As always, had to snap a quick photo before hitting the road! 6/8/25.
Schedule –
Day 0 – Sunday June 8th, 2025 –
Today we left Warren, MI and headed to Indianapolis, IN to check in at Lucas Oil Raceway. Technically, Power Tour starts tomorrow on June 9th. But we wanted to be here early for check in. We traveled a little over 300 miles to get here. Both cars did great. This year my dad took a new car, a 1995 Mustang GT, and I took the same as last year, my 1998 F150. We made it no issues, and were able to check in. Looking forward to a great week.
Day 1 – Monday June 9th 2025 – Lucas Oil Indianapolis Park: Indianapolis, IN
Woke up at the hotel early this morning. It was raining. Had a quick breakfest. Decided to head to Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Saw really cool things. Lots of Indy cars, and mid-2000s Nascar Stock Cars, was super cool to get up close to Dale Earnhardt’s race car. Left the museum and then headed to the HRPT venue at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Park. Walked around for bit, and then got my dad’s Mustang prepped for the drag strip. He ended up making a pass and ran 12.4 @ 115mph. This was his first pass ever in his new-to-him Mustang. We ended up walking around some more, got some dinner, and headed back to the hotel. Ended up hanging out the hotel parking lot, lots of cars in the lot.
Day 2 – Tuesday June 10th 2025 – Route 66 Raceway: Joliet, IL
Today we traveled around 190 miles from Indianapolis, IN to Joliet, IL. We traveled many other long haulers, and guests on the Power Tour. We successfully made it to Joliet, IL. Highlights of the day include my dad and I each making a pass down the drag strip. My truck ran a 17.1 @ 80mph and my dad’s Mustang ran a 12.3 @ 116mph. Lots of fun getting to see cool cars, and making passes down the strip. We were able to punch our long hauler credentials – Something we will need to do at each stop, to prove we made it. We ended up heading back to our Red Roof Hotel, and get dinner at a local steakhouse. Time to get some rest and head out to Fort Wayne, IN. Pics for the day below.
Day 3 – Wednesday June 11th 2025 – Allen County War Memorial Coliseum: Fort Wayne, IN
Woke up this morning, about 6am CST. Got ready, and headed over for some delicious breakfest at Louie’s Breakfest House in Joliet, IL. It was an amazing family owned place. Finished up there and hit the road. We were a little messed up with the time change, as we were an hour behind time back in Michigan and the other stops. We were traveling from Joilet, IL to Fort Wayne, IN. Taking the official HRPT route meant we had about a 180 mile drive. Unfortunately, due to construction and traffic, this turned into over a 6 hour drive. But we made it into Fort Wayne. We stayed at another Red Roof Inn. We unpacked and then headed over to Old Gas House Resturant in Downtown Fort Wayne. This is a decommissioned Gas Company turned restutant. Very good food. Once back at the hotel, we met up with a couple other guys on the trip, and talked about cars in the parking lot for awhile. Heading back to bed, and gotta be up early in the morning. Hoping to meet my Uncle Steve, in Monroe, MI tomorrow. Also – I discovered that Hot Rod Magazine posted a picture of my truck from yesterday.
Day 4 – Thursday June 12th 2025 – Monroe County Fairgrounds: Monroe, MI
Got up this morning and started heading for Michigan. Ended up being a 7 hour drive. Including an almost hour long traffic jam due to some construction near the Monroe County Fairgrounds. Ended up meeting up with Uncle Steve and his friend Chuck! Walked around a looked a cars for a little while. Then we decided to go to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner. We made it back to our Hotel in Monroe. Our hotel was at the center of the “burnout spot”. Stayed up for quite a while and watched burnouts. Headed to bed, listening to the sweet sounds of burnouts in the street. Today is our last evening in a hotel.
Day 5 – Friday June 13th 2025 – Summit Motorsports Park: Norwalk, OH
Today is the last day of the Power Tour. My plan is travel from our Hotel in Monroe, MI to Norwalk, OH, finish the Power Tour, then head home back to Michigan for the night.
We took off and started heading down the road. Made it to Oregon, OH and was buzzing along some country roads, when my truck lost all engine power. Radio’ed to my dad up ahead, and had him turn around as I pulled over to the should of the road. I was pretty sure the fuel pump on my truck just died. About a mile up the road was a Dollar General. Ended up towing my truck with the Mustang, along the shoulder of the road to the Dollar General parking lot. Lucky for us, a local O’Rileys had the pump in stock. Had my dad pick the pump up in the Mustang. We then dropped the fuel tank (which was full) and switched out the pump. Once the pump was changed, the truck started right up. This whole ordeal took about 4 hours. Lucky for us, just enough time to get down the road and make it to Summit Motorsports Park, and finish the trip. We were determined to compete the trip and get our Long Haul plaques.
We made it! We punched the last stop on our cards and got our long hauler plaques! The trip was alot of fun, and we are ready to start the trip home. Looking forward to next year.
