DECKER, WILK, HAMMOND AND GREEN CAPTURE

THUNDER MOUNTAIN VICTORIES!

After falling out of the Modified points lead after last Saturday night, Gibson, PA, driver Mike Decker figured out the best way to re-claim the points lead was to put himself into the winners circle, and thats just what he did.

Also in victory lane for the night were Ken Hammond in Street Stocks, Rick Wilk in Sportsman, Rich Green in Pure Stocks, Duane Knapp in Four Cylinder Modifieds, Rich Powell in Four Cylinder Stocks, Don Swansborough in Thunder Dogs, and Rich Gardner in the Thunder Pups.

Cortlands Rick Wilk grabbed the early race lead at the start of the 30 lap Modified feature event. Wilk took off from his fourth starting spot, with third place starter Jeff Sheely, of Schenectady, following through to second. Mike Decker made short work of powering up through the pack, as he quickly moved from his tenth starting position up to third by lap number four.

A few laps later, Decker took over the runner up spot and starting reeling in the Wilk machine, as Binghamtons Mike Colsten edged out Sheely for third. Deposits Chad Cook took over the third spot as the cautions fell at the half-way point. Colstens good ride ended with suspensions trouble and he darted into the pits before the pack re-started.

As the field returned to green flag racing, it was Decker coming off the start with the advantage over Wilk. The top three cars then battled vigorously, with Wilk and Cook trading possession of second on and off.

With just three laps left to go, Cook checked up on the high side, allowing Sheely and Brent Wilcox, of Whitney Point, to get by. At the checkers it was Decker with the win, his third of the season. Wilk finished second, followed by Sheely, Wilcox and Cook.

Although Wilk had a good run in his Modified, he fared even better with his Sportsman ride. Wilk started on the outside pole for the 20 lap Main event, and quickly took the lead from Marathons Tim Votra by the second lap.

Wilk would go on to lead the rest of the way, holding off some late race charges from Kirkwood Ken Titus and Bloomsburg, PAs Brent Boyer to pick up his first Sportsman feature win of the season. Boyer, the current point leader in the class, came in for a close second, with Titus, Votra and Ryan Olsommer, of Lake Ariel, PA, completing the top five.

Berkshire native Bill Rampe took the low side to grab the lead at the start of the 20 lap Street Stock feature. Rampe moved from his third starting spot up to the lead, and fifth place starter Larry Hillis, of Vestal, came right on through with him for second.

Hillis took over the top spot by lap seven, as Norwichs Harold Humphrey and Speedsvilles Ken Hammond made their way into the top three. Virgils Chris Stull got by Hammond for third on lap twelve, but contact between Shim and Humphrey two laps later would find both drivers restarting from the rear of the field.

The last five laps set up a great shootout between Hillis, current point leader Hammond and Aftons Wade Decker. Hillis seemed to have things in hand, but a last lap move proved to be the deciding factor, and Hammond went on for the win, his fifth of the year. Hillis finished second, with Decker, Don Russell and Jim Howard completing the top five.

In Pure Stock action, Doug Stack, of Athens, PA, took the lead at the start of their 20 lap feature, but it was short lived as ninth place starter Rich Green, of Endicott, took over the top spot by lap three.

Green went on to lead the field, as the next several laps were slowed by several cautions. When they finally got sorted out and could get some green flag racing in, Cortlands John Morse, who had started twelfth, found himself in second, and he started to put some pressure on Green. ninth place starter Rich Green, of Endicott, took over the top spot by lap three.

Green went on to lead the field, as the next several laps were slowed by several cautions. When they finally got sorted out and could get some green flag racing in, Cortlands John Morse, who had started twelfth, found himself in second, and he started to put some pressure on Green.

At the half-way point, Lansings Dick Stark moved up into third, with Stack settling in to fourth. Morse looked down low a few times, but was unable to mount a challenge as Green cruised on for his third regular win of the season, and fourth this year at the track. Morse came home second, followed by Stark, Stack and Max Moshier, Jr.

In the 15 lap Four Cylinder Modified feature, Sherburnes Duane Knapp continued his dominance of the class as he picked up his tenth victory of the year. Knapp started ninth in the field, and buzzed his way up through at a torrid pace, taking the lead from Spencers Curt Pierce by the fourth lap.

John Powers, of South New Berlin, finished second, followed by Tom Fletcher, Curt Pierce and Josh Taylor.

Rich Powell, of Rome,PA, picked up his second Four Cylinder Stock feature win in three weeks, as he held off the 23 car field to capture the top spot in their 15 lap main event.

Powell started by in eleventh, but but quickly made his way up into second behind points leader Bob Doolittle by the fifth lap. Doolittle, of Newfield, looked as if he was going to check out from the pack and open up a lead, but Powell though different and moved up to challenge for the top spot.

With five to go, Powell was able to take the number one spot away and go on for his second Thunder Mountain feature win of the year. Doolittle finished in second, with Chuck Wheeland, Jr., Fred Matthews and Jason Tuttle completing the top five.

In the 10 lap Thunder Dog feature, Candors Don Swansborough made his first ever trip to Thunder Mountains victory lane. Swansborough started on the pole, but fell back to third behind Berkshires Ben Poirier and Owegos Michael Morse at the start.

With just two laps to go, Morse wound up collecting a yuke tire, bringing out a caution. David Ackley would have inherited the lead, but he had a tire go down after making some contact with another racer.

Swansborough was next in line for the top spot, which he too and finished out for the win, the first of his career. Tim Grover finished second, with Paul ALrow, Art Palmer and Brady Foster completing the top five.

In the ever growing Thunder Pup division, 19 cars made the call for their 10 lap feature event. Last weeks winner Gene Wheeland, of Newark Valleytook the early race lead, but handed it over to Chenango Forks Rich Gardner by lap three.

Gardner then diced back and forth for first with Greenes Lance Willes for the elad, but at the finish it was Gardner in for the win. Willes finished second, with Tammy Welch third, Bobby Edwards fourth and Dusty Corwin fifth.

This Saturday is Garys U-Pull it night at the fast 1/3 mile clay oval, with a full 8 class program on hand. The most racing for your money! Gates open at 4pm, with racing set to start at 6:30pm