09/15/2025
FALL 2025 EVENT - WHAT A DAY!!
Since its inception in 2009, Thunder on the Strip has captivated the hearts of thousands by shutting down the Gladwin Zettel-Memorial Airport on a thrilling Saturday in May and September, hosting an unparalleled street-legal drag race. Vehicles from daily drivers to full-blown drag cars & trucks attend the event and race 660’ to the finish line in heads-up racing.
The weather gods were smiling down on us yet again as the 2025 Fall Thunder on the Strip event kicked off the morning of September 13, 2025. While it was a little cool and hazy in the morning, the sun came out and we had a great day of racing and camaraderie. The racers started pulling in around 7:30 am as things were setting up, as everyone was excited to start the day of fast-paced action, going head-to-head down the taxiway at the Gladwin Zettel-Memorial Airport.
We made some updates this fall, adding 60-foot beams to the timing system to give racers an extra data point to compare. We now own our PA system and new generators for the stage and timing system. A wireless timing system records all the action and provides printed receipts or time slips to racers. So, whether they're racing against a friend or just trying to beat their personal best, everything is recorded.
STATS:
Spectators: 800+
Racers: 112
Races: 402
Quickest Pass: 5.877 Seconds @ 121.39MPH - Vehicle #51
Fastest Pass: 121.39MPH @ 5.877 Seconds - Vehicle #51
Best Reaction Time: 0.0002 Seconds - Vehicle # 88
Best 60’ Time: 1.073 Seconds – Vehicle #50
So why do we do this? One answer: YOU!! The racers & the spectators. While Thunder on the Strip operates under the umbrella of the Gladwin Business & Professionals Association and has become a flagship event for the GBPA, the real reason we do these events is because of the incredible support and enthusiasm of the local community. We do this to help promote the local community and to see everyone having a great time, enjoying local drag racing.
A huge THANK YOU to all of our Sponsors, including our lane Sponsors, MYERS FOR TIRES and TRIPLE M COLLISION, both of Gladwin. Additional sponsors include Richardson Chevrolet – Gladwin, Superior Crete Redi-Mix – Harrison, T&J Automotive – Beaverton, Prime Diesel & Automotive – Petoskey, Midstate Rental & Storage – Gladwin, Members First Credit Union – Gladwin, Duggan Propane – Clare, Riverwalk Place – Gladwin, Mike & Karen Moore, The Gladwin County Fair, Mid Michigan Body Parts – Harrison, Mavrick Ford - Gladwin, The Original Shine Professional Detailing Services – Gladwin, The Gladwin County Record & Clarion – Gladwin, Brad Malley Well Drilling - Mt. Pleasant, Clark Modular Homes - Mt. Pleasant, Malley Construction – Mt. Pleasant & Gladwin County Commissioner – Karen Moore. We are immensely grateful for their support and encourage others to patronize them and join them in sponsoring our future events.
Additionally, we would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped make this event happen. Setup crew: Mike Moore, Jason Schuster, Jeff & Austin Volmering, and the Myers for Tires Crew, Jodran Welke, Mike Stein, and “Smitty.” Our “Gatekeepers” are Lori Stout, LaVel Smith, Selena Volmering & Wanda McClain. Registration: Nannette Schuster, Brooke Lytle, Amanda Hilderbrand, & Jaime Kolka. Tech Inspectors Travis Thorne & Shaun Wiseman. Starters: Mike Hilderbrand & Tim Kolka. Track Setup: Jason Schuster, Rayferd Ralph, Ryan Sherman, Ron Sherman. T-Shirt sales: Georgann (George) Schuster, Thom & Vicky Goodall, and Karen Moore. Staging Lanes: “Smitty.” The Gladwin Pilots Association, and of course, Mike Hargrave & The Gladwin Zettel-Memorial Airport.
Thank you for another great turnout! We couldn't have done it without the generous support of our sponsors and the hard work of our volunteers. Your contributions are truly appreciated.
Gladwin Business Professional Association
Co-Hosts: Jason & Nannette Schuster and Mike & Karen Moore.
