Thunder on the Hill Racing Series

January 25th, 2018

GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY TO OPEN 12TH USAC AMSOIL NATIONAL SPRINT CAR SERIES EASTERN STORM ON THURSDAY, JUNE 14

BECHTELSVILLE, PA – One of the hottest tickets of the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill season, the wingless warriors of the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Championship kick off their only East Coast tour at Grandview Speedway on Thursday night, June 14. The tradition continues as the Thunder Series opens this wildly popular annual tour.

In 2007, Thunder on the Hill special events promoter, Bob Miller and the Rogers Family, brought the nation’s longest touring Sprint Car group back to Pennsylvania after a nearly 30-year absence from the region.

“I vividly remember USAC being such an integral part of the Reading Fairgrounds history,” Miller recollects. “In some ways, my love of Reading made me so passionate about bringing USAC back to the east coast and specifically back to Berks County at Grandview.”

USAC came back in full force and remains one of the must-see events of the racing season.

Forty Eastern Storm events have been held since the debut of the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Championship in 2007. Levi Jones and Bryan Clauson are tied with the most wins of Eastern Storm history with six victories each. Five different drivers reached victory lane in 2017 – three for the first time in Storm history — while Chris Windom went on to win the Eastern Storm Championship.

Heading into the 12th Eastern Storm, the Bechtelsville, PA 1/3-mile dirt track opens the tour with the Jesse Hockett Classic, a 40 lap battle for the non-wing 410 sprint cars. Joining the program will be the popular 358 NASCAR Modifieds. Gates open at 5 PM wit race time set or 7:30 PM. Grandview and Thunder on the Hill are the only facility to have held a USAC event in every year of Eastern Storm history. Defending winner of this event on the hill is Brady Bacon.

The series heads to Mechanicsburg, PA’s Williams Grove Speedway on Friday, June 15, while Port Royal Speedway brings the series into night number three on Saturday, June 16.

York Haven, PA’s Susquehanna Speedway lands on the schedule for the sixth consecutive year, on Sunday, June 17. For the first time, United States Auto Club drivers head to Bridgeport Speedway on Monday, June 18 and the Storm concludes on Tuesday, June 19 at Weedsport Speedway.

Past Eastern Storm winners like Robert Ballou – who swept all three 2015 events, Brady Bacon – who holds wins at Grandview Speedway and Port Royal Speedway, Chad Boespflug, and Chase Stockon are expected for competition.

The Eastern Storm kicks off on Thursday, June 14 with the Jesse Hockett Classic – dedicated to the memory of the 2009 Grandview race winner. Joining the USAC non-wing Sprint Cars are Grandview’s popular 358 Modifieds.

Key sponsors are returning for the 29th season of the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series. Joining NAPA Auto Parts is Pioneer Pole Buildings, Levan Machine and Truck Equipment, Quaker Steak & Lube, GALCO Business Communications and Eli’s Auto Parts.

Advance tickets for the Grandview Speedway USAC/358 Modified event are available by calling 443-513-4456. Callers are required to leave their name, phone number, and the number of tickets requested. Callers can then pick-up and pay for their tickets at the Grandview Speedway’s Will-Call Window after 4 PM. Advance ticket holders may enter the grandstands at 4:30 PM – a full 30 minutes before tickets go on sale to the public.

Grandview Speedway is located at 43 Passmore Road, Bechtelsville, PA just minutes off Route 100.

NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series can be found on the web at www.ThunderontheHillRacingSeries.com. You can follow along all of the Thunder on the Hill events on Facebook, and on Twitter and Instagram @tothracing.

2018 EASTERN STORM SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, JUNE 14 – GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY

FRIDAY, JUNE 15 – WILLIAMS GROVE SPEEDWAY

SATURDAY, JUNE 16 – PORT ROYAL SPEEDWAY

SUNDAY, JUNE 17 – SUSQUEHANNA SPEEDWAY

MONDAY, JUNE 18 – BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY

TUESDAY, JUNE 19 – WEEDSPORT SPEEDWAY

43 Passmore Road, Bechtelsville, PA 19505

Race Day Phone Number: 610-754-7688

THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES EVENTS AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY

Thunder on the Hill Racing Series events are held at Grandview Speedway, one of the most historic and celebrated dirt track venues in the Northeastern United States. Located just east of Bechtelsville, Pennsylvania, Grandview Speedway is a one-third-mile, high-banked clay oval that has hosted continuous professional stock car racing since opening in 1963.

Built by Forrest Rogers and operated by the Rogers family for multiple generations, the speedway has become known for its exciting, close-quarters racing and deep roots in grassroots motorsports. The track features weekly competition in divisions such as Modifieds and Sportsman and hosts a variety of special events and touring series throughout the season.

ABOUT THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES

Born from the vision of Grandview Speedway owner Bruce Rogers, special events promoter Bob Miller and local driving standout Dave Kelly, the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series has become one of the most anticipated traditions on the racing calendar.

Across more than 130 marquee events, nearly $6 million in prize money has been awarded to the region’s top competitors. What began as a single 410 Sprint Car showcase has grown into a premier destination for the sport’s biggest names and national touring series, including the High Limit Sprint Car Series, USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series, World of Outlaws, Super DIRTcar Series and the All-Star Circuit of Champions.

From 358 Modifieds and 360/410 Sprint Cars to USAC Non-Wing Sprints, Sportsman, Late Models, Midgets, Legends Cars and ROC Modified competition, Thunder on the Hill continues to deliver headline-caliber short-track racing at Grandview Speedway.