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| Rick Sweeten Photo |
There will be $7500 on the line and no shortage of quality competition in Saturday night's Bruce Rogers Memorial at Grandview Speedway. The season opener for the legendary Eastern, PA bullring is the most anticipated Modifed race in the Northeast thus far and should treat fans to a thrilling evening of racing on the high banks with a purse capable from drawing cars from all over the geography and perhaps further. Combine the excitement of a normal opening night, throw in the impressive list of drivers making their way there, and top it off with a weather forecast that looks perfect for racing and you've got the makings of a night of racing to remember.
Watt Looking to Stay Hot
So far in 2018, if there's been big money on the line, then there's a very good chance Ryan Watt's name has been on the novelty check at the end of the night or at the very least a contender for the win. The soon to be 38 year old Boyertown, PA driver nicknamed "The Electric Company" is perhaps the top favorite on Saturday night and would love nothing more than to add yet another big payday to his collection on his birthday!
Watt started the season in the DIRTcar Nationals in Volusia in February and took home three top-10 finishes in four starts. He was even more formidable when he returned home and scored a $6949 victory in the Short Track Super Series opener at Georgetown Speedway on March 18 completing a last lap pass on Matt Sheppard en route to the win. Watt backed that performance up with a $4400 win at the Bridgeport Speedway opener on April 2 winning by a significant margin over second running Anthony Perrego.
Having been in close contention for victory in the the Freedom 76 at Grandview in September of 2016 and other races from time to time, Watt knows what it takes to keep his momentum going in the early portion of the season and may be primed for victory on Saturday night.
Sheppard and Friesen Will Bring It
Mixing it up with Watt will be multi time Super Dirt Car Series Champion Matt Sheppard and multi time Super Dirt Week champion Stewart Friesen. They've both done very well at Grandview in limited appearances over the years with Sheppard taking back to back wins in the 2015 and 2016 Traffic Jam while Friesen wrote his name in the history books with a win in the 2014 Freedom 76.
So far in 2018, Sheppard has tasted victory lane twice including once at Volusia in February. Friesen has yet to win in six tries so far but has four top five finishes. Both will give Watt and some formidable competition from those defending home turf all they can handle.
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| Rick Sweeten Photo |
Home Team Will Be Ready
To say there is a home track advantage at Grandview may be an understatement. And the duo of Jeff Strunk and Craig Von Dohren are more than capable of defending home turf even against Watt, Sheppard and Friesen.
Between the two of them there are more than 20 track championships or Freedom 76 wins as they've simply shared ownership of the facility for a number of years and have the equipment that can do it and then some. They've kept a list of Hall of Fame drivers out of victory lane in high paying events at Grandview and will be looking to do the same on Saturday night.
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| Rick Sweeten Photo |
Also among the favorites will be Billy Pauch, Rick Laubach, and weekly warriors Duane Howard, Brett Kressley, Doug Manmiller, Frank Cozze as they help headline a deep field of talent that competes at Grandview on a weekly basis.
Saturday's race will see a 50 lap feature, but will also utilize a redraw for all qualifiers in the heats which will provide a unique starting lineup perhaps. If there was ever a race that a local could pull an upset, the Bruce Rogers Memorial is a good opportunity to do so.
Get There
Date: Saturday, April 14
Time: Racing is slated to begin at 7 PM
Tickets: $28 at the gate
Also on the Card: Sportsman Stocks ($750 to win)
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