Stewart, Abreu returning for 4th annual Thunder Cup at Grandview
When the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series heads to Grandview Speedway on Thursday, August 23, threetime NASCAR Cup Champion Tony Stewart and twotime Chili Bowl Nationals champion, Rico Abreu, will strap into a 410 sprint car and compete with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions.
Brought to you by Levan Machine & Truck Equipment, you’ll find “Smoke on the Hill 2” and Rico Abreu when the green flag falls for the fourth annual Thunder Cup – a 35-lap, $5,000-towin 410 sprint car special event. Also on the program will be the 358 NASCAR Modifieds competing in a series of qualifying events leading up to the 30 lap, $3,000 to win feature event. Jeff Strunk, driving the Glenn Hyneman No. 126, won the previous Thunder modified feature, after stating last in the field of 24 starters.
Levan Machine & Truck Equipment, located in Fleetwood, is part of the Thunder on the Hill family of sponsors. Levan Machine & Truck Equipment is a full-service machine shop and custom truck up-fitting center for Central Pennsylvania. Levan also provides a full line of truck bodies, van interiors, and utility and service bodies. They are the local Boss Snowplow distributor including snowplows and salt spreaders; a Knapheide retailer for truck bodies and lift gates, and a Weatherguard distributor for van and truck interior products. Levan Machine & Truck Equipment also provides repair as an ASE Blue Seal recognized service location.
The Levan Machine & Truck Equipment Thunder Cup visit will mark Tony Stewart’s third in-action racing appearance at the Grandview Speedway – located about 50 miles south of NASCAR mainstay, Pocono Raceway. Back on July 3, Stewart rallied home with a solid fourthplace finish at Grandview, following Kyle Larson, Greg Hodnett and Kasey Kahne to the checkered flag.
“As a sprint car fan, Grandview is one of the most exciting tracks to watch a sprint car race. I cannot wait to get my [No.] 14 car unloaded on the Hill. The competition will be nothing short of spectacular. I hope we can have a good night and put ourselves in a position to compete for the win,” said Stewart.
Abreu, one of the most exciting and most popular Sprint Car drivers in the country is anxious to get to the Berks County clay track.
Stewart and Abreu join more than twelve full-time Arctic Cat All Stars competitors, but while the All Stars bring an elite group of drivers, a battalion of Central Pennsylvania’s top stars are expected to defend their home turf - and when some of the nation’s top sprint talents do battle it is sure to be unpredictable, especially “on the hill.”
Expected top guns include nine-time Grandview 410 Sprint Car winner and six-time Thunder on the Hill Champion, Greg Hodnett; along with past Thunder Cup winner Danny Dietrich, Ryan Smith, Lucas Wolfe, Freddie Rahmer, Alan Krimes, Brandon Rahmer. While series regulars include Chad Kemenah, Carson Macedo, Aaron Reutzel, Dave Blaney, Jac Haudenschild, and Paul McMahon
NAPA Auto Parts continues their long run with the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series as the title sponsor joined by Pioneer Pole Buildings, Levan Machine and Truck Equipment, Quaker Steak & Lube, and GALCO Business Communications.
*** Tickets are on sale now for the Second Annual East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals set for Friday, December 14th and Saturday, December 15th. The two day event featuring the 600cc wingless Micro Sprints will again be held at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton where the wildly successful events were held for the first time in December 2017.
“The Indoor Dirt Nationals was a race that was talked about all winter,” Len Sammons, Indoor Auto Racing Series promoter said.
One of the reasons for the success of the race was the quality of the racing thanks to an unbelievable dust free banked speedway surface built with rich black clay.
“Everyone was thrilled by the track surface which offered three grooves of racing,” said Sammons.
“The top drivers from all over the northeast thrilled the fans, running low, pounding the outside cushion or sneaking in between. The fast paced presentation left the fans wanting more. This year’s race should be even better.”
In the inaugural running, 36-year-old Staten Island, N.Y. resident Whitey Kidd, III made a late race pass on Collegeville’s Alex Bright to win the thriller. Brian Carber of Pipersville, passed three cars in the final corners to end up third with USAC Sprint Car series rookie Tim Buckwalter and a very exciting Austin Quick rounding out the top five.
“We worked very hard on the track, selecting the right clay, having the equipment we needed on hand to work the track, having the right people on hand to offer their expertise,” Sammons said.
“Based on the buzz created by last year’s race, we expect tickets to sell at a rapid rate and encourage everyone planning on attending to place their orders for tickets as soon as they go on sale,” Sammons summed. “Word of mouth from those that attended last year will be our biggest sales people this year.”
One change in ticket offerings for the 2018 East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals is that event organizers will offer upper level seating with a reserved seat or a general admission option. Reserved upper level seats assure ticket buyers the choice of their favorite seats. General admission upper level seating is available as a less costly alternative, but without the guarantee of specific seats.
The Friday, December 14 events will feature heat races and semi features. Points earned throughout Friday’s program will be used to lineup alphabet mains on Saturday night, December 15.
Racing starts at 7 p.m. on Friday and 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Title sponsorship for the event is currently being sought, however event sponsors Oliver Communications Group, Hoosier Racing Tires, and VP Racing Fuels are returning to back the race once again. Anyone interested in being a part of this event should contact Danny Sammons at 609-888-3618 or via e-mail at danny@aarn.com.
Information about entering the East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals, technical and competiton rules, and host hotel information will be posted on www.indoorautoracing.com immediately as it is finalized.