By Bob Miller
BECHTELSVILLE, Pa. (July 27, 2015) – The NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series presents an exciting double header featuring the region’s most popular racing divisions, the 410 Sprint Cars and the 358 Modifieds, this coming Tuesday, July 28 (Raindate: July 30) at the Grandview Speedway. The already lucrative $40,000-plus purse has been sweetened with qualifying event money and bonuses including a $200 bonus in the Sprint division to any first time Grandview winner.
Heading into the 410 Sprint Car Thunder Cup all eyes are on Thomasville, PA’s Greg Hodnett. The driver of the Heffner Racing Enterprises No. 27 has claimed victories in the past four consecutive Thunder on the Hill events and is easily the favorite heading into this Tuesday’s races. Especially, since Hodnett has been on a roll lately picking up eleven victories this season.
Hodnett’s “drive for five” won’t be a walk in the park as a crop of hungry and talented sprint car drivers are in the hunt for their first ever Thunder on the Hill win – setting their sights on $5,200 for their efforts, as well as a boatload of bragging rights. A number of drivers could knock Hodnett out from the top spot like Gettysburg, PA’s Danny Dietrich fresh off a win over the World of Outlaws at Williams Grove. Mechanicsburg, PA’s Lucas Wolfe, the 2007 Thunder on the Hill Series Champion – who has yet to pick up a Thunder victory and almost defeated Hodnett at the last 410 race on ‘the Hill.’
Other first-time win contenders include: Denver, PA’s Alan Krimes – who has a string of top-5 finishes at Grandview, JJ Grasso of Middletown, DE – who finished second to Hodnett last year, Salford, PA’s, Freddie Rahmer – the son of the Sprint Car legend finished 3rd in last year’s 410 event.
Also expected to be in attendance are: Lance Dewease, Billy Dietrich, Ryan Smith, Davey Sammons, Kyle Reinhardt and Brandon Rahmer
The 358 Modifieds will round out the double header with a 30 lap, $3,000 to win event. During June’s “Traffic Jam”, Oley, PA’s Duane Howard claimed the victory in dominant fashion and did so again this past Saturday night, but you can’t count out currently weekly point leader and the winningest driver in Grandview history, Craig VonDohren. These two have fought door-to-door for years and one could easily expect them to lead the pack to the checkered flag.
But with nine different winners this season at Grandview Speedway and invaders like: Ryan Watt, Ryan Godown and Billy Pauch Jr. the only guarantee is three-wide, wheel-banging, and boiler plate bouncing action.
Thunder on the Hill marketing partners have upped the ante for the Inaugural Thunder Cup event, offering competitor bonuses in both the 410 Sprint Car and 358 Modified divisions.
Quaker Steak & Lube is offering a $50 bonus to heat race event winners in both divisions, with the stipulation that they pre-register.
In the 410 Sprint Car division, a $100 Quick Time Bonus is up for grabs with an additional $100 bonus if the track record is broken, $200 is available to a first time Grandview 410 winner, $200 is offered to the highest finishing 360/358/305 Sprint Car, and $125 is offered to all pre-entered cars that don’t qualify for the A-main.
More than $40,000 in cash prizes is on the line for competitors. In a 35-lap event, the 410 Sprints will chase a lucrative $5,000 to win, $1,000 for tenth position, and $400 to start the event. The 358 Modifieds will compete in a 30-lap event for a $3,000 top prize, with tenth paying $500 and $300 to start the event.
For additional information or to pre-enter call 443-513-4456. Drivers should provide their name, car number, hometown, and phone number.
Celebrating the 26th season of racing action, NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series always includes fun for the fans with activities such as: Pre-Race Pit Tours, the Inside/Out Experience – where fans can sign-up to watch hot laps from the infield, the Low Down & Dirty Radio Show pre-race Meet & Greet – featuring Ryan Smith and Freddie & Brandon Rahmer, JOE “THE PIZZA DUDE”, giveaways, fireworks, and appearances by the Thunder Girls.
General Admission ticket pricing for Tuesday, July 28 (Raindate: July 30) is $25 for Adults, Children 6-11 are $10 and Kids 5 & under are FREE! Pit Admission pricing is $35 without a license and $30 with license.
Advance tickets are available by calling 443-513-4456. Please provide your name, the number of tickets you will need and a phone number. Tickets may be paid for and picked-up at the WILL CALL Window on race night after 3:30 PM. Advance ticket holders may enter the grandstands at 4:30 PM a full half-hour before General Admission Tickets go on sale.
Pit Gates open at 3:00 PM, Advance Ticket Holders are able to enter at 4:30 PM, Grandstand Gates open at 5:00 PM and Racing starts at 7:30 PM
NAPA Auto Parts continues their long run with Thunder on the Hill as the Series title sponsor joined by: Quaker Steak & Lube, Window World, GALCO Business Communications & Pioneer Pole Buildings.
Grandview Speedway
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: Track Website: http://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 26 years of the most anticipated events on the racing calendar year after year. In 114 events over $3.8 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, 360 & 410 Sprint Cars, Sportsman, Late Models, Midgets, Legends cars, DIRTcar and ROC Modified events.
About Grandview Speedway
Grandview Speedway is a high-banked one-third mile clay oval, celebrating their 53rd Anniversary season in 2015. 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.