Chaos at Thunder Valley Raceway

Brothers team up as modified class turns dirt oval into demolition derby; Driver comments

Thunder Valley Raceway is a 1/4-mile bullring dirt oval located in Salem, Indiana.

Watch the Thunder Valley Raceway video below.

On August 16, 2019 fans went to the Indiana dirt track to see a night of racing featuring MMSA, Mod Lites, Super Stocks, Modifieds, Outlaw 4 Cyl. & Hornets. They got a bonus with a demo derby session for the Modifieds that was absent from the initial lineup.

John Baker (Blue #14J), Jay Baker (#22J) and Lee Hobbs (#H0) sit first 2nd and third in track standings.

Previously, this was a group of friends. They once traveled to Florida together for a week of racing. Multiple run ins at the race track have evaporated the friendship between the family prior to this event.

Thunder Valley Raceway - Indiana Dirt Track
Thunder Valley Raceway – Indiana Dirt Track

Demo derby at Thunder Valley Speedway

The green dropped on the modified race, Jay Baker led early on the bottom lane. Lee Hobbs was running him down as he ran the top of the track.

Soon, Hobbs worked to the right rear of the race leader. The two drivers ran side by side and were putting on a hell of a show on the bullring dirt track.

As Hobbs pulled ahead, he pinched his entry into turn three. At the same time, Jay Baker moved up slightly from laps prior as he drove it deeper into the corner. They met in the middle with light door to door contact.

They both continued off turn four. They again made light contact in turn two.

A few laps later, Hobbs moved to the bottom in turn one. He came off turn two with a nose under Jay Baker. Baker got loose off turn two and exited the corner narrower than laps prior. Hobbs got into his left rear and Jay Baker went from leading to looping through the infield.

John Baker moved to 2nd, just behind Hobbs. As they went into turn three, Baker drove straight and lined up the left rear of Hobbs.

Both cars went around. Hobbs then backed it up to get a run. He lined up John Baker and hit him nose first.

At this point, Jay Baker had re-fired from the infield. He came into turn three with speed as Hobbs say sideways in the middle of the race track. Jay Baker lined him up and knocked Hobbs in the right side door.

The next event at the track is scheduled for August 30th. The original ticket for the Angie Wilson Queen of Taxes event included: Mod Lites, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks, Modifieds, Outlaw 4 Cyl. & Hornets.

Since this incident, the Modified class has been removed for the show on August 30th.

Driver comments

“This is how clean I race against everyone. I was blocked for laps and could have shoved my way through at anytime,” John Bakes said via social media.

“That was the most fun I’ve had in a car. But when a blue car is in front the other video shows the trend of what takes place. When time and time again officials are told that a driver is consistently knocking your bumper off and allowed to do so what can you do.”

The Baker group was upset with the initial start of the race. Hobbs took John Baker three wide at the flag stand. The contact in the race only escalated the situation.

“This is an every week deal. Not a 1 time. I dropped back on the restart to avoid a situation because he turned right and drove me to the flag stand on the 1st start,” John Baker continued.

“I wasn’t mad. It wasn’t planned. I wasn’t out of control. Just tired of getting dumped or ran over.”

“There’s nothing right about any of the actions in the situation. But it’s a lot reaper than what you see in one video,” John Baker concluded.

Jay Baker, John Baker vs Lee Hobbs
Thunder Valley Speedway
https://www.facebook.com/joel.marshall.792/videos/o.1557131457871219/10156557780266680/?type=2&theater
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