Thursday Thunder Summer Racing Series Opens To Enthusiastic Crowds At AMS

HAMPTON, GA – The 14^th  “Thursday Thunder” summer racing season kicked off Thursday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway with great short-track racing and lots of excitement for kids.

A unique aspect of the family-friendly Thursday Thunder events is before the evening’s feature races, all the drivers park their race cars on the front stretch and fans come down from the grandstands to see them close up.

Kids of all ages line up to get autographs and talk to the drivers, both veterans and the rookies, who are just kids themselves. It gives fans a great opportunity to get close to drivers who may become NASCAR stars in the future. NASCAR drivers David Ragan, Joey Logano and Reed Sorenson all got their start at AMS’s Thursday Thunder.

Once the sun set, fans were also treated to a demonstration pass of the Jersey Thunder Jet Car.

On the track, fans saw eight classes of feature racing with drivers from as far away as Arizona. There were several first time winners and another making Thursday Thunder history with his 31st career win.

The Thursday Thunder summer short-track racing series continues June 9th. Tickets for the affordable, family-friendly racing series costs $6 for adults, $2 for children ages six through 11 and is free for children ages five and younger.

Race Results:

Masters:

1. Skip Nichols (Albany), 2. Terry Mathis (Cumming), 3. Tina Johnson (Senoia), 4. Ed Clark (Peachtree City), 5. Brad Shelnutt (Locust Grove), 6. Chris Holcomb (Alpharetta), 7. Mark Swan (Athens), 8. Bill Plemons, Jr. (Forsyth), 9. Mike Kennedy (Alpharetta).

Papa John’s Bandits:

1. Joshua Hicks (Senoia),  2. Ashton Winger (Fayetteville), 3. Zach Leonhardi (Smyrna), 4. Devon Barnes (Roswell), 5. Chandler Smith (Talking Rock), 6. Reid Morris (Carrollton), 7. Chase Evans (Auburn), 8. Abigail Marin (Peachtree City), 9. Connor Younginer (Stockbridge), 10. Chambers McGilberry (Selma, Ala.). 11. Austin Geer (Johns Creek).

Semi-Pro:

1. William Plemons III (Locust Grove), 2. Luke Behnke (Fayetteville), 3. Jake Armstrong (Senoia), 4. Jordan Coker (Powder Springs), 5. Casey Willingham (Ballground), 6. Michael Buckner (Conyers), 7. Mark Younginer (Stockbridge), 8. Hub Talbot (Smyrna), 9. C.J. Pucko (Covington).

Buzz Cars:

1. Michael Karp (Woodstock), 2. Dave Sherman, 3. Buddy Brewer (Griffin), 4. Scott Kasparek (Sharpsburg), 5. Josh Ballard (Hampton), 6. Alan Nolan (Hartwell), 7. Taylor Hull (Newnan).

Young Lions:

1. Josh Morris (Fredericksburg), 2. Benjamin Rhodes (Louisville, Ky.), 3. CJ Husley (El Paso, Texas), 4. Anderson Bowen (Suwanee), 5. Grant Crane (Zebulon), 6. Joey Padgett (Tallahassee, Fla.), 7. Camron Ray (Hernando, Fla.), 8. Mason Massey (Douglasville), 9. Austin Garvey (McDonough), 10. Will Fagan (Cumming), 11. Alex Coffey (McDonough), 12. Jami Weimer (Cumming), 13. Tye Mihocko (Peoria, Ariz.), 14. Justin Thomas (Woodstock), 15. Trevin Aswarnauth (Loganville), 16. Austin Cindric (Mooresville, N.C.), 17. Evan Bell (Buford).

Roadsters:

1. Skip Nichols (Albany), 2. Taylor Hull (Winston), 3. Ed Clark (Peachtree City), 4. James Meredith (Locust Grove).

Outlaws:

1. Parker Barnes (Roswell), 2. Madeline Crane (Meansville), 3. John Curtiss (Columbus), 4. Amber Fleeman (Dacula), 5. Christian Thom (Peachtree City), 6. Jenson Jorgensen (Stockbridge), 7. Alton Clark (Newnan), 8. Tyler Mosley (McDonough), 9. Taylor Jorgensen (Stockbridge), 10. Christopher Clanton (Brooks), 11. Riley Thornton (Peachtree City).

Pro: 

1. Darrell Wallace (Concord, N.C.), 2. Evan Swilling (Cohutta), 3. Sean Rayhall (Winston), 4. Taylor Hull (Winston), 5. Brady Boswell (Watkinsville), 6. R.S. Senter (Oakwood), 7. Austin Hill (Winston), 8. Jeff Haynie (Zebulon).