Thunder series to close out Grandview season on Oct. 14
The last chance to see the top talents in action at Grandview. The twentyeighth season of the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series will close out a successful season when the annual House of Thunder Halloween Party invades the Grandview Speedway Saturday night, October 14. What a season that started with Brady Bacon winning the USAC event as Kyle Larson took the victory in the 410 Sprint Speed Week Series as Freddy Rahmer Jr. won the Tony Stewart, Smoke on the Hill event in August. Huge crowds turned out for all three events of the Thunder Series, well known for presenting the top divisions and only the premier traveling series in the country.
The Mods at the Madhouse was a thriller with Billy Pauch Jr. taking the win after a hard fought battler with Ryan Watt and Craig VonDohren who closed in on the leaders in the final laps of the 40 lap main event. How ironic, Pauch, Watt and VonDohren finished one-two-three and all three cars were No. 14.
The real eye catcher for this Traffic Jam event is the payoff. A respectable $5,000 will go to the winner, and for the rest of the field, $1,000 will go to the tenth place finisher and an unheard of $500 just to start a forty lap feature event. For the drivers and owners, no membership fees and no entry fees.
Expect a “thriller” with a three division program that will include the Big Block Modifieds/358 Modifieds plus the Sportsman and MASS Sprint Cars. Be part of a spooky night on the hill with this “Triple Thunder Thriller”. Gates open at 4 p.m. with racing getting underway at 6 p.m. In the event of rain, Sunday, October 15 will be the rain date with gates opening at 3 p.m. and a 5 p.m. starting time
Fans are invited to come dressed for the occasion, Halloween costumes will be the popular attire of the night with awards going out to best dressed for children and adults. Please expect some Halloween candy and of course, this night always provides some tricks and treats along the way.
With a special rules package offered, many of the region’s top Modified racers are expected to be in attendance. Hometown heroes like Craig Von Dohren, Jeff Strunk, Duane Howard and Doug Manmiller defend the Berks County oval against New Jersey invaders Billy Pauch Jr. and Ryan Godown. Young and hungry drivers like Danny Bouc, Jared Umbenhauer, and Ryan Krachun search for their first Thunder on the Hill Victory.
The rules package allows for competition from Big-Block and Spec 358 engines and both American Racer and Hoosier tires. No open small block motors are permitted. For further rule information visit www.thunderonthehillracingseries.com Along with an exciting Modified main event, the Sportsman will compete in a series of qualifying events leading up to the $1,300-to-win, 25-lap feature event. The MASS Sprint Car Series will battle with heat race qualifying ending the night with their 25 lap main event.
Helping to celebrate the Spooky Night will be a stunning firework display prior to the start of the modified main event.
Rain date is Sunday at 5 p.m.
Two other events remain on the schedule at Grandview with the Enduro racers and Blast from the Past Vintage racers in action at noon on Saturday, October 21. And coming up on Sunday, November 5th at 7 a.m. is the annual Fall Racers Flea Market.
*** IndyCar returns. Pocono Raceway will host the 2018 ABC Supply 500 race weekend from August 18-19. It will mark the 25th INDYCAR race held ‘The Tricky Triangle’ and the sixthconsecutive year in which the Verizon IndyCar Series has competed there since 2013.
The 2017 ABC Supply 500 saw 42 lead changes and 590 on-track passes, 524 of which were for position. The race was won by Team Penske’s Will Power, who became the first driver to win back-to-back INDYCAR races at Pocono Raceway.
“The 2017 ABC Supply 500 proved why Pocono Raceway was built for INDYCAR racing,” said Pocono Raceway CEO Nick Igdalsky. “This summer’s race was one of the most competitive events in our track’s history. It was also the highest-attended INDYCAR race we hosted since bringing open-wheel racing back here five years ago. From conversations I have had about the 2018 body, we should see speeds pushing, if not exceeding, 240 miles per hour next year.”
Tickets for all 2018 events at Pocono Raceway are scheduled to go on sale to the public starting Wednesday, October 4, 2017. Those who purchased tickets to Pocono Raceway this year are eligible to renew their 2018 tickets now by visiting www.poconoraceway.com/renewals or by calling our Ticket Office at 1-1-800-722-3929.
Pocono Raceway will host seven motorsports events in 2018, including two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races and the Verizon IndyCar Series. One NASCAR XFINITY Series, one Camping World Truck Series and two ARC Racing Series presented by Menards races are also on the schedule for 2018. Please visit www.poconoraceway.com for additional information on upcoming events and for future ticket information.