NCRA SPRINT CARS RETURN TO THUNDER HILL SPEEDWAY
 

NCRA SPRINT CARS RETURN TO THUNDER HILL SPEEDWAY

It’s been eight long years since the Wichita-based O’Reilly Automotive National Championship Racing Association brought its Sprint Car Series to the high banks of Thunder Hill Speedway, and in that time, there have been a number of changes. “We’ve definitely missed running at Thunder Hill,” NCRA President C. Ray Hall said. “It’s a great, fast track, and the Sprint cars put on a great show there. Last time we were there, we were still running the 410 engines. Now we’re running 360s, and I think the fans will really like the fact that we get more cars and the racing is more competitive now.”

Heading the pack will be defending and 5-time series champion Garry Lee Maier, who will be driving the #1X machine. Maier has been dubbed “King of the 360s,” having won most of the important 360 Sprint Car races at one time or another. With only two O’Reilly NCRA Sprint Car races in the books, he’s currently sixth in the point standings with one top-five.
Just ahead of Maier, in fifth, is former World of Outlaws driver Aaron Berryhill, piloting his familiar Tulsa-based #97. Berryhill is making his first full-season run for an NCRA title in several years, and has finished top-ten in both starts this year. The point standings are led by Trevor Grossenbacher, followed by J.D. Johnson, Jason Martin, and Jeremy Campbell.

At least one driver will have a decidedly foreign accent. Continuing a long tradition of Australian drivers competing in United States sprint car racers is Gavin Punch, who currently resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Punch’s car is easily identified by its number, #81au, and occupies 8th in the standings. More familiar to Kansas sprint car fans will be 60-year-old Mike Peters, the 2008 NCRA Sprint Car Champion, wheeling the #51 machine. Peters currently sits 12th in the point standings and is looking to make a move up to regain his title.

Several second- and third-generation drivers will populate the field as well. 7th in point standings is the #02 of Tanner Mullens, son of longtime area Modified driver Buddy Mullens; Jim Selenke’s son A.J. has his #43 machine in 14th in the point standings, while Kirby Robe (son of Modified driver Marc Robe) drives the #1 car, which is 17th in points. All are expected to be in attendance at Thunder Hill. Overall, more than 20 O’Reilly NCRA Sprint Car drivers are expected to make their way to the high banks.

Also appearing on the program will be the regular IMCA Weekly Racing Series classes of IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Stock Cars, and IMCA Hobby Stocks. In the IMCA Modified Division, Jordy Nelson has ridden two feature wins to a slim 8-point advantage over Justin Becker, with Brent Alverson in third, Jeff Herbers in fourth, and Travis Patch in fifth, still only 22 markers behind the lead.

The tightest point battle thus far is the Northern SportMod division, with only 12 points separating the top five. Kyle Olberding leads over Eddie Schwope Jr., Mike Taylor and Joey Schwope (tied for third), and Rich Boyden occupies fifth. Eric Weyer leads the IMCA Stock Car standings by six points over Tim Lange, followed by Marvin Griffith Jr., Matt Haid, and Greg Deters. Holding down eighth in the Stock Car standings with two wins in two starts is Mike Nichols, who will be at the Hill all through June.

In the Hobby Stock class, Levi Gunn and Brian Stich have been close on the racetrack, and only two points separate Gunn (1st) from Stich (2nd). John Bass, Rodney Walker, and Melissa Bruning round out the top five.

This Saturday, June 5, the O’Reilly NCRA 360 Sprint Cars join the IMCA Weekly Series at Thunder Hill Speedway. Pit gates open at 4:00 PM, Grandstand gates open at 5:00 PM, with the driver’s meeting set for 6:15. Hot laps will hit the track at 6:30, with the first heat at 7:00 PM. Pit passes will be $30.00. Grandstand general admission is $15.00, Seniors 65 and up are $13.00 each, kids 6-12 are $10.00, and kids 5 and under are free. Thunder Hill Speedway is located at 11995 142nd Road in Mayetta, KS (2 miles West of US-75 and 142nd Road). For more information, please visit http://www.racethunderhillspeedway.com.