“Time To Climb” For Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP: Sunday, May 29 Brings ‘Lightning on the Mountain’ At Thunder Mountain Speedway; Erick Rudolph Leads STSS North Region Standings
Story By: BRETT DEYO / BD MOTORSPORTS MEDIA Photos By: GEORGE STEIGERWALT JR. & PETE MacDONALD / RACERSGUIDE.COM
CENTER LISLE, NY- May 20, 2016- It’s “time to climb” for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By VP.
To celebrate the unofficial kick-off to summer, the STSS traveling stars of the Halmar International North Region ascend to Thunder Mountain Speedway in Center Lisle, N.Y., the three-eighths-mile hilltop banked oval owned by the Spoonhower family.
A two-day Memorial Day weekend event wraps up on Sunday, May 29 with the STSS ‘Lightning on the Mountain’ presented by Waymart Building Center in Waymart, Pa., and Sharkey’s Fuels of South Canaan, Pa.
The STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds battle for 50 laps with nearly $26,000 on the line: $5,000 to win, $1,000 to finish 10th and $400 to take the green flag plus lap money, contingency awards and bonuses.
Ransomville, N.Y., driver Erick Rudolph leads the STSS Halmar International North Region standings into Thunder Mountain. Rudolph posted a sixth-place finish at the April opener at the historic Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y., and posted a podium finish – third – at Big Diamond Speedway in Minersville, Pa., May 17.
Rudolph, with 166 points, leads Danny Johnson of Rochester, N.Y., by 11 points. Defending STSS North Region title winner Stewart Friesen of Sprakers, N.Y., sits third, 13 behind the leader. Completing the front five in the standings are Tommy Meier of Waldwick, N.J. (23 points back) and Mike Ricci of Tillson, N.Y. (32 points behind).
Last year, Thunder Mountain hosted a pair of STSS events. Brian Malcolm of Lake Ariel, Pa., was the June ‘Lightning on the Mountain’ winner – the most prolific win of his career – and Friesen topped the Wade Decker Memorial run in September.
The May 29 program will include the second round of the first-year STSS Open Sportsman circuit. The series made its debut at Big Diamond May 17 with New Jersey’s Brandon Grosso scoring the victory. The STSS Open Sportsman race 25 laps for a $1,000 winner’s share on the Mountain.
Also on the card are the Fight Night Street Stocks in the Chad Sindoni Memorial, a race celebrating the life of a former full-fender racer who lost his life earlier this year, and the XCel 600 Modifieds in a “tour race” special.
On Sunday, May 29, pit gates will open at 3 p.m. Grandstand gates unlock at 4 p.m. Hot laps get underway at 6 p.m. and racing begins promptly at 7 p.m.
Adult grandstand admission is $20. Seniors (ages 65 and over) pay $18, Students (ages 10-17) pay $15 and Kids 9 and under are FREE. Pit admission is $35, with no license required.
Rules and general information can be found at the following link: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/lightning-on-the-mountain-rules-prices-general-information/
On Saturday (May 28), the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints visit the Mountain in a $3,000-to-win event for the powerful 360 Sprint Cars. CRSA 305 Sprint cars will also be on the card, plus Open Sportsman, Crate 602 Sportsman, Rookie Sportsman, Street Stocks, XCel 600 Modifieds and FWD Four Cylinders. Modifieds will be allotted practice time.
Camping on the speedway grounds is permitted/encouraged, FREE of charge.
For Thunder Mountain Speedway general information and a complete schedule, visit www.thundermtnspeedway.com. The speedway office number is 607.657.8202. On race day, call 607.849.7899. The speedway e-mail is thundermtnspeedway@gmail.com. “Like” Thunder Mountain Speedway on Facebook or follow @thundermtnspeed on Twitter.
Thunder Mountain Speedway is located at 91 Hunts Corners Road Center Lisle, NY 13797, approximately 25 miles north of Binghamton. The three-eighths-mile clay oval features hillside concrete seating, free parking and camping, a variety of concession items and novelties, a family environment and more.
To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP or BD Motorsports Media LLC, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com or www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com, call 845.728.2781 during business hours, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, “like” Short Track Super Series on Facebook or follow @ShortTrackSS on Twitter.
The 2016 Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, VP Racing Fuel, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Halmar International, Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Bicknell Racing Products, COMP Performance Group, Dirt Track Digest, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Hig Fab, Henry’s Exhaust, Hurlock Auto & Speed Supply, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, K&N, Race Pro Weekly, Racing Optics, Searock Fabrication & Speed Supply, Teo-Pro Car, Vahlco Wheels & Velocita
2016 Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP Halmar International North Region Schedule
Saturday, April 2 – Orange County Fair Speedway/Middletown, NY – Hard Clay Open – WINNER: Tommy Meier
Tuesday, May 10 – Big Diamond Speedway/Minersville, PA – Anthracite Assault – WINNER: Ryan Watt
Sunday, May 29 (Rain Date: May 30) – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, NY – Lightning on the Mountain
Tuesday, June 7 (Rain Date: June 8) – Outlaw Speedway/Dundee, N.Y. – Ultimate Outlaw 50
Tuesday, July 5 (Rain Date: July 6) – Accord Speedway/Accord, NY – Battle of the Bullring 4
Wednesday, July 13 (Rain Date: TBA) – Rolling Wheels Raceway Park/Elbridge, NY – STSS vs. RoC Challenge (all drivers in attendance receive 60 points)
Wednesday, July 27 (Rain Date: July 28) – I-88 Speedway/Afton, NY – Crazy 8s Special
Tuesday, August 16 (Rain Date: August 17) – Woodhull Raceway/Woodhull, NY – Hustlin’ the High Banks 52
Sunday, September 18 (Rain Date: September 25) – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, NY – Wade Decker Memorial
Friday-Saturday October 7-8 (Rain Date: October 9) – I-88 Speedway/Afton, NY – Short Track SuperNationals 9 – Championship Points
Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP North Region Point Fund (*based on 10 events): 1. $12,000; 2. $7,000; 3. $4,000; 4. $3,000; 5. $2,500; 6. $1,850; 7. $1,750; 8. $1,650; 9. $1,550; 10. $1,450; 11. $1,000; 12. $1,000
*Drivers outside the top-12 with perfect attendance receive $250
2016 Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP Open Sportsman Schedule
Tuesday, May 10 – Big Diamond Speedway/Minersville, PA – Anthracite Assault – WINNER: Brandon Grosso
Sunday, May 29 (Rain Date: May 30) – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, NY – Lightning on the Mountain
Tuesday, June 21 (Rain Date: June 22) – I-88 Speedway/Afton, NY
Tuesday, July 5 (Rain Date: July 6) – Accord Speedway/Accord, NY – Battle of the Bullring 4
Sunday, July 17 (Rain Date: TBA) – Utica-Rome Speedway/Vernon, NY
Sunday, September 4 (Rain Date: September 5) – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, NY – Sportsman Sunday
Friday, October 7 (Rain Date: October 9) – I-88 Speedway/Afton, NY – Short Track SuperNationals 9 – Championship Points
Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP Open Sportsman Point Fund (*based on 7 events): 1. $1,250 (plus drum of VP Racing Fuel); 2. $750; 3. $500; 4. $350; 5. $250; 6. $225; 7. $200; 8. $175; 9. $150; 10. $125.
*Should a Thunder Mountain Speedway regular win the championship, speedway promoter Karl Spoonhower will pay a $1,000 cash bonus
