, Cole Stangle, Kyle Smith, Addison Meitzler, Kevin Hirthler, Nate Brinker, Decker Swinehart, Jimmy Leiby, Cody Manmiller, Brian Hirthler, Dylan Hoch, Brad Brightbill, Ryan Graver, Mike Schneck Jr., Jordan Henn, Parker Guldin, Nathan Mohr, Talan Carter, Dakota Kohler, Steve Young, Mark Gaugler, Xavier Sprague, Shon Elk, Michael Burrows, Brad Grim, Mark Kemmerer