THE EDGE RIDES THE EDGE TO VICTORY – EDDIE STRADA SCORES HUGE $34,800 PLUS PAYDAY WITH VICTORY IN 55th ANNUAL GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY FREEDOM 76 MODIFIED CLASSIC

BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – It was another race for the ages Saturday night at Grandview Speedway, with a spectacular five driver tussle for the win in the season’s most prestigious event.
When the checkered flag fell, “The Edge” Eddie Strada of Lake Ariel, Pa. emerged from the intense action with the biggest win of his stock car racing career, taking home over $34,800 for the win in Grandview Speedway’s 55th annual Freedom 76 T.P. Trailer Modified Classic.
It was Duane Howard and Louden Reimert both of Oley, Pa. racing for the lead along with Strada fighting for the victory, when Danny Bouc of Pipersville, Pa. and Jared Umbenhauer of Richland, Pa. joined the action for an incredible five driver race for the prestigious win.
Things really got interesting following a lap 37 restart, when Reimert was able to stay alongside of Howard all the way to turn one when he was able to grab the lead away from Howard after a little bit of wheel rubbing, while Strada was rim-riding the outside lane.
Reimert took the lead but only had it for one lap before the outside running Strada was able to motor past him for the top spot just before Reimert would slow with a flat tire, ending his great chance for a win.
Following the ensuing restart, Umbenhauer and Bouc were able to clear Howard and the race was on between those three drivers till the checkered, with Umbenhauer really throwing some serious pressure on Strada, who would fight off the challenges and eventually pull away over the final ten laps to score the huge victory, becoming the 29th driver to ever win the historical Freedom 76 at Grandview Speedway.
The second half of the race would see Jared Umbenhauer of Richland, Pa. and Danny Bouc of Pipersville, Pa. continue the great action for the top spot, but Strada held off all challenges to score his second career NASCAR Advance Auto Parts T.P. Trailer Modified Grandview Speedway win, just three weeks after scoring his first ever speedway win on August 30.
For the win Strada picked up $30,063 in purse money, a $1000 bonus from the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series of which Grandview Speedway is a part of for weekly action, another $1000 bonus from the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series for being a track regular, a Bob Hilbert Sportswear Custom Winner’s Jacket, Penske Racing Shocks Certificate, and $2480 in lap prize money for a total of over $34,800!
Following a redraw of all heat race qualifiers and guaranteed starters, Duane Howard and Kyle Smith of Fleetwood, Pa. would share the front row for the start of the Freedom 76, with Howard taking the early lead, however under some pressure from the strong running Smith.
The early laps would see Howard leading, with Strada and Reimert in close pursuit, followed by Smith, Bouc, Justin Grim of Orefield, Pa., Cody Manmiller of Philadelphia, Pa. and Brian Hirthler of Green Lane, Pa. all battling close behind.
By lap sixteen, Howard, Strada, and Reimert were in a close struggle for the lead, while Grim, Smith, and an outside running Umbenhauer were in another battle for position.
By lap 22 it was a three car battle under a blanket for the lead between Howard, Strada, and Reimert when an outside running Bouc would join the fun, making for a four car race for the huge payday.
Umbenhauer would continue his march forward and by lap 32 joined the other four, now making it an unbelievable five driver battle for the win, all running tight together up front, swapping positions and hoping for a chance at the victory.
It was at this point that Strada, who had been in second at one point, had fallen to fourth position, but was still in the mix for the win, being part of the multi-car battle up front.
It was the lap 37 restart that started the race changing dramatics, as if the race wasn’t already exciting enough, with Reimert really staying side-by-side with Howard on the restart, battling hard into turn one, with Howard on the bottom, Reimert in the middle racing hard and close for the lead, while Strada attempted to make it three wide entering the corner way high near the outside wall.
Reimert was able to take the lead by the back straightaway with Strada quickly following past Howard into second position.
The following lap, Strada stayed on the top and swept around Reimert taking command of the race, before Reimert’s unfortunate flat tire would draw a caution.
The following restart would be key as well, as Umbenhauer would blast up the inside lane clearing both Bouc and Howard to grab second, with Bouc soon to follow into the third spot dropping early leader Howard back into the fourth spot.
In the second half of the race while all of this spectacular racing was going on up front, 14th starting Billy Pauch Jr. of Frenchtown, N.J., 19th starting Ryan Watt of Boyertown, Pa., 21st starting Ryan Godown of Ringoes, N.J. and 27th starting Logan Watt of Boyertown, Pa. were all moving forward and into contention, reaching the top ten positions and battling one another along the way.
Lap 42 saw an unfortunate mishap occur, taking out several cars including Logan Watt who had worked his way forward from 27th to eighth, and Reimert who had just returned from his tire change.
By lap 46 Strada and Umbenhauer hooked up in a serious battle for the lead followed closely by Bouc, with a big battle raging behind them between Howard, Pauch Jr., Godown, Ryan Watt, and Tim Buckwalter of Douglassville, Pa.
Umbenhauer and Bouc would move back in on Strada and really apply the pressure for the lead by lap 54, with Strada up high and Umbenhauer poking a nose down low, and Bouc right behind waiting for his chance.
Strada would slightly change lanes and move to the middle after the serious threat from Umbenhauer, and slowly pull away over the final ten laps, leaving a great battle between Umbenhauer and Bouc for second to the finish.
Ryan Godown made a late race charge himself after clearing Ryan Watt, Pauch Jr. and Howard, and closed in on the two car battle for second, but ran out of time to make a serious challenge for those positions.
Umbenhauer made one last effort by lap 70 to grab the win, applying some pressure to Strada, after Strada had built up a small lead, but Strada would not be denied the huge career-defining win in the historical event.
At the wave of Starter Ray Kemp’s checkered flag it was Strada scoring his first Freedom 76 win, followed by Umbenhauer, Bouc for their career best Freedom 76 finishes, Godown, Howard, Buckwalter, Pauch Jr., Ryan Watt, Mike Gular of Harleysville, Pa. who recovered from an earlier mishap, and Justin Grim.
Qualifying heats for the 54 cars on hand were won by Billy Pauch Jr., Kyle Smith, Eddie Strada, Jeff Strunk of Boyertown, Pa., Ryan Godown, and Bobby Trapper Jr. of Scranton, Pa. which each qualified four cars to the Freedom 76, while Jim Housworth of Upper Black Eddy, Pa. and Ryan Beltz of Barto, Pa. won the consolations which transferred four cars each into the Minuteman 20.
GT Radiator Repair of Ambler, Pa. sponsored a $1000 to win heat winner/guaranteed starter Cash Dash which was won by Duane Howard over Logan Watt, Brian Hirthler, Kyle Smith and Jeff Strunk.
The Schaeffer Motorsports Minuteman 20 last chance qualifier was captured by Craig Von Dohren of Oley, Pa. with some late race dramatics.
Ron haring Jr. of Alburtis, Pa. and Neal Williams of Pittsgrove, N.J. were locked in a great battle for the win, when they reached lapped traffic with five laps to go, allowing Von Dohren to pounce on the opportunity to work past both drivers, grabbing the lead off turn four from Haring Jr. on lap 18 and going on to the win.
Von Dohren took the Schaeffer Motorsports Minuteman 20 win, followed by Haring Jr., Williams, Nate Brinker of Macungie, Pa., and Ryan Grim of Laurys Station, Pa., who all transferred into the freedom 76 feature race.
For Grim it was a whirlwind race, as he started in 32nd spot and methodically worked his way forward, ending up in 13th spot, getting him the Hard Charger Award from Bobby Gunther Walsh and all of his sponsors (Featuring Res Q Natural Supplements, Just Born Quality Confections) for $1900, plus another $100 from Joe Shimansky Taxidermy for a total of $2000!
The Freedom 76 race weekend was the final event for the TP. Trailer Modified and Sportsman for the 2025 race season, but Grandview Speedway management already invites everyone to the 2026 Season Opener on Saturday, April 4 featuring the Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker.
Grandview Speedway will be presenting one more racing event for the 2025 race season on Saturday, September 27 for the Outlaw Racing Series Enduro/Vintage series presenting a double program joined by the Xcel 600 Modifieds, Slingshots, and the Pro 4 Racing Series starting at 5 pm. There will also be a Halloween session for the Kids. Grandstand admission for adults is $10, children ages 12 and under are free, while pit admission is $35. Rain date for the event is October 4.
Since the 1960’s, Grandview Speedway has been presenting exciting wheel to wheel NASCAR stock car racing every Saturday Night starting in April and running through October, plus special events.
Grandview Speedway is located at 43 Passmore Road, Bechtelsville, Pa. 19505, just off Route 100, ten miles north of Pottstown, Pa.
Information is always available at www.grandviewspeedway.com or on Facebook, or by telephone at 610.754.7688.
𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐎𝐌 𝟕𝟔 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍!!!!
T.P. TRAILER NASCAR MODIFIED FREEDOM 76 FEATURE FINISH (76 laps): EDDIE STRADA, Jared Umbenhauer, Danny Bouc, Ryan Godown, Duane Howard, Tim Buckwalter, Billy Pauch Jr, Ryan Watt, Mike Gular, Justin Grim, Mike Lisowski, Jeff Strunk, Ryan Grim, Jon Kellner, Justin Grosso, Tyler Peet, Kyle Smith, Brandon Edgar, Sam Martz Jr., Nate Brinker, Logan Watt, Brian Hirthler, Louden Reimert, Ray Swinehart, John Willman, Cody Manmiller, Ryan Krachun, Craig Von Dohren, Brandon Grosso, Neal Willliams, Dominick Buffalino, Ron Haring Jr., Bobby Trapper Jr.
SCHAEFFERS MOTORSPORTS MINUTEMAN 20: (Top 5 to Freedom 76): CRAIG VON DOHREN, Ron Haring Jr., Neal Williams, Nate Brinker, Ryan Grim, Eric Kormann, Doug Manmiller, Craig Whitmoyer, Chris Esposito, Jack Butler, Matt Yoder, Ryan Beltz, Mike Laise, Adrianna Delliponti, Johnny Bangs, Dylan Swinehart, Joe Funk, Chris Gambler, Nick DeSantis, Jim Housworth
DID NOT QUALIFY: Eric Kormann, Doug Manmiller, Craig Whitmoyer, Chris Esposito, Jack Butler, Matt Yoder, Ryan Beltz, Mike Laise, Adrianna Delliponti, Johnny Bangs, Dylan Swinehart, Joe Funk, Chris Gambler, Nick DeSantis, Jim Housworth, Kenny Bock, Danny Creeden, Ryan Graver, Bobby Gunther Walsh, Rick Laubach, WB James
HEAT RACE WINNERS: Billy Pauch Jr., Kyle Smith, Eddie Strada, Jeff Strunk, Ryan Godown, Bobby Trapper Jr.
CONSOLATION WINNERS: Jim Housworth, Ryan Beltz
NASCAR ADVANCE AUTO PARTS WEEKLY SERIES WINNER BONUS ($1000): Eddie Strada
NASCAR ADVANCE AUTO PARTS WEEKLY SERIES WINNER BONUS IF WEEKLY REGULAR ($1000): Eddie Strada
BOBBY GUNTHER WALSH AND ALL HIS SPONSORS (Featuring Res Q Natural Supplements, Just Born Quality Confections) ERNIE SAXTON MODIFIED HARD CHARGER - $1900 – Ryan Grim +19
JOE SHIMANSKI TAXIDERMY HARD CHARGER - $100 – Ryan Grim +19
GT RADIATOR REPAIR FREEDOM 76 CASH DASH - $1000 TO WIN – Duane Howard
BOB HILBERT SPORTSWEAR FREEDOM 76 CUSTOM WINNER’S JACKET – Eddie Strada
LITTLE PECKER LANDSCAPING FREEDOM 76 ‘LITTLE PECKER OF THE RACE’ LAST CAR RUNNING ON LEAD LAP - $250 – Tyler Peet
TRACK OFFICIALS MODIFIED NON-QUALIFIER AWARD - FREE ENGINE RESEALING FOR 2026 SEASON - $225 – Eric Kormann
RICK’S TOWING & HAULING FREEDOM 76 MODIFIED HARD LUCK AWARD - $200 – Brandon Grosso
RICK’S TOWING & HAULING FREEDOM 76 MODIFIED HARD LUCK AWARD - $200 – Dominick Buffalino
VP RACING FUELS HARD CHARGER: Ryan Grim +19
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS CERTIFICATES: Eddie Strada ($75), Jared Umbenhauer ($50), Danny Bouc ($25)
DAN’S DELI HALFWAY LEADER GIFT CERTIFICATE: Duane Howard
UPCOMING EVENTS –
Saturday, September 27 – TIM PAUCH MEMORIAL - Outlaw Racing Series Enduro, Outlaw Racing Series Vintage, Pro 4 Racing Series, Slingshots, Xcel 600 Modifieds, Halloween for the Kids – 5 pm (Rain date October 4)
Saturday, March 28, 2026 – FREE-to-the-Public Open Practice – All Divisions – 12 Noon
Saturday, April 4, 2026 – 64th Anniversary Season Opener – 9thAnnual BRUCE ROGERS MEMORIAL MONEY MAKER – Big Block/Small Block Modifieds 50-Laps, Sportsman – 6 pm

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