GABRIEL JR, BOYER, HILLIS AND GORDINIER CAPTURE THUNDER MOUNTAIN VICTORIES!!!
After wrecking his car badly in a mutli-car pile-up last week,
Binghamton’s Jim Gabriel, jr., had a much better week as he picked up the win in
the competitive Modified division. Also in victory lane Saturday were Brent
Boyer in Sportsman, Larry Hillis in Street Stocks, Louie Gordinier in Pure
Stocks, Duane Knapp in 4 Cylinder Modifieds, Bob Doolittle in 4 Cylinder Stocks,
Michael Morse in Thunder Dogs and Lance Willes in the Thunder Pup division.
Newfoundland, PA, native Josh Beierle took the lead at the start of the 30
lap Modified feature event, with Kingsley PA’s ‘Rocket’ Rick Holgate and fifth
place starter Jim Gabriel, Jr., hot on his heels.
After a pair of cautions on lap two tightened the pack back up, Gabriel
took command of the race as the field returned to green flag racing. Holgate
followed through into second, as Beierle got shuffled back into the pack.
Gabriel started to open up a large lead on the field, as West Edmeston’s
‘Powerful’ Paul Jensen started coming up towards the front. Jensen, who started
11th in the field, broke into the top five by lap number eight. Jensen took
over the runner up spot from Holgate as the pair crossed on lap 20, and the
chase was on.
Gabriel set a blistering pace as the Modifieds ran the last 28 laps
caution free, but Jensen was reeling him in. With just three laps to go, and
deep into lapped traffic, Jensen caught up to the back bumper of Gabriel, but he
ran out of time as Gabriel was able to hold on for his third win of the season.
Jensen came in for second, with Holgate, Mike Colsten and Sean Collins
completing the top five.
Brent Boyer has turned up the heat in the Sportsman division, as he
suddenly seems to be the one to beat. Boyer, of Bloomsburgh, PA, started tenth
in the 24 car Sportsman field for the their 20 lap Main event, but quickly made
his way into the top five by lap two.
Just three laps later, Boyer edged out Marathon’s Tim Votra for the second
spot and began to set his sights on race leader Shaun Walker, of Masonville.
Boyer put the pressure on walker, while Spencer’s Cliff Pierce ran third, with
Berkshire’s Billy Spoonhower fourth, but Walker was able to hold him off until
Boyer powered past him on the high side as they crossed for lap seventeen.
Boyer went on to capture his second regular Saturday night point victory
in a row, and third of the season, with Walker in for second, Pierce third,
Spoonhower fourth and Speedsville’s Kevin Jordan fifth.
In the 20 lap Street Stock Feature event, Cortland’s Jim Howard took off
from his outside pole starting spot to command the early lead, as Vestal’s Larry
Hillis moved into second by lap three.
Howard seemed to be opening up a sizeable lead as he entered lapped
traffic around lap eight, but a caution at the half-way mark would put Hillis
right on his bumper.
Howard held the lead at the re-start, but Hillis was able to take over the
number one spot just a lap later.
Norwich’s Harold Humphrey quickly followed suit and moved by Howard for
second. Hillis went on to pick up his third win of the year, with Humphrey,
Howard, Wade Decker and Rick Davis completing the top five.
The 20 lap Pure Stock feature event runed out to be one of the best races
of the evening, as four of the top point contenders battled it out in style all
the way to the checkers.
Doug Stack, of Athens, PA, grabbed the early lead from his fourth starting
position, while sixth place starter Louie Gordinier followed through into
second. Meanwhile, Rich Green, of Endicott, and Dick Stark, of Lansing, who
started 8th and 9th respectively moved up into the top four behind Gordinier as
they hit lap number five.
Gordinier moved past Stack to take the lead as the field hit the halfway
point, and this set the stage for a great second place battle between Stack,
Green and Stark that had the fans on their feet. Green moved into second and
put pressure on Gordinier, while Stark took over third from Stack.
With four laps left to go, Stark made a move under Green and took over
second, but Stark checked up while going for the lead just two laps later, and
Green took the spot back.
Gordinier went on for the win, with Green and Stark finishing 2nd and 3rd
right behind him. Stack came home fourth, with Chemung’s Jess Snell in fifth.
Gordinier, who is currently second in the points battle, has finished
consistently well all season, but this was his first trip to victory lane for
the year.
Sherburne’s Duane Knapp continued his dominance of the Four Cylinder
Modified divison as he put the caps on his sixth win of the season.
Knapp, whose worst finish so far this year is second, started in fifth,
and took the lead from South New Berlin’s John Powers with just two laps to go
in the 15 lap event. Powers finished second, with Josh Taylor, Cal Pierce and
Roger Dewitt completing the top five.
Newfield’s Bob Doolittle returned to victory lane in the Four Cylinder
Stock class, capturing back to back wins in the division.
Rome, PA’s Rich Powell gave chase, but could not catch the fast 22b
machine of Doolittle. Doolittle’s win is his fifth of the season. Powell
finished second, with Chuck Wheeland third, Harold Humphrey fourth and Jerry
Wilcox fifth.
Owego’s Michael Morse liked his first feature win in the Thunder Dog
division so much last week, he figured he might just as well do it again, and he
did just that, as he held off Candor’s Roger Walburn to capture his second
straight feature win. Ben Poirier, Dave Russell, and Joe Sack completed the top
five.
Until this past Saturday night, Berkshire driver Amber Patrick had won
every Thunder Pup feature she had started in, 7 of the 8 shows at Thunder
Mountain. That all changed as Lance Willes, of Greene, became the first driver
to best Patrick this season.
Willes took command on lap three of the ten lap event, and held off
Patrick for the win. William Manuel, Dusty Corwin, and Steven Mattscheck
completed the top five.
This coming Saturday is Greene’s Ace Hardware night at the speedway. All
eight regular classes will be on hand, as well as a special fireworks display to
commemorate the Fourth of July holiday.