By Pete Walton
Hickory, NC – October 16, 2010 – Newton, NC – Possibly the most versatile race car driver in the World, John Andretti who has raced and won in almost every form and level of motorsports including NASCAR Sprint Cup, Indy Car, CART, NHRA Top Fuel Dragsters, USAC Midgets and Sprints, will host the fans as the Grand Marshall of Hickory Motor Speedway’s “Night of Thunder” 2010 this Saturday night, October 23rd. Andretti will drop the green flag on the open wheel speed spectacular that includes the USCS Outlaw Thunder Tour winged sprint cars, USAC Carolina Midgets and Winged Micro Sprints competing in their series paved track finales around the paved 3/8 mile oval located on US Highway 70 just East of Hickory, North Carolina.
John Andretti’s son, Jarett Andretti will compete in the event in the USAC Carolina Ford Focus division. Jarett Andretti ranks sixth in the current USAC Ford Focus Carolina/Eastern Midget standings. He is also a contender for the Rookie of the Year award in that division.
The event will feature a full program of USCS “Outlaw Thunder” Tour winged sprint car racing as well as a full racing program in the USAC Carolina Midgets, USAC Young Guns Midgets and for the first time ever at Hickory Motor Speedway, the Winged 600cc Micro/Mini Sprints.
Also on the night’s busy racing card are Kid’s Bicycle Races on the famed speedway for youngsters 12 years old and younger in three age groups. Those age groups include children 6 years old and under plus a group for children 7, 8 and 9 years old and a group for 10, 11 and 12 years-olds. Trophies will be award to the top three in each age group.
Pit gates will open at 3:00pm on Saturday with Grandstand gates opening at 5:00pm. All the high speed family entertainment and racing starts at 7:00pm. Hickory Motor Speedway is located at 3130 Highway 70 Southeast, Newton, NC 28658. The track phone number is 828-464-3655. For more info on/or rules for the USCS Outlaw Thunder Tour please visit www.uscsracing.com or call 770-865-6097. For more info on the USAC Carolina Midgets please visit www.usacracing.com.