Legendary Hilltop Set For Racing In 2017

(Marietta, Ohio) After a very busy and turbulent 2016 season, the Legendary Hilltop Speedway is set to open for the 2017 season with a full schedule of racing starting in March and running thru October. The 2017 season will be highlighted by the return of some of the track’s most popular events plus the addition of new ones, as the long popular 1/4th mile oval prepares to give fans and teams another summer of racing action along the banks of the Ohio River.

After months of rumors and contract discussions, the staff at Legendary Hilltop is excited to once again focus upon racing at the 50 plus year old facility. While the staff did remove much of the track’s physical belongings in late October per an arrangement with the property owner, the process was for legal purposes and the staff has now directed their attention to setting the facility back up for operation and prepare for the 2017 season. The upcoming season will see the track once again feature AMRA sanctioned Late Models, Modifieds and Sport Mods plus 4-Cylinders competing on a regular basis plus a fifth alternating class comprised of mostly Street Stocks events (schedule based out of consideration to Midway Speedway and other venues) mixed with appearances by the Mod-Lite and Steel Block Late Model divisions with promoter Lhan Weppler remaining open to other classes on a case by case basis (schedule TBA). WRA Mini Wedges will also once again return to “The Top” but will run on a TBA schedule, as the track is exploring periodical standalone events for the WRA Mini Wedge division.

The 2017 season will kick off on SATURDAY March 18th, with the running of the 4th Annual Frostbuster 30. Following a few weeks of regular racing, the track is slated to feature the return of Sprint Cars to the quarter mile oval with a special Sunday afternoon OVSCA Sprint Car special on Sunday April 30th. The season will continue with regular racing until May 19th where the track plans to host a TBA Late Model special. With numerous dates still to be filled, the track’s remaining list of SCHEDULED special events and promotions include the Mid-Season Championship on June 16th along with a special $4 general admission night on June 30th. The tracks autograph night is slated for July 14th, plus a “Kids Night” on August 11th. The track will once again take the Marietta Sternwheeler Festival Weekend off (August 8-10th) but will return to racing on September 15th with the 3rd Annual running of the OGVC Freedom 30. Additional notable events for all classes and off weekends are still to be announced upon confirmation and the track staff looks to publish a complete schedule in the later part of January.

Promoter Lhan Weppler and his staff look forward to once again opening the gates and welcoming race fans all throughout the season. The track currently plans to add some additional programs including the previously noted standalone WRA Mini Wedge and Flat Track cart programs plus numerous Enduro races scattered all throughout the season, including the Inaugural “Hangover 100” on January 1st 2017.

Fans and teams are invited to stay up to date with all of the latest news from ‘The Top’ by staying tuned to Legendary Hilltop’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages along with legendaryhilltopspeedway.com and ovdtr.com