Schilling Perseveres For Big Block Victory at Thunder Mountain, While Cormier and Murtaugh Capture DIRTcar Checkers
Center Lisle --- It was a night of firsts at the fast 3/8 mile speedplant, as Thunder Mountain hosted their first race of 2020. While kicking off their season, they were also debuting the Hoosier Race Tire banner, as well as the launch of their DIRTcar 358 and Sportsman divisions. A drive-in style theater treated fans to 8 divisions of racing action, but good things would have to come to those who waited, with a 2-hour rain delay just before the launch of on-track activity.
29 sail panel-wielding Big Block Modifieds would line up on the starting grid, with pole sitter David Schilling leading the field to the green flag. A rash of cautions early in the race would force Schilling to be up on the wheel for countless restarts, thwarting off all advances from his competitors in tow. Marathon, NY’s Eric Leet was certainly up to the challenge in the early going of the event, looking ever-impressive in his #11x mount. Problems on that machine, would however end his night early. Schilling continued to maintain his advance, while 2019 champion, Shaun Walker marched to the front. Walker would eventually catch the Rusty Smith #34 for the second position, but his bid for the top spot would end there, settling for 2nd at the line. This was Schilling’s first career big block win, sticking the trend on the night of firsts. Walker finished 2nd, with Smith 3rd, and a pair of Jordan’s (Chris and Ryan) rounding out the top 5.
DIRTcar 358 Modifieds treated fans with the race of the night. Nineteen strong in the small block ranks, with the victory going to yet another first time division winner, “The Otisville Outlaw” Corey Cormier. Early race leader Ronnie Davis III would suffer a push on a mid-race restart allowing Cormier to steal the top spot, and ultimately the victory. Vermont’s Adam Pierson would eventually knife his way to the runner-up spot, while RD3 settled for the final podium position. Small block specialist Lance Willix settled for 4th, while Friday’s Can-Am victor, “Big Money” Mike Maresca would charge to a 5th place finish.
DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds showed out 28 strong, with Iracing master, Richard Murtaugh piloting his #33 to his first career sportsman and Thunder Mountain victory. Murtaugh faced very stout company in his big for the win, holding off Lansing, NY’s Tommy Collins (a former champion at the speedway). Third place would go to Adam Pierson, with yet another podium finish on the evening, while Alan Fink and Brandon Carvey rounded out the top 5.
Wheeler’s Excavation Street Stocks did not have any surprise first time winners, as Steven “Hoss” Deinhardt blistered the field for the first victory on the season. Already a feature winner at the Penn Can Speedway, runner-up Jerry Lobdell Jr. gave a valiant effort, but it was all for naught. Don Russell Jr. would bring his extremely potent #109D across the line in third, with Doug Polhamus, and former champion, Earl Zimmer completing the top 5.
600cc Modifieds would see a new face in victory lane after the war of attrition on track. James Randall would lead the lion’s share of the event, until contact with a lap car would send him spinning, ultimately giving up his lead position. Jake Waibel would then take over the top spot, holding off all advances from his cousin and 600cc hotshoe, Jared Green, for his first career victory. Green crossed in 2nd, with Ivan Forney 3rd, Justin Ladue in 4th, and former IMCA standout Tommy Paige in 5th.
Pop’s Automotive Factory Stocks were short in quantity, but certainly not in action. Eventual race winner Grayson Albanese had to navigate past the stout machines of Buck Mills Sr. and Mike Morse, who were locked in a battle for the lead. Good hard racing between those two would take the focus off of Albanese in tow, allowing him to pass for the win. Mills Sr. would settle for 2nd, Morse 3rd, Buck Mills Jr. in 4th, and Shawn Sabo in 5th.
In Rookie Sportsman action, first career winner, Bryan Pospisil would lead his Planet Preowned #727 to paydirt, with Ray Reynolds, Jonathan Fowlston, Blake Spriacon, and Jeremy Warren rounding out the top 5.
Rookie 600cc Modifieds were paced to the victory by John Glover, followed by Taylor Wilk and Logan Ladue.
Racing resumes on the Mountain this Saturday, June 13th will a full 8 division card, featuring Big Block Modifieds, DIRTcar 358 Modifieds, and DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds.
For our full schedule, visit www.thundermtnspeedway.net
Modified – David Schilling, Shaun Walker, Rusty Smith, Chris Jordan, Ryan Jordan, Alan Barker, Rick Wilk, Nick Nye, Billy Decker, Brandon Walters, Michael Maresca, Chris Stull, P.J. Goodwin, Kenny Hammond, Marshall Hurd, Joe Judge, Shayne Spoonhower, Jimmy Zacharias, Marc Goodwin, Alissa Cody, Eric Leet, Ryan Darcy, Kevin Jordan, Kurt Hundeland, Jeff Sheely, Landon Cummings, John Morse, Arthur Bray, Jesse Velez
DIRTcar 358 Modified – Corey Cormier, Adam Pierson, Ronnie Davis, Lance Willix, Michael Maresca, Greg Martin, Jordan McCready, Brandon Walters, Colton Wilson, Michael Stanton, Tom Eiklor, Darren Smith, Roddy Watts, Ryan Maccartney, Ben Bushaw, Michael Prentice, Preston Forbes, Shayne Spoonhower
DIRTcar Sportsman – Richard Murtaugh, Tom Collins, Adam Pierson, Alan Fink, Brandon Carvey, Stacy Jackson, Hunter Lapp, Jeremy Pitcher, Isaiah Forward, Will Shields, Matt Meade, Daryl Krebs, Nick Plumstead, Tom Velez, Tim Guild, Jake Mason, Thomas Van Vost, Adam Haddow, Matthew Richardson, Colby Herzog, Rich Talada, Pat Jones, Leah Decker, Mike Austin, Will Eastman, Derek McGrew Jr., Cody Jackson, DNS Ray Leonard
Wheeler Excavation Street Stocks – Steven Deinhardt, Jerry Lobdell Jr., Don Russell, Doug Polhamus, Earl Zimmer, Buck Mills Sr, Lanson Albanese, Damon Decker, Mike Wilbur, Bobby Wagner, Cameron Searles, Gene Sharpsteen, Rich Sharpsteen, Don Reeves, DNS – Bill Flask
600cc Modifieds – Jake Waibel, Jared Green, Ivan Forney, Justin Ladue, Tommy Paige, James Randall, Chad Mason, Ali Scutt, Chelcie Beebe, Chace Scutt, Doug Windhausen, Nick Chase, Michael Crawn, DNS- Chris Jordan, Tom Donahue
Pop’s Automotive Factory Stocks – Grayson Albanese, Buck Mills Sr., Mike Morse, Buck Mills Jr., Shawn Sabo, Jake Fowlston, Will Jones
Rookie Sportsman – Bryan Pospisil, Ray Reynolds, Jonathan Fowlston, Blake Spriacon, Jeremy Warren, Jamie Kamrowski, Maverick Eldridge, DNS Dane Hedlund
Rookie 600cc Modifieds – John Glover, Taylor Wilk, Logan Ladue