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OLATHE, Colo. (July 14) – IMCA Modifieds and Stock Cars return to
Thunder Mountain Speedway, with the first points races for both
divisions on tap for tonight.
Eight more dates for the sanctioned divisions are on the track
schedule, along with two EQ Cylinder Heads Wild West IMCA Modified
Tour shows, through Sept. 22.
“We asked our drivers about sanctioning and it was an overwhelming
decision to go with it,” said Sean Gibbs, who purchased the track
late last month. “They wanted to go back to IMCA. I think there will
be a lot of people dusting off their cars and heading here this
weekend.”
Modifieds were sanctioned by IMCA at the Olathe track from 1994-2006
and the Stocks from 2003-2006. Thunder Mountain Speedway will be part
of the SuperFlow Western Region for Modifieds and the Destroyer
Chassis Southern Region for Stock Cars.
“I’ve wanted a race track for a long time and this opportunity came
up at the perfect time,” said Gibbs, also owner of T-8 Marketing in
Grand Junction. “I hired a management crew right from the get-go.
We’ve already doubled our grandstand attendance and increased car
counts.”
Bret Reed is the race director at TMS. Debra Leturgez is the new
concessions manager and Robert Lynch is in charge of track maintenance.
“The management crew is exceptionally talented. They’re very
passionate about racing,” Gibbs said. “I can’t say enough about
them.”
Upcoming projects will include making the facilities more accessible
to handicapped patrons, a priority for Gibbs, a parapalegic as a
result of a motorcycle accident, and the construction of VIP suites.
“There are a lot of little things we need to do, like replace the PA
system in the pit area,” he said. “Our top priorities are track
improvement, more promotions for sponsors and safety.”
A second Wild West Modified Tour show has been added to the schedule,
making for a Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14-15 series ending twinbill.
Both races will pay $1,000 to win and will be qualifying events for
the 2008 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. The driver making the
longest tow to Olathe that weekend gets a $250 bonus.
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