The Spirit Auto Center Speedway will present three days of racing when it presents the 7th Annual Bill Thomas Memorial Weeekend on Friday, October 27 through Sunday, October 29. The final three days of racing will honor a man who played a major role in the development of small car racing on the quarter mile speedway.
Coming just weeks after the running of the inaugural Skyscraper event, the Bill Thomas Memorial weekend will attract drivers from throughout the Northeast to compete in both wingless and winged 270 and 600 Micro Sprints, Slingshots, 4 & 8 Cylinder Enduros as well as Xcel 600 Modifieds.
After losing a day to the weather last year, Tommy Kunsman raced to the win in the Wingless 600 event over Lee Nardelli and Jermaine Godshall, taking the lead just a few laps from the checkered flag. Alex Swift picked up his first ever win at Spirit with his win in the Winged 270 portion of the weekend. racing to the finish line ahead of Jacob Hendershot and Chris Locuson. Dylan Hoch was the big winner in the Slingshot action with his flag to flag victory. Scott Miller was the winner in the 4 Cylinder Enduro race while Lee Allen outran his brother, Chris for the win in the 8 Cylinder Enduros.
Action gets underway on Friday evening at 8pm with racing for the wingless 600 Micros, Winged 270s and 4 Cylinder Enduros in addition to open practice for the weekend. The race winner in the twenty lap features for the 600s and 270s will have guaranteed starting spots in their final Poker Series event – the 600 forty lap main on Sunday and the 30 lap feature for the 270s on Saturday. Gates will open up at 5pm on Friday night.
Day two of the Bill Thomas Memorial Weekend gets the green flag at 6pm on Saturday with gates opening at 2pm. Seeing action on Saturday will be the winged 600s and 270s along with the Xcel 600 Modifieds. Practice sessions will be held throughout Saturday’s schedule.
The Poker Series Champion for the Winged 270 Micros will be crowned when the checkered flag waves on the thirty lap feature on Saturday. Nine drivers are in the running for the title, led by Nick Skias who holds a pair of Jacks along with an Ace and an 8. Alex Swift, Robbie Watson, Colin Bustard, Jacob Hendershot, Kyle Weiss, Brandon Edgar, Tommy Kunsman and 2017 Track Champion, Tyler Reinhardt could still have the best hand in Poker Series competition.
The final day of the weekend will get underway at 4pm on Sunday with the wingless 600s and 270s along with the King of the Sling event for Slingshots and the 8 Cylinder Enduro cars. Gates will open at noon.
Three 600 competitors are in the running for the 2017 Poker Series Championship. This group is led by Tim Buckwalter who goes into the final race with a pair of Aces, a Queen and a Jack. 2017 Track Champion and the recent winner of the Skyscraper, Matt Smith, holds a pair of Kings along with an Ace while 2016 Poker Champion, Tommy Kunsman has a pair of Jacks to go with a Queen and a ten. Travis Hill is still in the running for the second best hand with Nick Walton, Whitey Kidd and Mike Rutherford in contention for the third best hand.
The Action Track USA Slingshot Poker Series has Brett Bieber leading the way with three Aces and a King. The combination of Bieber and the Donny Hockman owned No. 151 have been very dominant in big events. Rich Partitie’s three 9s and Dylan Hoch’s, King, Queen, Jack and 10 could still be the Poker Series Champion when the final checkered flag waves on Sunday.
It’s all happening at the Spirit Auto Center Speedway this weekend in addition to live entertainment, great concessions and family fun! Don’t miss the final race date of the season on the quarter mile!!
Upcoming events
Bill Thomas Memorial Weekend
Friday, October 27 – , Friday night Wingless 600s, Winged 270s & 4 Cylinder Endruos plus practice, racing 8pm
Saturday, October 28 – Winged 600s, Winged 270s and Excel 600 Mods plus practice, racing at 6pm
Sunday – October 29 – Wingless 600s, wingless 270s, Slingshots and 8 Cylinder Enduros, racing at 4pm