Thunder On The Hill Gearing Up For 32nd Year Of Action At Grandview Speedway
Story By: BOB MILLER / THUNDER ON HILL – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – Thunder on the Hill returns to Grandview Speedway for its’ thirty-second season in 2021.
In the summer of 1990, Grandview Speedway owners Bruce and Theresa Rogers, Modified/Sprint Car Champion Dave Kelly and racing publicist Bob Miller met at the Bally Hotel to discuss running a 410 sprint car show at Grandview Speedway in August of 1990. The group discussed the challenges of such a show as well as the potential rewards if that first race comes off a success. Needless to say, the show was a big win even after battling the weather for most of the day of the event. The 410 sprint stand alone show saw Stevie Smith and his Black Bandit #19 parked in the Grandview victory lane collecting the $5,000 winner’s share.
Thunder on the Hill grew into much more than just a one-time stand-alone 410 sprint car show. The single race expanded to a repeated award winning series that attracted the top drivers, divisions and prominent touring series in the country. Some of those divisions and series include the World of Outlaws Sprints and Late Models, the California Racing Association, the non-wing Sprint Car Racing Association, DIRTCar Modifieds, ROC Modifieds, USAC Sprints & Midgets, All Star Circuit of Champions, NASCAR Modifieds, ARDC Midgets, KARS Sprints, URC Sprints, MASS Sprints, Sportsman and Legends Cars. All this started during a time when mid-week racing events were not as popular as they are today.
Another successful twist of Thunder on the Hill was uniting two premier divisions onto one racing program. In may cases during the 90’s, a high profile event was brought into a track and it was supported by two or sometimes three lower playing support classes. Thunder on the Hill went one step further by adding the local favorite modifieds to such events like Pennsylvania 410 Sprint Speed Week, the World of Outlaws, USAC Sprints & Midgets, All Star Sprints and even presented the Double Down Modified double-header presenting the DIRTCar Modifieds and NASCAR Modifieds on the same event. The purse is higher but the draw of a truly high quality racing program was an attraction that the fans wanted to see.
So as we look to 2021, we are pleased to announce that the NAPA Auto Parts banner will again fly at Grandview Speedway for all the Thunder on the Hill Racing events. NAPA Auto Parts has been part of the Thunder Series since the early 1990’s and has been a great partner in the growth of the Series. Participating NAPA Auto Parts Store locations include Birdsboro Auto Parts, Pottstown Auto Parts, Bud Friend Auto Parts in Emmaus, PA, Conshohocken Auto Parts, Horsham Auto Parts, Pennsburg Auto Parts, Pottstown Auto Parts, Quakertown Auto Parts, Walnutport Auto Parts and Weldon Auto Parts.
Also back on board is Levan Machine & Truck Equipment, now in their fifth year of Thunder on the Hill support. Levan Machine & Truck Equipment is a full-service machine and truck shop located in Fleetwood, PA. Check out their full line of truck and trailer equipment, including snowplows, and salt spreaders. Or, to learn about their capabilities, including CNC machining, complete driveline service, MIG,TIG, and stick welding check out our web site at www.levanmachine.co
The 2021 NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill race dates will be announced with the release of the Grandview Speedway schedule. But for now, we are pleased to announce that we will have two AMSOIL USAC Non-Wing Sprint race dates, Thursday, April 22 and the opening event of the Eastern Storm, Tuesday, June 15. Thunder on the Hill will again be part of the 410 sprint Pennsylvania Speed Week Series paying $10,000 to win the Hodnett Cup. Tony Stewart’s All Star Circuit of Champions 410 sprints will return to Thunder on the Hill and Grandview Speedway on Thursday night, August 26. Other events are still in the planning and will be announced shortly.
In thirty-one previous years, there has been 140 Thunder on the Hill events with the payout in excess of $4,976,000.Thu
