By Bob Miller
The seventh Annual Amsoil Eastern Storm for the USAC Non-wing sprint cars will open at the Grandview Speedway on Wednesday night, June 5 and continue at the Path Valley Speedway Thursday night, June 6, Port Royal Speedway on Saturday night, June 8 and close out at the Susquehanna Speedway on Sunday night, June 9. “We’re looking forward to the return of this signature series for our participants and for the Eastern race fans, “ said USAC’s Jason McCord. “The racing has been fantastic so far and we anticipate no less for the 2013 Eastern Storm”.
The USAC Eastern Sprint Car history dates all the way back to the April 1956 event at the Reading (Pa) Fairgrounds and from 1956-1960, USAC’s Eastern Sprint Car Championships were awarded to drivers Tommy Hinnershitz (1956), Bill Randall (1957), Johnny Thompson (1958), Hinnershitz again (1959) and A.J. Foyt (1960) just to review some of the champions in the early years.
For several years, Special Events Promoter Bob Miller reached out to USAC Management to revive the return of USAC back to Pennsylvania, an event that would be a perfect fit for the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series, a co-promotion between Grandview Speedway owner Bruce Rogers and Miller. The many time award winning Thunder on the Hill Racing Series is well known for presenting unique and anything other then the routine type special events.
In 2007, it finally happened and Levi Jones won the USAC Eastern Storm opener at Grandview Speedway as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the event Big Diamond with Jones winning again at the Hagerstown Speedway. Levi Jones of Olney, IL claimed the first ever, 2007 Eastern Storm Championship. In 2008 and 2009, Cole Whitt claimed the Eastern Storm Championship with Jones taking top honors again in 2010 and 2011 with Bryan Clauson earning the title in 2012.
A total of twenty-one USAC events make up the six year history of the USAC Eastern Storm with events at Grandview (6), Big Diamond (5), New Egypt (3), Lincoln (2), Hagerstown (2), Mercer Raceway Park (1), Lernerville (1) and Port Royal (1). Race winners include Levi Jones (6), Cole Whitt (3), Jesse Hockett (2), Chris Windom (2), Bryan Clauson (2), Jon Stanbrough (1), Bobby East (1), Hunter Schuerenberg (1), Chad Boat (1) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (1).
“It’s always fun to race against the Eastern drivers,” said Bryan Clauson the defending Eastern Storm Champion of Noblesville, IN. “When they take off the wings and get competitive with us it makes it a challenge for us. The tradition of USAC in the East is great and it’s nice to be part it. Grandview is one of my favorite Eastern tracks and I like the fact that it’s not only like a bullring but it also has some characteristics of a longer oval too. It gets wide by feature time and there’s never a bad race there. The tribute to Jesse Hockett is always a special part of our schedule and it was fun to win it last year.”
The 24th season of the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series will kickoff at the Grandview Speedway with the USAC Eastern Storm event on Wednesday, June 5. The USAC non-wing sprints are a “must see” show as there’s no shortage of wheel-banging, slide-jobs and wheelies. Also on the program will be the ARDC non-wing midgets. Gates will open at 5 PM with race time set for 7:30. Grandview Speedway is a high banked one-third mile oval. Since 1990, one-hundred and six Thunder events were presented paying out in excess of $3.5 million dollars..
2013 AMSOIL USAC EASTERN STORM SPRINT SCHEDULE
Wednesday, June 5 7:30 PM Jesse Hockett Classic Non-Wing USAC Sprints & ARDC Midgets Grandview Speedway, Bechtelsville, PA
Thursday, June 6 Non-Wing USAC Sprints Path Valley Speedway, Sprint Run, PA
Saturday, June 8 Non-Wing USAC Sprints Port Royal Speedway, Port Royal, PA
Sunday, June 9 Non-Wing USAC Sprints Susquehanna Speedway, Newberrytown, PA
2013 NAPA AUTO PARTS Thunder on the Hill Racing Series Schedule
Presented by: GALCO Business Communications, Pioneer Pole Buildings & Lee Myles Transmissions
Wednesday, June 5 THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES 7:30 PM
Jesse Hockett Classic for Sprints
USAC National Wingless Sprint Tour & ARDC Wingless Midgets
Tuesday, July 2 THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES- – – 7:30 PM
Tuesday, July 30 THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES- -Pioneer Pole Buildings 7:30 PM
Saturday, October 19 THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES Halloween Party 6 PM
358 Modifieds, URC Sprints, ARDC Midgets, Sportsman, Legends. Monster Smash Demo Derby Blast from the Past Vintage Car Club/Garden State Vintage Cars & Vince’s
Grandview Speedway Route 100 Bechtelsville, PA 10 mile north of Pottstown, Bechtelsville, PA
For GPS Users: 43 Passmore Road Bechtelsville, PA 19505
TRACK PHONE: 610 754 7688
ADDITIONAL Thunder on the Hill INFORMATION: 443 513 4456 Bob Miller
WEBSITES: www.
Grandview Speedway is a high-banked one-third mile clay oval, celebrating their 51st Anniversary season in 2013. 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 race wear 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.