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THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES
Each Event A Milestone As Thunder On The Hill Quickly Approaches The 100th Show
By: Steve Pados, GA Motorsports Media
What began just as a passing conversation twenty-two years ago, quickly blossomed into one of the most coveted of the successful racing promotions in the country and the 2011 racing season will see the highly successful promotional team of the Rogers Family and the Miller Family hitting their stride with the 100th show of their popular NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Series. The 100th event will take place on June 28th when the mighty winged warriors from the 410 sprint car racing circles and the race to the cushion 358 Modifieds converge onto the Grandview Speedway for a jam-packed and sensational two division show that will help earmark the monumental occasion for the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series.
Each event leading up the the milestone 100th event will be equally as exciting as the 22nd season of the multi-dimensional and high profile Thunder on the Hill Series will kick off on May 25th with a dual card format at the Grandview Speedway featuring the 410 Sprint Cars vying for the Fifth Annual Keystone Cup title and the 358 Modified division, the latter the headline source of excitement every Saturday night at the Grandview facility. The following week, May 31st, will bring in the National stars from the USAC National Sprint Car Series and their powerhouse wingless 410 cubic inch hot rods to give the racing fans their annual look at the great driving stars from USAC that for the most part the Eastern racing fans only hear about on the internet. The Wingless ARDC Midgets will be in action for the May 31st event and the 72 year old organization is a solid mix of veteran driving stars and a host of young guns who have invaded the successful Eastern-based organization for their own share of stardom.
Sandwiched in between the 99th and 100th event, the Thunder Road Series takes to the Interstates and heads to the Garden State of New Jersey with the USAC National Sprint Car Series at the "Thunder in the Pines" New Egypt Speedway for a tremendous two division show on June 2nd with the USAC Tour and the Big Block Modifieds going to war on the 3/8 mile speedway. After nearly a month off, the Thunder Series will steamroll into Grandview Speedway on June 28th as the Pennsylvania Speed Week Series with 410 Sprint Cars will invade the Grandview Speedway along with the 358 Modifieds for another jam-packed two card show filled with excitement from the very first green flag and in what will be the momentous 100th Show.
The Thunder Road Series will take to the highway in July as the ROC Big Block Modifieds and the 358/360 Sprint Car Challenge invade Pigeon Hills area of Abbottstown, Pennsylvania for the long-awaited thunder-rocking show at the Lincoln Speedway on Tuesday, July 12th. The Big Blocks will be returning to the speedway for the first time in 25 years when they hit the 3/8 mile facility.
The Thunder Series will swing back to Grandview on August 3rd with Thunder Traffic Jam featuring the ROC Big Block Modifieds and the first appearance of the season by the Pennsylvania Sportsman division. Madness and Mayhem follow on October 15th as the Thunder Series closes out the season with the popular 5/25's features only format that proved so successful in past seasons. 358 Modifieds, ARDC Midgets, URC Sprint Cars, Sportsman and Legend Cars will headline the event along with the Garden State Vintage Modifieds, Vince's Towing Legend Owners race and the Monster Smash Demo Derby action will give the fans a wide variety of exciting racing action.
The initial conversation from twenty-two years ago has brought about many successful friendships, promotional ideas and mid-week racing excitement for the loyal racing fans that may never be duplicated again. The drivers, owners and fans look forward to the series each year and the Thunder Promotional Team has always been front and center with all of the pre-race information, the great events and the post-race information for those who couldn't make it out to the speedway on a given show night.
Defending series champion Tyler Walker had this is to say in a recent conversation. Tyler stated, "Pennsylvania racing is top notch all of the way and the Thunder on the Hill Series was among my reasons for leaving California to compete here. While most of my racing in Pennsylvania is done on the half mile tracks, the racing at Grandview is a welcome challenge to every 410 driver out in the business. The pay is great, the Thunder staff is top-notch and the racing on the third-mile is exciting, intense and demanding and when there is another adjective invented, I am sure it will be with Grandview in mind". Tyler further added, "We cant wait for the series to begin as we captured two wins there last season and when you race for a living, each event becomes very important to us".
One of the true icons of Modified racing at Grandview and the winner of last season's Thunder Traffic Jam, Craig Von Dohren had this to say in regards to the Thunder Series. Craig remarked, "I have been associated with the Thunder Team for many years and the opportunity to earn an extra pay-day just twenty minutes from my home has always appealed to me. No one could ask for more from a promotional team as whenever you race at their facilities you are family and it has been an extreme honor to race at their shows and better yet to take home some of great purse money offered".
410 sprint car driver Greg Hodnett, the 2009 Thunder Series champion, shared some of his thoughts in reflecting to racing at Grandview under the Thunder banner. Greg pointed out, "I have been racing in Central Pennsylvania for the most part since 1998 and I do believe all of the racing is great. The one thing that puts the Thunder Series at Grandview above many of the promotions going is the fact the true racing fans have the opportunity to come out to see the best racing stars at a mid-week event and it makes each race event a special attraction for them and doesn't hinder or alter their weekend plans". Greg further added, "We are looking forward to the Keystone Cup and would like to take this opportunity to thank Bob Miller and Bruce Rogers for everything they do for racing". The popular Gasoline Alley TV/Internet Show co-host Ed Pados had this to say in referencing the Thunder on the Hill Shows. Ed remarked, "My Brother Steve and I have worked with Bob Miller for more than twenty years at various events and it has been an extreme honor for us to be included in the many events Bob is involved with. The Thunder on the Hill team is tops and the shows are always well received by everyone and we wish the Thunder Team continued success in the future and we look forward to additional work we will be doing with them down the road.
Five-time Thunder Series champion and nine-time event winner "Fast" Fred Rahmer shared his thoughts about the Thunder on the Hill Series. Fred pointed out, "I started my career in racing at Grandview and the Thunder Series is a great way to go back and see the many fans we don't have the opportunity to see on a weekly basis. Everyone of us as drivers can thank the Thunder on the Hill team for allowing us the capacity of performing for all of our fans and to take home a nice piece of change every time we compete. While it is hard to believe they are coming up on their 100th show, my family and I wish them continued success in all they do for the world of motorsports".
Greg Collins, the Vice President of the IRCO Group that headline sponsors the Miller produced Dirt Track Heroes show every March, had this to say. Greg quotes, "I was attending the Thunder on the Hill events long before I met Bob Miller and began working with him. In the years now that I have had the capacity to work alongside of him I can honestly say his attention to detail in planning and scheduling and the coordinated efforts of his cracker jack events team make doing a major event like the Dirt Track Heroes Show just a joy and a pleasure to be on the premises. We wish the Thunder Staff all of the best as they head towards that monumental 100th show and can't wait to be there to see it all unfold".
Justin Henderson, the South Dakota native who is now racing in Central Pennsylvania, added his own remarks in referencing the Thunder Shows. Justin stated, "I have enjoyed racing in Pennsylvania so much that it is now pretty much home to me. Since racing for a living is my life, the Thunder on the Hill events give me the opportunity to increase my earnings if we have a good outing. Grandview is a great place to race and is similar to the racetracks I competed at back in South Dakota. I am looking forward to the Keystone Cup coming up real soon". Gary Palmer, the successful promoter at the Accord Speedway in the Catskill Mountains of New York and a frequent Thunder visitor when he is in town, had this to say about the Thunder Series. Gary stated, "We had the opportunity to take in a couple of shows in the past two seasons and the it is easy to understand the excitement of what short track racing is all about. This team is professional in all aspects of the racing game and our staff at the Accord Speedway wishes the Thunder on the Hill team all of the success in the world as they approach a new pinnacle in their successful history of promoting racing events".
The final comments regarding the successful Thunder on the Hill Series come from former top notch racer and now a director with the SAC Group Jason McCord. Jason remarked, "Bob Miller and Bruce Rogers are a successful promotional team because they have learned how to do all of the right stuff. They are so easy to work with and because of their love for auto racing have fun in putting all of the pieces of their great events together". Jason further added, "The Eastern Swing is a part of our racing schedule we look forward to every year because of the promotional team of Bob Miller and Bruce Rogers and the great fans who support our annual trip East to race".
In the 97 previous events that are now etched into the annals of the history books, it is important to realize the tremendous amount of purse money that has been claimed by the stars of the many Thunder events. $3,232.280.00 is a whopping sum of capital payout and that alone bears the strong significance as to why the Thunder on the Hill Series will be embarking on their 22nd successful season in a short span of time. At this time no one can predict who the winner of the event will be but what in the back of everyone's mind do know is that the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series is steam-rolling towards another monumental achievement in the world of motorsports. One never has to ask a die hard racing fan if they are going to be there, it is a given because he or she is very much aware the Thunder Team is heading towards sacred territory and every one of us as racing fans have enjoyed in being part of the successful journey.
To the Miller and Rogers Families. Thank you for allowing me to contribute a small part to your wonderful achievement.........Steve Pados
For more information regarding Thunder on the Hill Promotions, contact show organizers Bob and Donna Miller by phone at 443.513.4456, via e-mail at TOTH98@aol.com or on the web: www.thunderonthehillracingseries.com.
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