Wheels of Thunder IV Returns to Cedar Point

SANDUSKY, Ohio, Aug. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Trucks, cars, interactive displays and special appearances by drivers await race fans as Wheels of Thunder returns to Cedar Point for the fourth consecutive year from Tuesday through Thursday, Aug. 16-18 at the Sandusky, Ohio, amusement park/resort.

Different drivers will be visiting the park every day with public appearances planned for each day of the three-day event.  Guests may also be able to win a special ride with their favorite driver.  There will also be vehicles and exhibits on display all three days near the Dodgem bumper cars on the park's main midway.

The event opens with ThorSport Racing Day on Tuesday, Aug. 16 when drivers from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be at the park.  Visiting the park that day will be Johnny Sauter, who is in second place in Driver Championship Points, two-time winner Matt Crafton and another recent winner, Dakoda Armstrong, who won the Winchester 200 in Winchester, Va., earlier this summer.

In addition to the driver appearances, there will also be three ThorSport trucks and the Michigan International Speedway's (MIS) interactive racing-themed trailer that features simulators, race video, helmets and driver suits.

On Wednesday, Aug. 17, NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya will be at the park to meet fans and sign autographs.  Afterward, 34 lucky contest-winners will be able to take a ride on the Millennium Force roller coaster with him.  Currently, he ranks 17th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings and finished sixth in the Daytona 500.  Besides the MIS trailer, a Jeff Gordon Pepsi Show Car, a Pepsi transport truck, racing simulator and interactive tire changer will be on display.

That morning the park will also host a scavenger hunt with winners earning a seat for a 30-minute ride on the Goodyear Blimp later that afternoon.  The Goodyear Blimp will cruise nearly 1,000 feet above the ground and will offer picturesque views of Cedar Point and Sandusky Bay.  Just "Like" Cedar Point and the Goodyear Blimp on Facebook to watch for clues in the days before the event.

Other prizes include front-of-the-line access to the ride of your choice, an opportunity to meet Montoya and other great prizes from Goodyear.

Wheels of Thunder will conclude on Thursday, Aug. 18 when Matt Kenseth will make two special appearances at the park to meet fans and sign autographs.  Afterward, 20 contest-winners will be able to ride the Dodgems with him.  Kenseth has already notched two wins this summer and is in sixth place in the points standings.  The Jeff Gordon Pepsi Show Car, Pepsi transport truck, racing simulator and interactive tire changer will also be on display.

For more information about Wheels of Thunder, please visit cedarpoint.com or call the park's general information line at 419-627-2350.

SOURCE Cedar Point