KEMENAH, BLANEY, HAUDENSCHILD LEAD ALL STAR ASSAULT; HODNETT, DIETRICH, AND SMITH DEFEND HOME TURF
Story By: BOB MILLER / THUNDER ON THE HILL SERIES MEDIA
Photos By: RACERSGUIDE.COM PHOTO STAFF
BECHTELSVILLE, PA -August 17, 2016 – Excitement builds as Tony Stewart’s Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions prepare to descend upon the third-mile bullring of Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, PA. NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series brings the All Stars to the Berks County dirt track this Thursday, August 18, as the nationally touring 410 Sprint Car racing series battles the Pennsylvania Posse, with a $5,000 payday on the line. This popular event is being presented by Pioneer Pole Buildings.
A full program of 410 racing action including Time Trials, Qualifying Heat Races, a Dash to determine the A-Main starting order, and a 35-lap main event paying $5,000 to the winner, $1,000 to the 10th place finisher, and $500 to start rounds out the thrilling evening.
A quick time bonus of $100 will be awarded to the fastest competitor in Time Trials. 358/360 Sprint Car drivers are eligible to participate with $200 going to the highest finisher and $100 going to the second highest finisher.
Findlay, OH’s Chad Kemenah – the current series point leader and 4-time Series Champion — will lead the All Stars into Grandview Speedway. Piloting the beautiful No. 10H machine, Kemenah proves to be consistent scoring 19 top-5 finishes in 30 races with just a single win throughout the 2016 season. Kemenah is a previous Thunder on the Hill Racing Series winner, claiming a victory in 1999.
Defending All Star series champion Dale Blaney sits second in the chase for the championship with six wins this season – more than any driver on the tour. Blaney is trailed by 22-year-old third generation driver Sheldon Haudenschild, aboard the No. 93 machine. Haudenschild has claimed five victories in 2016 in 26 feature events.
While the All Stars bring an elite group of drivers from the mid-west, a battalion of Central Pennsylvania’s top stars are prepared to defend their home turf – and when the greatest Sprint Car drivers in the world do battle it is sure to be unpredictable.
Thomasville, PA’s Greg Hodnett is a 9-time winner at Grandview Speedway – including a 410 Sprint Car victory earlier this season. Hodnett is an easy favorite heading into this Thursday’s event, having claimed five the past seven races on ‘the Hill.’
PA Posse fans can rest assured a strong contingent of drivers are defending the Commonwealth including previous All Star Winner Danny Dietrich, Ryan Smith and Brent Marks.
In their only Pennsylvania appearances, surprise entrants to this Thursday’s All Star event at Grandview include 20-time Outlaw Champion Steve Kinser aboard the No. 11, 3-time Outlaw Champion Sammy Swindell steering the CJB Motorsports No. 1 machine, and 4-time All Star Champion Kenny Jacobs piloting his son Lee Jacobs’ No. 81 machine.
The winged action doesn’t stop there as competitors from New Jersey and Pennsylvania’s 305 Sprint Car division – namely the Tri-State Racesaver Series – also take to Grandview Speedway. A fan-favorite among area race fans the TSRS Sprint Cars always put on a thrilling event on the third-mile. While many would pick 4-time Series Champion Mike Haggenbottom as a favorite heading into the 25-lap main event, it’s Aston, PA’s Dave Brown who has claimed the past three Grandview TSRS victories
Previous All Star winners at Grandview include Cris Eash (2000), Jeff Sheppard (1999), Fred Rahmer (1999), Billy Pauch (May 1998, August 1998), Donnie Kreitz (1997, 1986), Jimmy Horton (1982), and Steve Smith Sr. (1982).
The 410 Sprint Car competitors chase a $5,000 winner’s share for 35 laps of action on the famed 1/3 mile Grandview Speedway. The tenth position pays $1,000 with $500 to start the A-Main. A $100 Quick Time bonus is up for grabs, along with a $200 bonus to the first 360/358 Sprint Car and a $100 bonus to the second 360/358 Sprint Car.
Also on the card is the TSRS Sprint Car Series, competing in a 25 lap feature event.
General Admission Tickets for Thursday, August 18 are $30 for adults, $10 for children (6-11), and children under 6 are FREE!
Pit Gates open at 2:30 PM, Advanced Ticket entry at 4:30 PM, Grandstand Gates open at 5:00, and Racing at 7:30 PM
Advance tickets are on sale now and are available by calling 443-513-4456. Please provide your name and the number of tickets requested. Tickets may be picked up and paid for on race night after 4:00 PM. Advance ticket holders may enter the grandstands at 4:30 PM, one half hour before the sale of General Admission tickets.
Celebrating the 27th 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, JOE “THE PIZZA DUDE”, giveaways, fireworks and appearances by the Thunder Girls.
NAPA Auto Parts continues their long run with Thunder on the Hill as the Series title sponsor joined by Pioneer Pole Buildings, Quaker Steak & Lube, and GALCO Business Communications.
For full rules, format, purse and information visit: www.thunderonthehillracingseries.com or www.allstarsprints.com
