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Thunderbird Raceway, which was built in 1958, was purchased by Hartford, Michigan's Arroway Farms In January 2009. A new management team, led by Ross Ferguson, his son Jeremy and promoter Jon Houston, was established with a goal of bringing the track to prominence of Michigan dirt track racing.

Ross Ferguson and his team have come up with a few ways to get the 2009 season on the track they feel will help build on the 400-500 people in the stands every week. In fact, according to Ferguson, the goal is to get at least 1000 people in the stands.

Ferguson discussed the importance of being both driver and fan friendly, in order to bring more people into the stands. For the drivers, Ferguson said he wanted to make sure drivers had the best dirt track possible for drivers to drive on. However, the raceway is going to take a step further in order to ensure that drivers get the most out of every race.

We will have a tire change for feature,” Ferguson said. “There will be a designated area where a driver can get a tire change if it goes flat, and the race will be stopped until tire is able to get back on the road, so nobody will not have to go home early. It won’t inconvenience fans either, because they will be efficient about that.”

Ferguson wants fans to know that a very efficient show will be held, every week in other aspects, as well. There will be lots of action on the track, Ferguson said. Fans will be informed of any delays with announcers and flagmen. However, a good race is what will really keep fans happy, Ferguson said.

“I am a race fan before anything else racing side,” he said. A good race side by side every week is the goal for this season.”

In 2008, both of Ferguson’s sons were involved in racing at the Thunderbird Raceway. Jason, 21, finished fourth in the modified point total, and his oldest son, Jeremy, 24, finished second. This season, Jason will continue to race, while Jeremy will do more promoting alongside his father. Ferguson’s youngest son, Jacob, 10, comes to the race track every week and helps out where he can, just like his older brothers did when they were his age.

When Ferguson isn’t around the track, he is spending time with his family. “I am a big family man,” Ferguson said. “My life away from the track might not interest a lot of people, but I like to spend time playing sports with my sons and just spending time with them.”

It is family that Ferguson believes will bring Thunderbird Raceway to prominence. This year, a party tent will be set up at the raceway. On Saturdays before the race, fans and drivers will be able to come together and have a meal before the races so they can interact. This way, both drivers and fans can come early interact and get to know one another. Ferguson believes this is important because fans get to know a driver then they will want to come back every week and watch that driver. “I believe this is going to be the key to a successful season,” he said.

The Grand Opening for the Thunderbird Raceway is April 18 and promises to be very exciting, stated Ferguson. However, the big event this season will be the Modified Mania events, starting May 24. These will involve more UMP Modifieds on the track than any other track in Michigan history, Ferguson said.

Thunderbird Raceway wants to be known as the UMP modified race track in Michigan, and it will begin that quest this season.