Thunder Road Raceway Park in Gilliam Reopens This Week

A Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting ceremony is set for Wednesday, June 4, beginning at 11 a.m. at Thunder Road Raceway in Gilliam.

During the event, park owner Nelson Hoyos will talk about his future plans for the racetrack. After the ceremony, attendees get a chance to ride in the Driven2Win two-seat dragster for the "Ultimate Drag-Racing Experience," where they'll go from 0 to 100 miles per hour in under three seconds.

The Shreveport and Bossier Chambers of Commerce, Sports and Tourism Commission, Caddo fire officials and sports-media personalities will all be onhand for the event.

The celebration continues into the weekend. Saturday, June 7, the Raceway will hold the first-ever Top Gun Shootout "All Out" Competition, a winner-takes-all racing competition.

Here's how it works -- cars are timed, then paired with a car that has a similar time in a single-elimination race. Thirty-two cars start the competition, but only one comes away with $5,000 in prizes and a chance to be on TV -- featured on ESPN2.

Camera crews will be at the Raceway to film with National Hot Rod Association's Lewis Bloom, who will be narrating the Sportsman's Highlight.

Other activities set for Saturday include Heads-Up Racing, an SCCA Auto Cross exhibition, King's Car Show, a free kids' playground area, food, face painting, cartoon mascot characters and a DJ playing live music.

Race entry is $75, spectators get in for $15 and there's no admission for kids under 10.

Raceway owner Nelson Hoyos talked with us on the KEEL Morning Show. Hear what he had to say: