JENKINS GETS WIN AT THUNDER MOUNTAIN
Center Lisle, New York - 062202 - Dave Jenkins of Waymart, Pa. took the lead on lap five from Carl Nagel and had to hold off persistent challenges late in the race from one time winner Chris Weaver to secure his second career Modified win at Thunder Mountain Speedway in the Modified thirty lap headliner. Another first time winner in the Super Stocks was Afton’s Wade Decker who halted Ed McKernan’s six race win streak. Other winners included Chad Cook in the Sportsman, Mike Wilbur in the Pure Stocks, Shawn Mills in the Four Cylinder Stocks, and Dale Pitcher once again in the Mini Sprints and Ben Bushaw in the Four Cylinder Modifieds.
Nagel led the first four laps in the Mike and Lois Goodwin owned car before Jenkins got by on the inside as the first fourteen laps of the event went caution free. Jenkins stretch his advantage over the rest of the field as a huge battle between Nagel, Weaver, Sean Collins, Mike Colsten and Paul Jensen was going on behind. Numerous yellow flags marred the rest of the race including on one lap twenty-nine right after Weaver got by Jenkins for the lead. Scoring reverted to the previous lap and Jenkins was put back in front. When the green fell Jenkins protected the bottom of the track and refused to give Weaver the lane he needed to make the pass to take home his second career Thunder Mountain win and the first since opening day 1999. Weaver was a strong second followed by Collins in third, Nagel in fourth and point leader Colsten in fifth.
Chad Cook became the second repeat Saturday night winner as he out raced Kevin Jordan for the win and move back into the points race as leader Billy Spoonhower finish fifth. Brent Boyer in his best ever Thunder Mountain run came home third followed by Brian Decker, in the Rick Holgate car for fourth and Spoonhower in fifth.
The Super Stock twenty lapper got off to a bad start as a huge multi-car jingle on lap one took out three top cars including Jamie Shea, Matt Roberts and Ray Taylor. When it resumed Brian Steigerwald took command with Wade Decker and Ed McKernan right on his back bumper. Decker took command midway through the race and never looked back as McKernan had to settle for second as his six-race win streak was halted. Steigerwald took home third for his best ever Thunder Mountain finish followed by Ken Hammond in fourth and J. T. McKernan in fifth.
Bill Rampe was the early leader in the fifteen lap Pure Stock feature. The former track champion has had miserable luck throughout the 2002 season and this looked liked the night to change all that but Mike Wilbur had other ideas. Wilbur got by Rampe to score his third win of the season and Rampe took home second for his best finish of the year. Buck Mills came home third followed by Chris Stull in fourth and Mike Austin in fifth.
Four Cylinder Stock Point leader Rich Powell seemingly had this his own way in the fifteen-lap feature before lady luck intervened. Powell was way out front and in total command when something malfunctioned and he had to go pit side. This gave the lead to Shawn Mills and he led the remaining distance to claim his first win of the year at Thunder Mountain. Mills was followed by Rich Talada in second, Harold Humphrey, Bob Doolittle and Bob Stevens.
It was business as usual for Dale Pitcher as he claimed his fourth Mini Sprint feature win in a row. Ryan Lund got his best finish of the year with a second followed by Garry Moore in third, Jeff Black in fourth and Matt Windhausen in fifth.
Ben Bushaw won his second Four Cylinder Modified fifteen-lap feature of the year as he held off Scott Allen for the win. Point leader Curt Pierce came home in the third spot followed by Ken Stafford in fourth and Calvin Pierce in fifth.
Next week will feature a regular seven-class show including the Modifieds, Sportsman, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks, Four Cylinder Stocks, Four Cylinder Modifieds and Mini Sprints. Also on the docket will be a huge fireworks display at no increase in admission. Gates will open at 4:00 with the first race scheduled for 6:30. Thunder Mountain Speedway is located just off New York route 79 in Center Lisle. Turn at the Church and follow the signs. Hope to see you there.
MODIFIED FINISH: Dave Jenkins, Chris Weaver, Sean Collins, Carl Nagel, Mike Colsten, Paul Jensen, Brian Weaver, J. R. Hurlburt, Bob Hamm, Mike Nagel, George Kostelansky, Steve Babicek, Jim Crawn, Brent Wilcox, Jeff Sheely, Scott Brady, Tom McGurrin, Brian Payne, Butch Cerullo, Jim Gabriel Jr., Eddie White, Dick Sundgren, Rick Wilk, Kevin Ingram, Doug Worthing, Denny Superko, Alan Bush.
SPORTSMAN FINISH: Chad Cook, Kevin Jordan, Brent Boyer, Brain Decker, Billy Spoonhower, Craig Terrell, Dan Vauter, Cliff Pierce, Ken Titus, Matt Smith, Tony Reggie, Garth Tonkin Jr., Tony Vyziak, Bruce Evans Jr., Bret Tonkin, Sean Olenski, Jamie Shea, Norm Whittemore, Ray Purcell, Dan Buchanan, Eric Bonham, Max Mosher Jr., Sean Van Buren, Scott Allen, Darren Stoudt, Bryan White, Chris Berg.
SUPER STOCK FINISH: Wade Decker, Ed McKernan, Brian Steigerwald, Ken Hammond, J. T. McKernan, Denny Decker, Larry Hillis, Pete Gulick, Dwayne Robbins, Harold Humphrey, Brian MacRabie, Ken Benjamin, Gary Roberts, Ken Winn, Dick Stark Jr., Jay Wood, Ray Taylor, Matt Roberts, Jamie Shea.
PURE STOCK FINISH: Mike Wilbur, Bill Rampe, Buck Mills, Chris Stull, Mike Austin, Kurt Decker, Jamie Rosh, Brian Hicks, Bill Clark, Mark Shipman, Don Mosher, Jon Dale Howey, Matt Sissenstein, John Cooper Jr., Larry Champion, Dan Janus, Shaun Walker, Chuck Alexander, Darl Ellis, Bret Wilcox, Charlie Mosher, Dave Denton Jr., Rich Green, Steve McWain, Harry Uhl Jr., Doug Stack.
FOUR CYLINDER STOCK FINISH: Shawn Mills, Rich Talada, Harold Humphrey, Bob Doolittle, Bob Stevens, Lloyd Twarz, Jeff Wilcox, Jerry Wilcox, Fred Newton II, Aaron Peck, Fred Newton, John Wilcox, Chuck Wheeland, Frank Ferrara, John Coish, Rich Powell.
MINI SPRINT FINISH: Dale Pitcher, Ryan Lund, Garry Moore, Jeff Black, Matt Windhausen, Steve Diffendorf, Keith Rifanburg, Bruce Gould, Brian Baxter, Rick Wust.
FOUR CYLINDER MODIFIED FINISH: Ben Bushaw, Scott Allen, Curt Pierce, Ken Stafford, Calvin Pierce, Dick Case, Roger Dewitt, Kala Bush, Ronnie Clark, Mark Reynolds, George Howe, Anna Howe, Kim Pierce.