HURLBURT AND COOK SHARE THUNDER MOUNTAIN SPOTLIGHT

J.R. Hurlburt made it four winners in four weeks in the Modifieds and Chad Cook put a new slant on his Sportsman win in racing action last Saturday night at the thunder Mountain Speedway. Other winners on the card included Chris Stull in the Street Stocks, Dick Stark made it two in a row in the Pure Stocks, Bob Doolittle made it three in a row in the Four Cylinder Stocks, Gordie Isham edged out two-time winner Ken Stafford in the Four Cylinder Modifieds and Tim Parker continued on his winning ways in the Thunder Dogs.

The Modified feature went the first ten laps under the green as first Steve Babicek and then J. R. Hurlburt paced the field. Babicek led the first four laps from his outside pole starting position until Hurlburt took it over. While in front Hurlburt maintained a steady groove while keeping everyone behind him. The “big guns” of Colsten, Weaver, Worthing and Jensen moved in sight distance of Hurlburt and second place Jim Gabriel Jr. Two more cautions quickly happened as the battles for position were heating up.

As the race was winding down it got to be real hectic as the lead pack caught up to the back half of the field in a hurry and with the parallel flags in sight, a multi-car jingle took place on the front stretch putting second place Jim Gabriel Jr. in the pits with damage to the front end of his car. When the green flew for the last two laps, Worthing was all over Hurlburt for the top spot but in the end Hurlburt prevailed and Worthing had to settle for second. This duo was followed to the line by Colsten in third, Weaver in fourth and Brent Wilcox in fifth.

Chad Cook’s two previous wins in the Sportsman feature were done by dominating the field to post the win. This week it was a new twist. Young sensation Dusty Jagger, in only his fourth start in a tough Sportsman class at Thunder Mountain, took the lead from Ken Titus early and looked to be on his way to his first ever “big car” win. However lady luck had other ideas. With the laps winding down and no yellows to slow the pace, Jagger was able to stay in front of the field and a closing duo of Mike Decker and Cook. Going into turn one on the last lap Dan Buchanan and George got together right in front of the leader. With absolutely no place to go, Jagger turned the car sideways and made minor contact with Howe. The yellow came out and Jagger’s dream of that first win were gone. On the restart with Decker on the point and only one lap to go, Cook made a bold bid on the topside of the speedway. Coming out of four Decker was and low and Cook was high and Cook was able to eke out the victory by inches. Decker was second followed by Titus in third, Brent Boyer in fourth and Billy Spoonhower in fifth.

The twenty lap Street Stock feature was a barnburner also and like the Modifieds, they put the fourth winner in four weeks in victory lane at the end. Chris Stull and Wade Decker traded the top spot over the last fifteen laps of the race before Stull finally took command for good on lap eighteen. At the checkers it was Stull by a car length over Decker. Opening night winner Mark Wainwright was third followed by Harold Humphrey and J. T. McKernan in the top five spots.

Dick Stark made it two in a row as he copped a hotly contested 20 lap Pure Stock feature. Bill Clark was the early leader but he had lots of company in the form of Rich Green, Doug Stack and Stark. Stark took command late and held off Green for the win. Stack took home third while Clark and Mike Wilbur rounded out the top five.

Bob Doolittle made it look easy for most of the fifteen lap Four Cylinder Stock feature until Harold Humphrey got close as he took home win number three in a row. Humphrey chased but never caught and was second in the final standings followed by Rich Powell in third, Fred Newton II in fourth and Mitch Hurlburt in fifth.

The fifteen lap Four Cylinder Modified feature came down to a battle between the veteran Gordie Isham and the youngster Kan Stafford. In the end, Isham edged out Stafford by a front bumper length. Tom Fletcher was mister consistent in third with Dennis Copp and Duane Knapp rounding out the top five.

For a novel twist the twelve lap Thunder Dogs feature was run the reverse way around the track but the results were the same. Tim Parker became a three time winner; he was followed by Ron Larow, Ben Poirier and Ken Baker

Next week finds Thunder Mountain in action twice in one weekend. First on Saturday night a regular seven class show featuring the Modifieds, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, Four Cylinder Stocks, Four Cylinder Modifieds and Thunder Dogs and on Sunday the first round of the Don’s Automotive Mall Gary’s U-Pull-It North South Series event featuring the Street Stocks, Pure Stocks and for the first time the Sportsman. It will be a regular race time on Saturday with gates opening at 4:00 p.m., racing at 6:30 while on Sunday gates are slated for 4:30, and racing at 6:30. Thunder Mountain Speedway is located just off Route 79 in Center Lisle, New York, just a short hop off Interstate 81 at the Whitney Point Exit.