2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill News Wrap Up

Nitto Tire teamed up with Achilles Motorsports from Fresno, Calif., for the world's longest endurance race: the 2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill. The race requires teams to drive throughout the night for 25 hours straight. At the end of 25 hours the team with the most laps is declared the winner. The team campaigned a BMW M3 in the second fastest class overall and the fastest class requiring D.O.T.-compliant tires. The team ran on Nitto's NT01 road race tires. After an extremely close race, the team finished first in their class, with 477 laps completed and a 9-second lead over second place. In fact, the team's laps and times were comparable to faster classes, which have the competitive advantage of using race slicks. When compared to these classes, the team finished second overall, fewer than 15 seconds behind the winner of the fastest class. This is Nitto's second consecutive win at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill. Nitto is the only tire company to hold consecutive wins.

For the third year in a row Nitto Tire attended the 25 Hours of Thunderhill race, presented by the United States Air force at Thunderhill race way in Willows, California. On December 6th Nitto Tire made history by becoming the first Tire Manufacturer to win this prestigious race two years in a row. Nitto sponsored team Achilles Motorsport from Fresno, California. Equipped with a BMW M3, Nitto's D.O.T approved road race radial NT01 tires and ROTORA brakes Achilles Motorsport won their class and finished 2nd over all 14 seconds behind the overall winning team on the lead lap. The team also takes home the over two liter trophy. Achilles Motorsport competed in E0 class, which is the fastest class that requires D.O.T. tires.

TC Motorsports finished in the top ten at the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) 25 Hours of Thunderhill, Presented by the U.S. Air Force, on December 6-7 at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, CA.
 
With support from Ford Racing, TC Motorsports started the Friday test day with a well sorted car, well prepared team, and lap times competitive with the rest of the ES class and overall entries.  TC Motorsports was the team to beat and was poised to have a great finishing result for the overnight race event.  Unfortunately, the race did not go entirely to plan.  During the pace lap prior to the start of the race, a problem occurred with Ford Racing development power plant on the #8 FR500S and the team was forced to make a pit stop for repairs on the first green flag lap.

They went into the race weekend hoping for a solid finish and came out of it with a tale to tell for the rest of their lives.
 
It should have been the end of the weekend for the Team MPME/Scion/GST Motorsports Scion tC. Late Thursday - at 4:30 pm, the sole entry from Marshall Pruett Motorsports Engineering had the wildest and most frightening ride of its short life. (Watch Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H48cXV35gw)
 
Read the full story right here!

Update: Our post-event page now has the winners circle photos!

To see the standings, please visit our MyLaps.com page.  Stay tuned for more updates to celebrate the conclusion of the 2008 NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill.

For full practice results and all timing data, view our results details page.

We also have our post-event page with additional information.

The United States Air Force 25, uh, 17 Hours, well, actually 28 Hours of Thunderhill 2008


As Americans, we like our stuff big.  We like our SUVs big, our hamburgers big and we like our automobile races big.  This is where the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) gives us what we like: The 25 Hours of Thunderhill presented by the United States Air Force.  This is the longest automotive endurance race in North America.  Yup, it's that big.

With 35 minutes remaining in last weekend's National Auto Sports Association (NASA) 25-hour endurance race at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, Calif., the No. 98 Ford Mustang representing Miller Motorsports Park was in the lead with a two-lap advantage over the field of 68 cars.

However, as is so often the case in endurance racing, you never count your chickens before you see one walking around with the checkered flag.

The seventh running of the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, a non-stop automobile race held at Thunderhill Park in Willows California each year, was cut down to just over seventeen hours as a result of dense fog that rolled over the raceway Saturday evening just after 6pm. The seventy car field of exotic road racing machines was halted on the front straightaway when it became impossible to safely continue to race on the three-mile, fifteen turn road course. Race officials, headed by National Auto Sport Association Director - Jerry Kunzman, held the cars at bay until 5 am Sunday morning when the announcement was made for the drivers to re-start their engines and resume the grueling race. Because of the delay, the race was extended three hours past the original finishing time of noon. It ended at 3pm Sunday.

The staff at Autoblog has eyes and ears on the ground here at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, with photo galleries and write-ups of their time here.  We will update this space as they update theirs:

• Sunday Morning Report
  
• Race On! 5am race resumes
  
• Saturday Fog Postponement - Evening Photo Gallery
  
• Saturday Mid-Day Update
• Saturday Starting/Pit Walks

We have our live timing feed up for the latest standings.

We hope everybody can come and watch the race first hand, but for those who can't we've setup a live timing page that automatically refreshes and shows the latest race statistics.

View the Live Timing page now!

Team MiataCage.com announced today that they will participate in the 2008 National Auto Sport Association (NASA) 25 Hours of Thunderhill, Presented by the U.S. Air Force, December 6-7 at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, CA.

With support from MiataCage.com, Wyatt Fire Protection, E&L Auto Parts, Clackamas Midas, MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development and Ed Pavone, Team MiataCage.com will campaign a Mazda Miata in the E2 class.  The E2 class is hotly contested, with more than 17 teams competing, and it is also the class where many of the best drivers from the very competitive Spec Miata class will run.  The E2 class requires a fine balance of driver ability, reliability, and teamwork. 

Team Castrol-Speed Trapp Racing brings back a previous winning BMW M3 to the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill to compete in the E0 class. No strangers to endurance sports car racing, Team Castrol-STR will utilize experience and a talented driver line-up to compete at the 2008 NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill presented by the U.S Air Force, December 5th - 7th, at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, CA.

We are proud to announce our entry in the NASA 25 hours of Thunderhill endurance race on Dec. 5-6th, 2008 at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, Ca. The 25 hrs. is the longest road race in America, and we will be racing against 70 of the best amateur & professional  teams in the country. We are a group of dedicated volunteer racers from Stockton, Ca., that enjoy the immense challenge that this event provides. This is our 5th year competing at this event, & our 2nd year with our potent FFR GTM-R prototype racer

Cytosport, the makers of America's leading Protein drink 'Muscle Milk', have announced that they will sponsor a new award at this year's 25 hours of Thunderhill race. The award, named 'Muscle to the Finish' is to be presented to the competitor that overcomes the biggest hardship during the grueling, 25 hour event. The winner will receive $1000.00 cash prize, and the first ever 'Muscle to the Finish' Cup trophy.

In a collaborative effort by a North Bay sports car team, three drivers rise to challenge America's longest and most difficult sports car race.  Tiger Racing/ Bavarian Tuning today announced that it will compete in the sixth running of the NASA 25 Hours at Thunderhill presented by the U.S. Air Force, December 5-6, 2008 in Willows, CA.

No stranger to endurance racing, the racing team of Tiger Racing /Bavarian Tuning, will compete in the sixth running of the 25 Hours of Thunderhill along with more than 45 other racing teams for the chance to Endure the 25.  The team is comprised of three skilled drivers:  Jacques Andres, owner of Bay Bridge Motors, an Oakland-based auto body repair facility; John Larson, team principal and 2004 BMW M3 car owner; Billy Maher, veteran endurance sports car racer; and owner of Bavarian Tuning, Inc., a Santa Rosa-based BMW repair facility.   The team also announced that Peter Vinsel will be Director of Race Operations.  

Steve Rea, of Rea Realty Group, is the owner and driver of the Corvette powered wide-body Porsche 944 nick-named the "Porvette". In 2008, Steve and his monsterous Porvette will again be making an assault on National Auto Sport Associations 25-hour Endurance race in the ES class along with the help of new sponsor Kumho Tires, and a very diverse line-up of drivers.

Racers Jeff Courtney, Andrew Wojteczko, Gary Sheehan, Dave Pratte and Dave McEntee race in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill in support of the 'Wounded Warriors Foundation.'

Five prominent GT, Touring Car, and sportscar drivers have banded together to keep busy in the off season, and have also pulled together to support a special cause.

Two Factory Five Challenge Series teams, competing in FFR Cobras, will take on the  ultimate endurance race, the 25 Hours of Thunderhill on December 6-7, 2008. Team Racing 4A Reason 1 & 2 return this year to back up a successful run in last year's 25, and both teams are honored to be following in the footsteps of legendary Cobra drivers who's noble attempts at the 25 Hours are now the stuff of racing legend.
 

Team Green Alternative Motorsports announced their entry into the 2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill today.  Team co-owner, Steve Zadig, said "We are pleased to be able to participate in the NASA Pro Racing 25hrs of Thunderhill, a true test of man and machine against a host of focused competitors looking to take home podium honors."  Steve will be teamed with co-owner drivers, Dennis Pavlina and Michael Kantor.  The team will also be joined by Nic Johnson from Great Briton, who co-drove with the team last year.

The Butte College Automotive Department, through their Motorsports Dynamics class, have entered the 7th running of the 25 Hours of Thunderhill taking place on December 6th and 7th  at the Willows, California three-mile road racing course.  The team, composed of students in the Automotive Training Program under direction of Tom Baird (Department Chair), will field the car for the nation's longest automobile race. 

Autoville Service, known for high quality auto repair and maintenance supports numerous Racing Teams throughout the US. Autoville has a racing division which builds and maintains many cars from Oval Track, Road Corse, and High Speed Competitions in the Salt Flats of Utah. Gardner Kensley, the owner of Autoville has challenged his development team and drivers to see if they can make it the distance.

The Butte College Automotive Department, through their Motorsports Dynamics class, have entered the 7th running of the 25 Hours of Thunderhill taking place on December 6th and 7th  at the Willows, California three-mile road racing course.  The team, composed of students in the Automotive Training Program under direction of Tom Baird (Department Chair), will field the car for the nation's longest automobile race.

Nitto Tire will attempt to repeat their E0 class-winning performance in the NASA 2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill. The 4-driver team of Brett Strom, Mickey Miller, Travis Weltzien and Ralph Warren will drive the BMW E46 325 on Nitto NT01 tires - the same car and tires as last year's winning team.

"The driver line up we have is like a who's who of NASA and BMW CCA Club Racing. They are all multiple-time race winners, have tremendous enduro experience and are all excellent in the rain and at night." said Scott Lang, Crew Chief for the Nitto 325.

Jalopnik.com has the Evil Genius Racing announcement and photos for their 2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill entry.  Read the full story at jalopnik.com.

Thunderhill has just confirmed that Google will be coming out to the track to add the facilities to Google Maps and Street View. They will be here for the NASA 25hour-test day on Thursday December 4th. Google and Thunderhill want 5 cars to be in the shots for the Street View. The car will need to run about 2 laps during the lunch break at about 40 M.P.H. Eligible cars will be limited to all racecars registered for the 25hour.

DivaSpeed, the all women team that is leading the NASA E2 class in the WERC announced today that they will contest for the championship in the E2 class in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill.

The NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill is the longest and most difficult endurance race in the United States. Advertised by NASA, the National Auto Sport Association, as 'the most severe endurance race on the planet' , the 25 Hours of Thunderhill delivers on that promise. With the race being run in the month of December, the weather can and has wreaked havoc on the racing conditions. The large fields, nonstop action and prestige of the event attract top teams and drivers from across the country to compete in this race. Separated into six different classes by potential, there is racing from the green flag to the checkered everywhere on the track.

he Nor Cal office announced today that there will be a special tie-in with the 6 Hours of Buttonwillow, to be held on June 7, 2008. The winners in each class will be guaranteed second place starting position in the starting grid for the 25 Hours of Thunderhill. This means that should the team fail to qualify for the pole, they will at least be assured of a second place start.

"I think this adds a nice tie-in to the 25 Hour and helps support the WERC series as a whole," commented Event Director, Jerry Kunzman.

For more information on the 6 Hours of Buttonwillow go here www.drivenasa.com/e/726

Longer and more challenging than Le Mans or Daytona; 25 Hours of Thunderhill is the new king of enduros. Do you have what it takes to survive? Then join our world-class field of racers in the most severe endurance race on the planet - December 5-7, 2008.

Entry Fee:

The entry fee is $1295. The team will submit a $45 non-refundable fee with the

Team Declaration Form. This $45 will be applied to the entry fee, and the

balance of $1250 is due November 1st, 2008. The entry fee includes the car and

up to four drivers. The submission of the Team Declaration Form, along with

payment, will determine the "order of entry."

Additional Drivers:

Each additional (over four) driver is $175. Drivers may be added or subtracted at

anytime up to the close of registration, which is 9am Saturday, December 6,

2008.

Crewmembers:

Each crewmember must obtain and wear one crew credential during the event,

when in the pit lane. If a crewmember is on more than one team, they only need

to purchase one crew credential. Crew credentials are $25.

Late Fee:

Entries after November 1st or entries not fully paid (at least $1295 total) will incur

a $200 late fee.

Refunds:

All fees are fully refundable, except the $45 team declaration fee and any crew

credentials, providing that the car did not go on course any time after 4:45 pm

December 5, 2008. Request for refund must be made via email or phone to the

NASA office by December 12th, 2008. No refunds after December 12th, 2008.

Step One: Send in the Team Declaration Form (Deadline November 1, 2008)

Step Two: Submit a Vehicle Information Form (Deadline November 10, 2008)

Step Three: Submit Driver Information Forms (Deadline November 17, 2008)

Step Four: Submit Crew Credential Form (Received by November 25,