Big Season Ahead For Thunder Mountain Speedway: Modified Purse Increase, New American Racer Cup Southern Tier Challenge Cup Program, Boosted Open Sportsman Payout, Crate 602 Sportsman & XCel 600 Modifieds Added, $500-To-Win Street Stocks & More

CENTER LISLE, NY – In the second season back under the ownership of Karl Spoonhower, Thunder Mountain Speedway is poised for a banner season in 2015.

The Season Opener, sponsored by Waymart Building Center and Sharkey’s Fuels, is set for Saturday, April 25. Modifieds race 30 laps for $1,992 to win, reflecting on the year the speedway was carved from hilltop farmland outside of Whitney Point, N.Y., some 25 miles north of Binghamton.

Joining the Modifieds on the Opening Night program are Open Sportsman, Crate 602 Sportsman, Rookie Sportsman (running April through June), Street Stocks, XCel 600 Modifieds and FWD Four Cylinders.

A year ago, Brent Wilcox of Binghamton, N.Y., took home a $1,992 payday at the opening event and drove to his second career track championship. Wilcox collected more than $5,000 at the track’s November Awards Banquet for his efforts in the headline big-block/small-block Modified ranks.

Again in 2015, a minimum of $5,000 has been posted for the Thunder Mountain Modified champion.

And there is more. The speedway now offers Modified competitors the opportunity to participate in the $10,000 American Racer Southern Tier Challenge Cup contested between Thunder Mountain (Saturdays) and neighboring I-88 Speedway in Afton, N.Y.on Friday nights.

The program, sponsored by American Racer and Lias Tire of Indiana, Pa., offers cash and tires during the season and at year-end, in addition to the posted point funds at each track.

Also, the green money for weekly events at the speedway for the Modified division has been boosted to $150. The change goes into effect starting with the Season Opener.

The Open Sportsman will compete for a $700 minimum winner’s share each Saturday in ’15, with second-place now offering $400. The green money is $100 for all events.

Additionally, American Racer/Lias Tire will supply six free American Racer tires to be given away during the season. A minimum of $1,000 has been reserved for the ’15 Open Sportsman track champion.

The Crate 602 Sportsman division has been added for the upcoming season with $400 minimum to win on a weekly basis and a Northeast-leading $100 to take the green flag!

Rookie Sportsman will run from April through June, at which point drivers will graduate into their respective Open or Crate 602 Sportsman division. The Rookie class gives freshman some seat time before joining more experienced competitors in the weekly classes. Rookie points will be maintained during the April-June stretch.

The Street Stock division for the ’15 campaign is sponsored by Barrett’s Race Cars, with $500 going to the winner everySaturday night. Other Street Stock bonuses will be announced throughout the season.

Doug Borger’s XCel 600 Modifieds are now a weekly feature at both Thunder Mountain and I-88 speedways. There will be six “tour” events paying a minimum of $1,000 to win at Thunder Mountain during the season for the XCel 600 Modifieds.

The popular FWD Four Cylinders complete the Thunder Mountain weekly lineup. The Four Cylinders will be featured in two higher-paying events during the year.

Special events are plentiful on the ’15 schedule, including the first ‘Small Car Showcase’ on Sunday, May 3, two Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek Modified appearances with the ‘Lightning on the Mountain’ Sunday, June 28 and Wade Decker Memorial on Sunday, September 13 and the Lucas Oil ESS 360 Sprint Cars and CRSA 305 Sprint Cars headline the second ‘Sprint Car Saturday’ program on Saturday, September 5.

An open practice is slated for Saturday, April 18, giving competitors their first opportunity to turn laps on the new track surface and reconfigured, widened turn three layout.

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 isthundermtnspeedway@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.