20th annual Garst Memorial is Saturday at Thunder Hill

MAYETTA, Kan. – Thunder Hill Speedway is preparing for Saturday night, May 24, when the 20th annual Don Garst Memorial Race is held at the Clash on the Hill.

The Garst Memorial is Thunder Hill’s longest running special event, held in memory of the track’s first-ever flagman. The memorial race is one of the ways Don is remembered by the Garst family, and helps keep Don’s memory alive as one of the best short-track flagmen in the Midwest.

In previous years, the Garst family has given Modified drivers a chance at a much larger win. This year, the family has taken the event to a whole new level giving everyone a chance at prize monies and contingencies. They have added money to the purses in four of the five divisions being raced.

The BSB Manufacturing IMCA Modifieds will race for $1,020 to win, with the winner becoming a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. Pat Fagen of Fast Shafts has donated T-shirts, decals and banners for the event. Additional monies of $25 will be added to second through fifth place finishers in the feature as well. Jay Neal at BSB Manufacturing has donated certificates towards shock packages for the Modifieds, Stocks and Northern SportMod divisions.

The Bad Boyz Bail Bonds IMCA Hobby Stocks will race for $420 to win with an additional $25 added to second through fifth place finishers. Ryan at Big Time Bail Bonds and the 53T Hobby Stock of Tyler Garst, grandson of Don, joined together to add $400.to the purse in lap money. Lap leaders will receive $20 a lap for every lap led during the feature.

The Heinen Repair Service IMCA Stock Cars have an anonymous sponsor who will add $10 a lap led in that feature. This division will also receive an additional $25 for the first through fifth place finishers in the feature.

Rick Stallbaumer of Smith Brothers Transmissions has donated $400 in lap money to the Belleville Motor Sports IMCA Northern SportMod drivers. This class will also race for a chance at an additional $25 by finishing first through fourth in the feature. Brandon Blochlinger of Belleville Motorports has donated two new Hoosier tires. Distribution of tires will be determined at the event.

Chris Archer and Nic Baalman at Hoosier Tire Great Plains/Precise Racing have donated a new Hoosier tire and three $50 gift cards with distribution to be determined at the event. The Garst Family will also be giving away $100 in mystery money to a lucky driver, fan or worker at the facility.

There will be a 50/50 raffle during the event. The winner will receive 50 percent of the pot, while the other 50 percent will be given to the Kayla Marie Lowrey Foundation. Larry Jr. and Elisa Lowrey lost their daughter in a tragic accident last year and have since given a $2,000 college scholarship and sponsored a girls softball team in Kayla’s honor. Larry Jr. has been active in all levels of racing in and around the Topeka area, to include In The Pits, a media outlet for local grassroots racing. Visit www.inthepits.net for news, results, pictures, videos and live podcasts centered around local racing in the Midwest.

Gates open at 5 p.m., the drivers’ meeting is at 6:30 p.m. with hot laps and racing to follow. General admission for adults is $10, kids 12 and under and military with current ID are free. Coolers are allowed (canned beer only – no glass and no outside food or other beverages) for a $10 charge. Pit passes are $25, with kids 12 and under $10.
Thunder Hill Speedway is located at 11995 NW 142nd Road in Mayetta.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply