ARCADIA, Wis. -- Friday and Saturday, October 14th and 15th, the West-Central Wisconsin Countryside will once again come to life with the roar of racing engines and the enthusiastic cheers of racing fans as the final event of the 2005 racing season gets underway at FOX RIDGE SPEEDWAY.

After taking the month of September off for some well needed rest and recuperation, Arcadia race track owners Dave and Judy Hesch will once again open the gates to FOX RIDGE SPEEDWAY for the fifth annual running of the ‘THUNDER At The RIDGE’ presented by the ASHLEY FURNITURE HOME STORE.

The two-day special event will please racers and race fans alike with seven separate divisions attacking ‘THE BIG 3/8-MILE’ in hopes of picking up the winner’s share of the generous purse.

Fans will once again be treated to WISSOTA Late Model action at THE RIDGE as the teams and drivers of these super-fast ground-pounders hit the high banks to see who has the power, setup and nerve to attack the track in hopes of collecting the $3000 winner’s paycheck!

The WISSOTA “A” Modifieds as well as the USRA “A” Modified divisions (with several USMTS Modified drivers already stating their interest in attending) will each hit the track looking towards a $1500 paycheck for a feature win!

WISSOTA Super Stock drivers will be competing for a cool $1000 to win payout with the WISSOTA Street Stocks and WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds racing towards a $500 to win feature.

And, of course, the crowd pleasing FOX RIDGE 4-Cylinder Hornets will be on hand for their wide-open assault of ‘THE BIG 3/8-MILE’ – racing each other for a $300 pay-day for the feature win.

The Friday Schedule has Grandstands opening at 5 pm with Hot laps scheduled for 6 and the racing action getting underway at 7:00. Following Friday night’s action “Neon Fever” will entertain the crowd with music and fun into the later hours; Fans are invited to dance to the music and ‘mingle’ with their fellow fans and favorite drivers!

Saturday kicks off with a “Speedway Breakfast” open to the public from 9:30 am till Noon in the HEATED concession building. Just $5.50 will open the “Chef’s Menu” with pancakes, scrambled eggs, pork sausage, beverage – with Myers Bakery Sweet Rolls also available.

The speedway grounds will get back to racing action Saturday with the Pit area opening around 3 PM followed by the Grandstands opening at 4:30 – hot laps get underway at 5:30 with the second night of racing action taking the green flag at 6:30!

FOX RIDGE SPEEDWAY owners Dave and Judy Hesch are looking forward to the event and feel that the racing community, both competitors and fans alike, are as well, “The ‘Thunder At the Ridge’ has always been a favorite weekend of the season and a lot of fun.” Said Dave, a former Late Model driver himself, “We are preparing for a full grandstand and expect the pits to be overflowing with drivers from all throughout the tri-state area.”

“We’re looking forward”, added Judy, “to fans, drivers, pit crew members, sponsors, or anyone even remotely related or interested in local racing to join us for some fun, some good food and a chance to get to know some of the drivers and exchange some racing stories with each other as we all enjoy some high-speed fun and on-track action. ”

For more information on the upcoming ‘THUNDER At The RIDGE’ presented by the ASHLEY FURNITURE HOME STORE point your Internet web browser to the Official FOX RIDGE SPEEDWAY web site at www.foxridgespeedway.com - or, feel free to call the speedway direct at (608)323-3396!

The “Two-Day Extravaganza” is quickly approaching – when the engines fire up Friday night the 14th, we hope to see you at THE RIDGE!!