Story and photos by Phillip Prichard:
Motorsport America visited the Thunderdome Sports and Entertainment Complex in Jasper, AL on 8 September. The facility has a ¼ mile banked asphalt track, in turns 1 and 2, the track has 21 degree banking and in turns 3 and 4 12 degree banking. The track usually hosts five classes usually on Sunday afternoon starting at 2pm CST: Street Stock, Renegade, Buzz, Pony and Road Warriors. Their normal schedule is twin 15 lap races in all classes except Road Warriors which is single 10 lap feature.
Track owner, Kenny Hogan says his goal is action packed, safe racing in each class every race. Hogan says this is redneck racing at its best.
In the first 15 lap, Street Stock race, 16 year old Will Dudley, #21, was the winner. Junior Jordan, #D21, was second and Charlie Rhodes, #11, was third.
In the first 15 lap, Buzz race, 4 cylinder stock engines, Darrell Blankenship, #17, was the winner. Brandon Holley, #2, was second and Steven Frost, #22, was third.
In the first 15 lap, Renegade race, Henry Wade, #24, was the winner. Jay Smith was second and Josh Barnett, #42, was third. The Renegade races are normally run without the caution flag not being waved, lots of beating and banging racing on the track. However, in this race, the caution had to be displayed due to wreck on the front stretch, that blocked most of the track.
The Pony Class ran a single 50 lap race this past weekend, with Chase Spradlin, #75, being the victor. Adam Gunter, #44 was second and Neil Self, #33, was third.
In the second 15 lap, Street stock race, Henry Wade, #60, was the winner. Will Dudley, #21, was second and Junior Jordan, #D21, was third.
In the second 15 lap, Buzz race, Michael McKay, #3, was the winner. Steven Frost was second and Ryan Manaso was third.
In the second 15 lap, Renegade race, Jacob Barnett, #27 was the winner. David Cagle, #8, was second and Josh Barnett, #42 was third.
In the final event of the day, the 10 lap, Road Warrior race, the victor was Kevin Harrison, Jody Gordan, second and Jody west was third. The Road warrior class must have working lights and windshield wipers. Some racers have drove their entry in and then drove it home.
The Thunderdome was the old Jasper Super 8 Speedway. Kenny Hogan purchased it, repaved the track and continuously updates the track. The track first race this year was Mother’s Day. This year’s season will conclude on 27 October. The 2014 season begins on 2 March, the next Sunday after the Daytona 500.
The track address is 2802 Lakewood Drive, Jasper, Alabama, about an hour north west of Birmingham. Track phone number is 205-384-0008.
