In the town of Anderson, Indiana there are some of the most hardcore racers in the entire nation. Living in a town completely devastated by factory closings, job losses and empty properties, one thing that remains a staple for this town in the heart of America is their local short track.

Featured in an HBO series entitled, "Dirty Driving: Thundercars of Indiana," the heart and emotion of this small town comes through clear as day. Director and producer Jon Alpert spent an entire season with the hardcore racers of Anderson Speedway, documenting those that competed in the Thundercar Series. An unmodified stock car division consisting of twenty-seven events, the Thundercar Series brings out a wide variety of drivers.

Focusing on a number of different competitors, Alpert was able to capture the emotion that brings out the best in local short track racing. Personalities the likes of Sammy Hawkins, the winless driver who admittedly never gives up; the fastest grandmother on the track, Alice Riall, who began driving in 1977 and was in contention this year to win the series title until the final race; a young flamboyant hot shoe named Billy Riddle, who has the attitude of Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch times ten and the willingness to use it; and then there is Wild Willie Coffman, a hard-nosed competitor that is forced to drive with only one arm after losing the use of his right arm in a motorcycle accident.

In what many call the "good old days" of Anderson Speedway, one in three competitors were employed at one of the General Motors factories in town. As of the season Alpert documented, that number was zero. Littered with "For Sale" signs on both homes and businesses, the city of Anderson has been hit hard by the failure of the American automobile industry. The town even lost a McDonalds.

Each weekend as the competitors and fans enter the Anderson Speedway, they are all reminded of their town's plight. Located directly across from what they like to call, "The World's Fastest High-Banked Quarter Mile Oval," is one of the closed GM plants.

As the speedway prepared for its biggest night of the year - the Night of Thrills - the town was still reeling from the loss of 1,300 jobs since the season began on New Year's Day. To make matters worse, GM announced their final plant in Anderson would be closing just as the final race of the year approached.

While many in the NASCAR world are certainly concerned about this economic downturn, these hardcore racers and their loyal hardcore race fans have shown that tough times can't kill the need for speed. Enjoying a lavish lifestyle very few of their fans will ever see, those in the NASCAR ranks should thank their blessings each day. There are hardworking, everyday Americans all throughout this country just like those Alpert has captured in his documentary that don't let tough times get them down. The loss of children, crippling injuries, no jobs and a feeling of uncertainty is gone once those cars hit those high banks. This is truly racing, this is what America is all about.