Weekend of racing at Thunderhill
Drivers to test endurance for 25 hours in Willows
The seventh running of the nation's only 25-hour automobile endurance race takes place Saturday and Sunday at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows.
More than 70 teams from all over the nation and Japan will take the green flag at 11 a.m. Saturday and attempt to keep running until the checkered flag waves at noon Sunday.
Heading the list of famous entries is actor and racer Patrick Dempsey. Dempsey has raced in the 25-hour event in the past but has not posted a class win. He recently purchased the movie rights to the popular book, "Racing in the Rain."
The book features a plot that includes Thunderhill Raceway. Track operators hope to convince Dempsey to film the movie at the local track while he is here.
Other top-name drivers in the field include road-racing champion Dominic Dobson; SCCA champion Randy Pobst; former Indy racer Lynn St. James; Porsche specialist Johannes Van Overbeek; controversial Formula One rookie Nelson Piquet; C.J. Wilson, pitcher for the Texas Rangers; and local driver and raceway promoter David Vodden.
"Racing around the clock with a team of drivers and unlimited pit stops is impossible to imagine unless you see and/or are a part of it all," said Jerry Kunzman, founder of National Auto Sport Association. "People come from great distances to see if they can finish. For most, just finishing is winning however there are seven classes that compete for the honor or actually being a 'winner' in this event."
On Friday, fans can watch practice for free.
Admission for the race is $10 for adults with children under 12 admitted free. Gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. Sunday. The over night portion of the event is included in the Saturday ticket price.
Thunderhill Park is located at 5250 Hwy. 162, seven miles west of Interstate Highway 5 and Willows. For more information call 934-5588 or visit www.thunderhill.com.
