RPW Exclusive: Victory In Freedom 38 Bookends ’23 Season At Grandview For Brian Hirthler
News Director 
Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Brian Hirthler created a bookend season of winning big Sportsman races Grandview Speedway.
Brian started the ’23 season off by winning the Bruce Rogers Memorial Sportsman race and then capped the season end off by winning the lucrative Freedom 38er.
Hirthler won over $3500 for the 38er victory, his 3rd of the season and 21st career All-Time Grandview Speedway Sportsman win leader.
In ’23, Grandview Speedway leadership announced that Modified drivers were no longer able to run a Sportsman car in the high paying Freedom 38er. The decision was a good one, Grandview was blessed with a field of 61 Sportsman drivers looking to crack the Freedom 38er field.
Six Sportsman Heats were run creating the field of 28 for the 39er.
Jordan Henn and Zane Roth led the 28 car T.P Truck Equipment Sportsman 38er field to the green flag.
Jordan took the early lead with Zane Roth, Joe Toth, Parker Guldin, and Brian Hirthler
The first yellow of night was flashing on lap 4 for Mark Gaugler who slowed with a right rear flat tire. After quick pit service, Gaugler returned to join the field.
The field was restacked for a lap 4 restart with Jordan Henn at the point, Roth, Toth, Guldin, Hirthler, Brad Grim, Jesse Landis, Brad Arnold, and Jason Hamilton. Track Champion Logan Watt had driven from 18th to 12th in 4 laps.
The field goes back to green flag racing, before another timely caution appeared as Addison Meitzler got out of shape in turn one and Logan Watt had nowhere to do and stopped to avoid the accident. Watt re-fired and joined the tail of the field.
The field goes back to racing as Henn continues to lead with Roth, Toth, Hirthler, and Guldin in chase mode.
On Lap 5, Joe Toth takes the Belmont 917 into 2nd, Then the caution flag is waving again as TJ Mayberry slapped the turn one wall and need a wrecker to remove the damaged 777 Sportsman from the track. The field is once again restacked for racing action.
We head back to racing action and Jordan Henn has new company on his tail as Joe Toth is looking to steal the Freedom 38er lead. Brian Hirthler has moved into 3rd, Roth, and Parker Guldin are the new Top-5.
With 9 laps on the lap counter, Brian Hirthler is now challenging Joe Toth for 2nd as they go side by side. Lap 10, Hirthler sweeps past Toth for 2nd.
At the Lap 10 mark of the race, Brian Hirthler is wasting no time racing to the front, he is now challenging Jordan Henn for the race lead.
Lap 12 is clicked off, Brian Hirthler powers to the race lead, dropping Jordan Henn to 2nd, Toth, Guldin, and Roth are the new Top-5.
On Lap 13, The caution lights are displayed for Keith Haring and Mark Gaugler who have tangled in turn 2. Gaugler is towed off, Haring joins the tail of the field.
The field is restacked and back to racing action with Brian Hirthler powering in front. Jordan Henn, Joe Toth, Parker Guldin, and Logan Bauman are the new Top-5.
The yellow is waving again on lap 15 as Dakota Kohler slows. Brad Grim heads to the pits during this caution.
The field is restacked again and back to racing as Brian Hirthler powers ahead to the lead. Henn, Toth, Bauman, and Guldin are the new Top-5.
Lap 20 is clicked off and Brian Hirthler remains the man at the point. Henn, Toth, Bauman, and Addison Meitzler are the new Top-5.
On Lap 24 the caution is displayed again for a slowing Parker Guldin who was running in the Top 10. Keith Haring retires to the pits.
The field is restacked for the restart with Brian Hirthler maintain the race lead. Henn, Toth, Bauman, and Meitzler are the Top-5. Dylan Swinehart is a man on the move as he started 17th and has driven up to 6th. Another attempt to start and another caution as Steve Young slows. A single file restart is now needed.
We go back to racing with Brian Hirthler moving out front, Henn, Toth, Bauman, and Dylan Swinehart the new Top-5.
On Lap 26 the caution lights are displayed for Steve Kemery who has flat tire. The field is reset for the restart.
The field goes back to racing and Joe Toth and Jordan Henn are now side by side for 2nd.
On lap 28, Joe Toth clears Jordan Henn for 2nd. Brian Hirthler is speeding away with the lead. Henn is 3rd, Swinehart is 4th, and Addison Meitzler is 5th.
Lap 30 is clicked off and Brian Hirthler is pulling away with the race lead. Toth is in 2nd, Jordan Henn is under siege from Dylan Swinehart for 3rd place, Swinehart has driven from 17th to 3rd in 30 laps.
Lap 34 is clicked off and Hirthler continues to separate himself from Joe Toth in 2nd. Swinehart, Henn, Meitzler, Kyle Smith, Logan Bauman, and Logan Watt are chasing.
White Flag is displayed on lap 37 and Brian Hirthler is blasting away with victory in sight. Joe Toth, Swinehart, Henn, Smith, Meitzler, Watt, Bauman, and Cody Manmiller.
Brian Hirthler drives to the Freedom 38er feature win, Joe Toth settles for 2nd, Dylan Swinehart is 3rd from 17th, Jordan Henn 4th, Kyle Smith 5th from 20th, Addison Meitzler 6th, Logan Watt 7th from the rear, Logan Bauman 8th, Cody Manmiller 9th, and Jesse Landis 10th.
