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Thorson Thrives in Ocala USAC Midget Opener
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Contact: Richie Murray - USAC Media / richie@usacracing.com
THORSON THRIVES IN OCALA USAC MIDGET OPENER
By: Richie Murray - USAC Media
Ocala, Fla. (February 7, 2020).........A new year and a new beginning are just the things Tanner Thorson was seeking with the outset of the 2020 USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget season.
A highway crash last March sidelined the 2016 series champion with serious injuries. His eventual comeback was a mixed bag of highlight reel moments as well as an up-and-down closing to the campaign that left him without a full-time drive.
A Chili Bowl prelim victory in January was just a prelude to Friday night's splendid drive by the Minden, Nev. native that witnessed him zip to the front in spectacular fashion just prior to and following a mid-race restart where he exchanged multiple sliders with series Rookie Buddy Kofoid to snare the lead and control the final 16 laps to score the win in the series season-opening Winter Dirt Games XI feature at Bubba Raceway Park.
Thorson's 14th career USAC National Midget feature win in his Hayward Motorsports/OILFIRE - Factory Kahne - Walker Filtration - Smith Titanium/Spike/Stanton SR-11x moved him into the top-50 and in a four-way tie for 48th on the all-time series win list alongside Chuck Arnold, Jack Turner and Leroy Warriner.
The victory also provided Hayward Motorsports its third career USAC National Midget victory as a team, and first since August of 2016 with driver Bryan Clauson at Solomon Valley Raceway in Beloit, Kans.
In his third consecutive year of competing in a midget at the 3/8-mile D-shaped track, Thorson finally found his groove. He finished 9th and 7th there in 2019, but this year, made a few small mechanical changes and transitioned to Hayward Motorsports for whom he made two USAC starts at the conclusion of 2019 and was slated to do a part-time schedule for this season.
With a superb beginning to 2020, Thorson hopes that this run of success can translate into something even more.
"We were obviously way better than we were here last year," Thorson recalled. "We've got the same package here, minus a couple little things that don't matter. I've been very fortunate to get with Brodie and Sarah Hayward. They've kind of just let me do whatever I really needed and to get what I needed as far as shocks, motors, cars and just everything. It helps to have people behind me like that and allows me to kind of take my mind off the whole thing that happened last year. This is a good start to the season for us and maybe we can see about talking the car owner into running points."
Thorson began the 30-lapper from fifth and steadily moved his way toward the front of the pack while USAC Triple Crown champ Jerry Coons Jr. held the top spot for the first ten circuits and last season's Ocala sweeper Tyler Courtney gripped his talons on the bottom to inch closer to Coons.
Coons nipped Courtney by a nose at the line at the conclusion of lap four, then gapped the defending series champ by four car lengths. Suddenly, the newcomer on the scene was one of the newcomers to the series in Kofoid who raced around the outside of Courtney off turn four and continued to haul the mail ripping the high line while Coons worked the bottom out front.
On the 11th lap, Kofoid maneuvered around the outside of Coons exiting turn two. Rapidly closing on the lapped car of first-time USAC feature starter Dennis Misuraca, the elusive Kofoid ducked low into turn three to snag the lead for the time being.
Three laps later, Thorson was the man on the move, slipping under Coons at the bottom entry to turn one for second. Coons fought back on the inside and the two touched, forcing Coons sideways at the exit of the second turn.
Moments later, the caution fell for Jesse Colwell who slowed to a stop in turn two while running in the eighth position.
Now lined up right on Kofoid's tail tank for the restart, Thorson used a massive run into turn one to slide up in front of Kofoid for the lead. Proving to be a quick-study, Kofoid answered the bell by turning down and returning the favor with a slider of his own in turn three to reobtain the point. However, as Kofoid slid up across turns three and four, that simply opened the door once more for Thorson to drive under off the fourth turn and slide his way back by Kofoid for good at the entry to turn one.
Thorson credited the formation of his success on the experience factor and a set of equipment that helped make the job a tad easier for him.
"I think a lot of it has to do with just having laps around here," Thorson pointed to. "I've watched a lot of races here and I've been here the last three years. I think that helps a lot and I've watched a lot of non-wing races here as well. It helped to have really good shocks that allowed me to maneuver anywhere I really needed to, and it paid off."
Two laps later, on the 17th trip around, Windom scooted by Kofoid for second and put his plan into place to chase down Thorson in the throes of lapping the tail end of the field.
A yellow flag for 14th running Robert Dalby following an apparent engine issue brought about the final stoppage, thus setting up a seven-lap sprint to the finish. Third place Kofoid split the gap between Thorson and Windom on the restart briefly into turn one before falling back behind Windom and into third.
Meanwhile, all that action did was provide Thorson more breathing room as he steadily built his lead up to a 1.969 sec. margin at the checkered over Windom, Kofoid, Courtney and Cannon McIntosh.
"We have a really good piece and we've had a good piece all the way since the Chili Bowl and even the Gateway race last December," Thorson reiterated. "I just can't thank everybody that's involved enough. It's really made it fun and easy."
Chris Windom took a distant second behind Thorson in the Canton, Ill. driver's USAC debut aboard the Tucker-Boat Motorsports/NOS Energy Drink - Pristine Auction - K & C Drywall/Spike/Speedway Toyota.
"Obviously, you want to come out and win the first race of the year, but we've been good all week so far," Windom explained. "Tanner was just a little bit better than us there. I could get to him, but it was like we were the same speed after that restart. I just couldn't quite do anything to gain on him and make a move on him. When we got to lapped cars, it would hurt him one car and I'd get hurt the next car. We kind of just stayed in the same spot."
A career best third-place finish was the result for Penngrove, California's Buddy Kofoid, leading four laps in just his fifth career series start piloting the Keith Kunz-Curb-Agajanian/Mobil 1 - JBL Audio - TRD/Bullet By Spike/Speedway Toyota.
"We've come a long way since practice yesterday and qualified well today," Kofoid recapped. "I was okay in the heat race, made some changes and was extremely fast in the main. I think we were really first early, then could hang with those guys. I think I kind of messed myself up on that restart and kind of fell apart a little bit at the end. I was good finding the top early; I just wish we could've went green to checker."
CONTINGENCY AWARD WINNERS:
Fatheadz Eyewear Fast Qualifier: Kevin Thomas Jr.
Simpson Race Products First Heat Winner: Kevin Thomas, Jr.
Competition Suspension, Inc. Second Heat Winner: Chris Windom
AutoMeter / Indy Race Parts Third Heat Winner: Tyler Courtney
KSE Racing Products / ProSource Hard Charger: Zeb Wise
Wilwood Brakes 13th Place Finisher: Steve Buckwalter
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USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: February 7, 2020 - Bubba Raceway Park - Ocala, Florida - Winter Dirt Games XI
FATHEADZ EYEWEAR QUALIFYING: 1. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 5, Petry-13.901; 2. Tanner Thorson, 19, Hayward-13.908; 3. Cole Bodine, 39BC, Clauson/Marshall-13.971; 4. Buddy Kofoid, 67, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-14.044; 5. Jerry Coons, Jr., 25, Petry-14.045; 6. Tyler Courtney, 7BC, Clauson/Marshall-14.099; 7. Tanner Carrick, 35, Petry-14.103; 8. Chris Windom, 89, Tucker/Boat-14.119; 9. Jesse Colwell, 21K, Reynolds-14.133; 10. Cannon McIntosh, 71K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-14.140; 11. Logan Seavey, 21KS, Reynolds-14.143; 12. Zeb Wise, 71, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-14.212; 13. Andrew Layser, 82, Tucker/Boat-14.219; 14. Robert Dalby, 4, Dalby-14.231; 15. Daison Pursley, 9, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-14.323; 16. Chase Jones, 7K, Irwin-14.370; 17. Steve Buckwalter, 25B, Buckwalter-14.527; 18. Dennis Misuraca, 92, Davis-16.111; 19. Oliver Akard, 41, Akard-16.191; 20. Mark Cole, 6x, Cole-16.816; 21. Mike Magic, 4m, Magic-NT; 22. Ethan Mitchell, 21, Reynolds-NT; 23. Michael Magic, 5m, Magic-NT.
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS FIRST HEAT: (8 laps, all transfer) 1. Kevin Thomas Jr., 2. Tanner Carrick, 3. Cannon McIntosh, 4. Buddy Kofoid, 5. Andrew Layser, 6. Chase Jones, 7. Oliver Akard. 1:55.647
COMPETITION SUSPENSION (CSI) SECOND HEAT: (8 laps, all transfer) 1. Chris Windom, 2. Tanner Thorson, 3. Jerry Coons Jr., 4. Logan Seavey, 5. Robert Dalby, 6. Steve Buckwalter, 7. Mark Cole. 1:54.193 (New Track Record)
AUTOMETER/INDY RACE PARTS THIRD HEAT: (8 laps, all transfer) 1. Tyler Courtney, 2. Daison Pursley, 3. Zeb Wise, 4. Jesse Colwell, 5. Cole Bodine, 6. Michael Magic (#4m), 7. Dennis Misuraca. 1:56.602
FEATURE: (30 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Tanner Thorson (5), 2. Chris Windom (7), 3. Buddy Kofoid (3), 4. Tyler Courtney (1), 5. Cannon McIntosh (10), 6. Zeb Wise (12), 7. Kevin Thomas, Jr. (6), 8. Jerry Coons, Jr. (2), 9. Daison Pursley (15), 10. Andrew Layser (13), 11. Tanner Carrick (8), 12. Logan Seavey (11), 13. Steve Buckwalter (17), 14. Dennis Misuraca (20), 15. Oliver Akard (18), 16. Mark Cole (19), 17. Michael Magic (21), 18. Chase Jones (16), 19. Robert Dalby (14), 20. Jesse Colwell (9), 21. Cole Bodine (4), 22. Ethan Mitchell (22). NT
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-10 Jerry Coons, Jr., Laps 11-14 Buddy Kofoid, Laps 15-30 Tanner Thorson
KSE RACING PRODUCTS / PROSOURCE HARD CHARGER: Zeb Wise (12th to 6th)
WILWOOD BRAKES 13TH PLACE FINISHER: Steve Buckwalter
NEW USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Tanner Thorson-82, 2-Chris Windom-75, 3-Buddy Kofoid-72, 4-Tyler Courtney-70, 5-Kevin Thomas, Jr.-66, 6-Cannon McIntosh-64, 7-Zeb Wise-61, 8-Jerry Coons Jr.-57, 9-Daison Pursley-53, 10-Tanner Carrick-48.
NEW WINTER DIRT GAMES PROSOURCE PASSING MASTER POINTS: 1-Zeb Wise-6, 2-Daison Pursley-6, 3-Dennis Misuraca-6, 4-Chris Windom-5, 5-Cannon McIntosh-5, 6-Tanner Thorson-4, 7-Steve Buckwalter-4, 8-Michael Magic-4, 9-Andrew Layser-3, 10-Oliver Akard-3.
NEW OVERALL PROSOURCE PASSING MASTER POINTS: 1-Zeb Wise-6, 2-Daison Pursley-6, 3-Dennis Misuraca-6, 4-Chris Windom-5, 5-Cannon McIntosh-5, 6-Tanner Thorson-4, 7-Steve Buckwalter-4, 8-Michael Magic-4, 9-Andrew Layser-3, 10-Oliver Akard-3.
NEXT USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: February 8, 2020 - Bubba Raceway Park - Ocala, Florida - Winter Dirt Games XI
Jersey Rush VIII at New Egypt Speedway
Posted by: | CommentsThe most powerful race cars on dirt will make their only appearance at the New Egypt Speedway on Tuesday night, July 16 when Pioneer Pole Buildings present, The Jersey Rush VIII, the ultimate triple header at the New Egypt Speedway in New Egypt, NJ.
The highlight of this popular event will include the 410 sprint cars, and the top stars and nationally known talent they attract. Also on the program is the Big Block/Small Block Modified Challenge and an added attraction to include the Crate Sportsman
Gates open at 5 PM with race time set for 7:30 PM. Come out early and take part in the Meet & Greet where you may go in the pits between 5:30 PM and 6:15 to meet your favorite sprint drivers and get a close up look at the sprint cars before the drop of the green flag.
The 410 sprints will complete in time trials and a series of qualifying events all leading up to the 30 lap $5,000 to win Jersey Rush VIII.
Stockon Finally Holds the Rifle, Wins Tony Hulman Classic
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Contact: Richie Murray - USAC Media / richie@usacracing.com
STOCKON FINALLY HOLDS THE RIFLE; WINS TONY HULMAN CLASSIC
By: Richie Murray - USAC Media
Terre Haute, Indiana (May 22, 2019).........Chase Stockon had tamed the Terre Haute Action Track multiple times in his USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car career with a "Jim Hurtubise Classic" win in 2012 and a "Don Smith Classic" victory in 2016 to his credit.
But the one that eluded him happened to be the longest-continually running event on the series schedule, the "Tony Hulman Classic."
Wednesday night, the "Tony Hulman Classic" and its famed rifle trophy eluded him no more as the Fort Branch, Indiana driver led all 30 laps to capture the 49th annual running of the event.
It's the one Stockon wanted, and the emotion was quite evident on the "Ironman" driver who holds the current series record of 268 consecutive starts with the series dating to 2012.
"I'm about to cry," Stockon exclaimed in victory lane. "I've been wanting to win this one so bad. At this point, it's probably the one I wanted to win the most. This rifle right here means everything. It's awesome. This is the one that's gotten away from us multiple times and we're pretty proud to be able to put this one on the wall."
When Stockon speaks of this one being the one that got away, he ain't kidding. Last year, he led 20 laps before he was passed by Tyler Courtney with nine laps remaining, ultimately finishing fifth. Two years ago, Stockon led the first 27 laps before being passed by Kevin Thomas, Jr. with three to go, ending up third.
This one wasn't going to slip from the grip of the now 12-time USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car feature winner, tying Eric Gordon for 45thon the all-time list. This one, he put into the hands of his trusty sidekick who made the right calls to help put Stockon up front and stay up front to snap their 46-race winless streak that reached back to the 2018 season opener in Ocala, Fla.
"It's tough," Stockon admitted. "Everybody keeps getting quicker and quicker. We've been really good here the last five or six years here and have had a couple slip away from us. I like these big fast half-miles, but we struggled being tight all night tonight and (Crew Chief) D.J. (Ott) made the call after the heat race of what he wanted to do to the car, and I was like, 'You know what, if you want to do it, it's in your hands. I'll just drive it.' Luckily, I held up my end of the deal for him."
Stockon started the main event from the outside of the front row, blitzing around pole sitter Carson Short for the lead on the opening lap. Meanwhile, Chris Windom ripped past the inside of Brady Bacon off turn two on the second lap for third, then constructed a déjà vu moment on lap four with nearly the same move on Short once more to get to second.
Windom appeared hooked up on the surface that saw heavy early morning showers and seemed poise to threaten Stockon's status for the top spot. However, that was about as close as Windom got following a handful of restarts.
Seventh-running Kevin Thomas, Jr. broke on lap seven, slowing the pace for the initial time, putting him out for the remainder of the evening. Furthermore, Short stopped in turn four on the 11th lap, like Thomas, running seventh. Nate McMillin stopped in turn three on lap 20 while running 15th.
With 11 laps remaining, the showdown for the rifle consisted of Stockon and a pair of past "Hulman Classic" winners in Windom (2011) in second and Courtney (2018) in third. The mover on the restart was another "Hulman" winner, two-time victor Robert Ballou (2015-16), who secured sixth off turn four on the 20th circuit as he and Bacon banged wheels. Ballou, then whipped by Justin Grant for fifth on lap 22 just before point leader and fourth place running C.J. Leary lost a right rear tire on lap 23 to bring out the final yellow.
Stockon's good run of restarts had no inkling of ending on the final one on lap 23 as he immediately broke away to a six car-length advantage by the time the front runners hit the back stretch with Courtney working to the inside of Windom briefly in turn three. Windom was able to withstand the challenge to secure the runner-up spot for good.
With the front runners cruising on the middle line on the heavy racing surface, Stockon edged away in the final laps, defeating Windom by 1.963 seconds while Courtney, Ballou and Grant rounded out the top-five.
With Leary (9th) and K. Thomas (18th) suffering misfortune in the feature, Stockon is now the only driver who has finished in the top-eight in all seven starts this season. Stockon dedicated the victory to his grandpa, who's in the hospital.
Contingency award winners Wednesday night at the Terre Haute Action Track were C.J. Leary (Fatheadz Eyewear/EPA Photography Fast Qualifier), Robert Ballou (Simpson Race Products First Heat Winner), Kevin Thomas, Jr. (Competition Suspension, Inc. Second Heat Winner), Carson Short (AutoMeter/Indy Race Parts Third Heat Winner), Brandon Mattox (Roger & Barb Tapy 13th Fastest Qualifier & Wilwood Brakes 13th Place Finisher) and Isaac Chapple (KSE Racing Products/B & W Auto Mart Hard Charger).
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USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: May 22, 2019 - Terre Haute Action Track - Terre Haute, Indiana - 49th "Tony Hulman Classic" - 1/2-Mile Dirt Oval
FATHEADZ EYEWEAR/EPA PHOTOGRAPHY QUALIFYING: 1. C.J. Leary, 19AZ, Reinbold/Underwood-19.750; 2. Chris Windom, 5G, Goacher-19.800; 3. Tyler Courtney, 7BC, Clauson/Marshall/Newman-19.834; 4. Brady Bacon, 69, Dynamics-19.887; 5. Chase Stockon, 32, 32 TBI-20.014; 6. Carson Short, 21, RCM-20.036; 7. Robert Ballou, 12, Ballou-20.187; 8. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 19, Hayward/Thomas-20.192; 9. Bill Balog, 2, Lein-20.231; 10. Justin Grant, 4, TOPP-20.281; 11. Jason McDougal, 71p, Daigh/Phillips-20.367; 12. Nate McMillin, 24m, McMillin-20.414; 13. Brandon Mattox, 28, Mattox-20.469; 14. Chad Boespflug, 98e, EZR-20.561; 15. Brian VanMeveren, 24, VanMeveren-20.720; 16. Isaac Chapple, 52, LNR/Chapple-20.982; 17. Tye Mihocko, 5, Mihocko-21.495; 18. Paul May, 71m, May-21.572; 19. Steve Thomas, 20, Thomas-21.590; 20. Eric Perrott, 45, Perrott-24.467.
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS FIRST HEAT: (8 laps, all transfer) 1. Ballou, 2. Leary, 3. Mattox, 4. Bacon, 5. Chapple, 6. Grant, 7. S. Thomas. 2:43.50
COMPETITION SUSPENSION (CSI) SECOND HEAT: (8 laps, all transfer) 1. K. Thomas, 2. Boespflug, 3. Windom, 4. Stockon, 5. McDougal, 6. Mihocko, 7. Perrott. 2:44.77
AUTOMETER/INDY RACE PARTS THIRD HEAT: (8 laps, all transfer) 1. Short, 2. Courtney, 3. May, 4. Balog, 5. McMillin, 6. VanMeveren. 2:44.53
FEATURE: (30 laps, starting position in parentheses) 1. Chase Stockon (2), 2. Chris Windom (5), 3. Tyler Courtney (4), 4. Robert Ballou (7), 5. Justin Grant (10), 6. Brady Bacon (3), 7. Jason McDougal (11), 8. Carson Short (1), 9. C.J. Leary (6), 10. Isaac Chapple (16), 11. Bill Balog (9), 12. Chad Boespflug (14), 13. Brandon Mattox (13), 14. Brian VanMeveren (15), 15. Steve Thomas (18), 16. Paul May (17), 17. Nate McMillin (12), 18. Kevin Thomas, Jr. (8), 19. Eric Perrott (19), 20. Tye Mihocko (20). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-30 Stockon.
KSE RACING PRODUCTS/B & W AUTO MART HARD CHARGER: Isaac Chapple (16th to 10th)
WILWOOD BRAKES 13TH PLACE FINISHER: Brandon Mattox
ROGER & BARB TAPY 13TH FASTEST QUALIFIER: Brandon Mattox
NEW USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Leary-539, 2-K. Thomas-507, 3-Windom-501, 4-Courtney-493, 5-Stockon-489, 6-Bacon-464, 7-Grant-435, 8-Short-427, 9-Ballou-425, 10-McDougal-389.
NEXT USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: May 31, 2019 - I-80 Speedway - Greenwood, Nebraska - "I-80 Dirt Classic" - 4/10-Mile Dirt Oval
Thunder News
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MAY 11, 2019
CONTACT: BOB MILLER 443 513 4456
THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES
AMSOIL USAC EASTERN STORM QUICKLY APPROACHES, THUNDER SERIES OPENS AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY TUESDAY NIGHT, JUNE 11
BECHTELSVILLE, PA (MAY 11, 2019) – The stars of the Amsoil USAC Non-Wing Sprint National Tour only come east one time per year and it all kicks off on Tuesday night, June 11 at the Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, PA. The 13th Annual USAC Eastern Storm will invade “the hill” as the first event of the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series with the hefty $10,000 to win Jesse Hockett Classic. This eye catching first place prize is part of the 30th Anniversary celebration for the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series. Joining the USAC Non-Wing sprints are the popular NASCAR 358 Modifieds. Gates open at 5 PM with qualifying getting underway at 7:30 PM.
Advance tickets may be ordered for the Tuesday, June 11 USAC Sprints & Modified show by calling 443 513 4456. Please speak slowly and clearly when leaving a message and be sure to leave your name and number of tickets you will need. Feel free to leave your phone number as well. Tickets may be paid for and picked up at the WILL CALL Window on race night after 3:30 PM. These tickets will entitle you to enter the grandstands at 4:30. Adult admission tickets are $30, children 6 to 11 $10 and children five and under will be admitted for free.
If you have never seen the AMSOIL USAC Non-Wing sprints at Grandview, it’s a must see event. The non-wing USAC National Tour are just perfect for the one-third mile high banked oval nestled on top of the hill in Bechtelsville, PA. Even time trials are a thrill as the non-wing sprints show wheelies and use so much of the race track that they are bouncing off the outside boiler-plate wall.
This event is dedicated a “classic event” to honor all-time sprint car great Jesse Hockett. Many us remember that special night on the hill, when Jesse won both twin 20 lap USAC features, thrilling the Grandview fans in 2009. In 2010, just prior to the Eastern Storm, Hockett succumbed to injuries suffered in a race shop accident. Levi Jones won the first Jesse Hockett Classic in 2010.
The boys of Summer celebrate our great nation on Tuesday, July 2 with 410 Sprint Cars competing for $10,000 to win the twenty-fifth Grandview Speedway Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speed Week event. NASCAR Cup Series star Kyle Larson has put the PA Posse in their place for two consecutive seasons, but a strong field of local competitors plans to keep that cash on home turf. Look for local favorite Ryan Smith to hunt down and capture that first career Thunder victory wheeling the Mike Heffner sprint car in the new season.
The debut of the NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midgets takes place on Tuesday, July 30. For years fans have begged, bargained, and pleaded for the Midgets on the Bechtelsville high banks and there’s no better time than the 30th Anniversary season of Thunder on the Hill. Many of the same USAC Sprint Car stars will strap into midgets for this event like Brady Bacon and Kevin Thomas, Jr.
The 5th Annual Levan Machine Truck Equipment Thunder Cup event brings the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions to the one-third mile Grandview Speedway on Thursday, August 22. A highlight of the Thunder season, the All Star event will pay homage to the late Greg Hodnett, with a special memorial trophy.
The 358 Modifieds will co-headline all of the previously mentioned events, competing in 30 lap events for $3,000 to win and lucrative NASCAR points. Grandview’s premier weekly division always thrills the crowd with side-by-side action.
The NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series concludes on Saturday, October 19 with the House of Thunder Halloween Party featuring the 22nd running of the Modified Traffic Jam – where Big-Blocks battle Small-Blocks in the Mods at the Madhouse. Alongside the Modifieds, the Sportsman, and MASS Sprint Cars will also be in action.
The NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series is sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts, Levan Machine and Truck Equipment, and Galco Business Communications.
2019 NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series Schedule
Tuesday, June 11 USAC Non-Wing Sprints 40 laps & 358 Modifieds Jesse Hockett Classic $10,000 to Win!
Tuesday, July 2 PA Sprint Speed Week 410 Sprints $10,000 to win & 358 Modifieds
Tuesday, July 30 USAC Midgets 30 laps & 358 Modifieds
Thursday, August 22 All Star Sprints Smoke on the Hill Thunder Cup & 358 Modifieds
Saturday, October 19 House of Thunder Halloween Party, 22nd Annual Traffic Jam 40 laps Modifieds, Sportsman and MASS Sprints
Grandview Speedway Contact Information
GPS USERS: 43 Passmore Road, Bechtelsville, PA 19505
Located less than a mile off Route 100, 10 miles north of Pottstown, PA
Speedway Phone: 610-754-7688
Thunder on the Hill Racing Series Phone: 443-513-4456
Series Website: www.thunderonthehillracingseries.com
Track Website: www.grandviewspeedway.com
Twitter/Instagram: @TOTHRACING
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thunderonthehill
About Thunder on the Hill Racing Series
The brainchild of Grandview Speedway owner Bruce Rogers, special events promoter Bob Miller, and local driving star Dave Kelly, the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series celebrates 30 years of the most anticipated events of the racing calendar year after year. In 132 events, over $4.6 million dollars has been divvied up among the area's fastest racers. What started as a single 410 Sprint Car event in 1990 has blossomed to feature a variety of racing action including 358 Modifieds, USAC Wingless Sprints, All-Star Circuit of Champions, 360 & 410 Sprint Cars, Sportsman, Late Models, Midgets, Legend Cars, DIRTcar and ROC Modified events. The 2019 30th Anniversary Series of Thunder on the Hill is dedicated to Bruce Rogers.
About Grandview Speedway
Grandview Speedway is a high-banked one-third mile clay oval, celebrating their 57th Anniversary season in 2019. The facility offers free parking, quality food at reasonable prices (be sure to try the french fries), a program book, Grandview Speedway and Thunder on the Hill racewear and great viewing from every seat in the house. Race fans may take part in the Inside/Out promotion, where you can sign up (no charge) to watch warm-ups from inside turn four. Race fans are also invited to victory lane following the racing program and, race fans may enter the pits after the races to meet the drivers. Be ready to enjoy the spine-tingling fireworks salute on the feature event parade lap.
HAMLIN SPEEDWAY NATIONAL TOUR EVENTS TO JARED SILFEE AND TANNER VANDOREN
Posted by: | CommentsHamlin, PA -Hamlin Speedway National Tour Events To Jared Silfee And Tanner VanDoren
By: Steve Pados, GA Motorsports Media
Hamlin Speedway Promoters Randy and Denise Smith welcomed in 120 plus racers on Saturday evening as they head into their final events of the 2018 racing season. The emphasis on the All Star and Junior Slingshot divisions quite honestly never materialized as only three touring stars made their way to Hamlin for the national tour events. Nevertheless, the racing was top notch in all divisions and a great crowd was on hand to watch the Hamlin driving stars heave their race cars around the 1/5th mile clay cushioned attraction. With some big dollars on the line, a great field of entries came out to the Pocono Mountains to further enhance their standing in the Hamlin points battles which ended with this event. The high flying racing action was sponsored by the good folks at S&S Speedways Indoor Go Karts located in Stroudsburg, PA. (www.ssspeedways.com) Florida Keys Air Conditioning added five hundred dollars to the Stage One Modified purse while Speed Sport Showcase offered one hundred dollars to the hard charger in the All Star Slingshot feature headliner. Some very happy winners found their way to the RLE Towing and Recovery Winners Circle at the end of the evening of racing action. The eight feature show was completed at 10:43 PM.
The Saturday night action found Jared Silfee putting on a clinic as he led the entire fifty lap feature in the All Star Slingshot feature headliner. Wally Bell captured the regular Super Slinger feature run for his first ever win at the speedway. Dennis Chamberlain and newcomer Bob Hummer captured wins in the JPA Masonry Rookie Wingless 600 Sprint finales. "The Travelin Man" Mick D'Agostino put the finishing touches on the greatest weekend of his racing life as he captured the Chad Wheeler Excavating Wingless Sprint feature and with that capturing his second consecutive Hamlin Speedway track title. D'Agostino had similar success at the Accord Speedway on Friday night as he captured the NEWS Sprint Car Championship in his initial season of competition. "TVD" Tanner VanDoren captured the National Junior Slingshot tour event with a wire to wire run. "Deuce" Glenn Macomber got back to his winning ways as he captured the regular 270 Sprint feature.
In the National All Star Slingshot feature, Jared Silfee wasted no time as he grabbed the lead at the start of the fifty lap main and took no prisoners as he was definitely in the zone to control the action. Wally Bell and invader Brett Bieber took up the chase and put on a great show for the fans as Bell ran the top and Bieber kept digging from the baseline. The laps clicked off and by lap twenty Silfee was into slower traffic. Methodically he worked his way through the traffic and as Bell, Bieber and Scott Neary came upon the slower racers, Bell went to the top with Neary diving down low and Bieber stuck in the middle and Neary coming out in the runner-up role, Bieber in third and Bell dropping some spots in the transaction. While some skirmishes brought the field together, the night belonged to Jared Silfee as he was turning constant 14.2 second laps while driving away from his competition. Jared Silfee would earn the win with his show stopping performance with Neary driving from a seventh place start to finish second. Bieber was third in a steady run with Austin Silfee and Wes Hearn completing the top five. The second five found Mike McLaughlin dusting off the racing shoes to fiinish sixth in his first Hamlin start of the year as former track regular turned invader Kyle Herve would finish seventh after starting 15th and earning the Hard Charger Award put up by Speed Sport Showcase in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Wally Bell would finish eighth and steady Tanner Jones and Dale Kober completed the top ten.
The Hampton RV & Trailer Sales Stage One Modified headliner with the Florida Keys Air Conditioning Bonus found Tanner VanDoren jumping out front early but getting stiff pressure from Jacob Nemeth. Nemeth tried all of the angles but VanDoren held his ground until a group of cars fighting for the lead, including Adam Buchel, Amanda Buchel and Cody Motto had all of the cars entering the third turn at the same time and VanDoren and Nemeth both spun. Amanda Buchel inherited the lead and would run some quick 13.2 second lap times to hold her brother Adam at bay. Amanda would lead the rest of the way to claim her first win of the season and the bonus bucks from Florida Keys Air Conditioning. Adam Buchel was second to make it a clean sweep for the Florida Keys AC/Cole Polishing sponsored race team. John Comandini was third with Cody Motto fourth and Joel Smith completing the top five. The rest of the finishers included Joel Price, Jeff Hineline, Evan Civick and newcomer Mark Evans.
The 270 Sprint feature found Glenn Macomber with the hot hand on this night as he wired the field in the twenty lap excursion. Macomber reeled off some 12.1 second lap times to step away from the field and get his fifth win of the season. Kyle Ferrucci finally broke through some of the problems he has encountered in a tough season in racing to garner in runner-up honors while Don Schmidt was third, Alex Reinsmith fourth and Anthony Chrobak nailing down fifth place. Newcomers John Wagner Jr and Ross Hollar completed the field.
The Super Slingshot feature event found Wally Bell ringing the bell harder than the rest of his competition as would capture his first ever win in the Donaldson Farms/Jersey Girl Brewery entry. Dale Kober would race from fourth to second with Paul Ennes third, Jim Conroy fourth, and the returning Richie VanOrden fifth. Derek DeSilva and David Guest completed the field.
Tanner VanDoren raced into the lead at the start and would receive early pressure from JJ Rice and Shelby McLaughlin. VanDoren was able to control the pace of the race with some quick 14.8 second laps times. A couple of skirmishes brought the field together and on the restart VanDoren would repel the challenges from Rice and McLaughlin and the returning Abby Yates. After the final restart, VanDoren was able to open up some distance on those behind him and would go on to capture the National Junior Slingshot tour event. Rice, McLaughlin, Yates in another Florida Keys AC sponsored hot rod was fourth with Brian Smith steady as a rock in fifth place. The second five found Kasey Hufcut, Nolan Palaima, invader Tyler Ulsh, Joey Kalafut and James Benz completing the top ten.
The first of two JPA Masonry Rookie Wingless 600 Sprint encounters found newcomer Bob Hummer more than up to the task as he wired the field in a race that found Zack Weisenfluh applying the pressure every step of the way. Weisenfluh was able to pull up even with Hummer on a few occasions throughout the twenty lap distance but Hummer prevailed for his first ever win at Hamlin. Weisenfluh was second in a great run with Dennis Stawinsky, Ryan Lacoe, the returning Savannah Leggio, newcomer Ryan Conrad, Rob Burakowski and another newcomer Ken Karpovich completing the field.
In the second JPA Masonry sponsored event, Garden Stater Dennis Chamberlain was all business as he grabbed the lead at the start and led all twenty laps to capture his second win of the season. Jack Hanna chased him all of the way to finish second as he too had the opportunity to shake off some of the gremlins that had give them trouble in recent weeks. Richie Maguire was third in a great run with Carmen Leggio Sr and Jr next in line to complete the top five. Tony Parlanti headed up the second five with Fred Heinly, Rich Maguire, Naoh Zielinski, Scott Slater Sr and Matt Zielinski completing the field.
Joel Smith took the lead at the start of the Chad Wheeler Excavating 600 Sprint event and he would lead through the first laps until Cody Smith and Paul Richards Jr got together in turn three and disabling both cars from the event. On the restart, Mick D'Agostino and his traveling show went to the top of the raceway and got a great run off of turn two to wrest the lead away from Smith. D'Agostino was able to drive away from the field with some very quick 11.9 second laps while Smith, Chad Sandt, Joseph Smith and Tyler Lindsay waged war with each other as each driver used a different seam on the raceway to find the sweet spot to go faster. In the end, the D'Agostino move to grab the lead, was the drive he would need to go to victory in one of the most hotly contested events of the season. Joel Smith, Chad Sandt and Joseph Smith and Lindsay would complete the top five. There was no slacking off in talent in the second five either as Danny Buccafusca headed up the list with Joe Nemeth, Hunter Metzger, Geordan Marrero and Colin White rounding out the top ten. Twenty of the 27 entry starting field completed all of the twenty feature laps.
PEARL JAMS:
The hotly contested evening of racing entertainment was precise in every step of the way and even with a couple of breaks for track maintenance the staff kept moving the program along swiftly and the seven division, eight feature show was completed at 10:43 PM. Kudos to Randy Smith for an excellent track surface that found the drivers utilizing many racing channels throughout the evening of competition.
The JPA Masonry Rookie Wingless 600 Sprint heats were captured by Bob Hummer, Jack Hanna and Savannah Leggio. The Wingless 600 Sprints ran off three heats with Chad Sandt, Mick D'Agostino and Joel Smith capturing wins. The Junior Slingshots ran off two rounds of heats with Austin Homan and Tanner VanDoren winning the first round and Tyler Ulsh and Brian Smith winning in round two. All Star Slingshot heats also went two rounds with Jared Silfee winning in each round while Brett Bieber and CJ Fritz were also winners in round one. Paul Ennes and Austin Silfee captured the additional heats in round two. Stage One Modifieds were won by Amanda Buchel and Jacob Nemeth. The Super Slinger heat went to Wally Bell and the 270 Sprint heat was claimed by Glenn Macomber.
During the intermission period, Announcer Steve Pados interviewed the owners of the Florida Keys Air Conditioning, Jonathan and Lisa Murphy regarding the great bonus money they put up for the event and their long association with the Buchel Family. As Mr Murphy explained, "racing is about family" and the families have enjoyed a long friendship dating back to when the Flemington Speedway was throwing clay. The staff and management of the Hamlin Speedway thank them for going out of their way to assist in the racing activity at the speedway. On another note, the money will stay in house as Amanda Buchel captured the win and the bonus. Florida Keys website is: www.floridakeysac.com
Thanks to Tony Frable and his Speed Sport Showcase team for putting up the $100.00 for the Hard Charger in the All Star Slingshot event. Kyle Herve won the Award. Speed Sport Showcase will once again take place in 2019 in Scranton with details for the event still being hammered out. The website is: www.speedsportshowcase.com
Thanks to John Gilroy from Gilroy Excavation for a bnus he placed for the leader of lap twenty in the event and the money went to Jared Silfee.
Some of the regular racing fans at Hamlin were disappointed in the fact the National Touring drivers were absent and stayed away from the event but hats off to Brett Bieber, Kyle Herve, the Lapicki family and Junior star Tyler Ulsh for making the effort to attend the event and support Slingshot racing. Jason Kraycirik made his first Hamlin run and did a great job in his Phillipsburg/Easton Honda sponsored racer. Brett Schantz was another first timer.
Brandon Nicholas was back in action after taking a nasty tumble a few weeks ago. Welcome back Brandon. Jackie Maguire picked up the winnings of the 50/50 raffle.
After this evening, our tower girl Olivia Mease is stepping away from her post after joining us five years ago. While she will be missed, we wish her the best as she completes her education and goes to work in the nursing field.
Even though the season is in the latter stages of the 2018 racing season, there is still plenty of hot racing action coming September 22nd to close out the 2018. season. Make sure you come out to the speedway before the season ends, you are going to love it.
RESULTS:
All Star Slingshots: (National 50-laps) Jared Silfee, Scott Neary, Brett Bieber, Austin Silfee, Wes Hearn, Mike McLaughlin, Kyle Herve, Wally Bell, Tanner Jones, Dale Kober, Greg Zellman, Mike Lapicki, Paul Ennes, Adam Buchel, Jason Kraycirik, Rachel Dickinson, Ashley Kober, Andrew Turpin, Tyler Banks, Mason Pittenger, Ron Thoman, CJ Fritz, Brent Schantz, Richie VanOrden (Hard Charger, Kyle Herve advances 8 positions, Courtesy of Speed Sport Showcase) (Lap 20, Jared Silfee leader Courtesy of Gilroy Motorsports)
Winged 270cc Sprints: Glenn Macomber, Kyle Ferrucci, Don Schmidt, Alex Reinsmith, Anthony Chrobak, John Wagner Jr, Scott Hollar
Chad Wheeler Excavating Wingless 600cc Sprints: Mick D'Agsotino, Joel Smith, Chad Sandt, Joseph Smith, Tyler Lindsay, Danny Buccafusca, Joe Nemeth, Hunter Metzger, Geordan Marrero, Colin White, Jacb Balliet, Scott Slater Jr, Billy Koch, Fred Heinly, Joey Amantea, Doug Snyder, Jason Muldowney, Tony Parlanti, Mack Brink, Duane White, Don Colaluce, Dennis Stawinski, Louie Horvath, Cody Smith, Paul Richards Jr, Earl Rice, Ryan Stangle
Hampton RV And Trailer Stage One Modifieds: (Florida Keys AC Sponsor) Amanda Buchel, Adam Buchel, John Comandini, Cody Motto, Joel Smith, Joel Price, Jeff Hineline, Evan Civick, Mark Evans, Jasper Ziegafuse, Jacob Nemeth, Tanner VanDoren, John Bachetti Jr
Junior Slingshots: (National Tour) Tanner VanDoren, JJ Rice, Shelby McLaughlin, Abby Yates, Brian Smith, Kasey Hufcut, Nolan Palaima, Tyler Ulsh, Joey Kalafut, James Benz, Charlene Benz, Aiden Donaldson, James Costlow, Austin Homan, James Hendricks,, Connor Mirabelli
Super Slingshots: Wally Bell, Dale Kober, Paul Ennes, Jim Conroy, Richie VanOrden, Derek DeSilva, David Guest, Doc Lapicki, Wes Hearn, Mike Lapicki
JPA Masonry Rookie 600cc Wingless Sprints:(1) Bob Hummer, Zack Weisenfluh, Dennis Stawinsky, Ryan Lacoe, Savannah Leggio, Ryan Conrad, Rob Burakowski, Ken Karpovich, Brandon Nicholas, Jake Eby, Ryan Stangle
JPA Masonry Rookie 600cc Wingless Sprints: (2) Dennis Chamberlain, Jack Hanna, Richie Maguire, Carmen Leggio Sr, Carmen Leggio Jr, Tony Parlanti, Fred Heinly, Rich Maguire, Noah Zielinski, Scott Slater Sr, Matt Zielinski
The Hamlin Speedway drivers voted and approved of one more week of competition. The next event at the speedway will be September 22nd with all division of racing in action. The point fund will be distributed once the racing is completed.
Make sure to always check the Hamlin Speedway website or Facebook page for any additional information. Pit Gates open at the speedway at 3 PM; Drivers Meeting at 5:45; Hot Laps are at 6:00 and the racing begins at 7 PM sharp. Admission Prices for regular shows are: Adults $10.00; Senior Citizens $5.00 Children under 6 are Free
Please support the many great sponsors who assist in working and sponsoring the season long events at the speedway. Tilcon, Ron Brown Hauling, JPA Masonry, Chad Wheeler Excavating, RLE Towing and Recovery, RockAuto.com, S&S Speedways and Yankowski Enterprises are all part of the advertising family at the speedway and we graciously thank them for their support.
Hamlin Speedway is seeking additional marketing sponsors to join the speedway team for the 2019 racing season. For more information, contact Steve Pados at: 484-784-7756 or through email at: steveswp@ptd.net or Denise Smith at S&S Speedways at: 570-420-5500 or at: http://www.hamlinspeed.com/ or on facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/HamlinSpeed/ or
https://www.facebook.com/SSSpeedways/ and http://ssspeedways.com/
http://ssspeedways.com/
For photos of the great racing action at Hamlin Speedway, contact Tim
Krysiuk at: https://strictlydirtphotography.smugmug.com or
https://www.facebook.com/tim.krysiuk
Visit us often for a great night of racing action as.........................
The Hamlin Speedway Is The "Pearl" Of The Poconos
American Sprint Car Series Statement Regarding Electric City Speedway
Posted by: | CommentsAmerican Sprint Car Series Statement Regarding Electric City Speedway
TULSA, Okla. (August 29, 2018) In response to a press release issued by Electric City Speedway, the American Sprint Car Series will not seek to mend any ties with the Montana oval.
"We had a meeting with all three Montana tracks before the season started, and everyone was good. Everyone was on the same page, but from the first time our Frontier Region showed up at Electric City Speedway this season, track ownership and people associated with the track have sought to undermine and circumvent the rules of the American Sprint Car Series, including the Brodix Spec Cylinder Head, Hoosier Tire, and lineup procedures," stated ASCS Founder, Emmett Hahn.
"Our rules are the same for everyone, no matter who you are, and I can say without a doubt, in 27 years of working with owners and promoters all over the country, I have never had as much trouble or headache as what I've had with Electric City Speedway," added Hahn.
"What's worse, is Dan Mann was given the opportunity to speak with our National Director, and when asked to state his issues, he didn't give any and instead hung up. In fact, he could have called our office at any time and chose not to do so. We are more than willing to work with any track to make the show better and address any legitimate issues. We're in the business of promoting and growing the sport of Sprint Car racing and continue to do so without Electric City Speedway."
The American Sprint Car Series would like to thank the promoters who work to make the sport of Sprint Car racing better with every night of racing and looks forward to continuing to grow the sport across the United States and beyond.
The 2019 season for the Brodix ASCS Frontier Region is already in the works with new tracks coming on board, as well as bigger and better events for teams and fans to attend.
For other news, notes, and information on the American Sprint Car Series, from the National Tour to any of the Regional Tours that make up the nearly 150 races across the ASCS Nation in 2018, log onto www.ascsracing.com, follow on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter (@LucasOilASCS).
WINDOM GRABS WILDCARD WIN AT ROUTE 66
Posted by: | CommentsWINDOM GRABS WILDCARD WIN AT ROUTE 66
JOLIET, IL (June 30, 2018) - Illinois native Chris Windom took home the POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Wildcard check and trophy at the Dirt Oval at Route 66 Raceway Saturday night. Brady Short and Korey Weyant completed the podium.
Brady Short and Korey Weyant led the field to green with Weyant leading lap one. Short threw the slide job in turns three and four to get by Weyant and lead lap two, but Weyant would returng the favor in turns one and two to regain the lead. Meanwhile, Chris Windom was working his was forward from his fifth starting position.
Soon, WIndom was trailing second place running Brady Short. Once Windom got by, he set his sights on the leader, Korey Weyant. Windom would throw the slidejob on Weyant and clear him to take over the lead half way through the main event.
The main event went green-to-checkered with zero cautions, and WIndom would go on to pick up the victory plus the $2,000 payday over Brady Short, Korey Weyant, Mitch Wissmiller and Landon SImon rounded out the top five.
The POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Wildcard Sprints are back in action Friday, July 20 at the Champaign County Fairgrounds in Champaign, Illinois.
The POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Sprints take on a 2-day weekend up next. Friday, July 6 the WAR Sprints are at Belle-Clair Speedway in Bellevillle, Illinois followed by Saturday, July 7 at St. Francois County Raceway in Farmington, Missouri.
POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Wildcard Sprint League
6/30/2018
The Dirt Oval at Route 66 - 13 cars
Hinchman Racewear Heat 1 - 8 laps
1. 5-Chris Windom, Canton, IL (2); 2. 1-Mitch Wissmiller, Saybrook, IL (4); 3. 99-Korey Weyant, Springfield, IL (3); 4. 11-James Lyerla, Hillsboro, IL (1); 5. 22S-Slater Helt, Harrisonville, MO (6); 6. 19-Jori Hughes, Tower, MN (5); 7. 41-Dennis Spitz, Lewisburg, KY (7)
Bell Racing Helmets Heat 2 - 8 laps
1. 24-Landon Simon, Tipp City, OH (4); 2. 65-Chris Parkinson, Gladstone, MO (2); 3. 5B-Brady Short (6); 4. 88-Terry Babb, Decatur, IL (3); 5. 8D-Katlynn Leer, Moulton, IA (1); 6. 93-Travis Mahoney, Oglesby, IL (5)
POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Wildcard Sprints A-Main - 20 laps
1. 5-Chris Windom (5); 2. 5B-Brady Short (1); 3. 99-Korey Weyant (2); 4. 1-Mitch Wissmiller (4); 5. 24-Landon Simon (6); 6. 88-Terry Babb (7); 7. 11-James Lyerla (9); 8. 22S-Slater Helt (8); 9. 19-Jori Hughes (11); 10. 41-Dennis Spitz (13); 11. 8D-Katlynn Leer (10); 12. 65-Chris Parkinson (3); 13. 93-Travis Mahoney (12)
Article Credit: Brooke Rowden