Thunderbird Raceway gearing up for another strong summer of racing
By Scott Brandenburg
The Muskegon Chronicle
Thunderbird Raceway is looking at another strong season of racing with several divisions racing on Saturday nights. The "Spring Sizzler" kicks off the season next Saturday night.
Last year, Thunderbird Raceway began hosting UMP Late Model racing.
The races were met with a positive response from local race fans, so Thunderbird is ready to offer more this summer.
The Late Models are back starting May 14, running their own program and paying out a $1,000 a week, the highest amount in the state.
The money is expected to draw in some of the top drivers in the Midwest.
“We’ve had calls from drivers way up north and way down south and the top drivers in the state,” Thunderbird promoter Ross Ferguson said. “All the local drivers will be there, too. They’re all interested in being a part of it.”
The 1/3-mile dirt track located on Riley-Thompson Road north of Muskegon will open next Saturday night with its "Spring Sizzler."
The opener is a bit later than normal, but it appears to be a good decision.
“It was a great call,” Ferguson said. “We planned on starting a little late, and the way the weather’s been, it’s worked out.”
Ferguson’s excited about the Saturday night lineup, which will include UMP Modifieds, UMP Street Stocks, UMP Bombers, UMP 4-cylinders and UMP FWD Warriors, in addition to the Late Models.
He expects the turnout from the drivers to be better than last year. Ferguson also expects to have a good turnout from racing fans.
Thunderbird offers a community night each week with fans from a particular community receiving half-off admission.
The community nights are something Ferguson started 30 years ago at I-96 Speedway. So far, it’s been well received.
“For the fans, it’s huge,” Ferguson said. “It’s worked so well, tracks around the Midwest have copied it. I get calls all the time from people asking when they can get in for half price.
“The sponsors also have their own nights to shine as well and that’s huge for them.”
New this season is a free $10 Wesco gas card for each vehicle which shows up with three paid adults or two paid adults and two paid children. The offer is for general admission only and not valid with other discounts or on community nights.
“We want to continue to be a family-oriented, low-key source of entertainment for race fans,” Ferguson said. “We really want to offer good deals to the fans.”
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Johnny VanDoorn Has A Plan For Winchester
Johnny VanDoorn Has A Plan For Winchester
WINCHESTER, Indiana (April 28, 2011) - - Two-time and defending Champion Racing Association (CRA) champion Johnny VanDoorn will officially kick off the 2011 season this weekend at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway and the Coopersville, Michigan native is putting himself into attack mode for Sunday’s Manning Services 100.
The rising star is already anxious to get back behind the wheel of a race car since the original season-opener at Anderson (In.) Speedway was rained out on April 16th. With the series now taking the green flag at one of his favorite race tracks, VanDoorn is ready to prove that once again he’ll be a title contender.
“I’m ready to get back after it,” said VanDoorn. “It’s unfortunate that Anderson was rained out, but we’re heading to Winchester and man, racing doesn’t get any better than that. We know what we need to do as a team; hopefully we can stay in-tune on the track and do what we do best.”
Championship ride-aside, VanDoorn knows that winning another CRA crown will be no easy task. Still, VanDoorn who hopes to compete in the ARCA Racing Series by year’s end is focused on utilizing the same mentality he has over the past two years that has guided him to back-to-back recognitions.
“It’s about standing in the gas on and off the track,” sounded VanDoorn. “I would not be where I am today without a lot of people and a lot of support. The competition continues to get tougher each and every year. I don’t expect 2011 to be any different. Winchester if you’re not careful is a place that can come up and bite you. We need to keep our nose clean if we want a shot at another win.”
Should everything flow their way, Kaos Motorsports will guide the former CRA Rookie of the Year to his 10th win and 48th top-10 in 65 races. If VanDoorn lands himself in the top-10, his percentage rate in the CRA Series will climb to nearly 75 percent of his career that he’s comprised the top-10.
With sponsorship still hard to acquire these days, VanDoorn is thankful to have his Chevrolet bow-tie decked out with support. Baker Engineering, Earth Service and Supply, Jegs.com, Magic Transportation, Paragon Corvette Reproductions, Port City Racecars and R and R Wire Loom will all hold placement on the team’s General Motors machine this weekend.
“I’m a lucky guy,” VanDoorn added. “Not only do I have a great team but we have so much support from companies across Michigan and the region. It’s my goal to go out there and race hard and get them the best finish possible. Some weeks will be better than others, but we refuse to go down without a fight and Winchester will be no different.”
In 64 races, VanDoorn has posted six poles, eight wins, 25 top-fives and 47 top-10 finishes including back-to-back CRA championships in 2009 and 2010.
For more information on Johnny VanDoorn, please visit JohnnyVanDoorn.com.
For more information on the Champion Racing Association Super Series, please click on CRARacing.net.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Michigan Dirt Cup Modified Tour to begin Inaugural Season THIS Saturday
Michigan Dirt Cup Modified Tour to begin Inaugural Season THIS Saturday, April 30th at I-96 Speedway
Novi, Michigan (Friday, April 29th, 2011): The preliminaries are all done, paperwork is filled out, sponsors are fired up, cars are lettered, final preparations have been made and the countdown is almost over for the inaugural Michigan Dirt Cup (MDC) Allstar Performance Modified Tour powered by Lane Automotive, Aeroquip, and ARP Fasteners race on Saturday, April 30th at the fast 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked paved oval of I-96 Speedway, located East of Grand Rapids and West of Lansing in Lake Odessa, Michigan.
Drivers and Teams who race in the United Midwest Promoters (UMP) Modifieds division throughout the Great Lakes State as well as Northern Indiana and Northern Ohio and even in Canada have something to look forward to in 2011 with the formation of the new sanctioning body, Michigan Dirt Cup (MDC). The 2011 campaign will be the inaugural year for MDC and the pre-entry list for the inaugural race is staggering.
An expected field in excess of 50+ Modifieds will invade Lake Odessa, Michigan for the inaugural race and try to make history by becoming the first ever winner in the brand new series. Headlining the staggering field of super stars includes 2010 UMP Modifieds State Champion as well as I-96 Speedway and Mt. Pleasant Speedway Track Champion, Rich Robinson Jr., as well as 2010 Merritt Speedway Track Champion, veteran Steven Hilliker and 2010 Thunderbird Raceway Track Champion, Andy Sprague!
More top teams expecting to compete includes Brian Ruhlman, one of the top Late Model drivers in the Midwest who also races an UMP Modified on occasion and was the winner of one of the biggest races for Dirt Modifieds in the Midwest, Extreme 100 in August 2010 at Mt. Pleasant. Zack Olger, who was the 2010 runner-up at both I-96 and Mt. Pleasant, and Muskegon area ace, John McCaul will also be ones to watch.
In addition to Robinson Jr., and Olger, more I-96 regulars looking to hold off the traveling invaders includes; Two-Time Track Champion Todd Feutz, as well as former track champions and brothers, Ryan and Shannon Fisk. In addition, the Father-Son team of Tim and Travis Stemler, as well as Mark Anderson, and many more will look to fend off the onslaught of top notch traveling stars.
A slew of talented drivers who were amongst the top stars in UMP Modifieds throughout the state of Michigan in 2010 that have indicated their intentions on running the MDC Modifieds Tour includes Cody Bauer, Brennan Bowen, Roger Flinn III, Andy Galgoci, Josh Lolmaugh, David Mielke, Kevin Miller, Jacob Poel, Joe Rokos, Curt Spaulding, Chad Spencer, Randy Whitten, and many more.
"We have a truly talented field of teams planning on running the full tour. We're very happy with the Pre-Registration list!" MDC Co-Founder / Promoter, Bill Long stated. "We've got teams from several states and quite a few from Canada looking to race with us. I can't wait for the first race at I-96. We're going to make history." He added.
The MDC tour will travel throughout the state of Michigan participating in a seven race schedule. In each case when the Tour comes to each facility, those events will count for not only Michigan Dirt Cup points, but for each tracks respective weekly point's standings in addition to UMP State and National Points!
After the first race at i-96, the MDC Modified Tour will visit six other established Michigan dirt facilities beginning with race #2 at Butler Motor Speedway in Quincy, Michigan (Saturday, June 11th). From there, the Tour travels to Winston Motor Speedway in Rothbury, Michigan (Friday, June 17th), Owendale Speedway in Owendale, Michigan (Saturday, July 2nd), Cherry Speedway in Fife Lake, Michigan (Friday, July 22nd), Mt. Pleasant Speedway in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan (Sunday, August 21st), and the season finale will be at Hartford Motor Speedway in Hartford, Michigan (Saturday, October 1st). The first six events will pay $1,500 to win while the season finale at Hartford will pay a whopping $5,000 to the winner!
Lane Automotive, in conjunction with several other racing part manufacturers, has offered MDC Modifieds Tour members a lucrative contingency award for each event on the 2011 schedule. At each tour event, one MDC member driver from the feature starting lineup will be awarded a special contingency product certificate package with a minimum value of $650, providing the car has the proper decals affixed.
The contingency winning number will be drawn by a youngster chosen from the crowd. The driver whose scheduled A-Feature starting position matches the number drawn will be awarded the package. Contingency certificates will be redeemable through Lane Automotive in Watervliet, Michigan. Participants in this program include Allstar Performance, Lane Automotive, ARP Fasteners, Aeroquip, Mr. Gasket, Landrum Springs, and QA-1. In addition, the participating manufacturers will also award product certificates at the MDCMT awards banquet.
Michigan Dirt Cup, Dart Heads and Lane Automotive are pleased to announce an exciting new program for drivers competing in the tour during the 2011 season. Dart will award a set of cylinder heads valued up to $1000 to the driver who gains the most overall positions in the seven A-Feature events in 2011.
One point will be awarded for each position gained from a driver's initial feature starting spot in each MDC A-Feature event. Points will then be tabulated throughout the season, and the driver with the highest point total at season's end will be awarded the certificate which can be redeemed for the cylinder heads through Lane Automotive in Watervliet, Michigan. The only requirements are that drivers must be Michigan Dirt Cup Members and both Dart and Lane decals must be displayed on both sides of the car.
For more information about the inaugural 2011 racing season for the Michigan Dirt Cup Allstar Performance Modified Tour powered by Lane Automotive, Aeroquip, and ARP Fasteners, visit the tour website at: www.michigandirtcup.com
Novi, Michigan (Friday, April 29th, 2011): The preliminaries are all done, paperwork is filled out, sponsors are fired up, cars are lettered, final preparations have been made and the countdown is almost over for the inaugural Michigan Dirt Cup (MDC) Allstar Performance Modified Tour powered by Lane Automotive, Aeroquip, and ARP Fasteners race on Saturday, April 30th at the fast 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked paved oval of I-96 Speedway, located East of Grand Rapids and West of Lansing in Lake Odessa, Michigan.
Drivers and Teams who race in the United Midwest Promoters (UMP) Modifieds division throughout the Great Lakes State as well as Northern Indiana and Northern Ohio and even in Canada have something to look forward to in 2011 with the formation of the new sanctioning body, Michigan Dirt Cup (MDC). The 2011 campaign will be the inaugural year for MDC and the pre-entry list for the inaugural race is staggering.
An expected field in excess of 50+ Modifieds will invade Lake Odessa, Michigan for the inaugural race and try to make history by becoming the first ever winner in the brand new series. Headlining the staggering field of super stars includes 2010 UMP Modifieds State Champion as well as I-96 Speedway and Mt. Pleasant Speedway Track Champion, Rich Robinson Jr., as well as 2010 Merritt Speedway Track Champion, veteran Steven Hilliker and 2010 Thunderbird Raceway Track Champion, Andy Sprague!
More top teams expecting to compete includes Brian Ruhlman, one of the top Late Model drivers in the Midwest who also races an UMP Modified on occasion and was the winner of one of the biggest races for Dirt Modifieds in the Midwest, Extreme 100 in August 2010 at Mt. Pleasant. Zack Olger, who was the 2010 runner-up at both I-96 and Mt. Pleasant, and Muskegon area ace, John McCaul will also be ones to watch.
In addition to Robinson Jr., and Olger, more I-96 regulars looking to hold off the traveling invaders includes; Two-Time Track Champion Todd Feutz, as well as former track champions and brothers, Ryan and Shannon Fisk. In addition, the Father-Son team of Tim and Travis Stemler, as well as Mark Anderson, and many more will look to fend off the onslaught of top notch traveling stars.
A slew of talented drivers who were amongst the top stars in UMP Modifieds throughout the state of Michigan in 2010 that have indicated their intentions on running the MDC Modifieds Tour includes Cody Bauer, Brennan Bowen, Roger Flinn III, Andy Galgoci, Josh Lolmaugh, David Mielke, Kevin Miller, Jacob Poel, Joe Rokos, Curt Spaulding, Chad Spencer, Randy Whitten, and many more.
"We have a truly talented field of teams planning on running the full tour. We're very happy with the Pre-Registration list!" MDC Co-Founder / Promoter, Bill Long stated. "We've got teams from several states and quite a few from Canada looking to race with us. I can't wait for the first race at I-96. We're going to make history." He added.
The MDC tour will travel throughout the state of Michigan participating in a seven race schedule. In each case when the Tour comes to each facility, those events will count for not only Michigan Dirt Cup points, but for each tracks respective weekly point's standings in addition to UMP State and National Points!
After the first race at i-96, the MDC Modified Tour will visit six other established Michigan dirt facilities beginning with race #2 at Butler Motor Speedway in Quincy, Michigan (Saturday, June 11th). From there, the Tour travels to Winston Motor Speedway in Rothbury, Michigan (Friday, June 17th), Owendale Speedway in Owendale, Michigan (Saturday, July 2nd), Cherry Speedway in Fife Lake, Michigan (Friday, July 22nd), Mt. Pleasant Speedway in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan (Sunday, August 21st), and the season finale will be at Hartford Motor Speedway in Hartford, Michigan (Saturday, October 1st). The first six events will pay $1,500 to win while the season finale at Hartford will pay a whopping $5,000 to the winner!
Lane Automotive, in conjunction with several other racing part manufacturers, has offered MDC Modifieds Tour members a lucrative contingency award for each event on the 2011 schedule. At each tour event, one MDC member driver from the feature starting lineup will be awarded a special contingency product certificate package with a minimum value of $650, providing the car has the proper decals affixed.
The contingency winning number will be drawn by a youngster chosen from the crowd. The driver whose scheduled A-Feature starting position matches the number drawn will be awarded the package. Contingency certificates will be redeemable through Lane Automotive in Watervliet, Michigan. Participants in this program include Allstar Performance, Lane Automotive, ARP Fasteners, Aeroquip, Mr. Gasket, Landrum Springs, and QA-1. In addition, the participating manufacturers will also award product certificates at the MDCMT awards banquet.
Michigan Dirt Cup, Dart Heads and Lane Automotive are pleased to announce an exciting new program for drivers competing in the tour during the 2011 season. Dart will award a set of cylinder heads valued up to $1000 to the driver who gains the most overall positions in the seven A-Feature events in 2011.
One point will be awarded for each position gained from a driver's initial feature starting spot in each MDC A-Feature event. Points will then be tabulated throughout the season, and the driver with the highest point total at season's end will be awarded the certificate which can be redeemed for the cylinder heads through Lane Automotive in Watervliet, Michigan. The only requirements are that drivers must be Michigan Dirt Cup Members and both Dart and Lane decals must be displayed on both sides of the car.
For more information about the inaugural 2011 racing season for the Michigan Dirt Cup Allstar Performance Modified Tour powered by Lane Automotive, Aeroquip, and ARP Fasteners, visit the tour website at: www.michigandirtcup.com
Winston Speedway Canceled tonight
Extensive rain during the week has resulted in the cancelaization of tonights events for Winston Speedway.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Keeping Up With Jeep
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 27, 2011
Jeep Van Wormer and Iron Motorsports Preps for Hartford and K-C this Weekend!
(PINCONNING, MICHIGAN) With Mother Nature wreaking havoc through most of the Midwest last weekend, Jeep Van Wormer and his #55 Dirt Late Model team were able to get one race into the books. They invaded the Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Michigan on Saturday night, April 23 for the annual running of the 'Player Hater 50.' Jeep started dead last in his heat race after drawing a poor number, but passed multiple competitors to finish third in his prelim.
After starting twelfth in the $2,500 to win main event, the Pinconning, Michigan native did his best to navigate the ultra-rough racing surface. He was heading towards a solid finish in the unsanctioned event until he lost his brakes in the waning laps. Jeep pulled off the track with several circuits remaining, but still wound up ninth in the final rundown due to all of the attrition. Full results from Winston can be accessed online at www.winstonspeedway.net.
Next up for the Iron Motorsports team will be a doubleheader April 29-30 weekend in the states of Michigan and Ohio. On Friday night, the Hartford Motor Speedway in Hartford, Michigan will play host to a $10,000 to win World of Outlaws Late Model Series program. The next evening will find the #55 team at the K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, Ohio for a $4,000 to win All Star Late Model Series (ASLMS) showdown. You can view additional information about both high-profile events by logging onto www.worldofoutlaws.com and www.kc-raceway.com.
The Iron Motorsports team thanks the following sponsors for their continued and unwavering support: Bayline Fire Protection, Globe Technologies, Services on Site, Van Wormer Management, Rocket Chassis, Fletcher Made Horsepower, ACPT, All-Pro Cylinder Heads, Allstar Performance, Banshee Graphics, Barnes Oil Systems, Bell Racing, Beyea Headers, Brinn, Inc., BSB Manufacturing, Delph Communications, Dyer's Top Rods, Eibach Springs, Fine Line Window Tinting, Goodridge Hose & Fittings, Hoosier Racing Tire, Howe Racing Enterprises, J.C. Dubil, Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, Joe's Racing Products, K-B Carburetors, Keyser's Port City Racing, KRC Power Steering, Lane Automotive, Oakley, Outerwears, Penske Shocks, Peterson Fluid Systems, R2C Performance, Ringers Gloves, Scott Performance Wire, Sweet Mfg., TWM Racing, V.P. Racing Fuels, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Engineering, and Wrisco.
To learn more about the Iron Motorsports team, log onto their home on the web located at www.jeepvanwormer.com.
Media Contact: Ryan Delph - Delph Communications
www.delphcommunications.com
April 27, 2011
Jeep Van Wormer and Iron Motorsports Preps for Hartford and K-C this Weekend!
(PINCONNING, MICHIGAN) With Mother Nature wreaking havoc through most of the Midwest last weekend, Jeep Van Wormer and his #55 Dirt Late Model team were able to get one race into the books. They invaded the Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Michigan on Saturday night, April 23 for the annual running of the 'Player Hater 50.' Jeep started dead last in his heat race after drawing a poor number, but passed multiple competitors to finish third in his prelim.
After starting twelfth in the $2,500 to win main event, the Pinconning, Michigan native did his best to navigate the ultra-rough racing surface. He was heading towards a solid finish in the unsanctioned event until he lost his brakes in the waning laps. Jeep pulled off the track with several circuits remaining, but still wound up ninth in the final rundown due to all of the attrition. Full results from Winston can be accessed online at www.winstonspeedway.net.
Next up for the Iron Motorsports team will be a doubleheader April 29-30 weekend in the states of Michigan and Ohio. On Friday night, the Hartford Motor Speedway in Hartford, Michigan will play host to a $10,000 to win World of Outlaws Late Model Series program. The next evening will find the #55 team at the K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, Ohio for a $4,000 to win All Star Late Model Series (ASLMS) showdown. You can view additional information about both high-profile events by logging onto www.worldofoutlaws.com and www.kc-raceway.com.
The Iron Motorsports team thanks the following sponsors for their continued and unwavering support: Bayline Fire Protection, Globe Technologies, Services on Site, Van Wormer Management, Rocket Chassis, Fletcher Made Horsepower, ACPT, All-Pro Cylinder Heads, Allstar Performance, Banshee Graphics, Barnes Oil Systems, Bell Racing, Beyea Headers, Brinn, Inc., BSB Manufacturing, Delph Communications, Dyer's Top Rods, Eibach Springs, Fine Line Window Tinting, Goodridge Hose & Fittings, Hoosier Racing Tire, Howe Racing Enterprises, J.C. Dubil, Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, Joe's Racing Products, K-B Carburetors, Keyser's Port City Racing, KRC Power Steering, Lane Automotive, Oakley, Outerwears, Penske Shocks, Peterson Fluid Systems, R2C Performance, Ringers Gloves, Scott Performance Wire, Sweet Mfg., TWM Racing, V.P. Racing Fuels, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Engineering, and Wrisco.
To learn more about the Iron Motorsports team, log onto their home on the web located at www.jeepvanwormer.com.
Media Contact: Ryan Delph - Delph Communications
www.delphcommunications.com
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