The Heat Was On During Kuhnle Motorsports Semi-Stampede!

Pam Pollock and Steve Pollock
August 2024

Talk about hot, hot, hot! Yes, the temperatures were on the rise at Kuhnle Motorsports Park on June 21-23 – but the action on the track was scorching!

The first Semi-Stampede race of the 2024 season brought competitors from across the USA and Canada.  It’s Quebec style side-by-side uphill semi-truck drag racing on an 1/8 mile asphalt paved truck. The heats included Bobtail and Pulling Trailers with 93,000 pounds.

There were 4 classes at the June Semi-Stampede:

Fully Modified
Semi-Modified
Working Class Road Tractors (Stock)
Mechanical Engines (pre-electronic)
All races were paired according to class but classes are mixed during the heats.

The turnout for the weekend of racing was spectacular! Spectators  of all ages lined the hill sides on both sides of the track. Watching a race in person is incredible – your heart is racing and the adrenaline is pumping as you see the trucks line up and the black smoke starts to rise.  And then they’re off – racing up the hill in a mad dash to the finish line.  The crowd literally goes wild – cheering and raising their fists in support of their favorite trucks and drivers!

Weekend camping was available on the Kuhnle Motorsports Park grounds.  There were a variety of vendors set up at the race.

A sanctioned NAST Truck Show for Bobtails and Combos was also held over the weekend.

Kuhnle Motorsports Park is also host to several car events including the Gasser Nationals (Antique Cars); Grudge Racing (Wed. nights); IHRA Hot Rod Racing; Test And Tune; Independence Eve; and Stripper Glitter.  Details, Rules, and Registration for all events can be found at www.kuhnlemotorsports.com

The next Kuhnle Brothers Semi-Stampede will be held on August 2-4 at the Kuhnle Motorsports Park,  located at 8233 Sidley Road in Thompson, Ohio.  You can contact them at 440-564-7168 or by visiting www.kuhnlemotorsports.com

The  Winners of the June 21-23 Kuhnle Brothers Semi-Stampede:

Class A Bobtail – 1st-Stephen Carano; 2nd-Peter Wagg; 3rd-Lavern Zimmerman, 4th- Arnold Knaggs; 5th-Travis Van Kessel

Class A Loaded – 1st - Peter Wagg; 2nd- Chops Hernandez; 3rd -Stephen Carano; 4th -Lavern Zimmerman; 5th - Wade LaLone

Class B Bobtail – 1st - Joe Baehr; 2nd - Barclay Stewart; 3rd - Kenton Meadows; 4th - Justin Nevius; 5th - Justin Richardson

Class B Loaded – 1st - Barclay Stewart; 2nd -Joe Baehr; 3rd - Justin Nevius; 4th - Justin Richardson; 5th - Mark Sylvester

Class C Bobtail – 1st - William Estrada; 2nd -  Donald Richter; 3rd - Neal Dams; 4th - Reg LaLone; 5th - Ernie Woodhouse

Class C Loaded -  1st - Neal Dams; 2nd - Reg Lalone; 3rd - Tammy Zimmerman; 4th - Eric Johnston; 5th - Donald Richter

Class C Mechanical Bobtail – 1st - Josh Yoos; 2nd - Ted Ellis; 3rd - Melvin Classen;

Class C Mechanical Loaded – 1st -Ted Ellis; 2nd -  Steven Householder; 3rd - Greg Dean

Class FFA Bobtail – 1st Lavern Zimmerman; 2nd – Wade LaLone; 3rd – Marcus Ballentine

Class FFA Loaded – 1st Lavern Zimmerman; 2nd – Stephen Carano; 3rd – Chops Hernandez