COLSTEN AND GREEN PICK UP FIRST WINS OF THE YEAR AT THUNDER MOUNTAIN!
Binghamton's Mike Colsten took his Don's Automotive Mall Modified to victory lane for the first time this season, holding off a late race charge from Eddie White, of Candor. Butch Green, of Endicott, held off his twin brother Rich to capture his first ever career win in the Pure Stock division. Other winner's on the card were Chad Cook in Sportsman, J.T. McKernan in Super Stocks, Bob Doolittle in 4 Cylinder Stocks, Ken Stafford in 4 Cylinder Modified, and Dick Baker in the newly formed Thunder Dog class.
In the 30-lap Modified Main event, Darl Ellis, of Hallstead, PA, took off from his pole starting position to grab the early race lead with Oquaga's Steve Babicek giving chase in second.
By the third lap, Mike Colsten, had moved up from his sixth starting spot to challenge Babicek for the runner up spot. Coming out of turn three, Colsten ducked to the low side and made his way into second. Colsten then chased down Ellis and took over the lead as they crossed the line on lap six.
Back in the pack, 'Fast' Eddie White, who had started fourth but fell back a bit in the first few laps, found a hot line and started on a tear up through the field. White took over second from Ellis on the 11th lap, and started to reel in Colsten. White was able to get on the back bumper of Colsten with a few laps to go, but wasn't able to get by the veteran driver. Colsten came in for the win, followed by White, Ellis, Susquehanna PA's George Kostelansky, and Paul Jensen, of Edmeston.
In the 20 lap Sportsman Feature event, it looked as if Candor's Brian White, the son of second place Modified driver Eddie White, was on his way to capturing the win as he jumped out from his third starting spot to lead the first 18 laps.
Brian had some tough competition on his heels, as Berkshire's Billy Spoonhower and Deposit's Chad Cook, who are the top two in points this season, battled it our behind him. Cook was able to slide by Spoonhower on lap 7, and he then set his sights on White for the top spot.
White, who had a sizeable lead at one point would have the hot-shoe Cook right on his bumper after a lap 17 caution. After the restart, Cook took over the number one spot and cruised his way to victory lane, a place he's been quite familiar with this season. White, Spoonhower, Kirkwood's Ken Titus and Brian Decker, of Susquehanna, PA completed the top 5.
The action in the 20 lap Pure Stop Feature saw pole sitter Mike Wilbur, of Spencer, take the early lead, with twin brothers Rich and Butch Green, both of Endicott, racing for second. By lap four, the pair took over the top two spots, with Rich in the lead and Butch in second and Wilbur dropping back to third.
Butch Green took advantage of a lap nine re-start and grabbed the lead from his brother Rich as Wilbur temporarily grabbed second from the latter Green. Butch Green was a man on a mission as he lead the rest of the way to capture his first ever career victory. After some great side-by-side battling, Rich Green came home in second with Wilbur in third, Buck Mills, of Willet, in fourth and Doug Stack, of Athens, in for fifth.
For the second time this season J.T. McKernan, of Monroeton, PA, bested his uncle Ed McKernan, also of Monroeton, to pick up the win in the 20-lap Super Stock feature.
J.T. McKernan, who started third in the field, came out in the lead after a caution-filled first five laps. Willet's Bob Mills and Cortland's Bill Rampe diced it out for second, as 10th place started Ed McKernan quickly moved up and added to the mix.
At the finish, it was the younger McKernan holding of the veteran Ed for the win, with Rampe, Mark Wainwright and Tracy Gregory completing the top 5.
In the 15-lap Four Cylinder Stock Main event, it was Newfield's Bob Doolittle returning to victory lane for a second straight week. Doolittle, who started 10th in the pack made short work of getting up front as he took the lead from Jerry Wilcox on the second lap.
Norwich's Harold Humphrey steadily made his way up to second, but was unable to chase down the Cayuga Performance machine of Doolittle as he cruised his way to victory. Humphrey came in for second, followed by Fred Newton II, Mitch Hurlburt and Wilcox.
Ken Stafford, a 15-year-old freshman in High School from Dryden, continued his domination in the Four Cylinder Modified division as he picked up yet another win. Stafford started 10th for the 15-lap event and quickly moved into the lead after a lap 2 re-start.
Windsor native Gordie Isham, the 'Flying Fossil' gave chase, but was unable to make a challenge against the youngster. Isham finished second, with John Powers, Scott Brown and Jason Howe rounding out the top five.
In the new Thunder Dog division, it was time for a reversal, as starter Larry Dilello turned the field around the race in the opposite direction for their 12 laps Main event. This rapidly growing class is always exciting, especially when turned the other way!
For the racing action, it was all Dick Baker, as he lead from wire to wire to pick up the win. Paul Larow held off Tim Parker for second, while Mike Pease and Tim Grover completed the top five.
Racing returns the Thunder Mountain Speedway this Saturday night with a regular show on the card, action set to start at 6:30pm. Also coming up on Wednesday, July 23rd is the 3rd leg of the Don's Automotive Mall North / South Pro Stock series.