USAC Sprint Cars Set To Tackle The Eastern Storm; Series To Open At Grandview June 11th

Story By: BOB MILLER / THUNDER ON THE HILL – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Rain and bad weather has not been a friend to local short track racing of late, but all race fans welcome and look forward to this storm, the thirteenth annual EASTERN STORM for the USAC AMSOIL Non-Wing Sprint Cars, and it’s coming to the Grandview Speedway on Tuesday night, June 11 with the $10,000 to win Jesse Hockett Classic.

The NASCAR 358 Modifieds will be part of this big doubleheader with qualifying events leading up to the 30 lap, $3,000 to win feature even.

This wildly popular traveling series comes east just one time a year and this show is one you just can’t miss. Watch the non-wing sprints slide and glide around the one-third mile high banked Grandview Speedway and you’ll see some wheel banging, rooster tails and wheelies. And that’s just warm-ups.

For the thirteenth consecutive year, the USAC AMSOIL Non Wing Sprint Car National Championship returns East with stops at the Grandview Speedway, Bridgeport Speedway, BAPS Motor Speedway, Port Royal and Weedsport Speedway’s. The five race swing, in keeping with tradition will open with the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill signature event at the Grandview Speedway. The Tuesday night, June 11 show will boast the USAC $10,000 to win Jesse Hockett Classic joined by the 358 NASCAR Modifieds with racing getting underway at 7:30 PM. This year also marks the 30th Anniversary of the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series.

Wednesday night, June 12 the Bridgeport Speedway will present the USAC AMSOIL Non-Wing sprints in a double header with the 600 micros, Thursday night, June 13 the tour moves to the BAP’S Speedway joined by the 360 Sprints and Super Sportsman. Saturday night, June 15 the traveling non-wing racers invade the Port Royal Speedway before closing out the swing at the popular Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, NY on Sunday night, June 16. Defending USAC Eastern Storm Champion Chris Windom is already planning his trip East.

USAC brings a long and rich history especially to Berks County. USAC first raced in Berks County at the Reading Fairgrounds in 1956 and it was Oley, PA driver Tommy Hinnershitz who won the first three USAC events on the Reading half-mile. The USAC/Berks County tradition continued until April 1979 when Paul Pitzer took the win at what would be the final USAC event at the Reading Fairgrounds.

Grandview Track Owner Bruce Rogers and Thunder on the Hills’ Bob Miller made several attempts to bring 410 non-wing sprint cars back to Berks County, presenting CRA and SCRA events in the 1990’s . After many discussions, a deal was worked out and in June 2007, USAC made the trip to Grandview and it was Levi Jones who took the win in a historic USAC return to Berks County. Now in 2019, the Eastern Storm will mark its’ thirteenth tour to the East, opening on the famed “hill” of Grandview Speedway.

Drivers from all over the country will gather on the “hill” Tuesday night, June 11 for the 40 lap Jesse Hockett Classic and the roster will include Chris Windom, Justin Grant, C.J. Leary, Brady Bacon, Chase Stockon, Justin Grant, Tyler Courtney and Robert Ballou.

The Berks County one-third mile high banked Grandview Speedway is just the perfect setting for a USAC National Non-Win Championship event. USAC time trials at Grandview are usually more exciting than the main divisions elsewhere, so don’t miss time trials.

Advance tickets may be ordered for the Tuesday, June 11 USAC Sprints & Modified show by calling 443 513 4456. Please speak slowly and clearly when leaving a message and be sure to leave your name and number of tickets you will need. Feel free to leave your phone number as well. Tickets may be paid for and picked up at the WILL CALL Window on race night after 3:30 PM. These tickets will entitle you to enter the grandstands at 4:30. Adult admission tickets are $30, children 6 to 11 $10 and children five and under will be admitted for free.

Start planning now for the 13th Annual Eastern Swing, Tuesday night, June 11 to Sunday night, June 16.