Thunderhill Raceway Expands Its Operations With NasKart Racing Experience.

KYLE, January 11, 2011: The season opener for stock car racing at Thunderhill Raceway (Kyle, TX) is only a couple of months away (March 5), and the future of this racing venue looks promising.

Mary Ann Naumann, Thunderhill Raceway’s Owner and Promoter, has been looking at ways to expand the operations at this 3/8-mile asphalt oval track.

“We had already made a couple of big announcements over the past few months about the future of the track, and now we get to add some more excitement to the pile,” stated Naumann.

“At a drivers’ meeting in October, we had announced that Thunderhill Raceway had been selected for a non-scripted TV series by two producers from Los Angeles,” commented Naumann. “Not long afterwards, we announced our agreement to become a NASCAR-sanctioned track with the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and our partnership with Houston Motorsports Park in naming the NASCAR Modifieds as the feature division at both tracks.”

The latest plans for Thunderhill Raceway include the introduction of a new business venture – On Track Experience LLC dba NasKart Racing Experience. NasKart rentals will be offered to the general public at Thunderhill Raceway when the track is not in use for stock car racing or other events. Known as “Arrive and Drive,” racing enthusiasts can rent powerful Honda GX 270 powered NasKarts and get the thrill and excitement of real side-by-side racing on Thunderhill’s 3/8-mile paved oval.

On Track Experience will supply the drivers with all of the safety gear, including gloves, helmet, driving suit and neck brace. Each driver must be at least 16 years old and must have a valid Driver’s License.

In addition to offering individual kart rentals, On Track Experience will also host corporate events to provide an opportunity for companies to entertain clients, reward vendors, build sales relationships and teach team-building skills. “Arrive and Drive” league racing will also be available weekly. Participation in League Racing will be limited to drivers who have completed the NasKarts High Performance Racing School and have qualified for their required Competition License.

Gary Smith, who is the Managing Partner for On Track Racing Experience, feels that this new business is a perfect fit for the racing environment at Thunderhill Raceway.

“The NasKart Racing Experience will be a less-intimidating, less-expensive way to race,” commented Smith. “You’ll have an opportunity to experience the thrill of close, side-by-side racing on a real NASCAR-sanctioned track without having to buy and maintain expensive racing equipment. It’s like racing at Talladega (track used for NASCAR Sprint Cup races) in your own backyard.”

Plans are also underway to use the facility for community events, such as cook-offs, concerts, monster truck shows, car shows, etc., on non-race weekends. “Thunderhill Raceway has been an underutilized facility, and now we feel we can help expand it into a full-time operation,” added Smith.

These new opportunities for the facilities at Thunderhill Raceway have provided a way to secure a five-year lease agreement for the track facility.

“I’m very excited about all of the opportunities that are on the horizon for 2011 and beyond,” said Naumann. “Most importantly, racers can build their race cars knowing that they will have a place to race for many years, and our race fans can also be assured that stock car racing will be here in the local area for quite a while.”

Thunderhill Raceway is a 3/8-mile, D-shaped asphalt oval track that’s located at 24801 IH-35, Kyle (TX), just north of San Marcos and south of Austin, at Exit #210 (Yarrington Road), just behind the Roger Beasley Hyundai dealer (formerly ThunderZone). Information on Thunderhill Raceway may be found on the track website at www.thunderhillraceway.com.