Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – On Saturday night the Grandview Speedway ran their historic Firecracker 40, the 602 Sportsman race of the year. While the end of the year Freedom 38er carries a similar pedigree, this event is considered the grand-daddy for the 602 Sportsman racers.
The class is lined up and announced driver by driver walking over the Grandview Speedway just like they do for the Freedom 76 every year. It is the one time all year when the 602 Sportsman drivers are showcased for the night.
The class carried a base purse of $2,000 to win, but over the past week additional sponsors and marketing partners added the purse pushing the total to $3,450 to win. SDS Racing Photos, Steve Sabo started the push by adding $400, V & M Towing added $400 to winner and $100 to the polesitter, Vaccaro’s Auto Buyer’s added $100 to the First Alternate, Cast Iron Creations added $100, Rowe’s Graphic’s $50, Breitenstein Motorsports added $141, High Side Apparel and TJ Mayberry added $100 to the Hard Charger, Mike & Jill Horn added $100, JRN Logistics LLC added $150, Jimbo’s Gutters and Stringer’s Collision added bonus dollars as well.
The night has a Freedom 76 feel for the 602 Sportsman.
Jesse Landis has been a faithful Grandview Speedway supporter for many years. He is what you would call an underdog by all mean. His Red and White #973 Sportsman resembles a Money Mat Williamson paint scheme, It travels to the track on very modest open trailer pulled by pickup truck. The trailer is old school, no tire rack or anything special.
Jesse does not have a large pit crew and does not carry that big budget to the track. He performs most of his work and maintenance himself and the team is certainly one of the most humble racers in the pit area. On Saturday night, Jesse put his 973 into the 54th Grandview Speedway Firecracker 40 with a 3rd place run in heat race 2, and then ran to his 2nd career Grandview Speedway feature win after a spirited battle with NY Invader Jared LaBagh.
Landis powered around LaBagh on the high side after a caution on lap 18. LaBagh making his 4th Grandview Speedway start with his home track, Orange County Fair Speedway closed for most of the season. LaBagh was super fast early in the race and looked like the car to beat, Jared’s speed faded mid-race when Jesse Landis was making his run through the pack to the race lead.
44 – 602 Sportsman entered competition for the night. Heat Race and Consolation Races were loaded with drama as everyone was up on the wheel looking for their chance at the $3450 prize. Heat Race Winners: Jared LaBagh, BJ Joly III, Mark Kemmerer, and Gavyn Krupp. The 40 Lap Firecracker event had 5 drivers needing to use provisional starting spots to gain entry into the field:
Point Leader Logan Watt, 2nd Place Point Man Addsion Meitzler, Adrianna Delliponti, Ryan Graver, and Mike Schneck Jr. All 5 are certainly a Who’s-Who in the Grandview Speedway 602 Sportsman Division. The 5 provisional pushed the starting field to 31 cars.
Alex Bartorillo and Stephen Laubach led the 31 car Firecracker field to the green flag.
Brett Grim and Parker Guldin took the green and pulled off.
Alex Bartorillo was the early leader with Laubach, Jared LaBagh, BJ Joy, and Troy Bollinger following close behind.
On Lap 2, Jared LaBagh moved into 2nd and set his sights on the leader.
Lap 3, LaBagh powers ahead of Bartorillo as Joly, Laubach, Bollinger, and Mark Kemmerer are the Top-5.
With 5 clicks off the lap counter NY Invader Jared LaBagh is sitting a torrid pace at the front. Bartorillo, Joly, Laubach, Bollinger, Kemmerer, Hartzell, Kohler, and Szerencits are the Top-8.
At lap 7 the 1st caution is displayed for Gavyn Krupp who stopped in turn 2 while Ryan Graver, Logan Watt, Ronnie Soloman, Dylan Swinehart, and Zach Steffy are all collected against the turn 1 wall. The red lights were quickly then displayed. Swinehart pulled away and visited the pits before returning to the track.
Soloman and Watt were towed away on the business end of the wrecker, Zach Steffy visited the infield care unit while complaining of his knee hurting, his car will dropped in the infield. All other drivers were ok. The field was restacked after a clean up with LaBagh the race leader, Bartorillo, Joly, Laubach, and Bollinger.
Gavyn Krupp returned to action after a visit to the pits. Brad Brightbill invading for the event is cutting through the field quickly, as is Brett Gilmore. Gilmore qualified in a consolation race and is currently 13th in the running order.
Ray Kemp drops the green flag for the lap 8 restart with the Jared LaBagh #38 taking command once again. BJ Joy moves into 2nd, Kyle Hartzell moves into 3rd, Alex Bartorillo 4th, and Dakota Kohler 5th.
By lap 10, LaBagh is once again stretching his race lead to a straightaway.
The 2nd caution of the night is flashing on lap 13, Mark Gaugler is spun in turn one. Mark Kemmerer has a left front flat tire and goes to the pit area. Brad Brightbill heads to the pit area for service as well. Kemmerer would return to action.
Addison Meitzler is making an amazing run from 28th to 12th. Meitzler took one of those provisional spots, with Logan Watt sitting in the pit area Meitzler is seizing the opportunity to gain points now.
The field is restacked with Jared LaBagh as the leader, Dakota Kohler is now 2nd, Jesse Landis 3rd, BJ Joly 4th, and Lawson Szerencits 5th.
The field goes back to racing with Jared LaBagh streaking away out front, Jesse Landis is attacking Dakota Kohler for 2nd and he clears the 59k for 2nd. Kohler, Joly, Hartzell, Szerencits, and Brett Gilmore are following.
On Lap 18 the 3rd caution is displayed after Tyler James has trouble in turn 2 and ends up stopped against the inside wall. TJ Mayberry heads to the pits under caution. The field is once again restacked.
On the Lap 19 restart, Jesse Landis takes the KJ Doors 973 to the race lead with a topside groove pass of Jared LaBagh. LaBagh, Kohler, Gilmore, Joly, and Meitzler are now the Top-7.
At the Lap 20 halfway mark of the event, Jesse Landis is the man at the front of the pack. Jared LaBagh is within striking distance in 2nd, Dakota Kohler in his new ride is 3rd, Brett Gilmore 4th, BJ Joly is 5th, Addison Meitzler 6th, Kyle Hartzell 7th, Lawson Szerencits 8th, Zane Roth 9th, and Stephen Laubach 10th.
Lap 24 Kyle Hartzell pulls of the track
Lap 25 and Jesse Landis continues to set the pace out front. LaBagh, Brett Gilmore, Kohler, and Meitzler are the Top-5.
On Lap 27, all green flag laps as the field approaches the tail of the field in lap traffic. Jared LaBagh is within 2 car lengths of the Jesse Landis bumper.
Lap 28, the 4th caution is displayed for Brad Brightbill. Brightbill is pushed started and joins the rear of the field. The field is restacked for 12 to go. Landis, LaBagh, Gilmore, Kohler, Meitzler, Joly, Roth, Brian Hirthler, Jesse Hirthler, Szerencits, and Schneck Jr. Brad Brightbill heads pitside again.
The field goes back racing with Jesse Landis powering out front again, Jared LaBagh is being attacked by Brett Gilmore for 2nd. Lap 29 is scored with Landis, LaBagh, Gilmore, Kohler, Jesse Hirthler powering around Brian Hirthler and BJ Joly.
Lap 30, the 5th caution is displayed for BJ Joly as the 924 slows in turn one. Joly is push started and he rejoins the field. The field is restacked and on the restart Zane Roth and BJ Joly are hooked together and the caution is out again. Brian Hirthler is sent to the rear of the field for contact. The field is now restacked for a 10 lap dash to the finish. Landis, LaBagh, Gilmore, Kohler, Meitzler, Jesse Hirthler, Mike Schneck Jr., Zane Roth, Lawson Szerencits, and Dylan Swinehart.
The field heads back to racing with Jesse Landis powering in front, Jared LaBagh follows in 2nd, Dakota Kohler and Brett Gilmore are side by side for 3rd. Jesse Hirthler powers by Addison Meitzler.
Lap 34 is clicked off and the pace of the race is picking up with 6 to go. Jesse Landis is keeping Jared LaBagh at bay right now. Dakota Kohler has taken away 3rd, Brett Gilmore is 4th, Jesse Hirthler 5th.
Lap 35 Jesse Hirthler attempts a turn 4 slider on Brett Gilmore and it does not stick. Gilmore and Hirthler continue to battle for 4th and 5th with Meitzler lurking behind.
Lap 38, 2 to go is displayed with Landis holding down the top spot. LaBagh, Kohler, Meitzler now 4th, and Gilmore 5th.
White Flag is displayed to the race leader, before the yellow and red are quickly displayed on the track for Mark Kemmerer F10’s that is up in flames on the main frontstretch. Kemmerer quickly exited the car and the Grandview Speedway Fire and Rescue Crew were quickly on scene. Kemmerer exited the car while it was still moving.
Mark Kemmerer was safe and the situation was quickly controlled without issue. This set us a 1 lap dash for the $3450 Firecracker 40 event victory. Brian Hirthler retired to the infield. The field is slowly put back on yellow status, Jesse Landis is the leader, LaBagh, Kohler, Meitzler, Gilmore, Hirthler, Schneck, and Swinehart.
Ray Kemp drops the green and white together as Jesse Landis pulls off an incredible last lap and drives to the Firecracker 40 win. Dakota Kohler would pull off a last lap pass for close 2nd place finish, Jared LaBagh would survive to finish to 3rd, Addison Meitzler 4th, Jesse Hirthler 5th, Brett Gilmore 6th, Mike Schneck Jr. 7th, Dylan Swinehart 8th, Zane Roth 9th, and Joey Vaccaro 10th.
T.P. TRUCK EQUIPMENT NASCAR SPORTSMAN FIRECRACKER 40 FEATURE FINISH (40 laps): JESSE LANDIS, Dakota Kohler, Jared LaBagh, Addison Meitzler, Jesse Hirthler, Brett Gilmore, Mike Schneck Jr., Dylan Swinehart, Zane Roth, Joey Vaccaro, Adrianna Delliponti, Lawson Szerencits, Mark Gaugler, Logan Bauman, Troy Bollinger, Alex Bartorillo, BJ Joly III, Mark Kemmerer, Brian Hirthler, Gavyn Krupp, Stephen Laubach, Brad Brightbill, Kyle Hartzell, Tyler James, TJ Mayberry, Zach Steffey, Logan Watt, Ronnie Solomon, Ryan Graver, Brett Grim, Parker Guldin