Blanket Speedway expanding its racing
KITTANNING — When Phil Thorrnton first moved to Western Pennsylvania, he admitted he had never heard of Blanket Hill Speedway.
“I raced off and on for 20 years or so, since I was a kid,” said Thornton, who grew up near Scranton and moved away to work in oil fields before moving to Western Pa. nearly 20 years ago. “I did the RUSH (Sprint) Series and traveled a lot.”
Now Thornton and his wife, Shannon — who live in the Punxsutawney area — own, operate and promote the track, located off Route 422 between Kittanning and Elderton.They bought the one-fifth mile track and the facility in 2019 after it was dormant for nearly nine years.
“It was nothing but a grassy field when we got it,” Phil said.
“We pretty much had to tear down and rebuild everything,” Shannon said. “We put a lot of money into it, then COVID hit. Our first race show was in 2020.”
Blanket Hill runs eight smaller divisions of racing each Saturday night, including Micro-Sprints, Wingless Sprints, Junior Sprints, Mod Bikes and vintage cars.
The track’s first night of racing is slated for May 4. Phil estimates the pits get 60 to 70 cars on a regular race night.
This season, beginning May 5, Blanket Hill will host big-car racing for the first time in 50 years. The track plans to run RUSH Sprint cars, some RUSH Sportsman Modifieds and Pure Stocks on its red clay racing surface one Sunday during each month of the season.
“Racing is so different now,” Phil said. “Kids are climbing into big cars to race at age 14. They’re starting out in racing at age 5. Now they’ll be able to begin racing here and eventually transition into big cars here.”
RUSH director Vicki Emig echoed those sentiments.
“Tracks like Blanket Hill have been an excellent pipeline for young racers to transition into RUSH and we feel what the Thorntons are doing will really further the opportunity,” Emig said in a released statement. “This situation is unique as Blanket Hill racers will have an opportunity to witness their next possible step in their racing careers at the very same speedway they are currently racing at.”
Blanket Hill formerly was a dirt and asphalt speedway that raced big cars during the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Legendary drivers — including Bob Wearing, Lou Blaney, Ralph Quarterson, Gus Linder, Henry Jacoby and Dick Swartzlander — raced there on a regular basis.
“We’re excited about being able to offer big var racing after all these years,” Shannon said. “It’s another form of racing for our fans to enjoy.”
Phil said he was encouraged to buy the track years ago by Sarver resident Carl Bowser, a long time Sprint driver at Western Pennsylvania tracks and former points champion at Lernerville Speedway.
“Carl is a good friend of ours,” Phil said. “He put it in our ear to look into buying that track. I love racing and saw it as an opportunity.
“We’re hoping to continue to grow and build the facility.”
