JENSEN GETS FIRST WIN OF THE YEAR AT THUNDER MOUNTAIN
Center Lisle, New York - 060802 - Utilizing the high groove, Paul Jensen took command in the early going of the thirty lap Modified feature last Saturday night at the Thunder Mountain speedway and came home the victor for the first time in 2002. Other winners included Ed McKernan in the Super Stocks, Shaun Walker in the Pure Stocks, Bob Doolittle in the Four Cylinder Stocks, Scott Allen in the Four Cylinder Modifieds and Dale Pitcher in the Mini Sprints. Also Billy Spoonhower became the first repeat winner in seven weeks in the Sportsman twenty lapper.
Jensen, who started ninth on the field moved quickly into a challenging spot behind early race leader, Mike Nagel who led the first twelve circuits. Meanwhile former track champions Brian Weaver and three-time feature winner Mike Colsten were coming through the pack to take a shot at Nagel and Jensen. A yellow on lap eleven saw contender Doug Worthing limp to the infield with a broken front end along with last week’s winner Butch Cerullo and Rick Wilk. Colsten was sent to the rear of the field for allegedly getting into Worthing and his shot at a win was dealt a serious blow.
On the restart, Jensen went to the high side of Nagel and powered by and for all intents and purposes the race was his. Jensen cruised home with the win. Nagle was about eight car lengths back for a solid second followed by Weaver, George Kostelansky and Brian Payne in the top five spots.
In six previous points paying events, the Sportsman contingent had six different winners and the point’s chase was extremely close. Young Dan Vauter tried really hard to make it seven different winners as he led the first six laps of the Sportsman feature before a strong running Billy Spoonhower, coming from his eighth starting spot, made an inside pass for the lead. Once in front Spoonhower took a commanding lead on the field and cruised home with the win. Vauter tried very hard to hold off the challenges of Kevin Jordan to take the runner-up spot. Jordan took third followed by rookie Matt Smith in fourth and last week’s winner Craig Terrell in fifth.
Defending track Super Stock champion Jamie Shea took the lead early in the twenty lap feature from pole sitter Pete Gulick and it looked as though maybe this would be the night when Shea notches his first win since opening night and stop Ed McKernan’s win streak at five. It was not to be however has Shea got caught behind lapped cars late in the race and McKernan took advantage, dove low in turn, and took the lead. Once in front McKernan opened up a ten car length margin over the rest of the field and cruised home to win number six for the season. Shea finished up second followed by Gulick in his best run of the year for third, Harold Humphrey grabbed off fourth and Earl Zimmer also recorded his best finish of the year with a solid fifth spot.
Six weeks and six winners. That also was the deal in the Pure Stocks and by the time all was said and done it was seven winners in seven weeks. Sophomore driver Shaun Walker recorded his first win at Thunder Mountain since opening night of last year when he took advantage of leader Bill Rampe’s misfortune to take home the win. Mike Wilbur, Harry Uhl Jr., followed Walker, Matt Sissenstein and Kurt Decker in the first five spots.
Rookie Ken Stafford led the first eight laps of the Four Cylinder Modified feature before veteran Scott Allen took control. Allen led the rest of the laps to claim his third feature of the year. Stafford held on for second, Kala Bush took third followed by Ronnie Clark in fourth and Ben Bushaw in the top five spots.
Ed Dyson was the leader the first five laps of the Four Cylinder Stock event before three-time winner Bob Doolittle took over. Once in front, Doolittle had to hold off the challenges of a very fast Harold Humphrey to claim the win in the fifteen lapper. Humphrey came home second followed by Bob Stevens in third, Rich Powell in fourth and Lloyd Twarz in fifth.
Dale Pitcher continued his winning ways as he grabbed off the fifteen lap Mini Sprint feature, which was his third in a row. Garry Moore was second followed by Ryan Lund in third, Rick Wust in fourth and Jimmy Lawler in fifth.
Also on the lengthy program were the Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club and they brought twenty-nine cars to race. The 50/60’s feature was claimed by Doc Smith followed by Phil Claussen, Brad Litzenburger, Gordy Wood, and Jeff Ackerman. The 70’s feature went to Ally Amell followed by Gary Byerly, Bob Williams, John McNamee and Richard Taggert.
Next Saturday will feature a full regular show consisting of Modifieds, Sportsman, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks, Four Cylinder Stocks, Four Cylinder Modifieds and Mini Sprints. Gates will open at 4:00 p.m. and racing is set to begin at 6:30. Thunder Mountain is located just off New York route 79 in Center Lisle and it is easy access of Exit 8 on I81.
MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH: Paul Jensen, Mike Nagel, Brian Weaver, George Kostelansky, Brian Payne, Mike Colsten, Brent Wilcox, Steve Babicek, Jim Gabriel Jr., Dick Sundgren, Jim Crawn, Bob Hamm, Carl Nagel, Butch Cerullo, Sean Collins, Denny Superko, Alan Bush, Dave Jenkins, Jeff Sheely, Tom McGurrin, J. R. Hurlburt, Chris Weaver, Doug Worthing, Rick Wilk, Kevin Ingram.
SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH: Billy Spoonhower, Dan Vauter, Kevin Jordan, Matt Smith, Craig Terrell, Tom McGurrin, Chad Cook, Cliff Pierce, Ray Purcell, Brent Boyer, Bret Tonkin, Joey Tinnes, Chris Berg, Brian White, Eric Bonham, Bruce Evans Jr., Ken Titus, Norm Whittemore, Brian Decker, Garth Tonkin Jr., Sean Olenski, Dan Buchanan. DNS-Scott Allen, Max Mosher Jr., Tony Vyziak.
SUPER STOCK FEATURE FINISH: Ed McKernan, Jamie Shea, Pete Gulick, Harold Humphrey, Earl Zimmer, Dwayne Robbins, Wade Decker, Dick Stark Jr., Brian Steigerwald, Ray Taylor, Ken Hammond, John Morse, Rick Davis, Matt Roberts, Skip Peabody, Brian MacRabie, Gary Roberts, J. T. McKernan, Larry Hillis, Ken Winn.
PURE STOCK FEATURE FINISH: Shaun Walker, Mike Wilbur, Harry Uhl Jr., Matt Sissenstein, Kurt Decker, Mike Austin, Buck Mills, Bill Clark, Mark Shipman, Doug Stack, Bret Welch, Jon Dale Howey, Steve McWain, Don Mosher, Brian Hicks, Charlie Mosher, Chuck Alexander, Bill Rampe, Jamie Rosh, Bob Mills, Dan Janus, Rich Green, John Cooper Jr., Ralph Champion Jr., Dave Denton Jr., Chris Stull.
FOUR CYLINDER STOCK FEATURE FINISH: Bob Doolittle, Harold Humphrey, Bob Stevens, Rich Powell, Lloyd Twarz, Ed Dyson, Jeff Wilcox, Rich Talada, Jerry Wilcox, Fred Newton II, Aaron Peck, John Wilcox, Fred Newton, Jeff Wilcox Jr., John Coish, Dan Talada, Greg Reynolds, Ken Norton, Jim French, Mike Cochardo, Chuck Wheeland, Shawn Mills, Mick LaBarron.
FOUR CYLINDER MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH: Scott Allen, Ken Stafford, Kala Bush, Ronnie Clark, Ben Bushaw, Mark Reynolds, Dick Case, Ben Carpenter, Curt Pierce, Kim Pierce, George Howe.
MINI SPRINT FEATURE FINISH: Dale Pitcher, Garry Moore, Ryan Lund, Rick Wust, Jimmy Lawler, Mike Schrader, Bruce Gould, Rex Roberts. DNS-Steve Diffendorf, Brian Baxter.