Comfort Zone: Billy Van Pelt Heads To Thunder Mountain Speedway ‘Lightning on the Mountain’ Sunday, June 28 With Guaranteed Starting Position; Veteran Driver Off To Solid Start On Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek In 2015
CENTER LISLE, NY – Billy Van Pelt heads to Thunder Mountain Speedway on Sunday, June 28 with some added comfort.
Van Pelt, the longtime king of Woodhull (N.Y.) Raceway who hails from Westfield, Pa., knows he will be in the starting field for the Olum’s ‘Lightning on the Mountain’ presented by VP Racing Fuels and Town Mechanical. He is a guaranteed starter via his victory earlier this month at Black Rock Speedway in Dundee, N.Y., where he won the $5,000 ‘Rumble at the Rock’ special.
“It’s always good to know you’re in the race before you go,” cited Van Pelt, a 16-time Woodhull champion and four-time Black Rock title winner in the small-block Modified ranks.
A popular and successful driver in his region, Van Pelt has been granted the opportunity to chase Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region points on the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek (STSS) this season thanks to car owner Grant Hilfiger of Canadensis, Pa. Van Pelt is in his second season as Hilfiger’s hired gun.
BVP kicked off the year with solid performances at two unfamiliar venues: Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y., and Big Diamond Speedway in Minersville, Pa., before suffering a setback, mechanical issues, in the May event at N.Y.’s Accord Speedway. Still, Van Pelt occupies a top-12 position in the standings entering Race No. 4 of the North Region at Thunder Mountain.
When Van Pelt scored the June 2 victory at Black Rock, he was given the option of three guaranteed starting positions: Thunder Mountain, the upcoming ‘Crazy 8s Special’ at I-88 Speedway in Afton, N.Y., and the ‘Hustlin’ the High Banks 51’ at Woodhull (N.Y.) Raceway.
He quickly took the starting berth at Thunder Mountain.
“I don’t have many laps under my belt there,” Van Pelt said of the three-eighths-mile oval. “And it’s usually a place that can be crowded (with a high car count), so I’d rather be safe and know I’m in the race.”
Van Pelt is enjoying the variety the STSS has to offer this season.
“It’s fun going to different tracks,” he said. “And it’s not too many races. I still have (vacation) time to spend with the wife!”
The huge night of racing on the Mountain is headlined by the STSS Modifieds in a 50-lap event offering $5,000 to win, $1,000 for 10th and $400 to start and the Speedway Entertainment SpeedSTRs, typically featured at Pa.’s Action Track USA, in a 30-lap, $3,000-to-win main offering $250 to take the green flag.
Also on the program: Doug Borger’s traveling XCel 600 Modifieds in a tour race competing for $1,000 to win; Street Stocks battling for a $700 minimum payday thanks to the support of Zimmer Logging; and FWD Four Cylinders.
For Thunder Mountain Speedway regulars, 50 show-up points will be offered for the Modifieds, Street Stocks and FWD Four Cylinders. Track and tour points will be distributed to the XCel 600 Modified competitors.
A complete program is planned for Thunder Mountain on Saturday night (June 27). Camping, free of charge, is permitted on the speedway grounds.
For the ‘Lightning on the Mountain’ special, pit and gates will open at 3 p.m. A drivers’ meeting is planned for 5:40 p.m., with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing promptly at 7 p.m.
Adult grandstand admission is $20. Seniors (ages 65 and up) and Students (ages 10-17) pay $18. Kids 9 and under are FREE. Pit admission is $35, with no license required.
To learn more about the Short Track Super Series or BD Motorsports Media LLC, visitwww.shortttracksuperseries.com or www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com, call 845.728.2781or e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com. “Like” Short Track Super Series on Facebook or follow @ShortTrackSS on Twitter.
For Thunder Mountain Speedway general information and a complete schedule, visitwww.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.
The Short Track Super Series is presented by Hi-Tek Race Fuel, American Racer/Lias Tire, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc., Scotty’s Speed & Diesel, East Coast Speed/ECS Auto, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Allstar Performance, ATL Fuel Cells, Bicknell Racing Products, COMP Performance Group (COMP Cams, Driven Racing Oil & Quarter Master), Crane Ignition, Dirt Track Digest, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Henry’s Stainless Steel Exhaust, Hig Fab Chassis, Hyperco, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Lineman Racing, Pilat Graphic Design, Race Pro Weekly, Racers Guide, S&D Bodyline, S&W Awards, Shiley Fabrication, Simplicity Design, Teo-Pro Car, Vahlco Wheels & VP Racing Fuel.
Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek 2015 Schedule
Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region
Saturday, April 11 – Orange County Fair Speedway/Middletown, NY: Hard Clay Open – WINNER: STEWART FRIESEN
Tuesday, May 5 – Big Diamond Speedway/Minersville, PA (Combo): Anthracite Assault – WINNER: RICK LAUBACH
Tuesday, May 19 – Accord Speedway/Accord, NY: Battle of the Bullring 3 – WINNER: JACKIE BROWN JR.
Sunday, June 28 (Rain Date: June 29) – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, NY:Lightning on the Mountain
Wednesday, July 22 (Rain Date: July 23) – I-88 Speedway/Afton, NY: Crazy 8s Special
Tuesday, August 11 (Rain Date: Aug. 12) – Woodhull Raceway/Woodhull, NY: Hustlin’ the High Banks 51
Sunday, September 13 (Rain Date: Sept. 20) – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, NY: Wade Decker Memorial
Friday–Saturday October 9-10 (Rain Date: Oct. 11) – I-88 Speedway/Afton, NY: Short Track SuperNationals 8 – Championship Points
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