Thundersprint Banquet

The Banquet is now scheduled for October 28, 2006 at 6 pm. A covered dish, lawn chairs, and BYOB is requested. Karla Billings is having Briskets smoked for the meat. Karla will be sending out information by the end of the week (hopefully). This will be at Alan and Karla's shop 215 NE 35th Topeka, Ks.

Directions: From the east Topeka Toll booth take the first exit (Valley Falls) north, over the Kansas River, exit left at the Manhattan exit to 24 hwy. West on 24 to the first stop light. Turn right approximately 1.5 m to the first stop sign, turn right, 7th house on the right at the bridge. People can email Karla at oddeee@swbell.net or call 785 246-1006. Overnighters at our home are welcome and Karla will provide more information regarding lodging when she mail out the invites.

Chad Meinholdt takes Checkers on July 29 for his 4th 2006 Feature Win

We had 15 cars at the hill Saturday and I believe we were the only class to go green, white, checkered. Dry, slick and DUSTY!!!! Couldn't see the cars in 1 & 2 at all. Extra was given to the Missouri drivers from Kansan contributions, extra $100.00 each for their support. Kenny Potter also gave $125.00 to be divided between 5th place back on the finish. A trophy dash with 05 Tom Grist, 4 Chris Maxwell, 99M Harry Myer and 69M Chad Meinholdt was run with $200.00 put up by Gruber's trucking from Topeka.

I will keep the site updated as more details come available for the upcomming schedule. There are talks in the works to fill in the hole left when Thunderhill canceled the August and September races.

Chris Maxwell Wins his First Featurre of 2006

Chris Maxwell was able to hold off the always hard charging Chad Meinholdt to take the checkers on July 15 at Thunderhill.

I will post full feature results as soon as I get them.

Just a couple of Quick Notes

We all need to be sure and sign SPRINT next to our name when we sign in at the pit shack. This helps the track keep track of how many pit passes are sold per car and helps guarantee the pay out. The goal is 4 pit passes per car, so bring people into the pits to help out with this!

There will soon be a link to a page for members who would like to sell racing related parts and services. If you have something to sell, hit the "Contact Us" link, attach a picture and description of what you have to sell include a way people can get ahold of you, and I will post it.

July 1 Race Showcases Strong Runs by Missouri 305s

17 Thundersprints were on hand at ThunderhillJuly 1, 2006. Although only 6 of the 17 car field were 305s, they would occupy the top three spots in the feature event, and 2 of them were Potters. Thanks to Billings Motorsports they would all receive bonuses for being top running 305s.

The big wing and soft tire had the 360 guys scratching their heads, looking for the combination that could compete on the glazed over Thunderhill racing surface. It didn't take Jack Potter long to launch to the front from his second row starting spot, and from there he drove away. Even when there was a yellow which put points leader Chad Meinholdt's 69m on the "Jack Pots" back bumper, Jack drove away.

Harrisonville Missouri's Ken Potter (2nd), Pleasant Hill Missouri's Jack Potter (1st) and Warsaw Missouri's JR Rowland (3rd)

Meinholdt wins 3rd Feature this Year

Chad Meinholdt bags his 3rd win on June 3rd out at Thunderhill. He started on the pole and lead all 20 laps of the 19 car field. It was a straight up draw which would put the heat winnners up front. Chad had come from the rear of his heat.

Other heat winners inluded Chris Maxwell (4) and Dusty Murray (46) piloting his 305.

The top 10 finishers in the feature were split down the middle, with 5 360 2bbls and 5 305 powered entries.

It was one of those nights where some were caught off guard by the track, expecting a slick surface but it seemed to get faster and faster as rubber started to build up in the middle groove. Meinholdt dominated some, and was challenged at other times by strong runs by Chris Maxwell early and Dusty Murray later in the race. On lap 13 Zach Goulden (49) wacked a tire in 4, flipping his car which left Tom Grist (05) no where to go which ended his night as well.

The second heat featured strong runs by Chris Maxwell (4), and Danny Billings (11) both comming from the back to take the top two spots. Ken Stolfus bounced off a tire and took a wild ride comming out of 2.

The third heat of the night was dominated by 305's.We are happy to see JR Rowland (99)back again all the way from Warsaw Missouri. I guess he likes Thunderhill enough were he brought John Rowland (46x) with him this time.

Danny Billings Wins Green to Checkers May 20

Another strong field of 20 cars showed up ready for action.With 12 360 2bbl's and 8 305's, the 2 combinations seem to be merging together as one, with neither winning more than the other, regardless of track conditions. The first heat was stacked heavy with strong runners, including names such as Chad Meinholdt, Jack Potter and Ken Stolfus among others. Ken Stolfus started on the front row outside outrunning Chris Parkinson, on the pole, to turn one. Stolfus lead the entire race as Chad Meinholdt worked his way from the back to the runner up spot.

The second heat was pretty much all Ken Potter. He was about as hooked up as a man can be, leaving the rest of the field to argue over second. Current points runner-up Danny Billings would win a battle with Chris Maxwell for that spot.

The third heat featured a nice battle between Harry Myers in his 99m and the 9z of Zach Clark. Harry was able to pass Zach's 305 on the high side after several laps.

Danny Billings bags his first feature victory of the season out at the Thunderhill May 20. He was able to make the car stick on the bottom while others watched him drive away. He lead from the first lap, holding off the always hard charging Chad Meinholdt. Chad was on the top and seemed to be making up ground until he got crossed up in 2, barely saving the car by driving through the infield. Ken Potter had his 305 right up in the hunt until he found one of the tractor tires in the infield of 2. He lost steering and got together with Chris Parkinson, ending both of their nights. Jack Potter was the highest finishing 305 running third from his starting spot of 10th.

Meinholdt Dominates May 6

It was looking like we may not get the races in with rain moving just south of Thunderhill on Saturday. Cloudy sky and chilly winds didn't stop 20 Thundersprints from pulling to the track in hopes of a good night's racing. They would not be disapointed. 10 305's and 10 360 2bbls made up the field, with 2 of the top 3 finishers being 305 powered. It was about as tacky of a night as you will find out at the Hill, and any doubts about whether the 305's could compete with the 360 would be hushed at nights end. To quote Jerry Potter, "tonight running a straight up draw on this track will be a good test". After the feature, Harry Myers said "looks like us 2bbl guys need to sharpen up our game"

Harry Myers won the first heat with Danny Billings moving his way through the field to finish second.

The second heat featured Ken Stulfus outrunning Chad Meinholdt with Alan Billings finishing 3rd. Bradley Roberts wacked the wall comming out of 4 and was done for the night.

The third head featured a good run from Chris Parkinson edging out a family battle between Jack and uncle Ken Potter for the second spot.

Chad Meinholdt lapped half of the field in the

Thundersprint class as he used the high side of the speedway to run away from the competition. Meinholdt started fifth but had taken the lead by lap six and ran away with the top spot in a race that saw only one caution on lap three. Previous winner Jack Potter grabbed the second spot, and Will Pierce charged into third.

Jack-pot for Jack Potter in a 305

The latest night of racing (April 22) for the Thundersprints was more proof that this class is starting to really sprout legs. The car count was at 19, and since payout is based on car count, the payout is getting sweeter and sweeter. There was a lot of speculation in the pits before the race about whetheranyone would have anything for the super-fast Chad Meinholdt. Returning were Chris Parkinson and Ken Stolfus, joining the always fast Danny and Alan Billings, Harry Meyers, Tim Koch and others.... oh yea, there were also some 305's.

The first heat pushed off and when the green flew, a strange thing started happening. A 305 piloted by Austin Alumbaugh began to pull away from the rest of the pack which included such notables as Harry Meyers and Alan Billings. The race looked to be in the bag for Alumbaugh until he looped it in four on the white flag lap.....Oh yea, a kid named Jack Potter ran 3rd in a 305.

The second heat was pretty much dominated by Greenwood Missouri's Ken Stolfus (121). Chad Meinholdt's (69m) left rear passed him going into 1, bounced off the retaining wall, and was last spotted by NASA and may still be in orbit.

The third heat race was won buy Chris Maxwell (4), holding off Chis Parkinson (65) until Chris found one of the larger tractor tires in the bottom of 2 with his nerf bar and decided to park on top of it for a while.

Before start of the feature the four row inversion pill was drawn, putting Danny Billings(11) on the pole and Jack Potter (6) on the outside front row. Most figured this one would be a yawner with Billings pulling away until Chad could execute a late challange from the rear near the end of the contest.... wrong.

The first time the Thundersprints took to the track, the sky began to flash with lightening, rain began to fall postponing the start until the weather calmed down a few minutes later. The second time they went out, they were able to run the race with no further interruptions from mother nature.

When the green did fall, oddly the 305 powered number 6 of Jack Potter wasn't falling back as expected, in fact ina lap or two he challenged and drove around the 2005 points champion, Danny Billings...... had to be a fluke...... wrong again. Once Jack got into clean air, he looked to be on a leisurely Sunday drive smoothly creating a hell of a gap between himself and the rest of the field. Michael Brown (82) had oil leaking onto and smoking off of his left header. The oil caught fire bringing out the yellow. Potter (6), loosing the half lap lead and all the lap cars he had lapped between himself and the second place Billings (11).... surely someone would have something for him....wrong. Potter took the green and never looked back. Congratulations to Jack, Jerry, and Kelly Potter, Mike Bates, Ted Hall and the rest of the crew for a job well done.

Lap Leaders: D. Billings 1; Potter 2-15

Just a friendly reminder about trash in the pits including tires; we are guests at Thunderhill and should clean up after ourselves. What you leave behind will have to be picked up by someone. And those that have stickers need to pay the $50.00 by the next race to be eligible for the points fund. Also, although it was not caught at this race, in the future if your car does not have a starter you will pull tail of the feature. If you line up anywhere except the tail, you will be disqualified and forfeit any payback.

Opening Night a Success

Saturday, April 8 kicked off the 2006 season on a chilly but sunny afternoon out at the hill. Sixteen Thundersprints signed in with 5 or 6 more excepted to show up for the April 22 event. We were able to tech all but a few cars due to time constraints but we will continue to make sure everyone starts out on the same page.The first heat looked like the 11 car of Danny Billings may lead from green to checkers until Chad Meinholdt began working his way through traffic, eventually challenging and overtakingBillings for the 1st heat victory. They were followed by the 4 of Chris Maxwell, Alan Billings in the 24 and the 13L of Dave Long.

Tim Koch(14) was on the pole of the second heat. He was holding off the hard charging Harry Meyers (99m) when Harry experienced motor problems and slowed near the end of the heat. Jack Potter in his Casey's General Stores sponsored #6 305 took over 2nd followed by Michael Brown (82), Dustin Murry (46) and the 55 of Ken Potter.

In the feature, the front 6 rows were inverted which made for one heck of a show for the Thunderhill fans. Ken Potter was held up by traffic in his heat which put him on the second row inside. It was starting to look like his race, pulling away when his 305 had a spectacular "come apart" going into 3, ejecting a rod and a significant chunk of the block in the process. Chad Meinholdt seemed to have missed the set up at first struggling around the bottom little advancement. Alan Billings was on cruise control in front of Tim Koch, Danny Billings and a solid charge from Jack Potter. Soon, Chad found a place to run inches from the top lip of the track. Like a switch was turned on Chad began picking cars off one by one. Jack Potter pulled off with magneto problems, and Meinholdt took over the lead from Alan Billings.

The winner was Chad Meinholdt (69m), followed by Alan Billings (24), Tim Koch (14) in third, Danny Billings (11) forth, Will Pierce (97) fifth, and Chris Maxwell (4) sixth, followed by 7th Michael Brown (82), 8th David Long (13L), 9th Dustin Murray (46), and 10th Zach Clark (1). DNFs included Jack Potter (6),Tom Grist (05), Ken Potter (55) and Austin Alumbaugh (33) with Bradley Ryan (16) and Harry Meyer (99m) scratching.

New Contingency Sponsors on board for 2006

Hoosier Tire Southwest has given us $1500.00 to apply toward the points fund. Tires should be purchased through Smiley's by contacting Smiley's at 316 945-4000 or through Mark Meinholdt at 785 234-5221. When ordering the guys need to state the tires are for the Thundersprints so the tires can be tracked, ie, how many, etc so next year we can increase our monies.

Also, Dart has donated a set of heads, Sander Engineering has come on board with 5 $100.00 gift certificates to be given away at our awards banquet and Chuck Pingley with CPX2 helmet graphics has donated 2 custom helmet paint jobs to be given away at year's end. Chuck has done work in the past for both Billings brothers and Tracy Large. Line X of Topeka has also donated a pick up bed liner.

All cars will need to pay the $50 fee to be eligible for the points fund and to reserve their number.

In the Oct. 23 2005meeting, officers were voted in:

Proposed 2006 By Laws