Thunderhill Raceway Race Reports

Potawatomi Returns to Thunderhill!
By Tom Wagner

March 19, 2005; Sturgeon Bay, WI. - Thunderhill Speedway in Sturgeon Bay, WI has officially announced the return of the Forest County Potawatomi Community as a major sponsor of the track for the 2005 racing season.

This will be the third straight year that the Speedway and the Potawatomi Community will partner together to bring a strong five-division racing program on Saturday nights to the Door County Peninsula. 

"This is great news, not only for the track itself, but for our entire racing family here in Sturgeon Bay," said Thunderhill promoter Bryan "Woody" Wodack.   "Their involvement allows us to do some things that directly benefit the race teams and the fans alike.  They are such a big part of many forms of racing in the Midwest, that it truly is a great honor to have them back again."

The Potawatomi Community, including the Northern Lights Casino and Indian Springs Lodge in Carter, WI and the Milwaukee Bingo and Casino in Milwaukee, are not only active in stock car racing in Northeastern Wisconsin, but are also supporters of racing teams in the CORR Off-Road series through the summer and USSA Snowmobile racers in the winter.

Wodack unveiled a new plan to provide a double pay-out night for the Speedway's IMCA Modified, IMCA Stock Car, IMCA Hobby Stock and Street Stock divisions during the course of the season. The actual date during of the increased purse will be announced later.   

The track will also establish a $10,000 point fund to be distributed at the 2005 awards banquet to conclude the season.

"We'll be racing from the end of April into September, so we know how big a commitment the race teams make to us," said Wodack.  "The extra money we'll be able to pass on to them is just one way we plan to say thanks for the support this season."

While adult grandstand prices will remain a value at $8.00 for 2005, special nights will be announced where admission will be dropped to just $5.00.  Wodack also indicated plans to distribute coupons through the year to increase the opportunities for reduced admissions.  Door prize give-aways will culminate with the awarding of a Budweiser #8 go-kart at the end of the year.

The season will officially begin on Saturday night April 30 with tradition opening night sponsor WDOR radio of Sturgeon Bay hosting the show.  The three IMCA classes, along with Street Stocks, will be in competition each week.  Alternating as the fifth class will be the either the returning 4 Cylinders, or a brand new division this season, the Thunder Bombs.  Thunder Bombs will be similar to the Chilton Challenger cars currently running on Friday nights at Chilton, and will
remind fans of Thunderhill's original bomber class that ran in the mid-1990s.

The regular season will run through August 27, and will be enhanced by two Wisconsin Dirt Late Model Specials, a USMTS modified special, the annual Street Stock Slam and a two-day Fall Special the end the season in September.

"We're pretty excited about the season," Wodack concluded.  "We'll be unveiling a new line of Thunderhill clothing, we're
looking at some additional landscaping, and with the help of the Potawatomi members, we've built our strongest line-up of specials ever.  It's going to be quite a season."

The Potawatomi Thunderhill Speedway is located at the John Miles Fair Park, located at the Fairgrounds in Sturgeon Bay.  For more information, visit the track's website at www.racethunderhill.com