Legendary Hilltop First To Dust Off The Ice
5 min read
RACINE, OHIO- The Legendary Hilltop Speedway between Marietta and Belpre, Ohio sat idle for many years, but owner Lhan Weppler and crew revived the infamous old gal over the past two seasons, and is set to open the gates this Friday, March 21. The race card will feature AMRA Kryptonite Super Late Models, AMRA Octane Race Products Modifieds, EDGE Hot Mods, FWD Four Cylinders, and WRA Mini-Wedges. The full blown AMRA Late models will be racing at Hilltop on a regular basis in 2014.
The Legendary Hilltop Speedway, built in 1962, is a history-rich quarter-mile bullring that saw the likes of Indy 500 Veteran and local hero Lightning Larry Dickson rack up many wins in his journey to becoming one of USAC’s (United States Auto Club) all-time winners. Other notables that raced regularly there in the early years were NASCAR legend Doris Wisecarver and Lou Blaney, the father of current Sprint Cup driver Dave Blaney.
Weppler and company are out to make a point, citing “The Season Starts Here”; a slogan emphasizing that Legendary Hilltop is alive and will continue to grow while kicking off the 2014 racing slate for area tracks.
“Don’t forget about our practice this Wednesday 6pm-9pm!” noted Weppler, who encourages drivers to take advantage of this last efort to have a “Test-and-Tune. Followers can get information on the speedway on its facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Legendary-Hilltop-Speedway/215586021787554?ref=stream&hc_location=stream .
Friday night ADRA Champion Bryan Casey, and Racer’s In Christ will be on hand. “We are glad to welcome Racers In Christ to our track this Friday, March 21 and would like to welcome their driver Bryan Casey! They will have a bouncy house set up for the kids and they also do balloon animals, and light ups. Additionally, they will have t-shirts and hoodies for sale! Be sure to visit them at the track and also like their page!” Visit the Racers in Christ facebook page here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Racers-In-Christ/233011306743546
Gates Open at 4 with mini-wedge heats at 7:30 followed by hot laps. General Admission is $12 and Pits are $30. Drivers are asked to fill out AMRA paperwork online to expedite the first night sign-in process. Drivers can get a $10 discount if they buy their AMRA license for Late Models and Modifies online at $65 til the end of March.
Coming Friday, March 28th, is the “1st Annual Frostbuster 30″, a $2,000 to win/$200 to start special AMRA Super Late Models, plus racing in all other classes! General Admission for this special will be $15 and $30 for the pits.
Back in the track’s hey day’s supermodifieds reigned and “stock cars” were just migrating into the area. Cleveland, Ohio’s Mack Clingan and J.D. Leas dueled with such drivers as Herman Wise of Atlanta, GA and Wayne McGuire, Grayson, KY on the Hilltop oval. Midwest Champion Hooker Hood of Memphis, TN even challenged the Hilltop’s tacky gumbo. Later, Earl Hill, Fred Hadley, Frank Wilson, and Dave Robinson were among those to ring in the early years of the late models.
The quarter-mile dirt track, which opened in 1962, had not been used for racing since 1998 until Lhan Weppler began a journey to not only revive the track, but make it a place to be every Friday night. Weeds reached three feet high on the property when the group began efforts a couple April’s ago to reopen the track. Tons of dirt had to be moved to put the track back in shape for racing.
Since then new bleachers, new railing, new catch fence, and many, many other amneties were put in place as part of an on-going process.
The Legendary Hilltop Speedway lies halfway between Marietta, Ohio and Belpre, Ohio off State Route 7 near the Hilltop Auto Wrecking Yard. Built in the early 1960′s the quarter mile bullring raced weekly through the 1970′s. Much work has been put into refurbishing the track to 2-K standards for a bright future and rebirth of area stock car racing. Legendary Hilltop will be racing every Friday night.
Last year’s champs were Steel Block Late Models – Jeremy Misel; AMRA Modifieds – Roy Roush; EDGE Hot Mods – Chad Smith; FWD 4-Cylinders – Josh Salyers; and WRA Mini Wedges – Cameron Roush.
Would you like to promote your business through the Legendary Hilltop Speedway? Interested in having your business sponsor one of our classes for the entire year, sponsor one of our special events, fan promotional nights, or just would like to have a vinyl lettered sign in our infield or on the back of the grandstands? Give us a call or email us and we can tailor a package to fit your business and budget!!
Lhan Weppler (promoter) (740)-629-5515
Chad McVey (740)-517-0558 (evenings and weekends only)
cmcveyracing@gmail.com (anytime)
Be sure to follow our accounts on other social media sites as well! They will updated quite frequently especially on race nights!
Twitter: @Legend_Hilltop
Instagram: @Legendary_Hilltop
More information can also be found on the Legendary Hilltop website at << http://www.legendaryhilltopspeedway.net/ >>
Octane Race Products is the new AMRA Modified sponsor, while Kryptonite Race Cars and Tru-Tech Customs is the title sponsor for the Late Models in 2014. Other fine sponsors of the AMRA Modified series are Dave Poske’s Performance Parts, Wrisco Industries, Hoosier Racing Tire/Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley, Carthage Auto Parts, AERO Racing Wheels, Rocket Chassis, Two-Brothers Racing, Lincoln Welders & Lincoln Electric, Hypercoils, Bazell Race Fuels, Alky Racing Alcohol and Sunoco Race Fuels, Impact Racing, RCI, OTR Filters, MSD Ignition, Wilwood Brakes, Kluhsman Racing Components (KRC), Evans Vinyl Signs, Winters Performance Products, Bilstein Shocks, AFCO, PST Drive Shafts, Schoenfeld, Killer Bee Race Bodies, and Bell Racing Helmets. Look for details of the MSD Ignition Ironman Award in this release!
MSD Ignition is the official Ignition of the AMRA. Carthage Auto Parts is the official sponsor of the AMRA Rookie of the Year! Join the AMRA now!-America’s Open Wheeled Modified’s Most Competitive Series!
Drivers and Fans can seek updates on www.amramodified.com or the AMRA Facebook page. The AMRA wishes to thank to all of the racers and promoters who have supported and participated in the past and to those continuing to support and participate in the AMRA. For more information about the AMRA, visit amramodified.com or visit their facebook page.
Payout
POS AMRA LM MRA MOD EDGE HOT MOD 4 CYLINDER
1 $1100 $650 $300 $250
2 $600 $400 $150 $125
3 $475 $300 $115 $95
4 $375 $200 $100 $75
5 $310 $150 $95 $65
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