Defending Modified track champion Mike Colsten survived a late race surge by former track champion Brian Weaver to gain the victory in the opening night 30 lapper last Saturday at the Thunder Mountain Speedway in Center Lisle. Other winners in the seven feature event card included Anthony Reggie in the Sportsman, defending track champion Jamie Shea in the Street Stocks, Mike Wilbur in the Pure Stocks, Ben Bushaw in the Four Cylinder Modifieds, Rich Powell in the Four Cylinder Stocks and Don Harvey in the Mini-Sprints on a night that saw over 160 cars in the pit area.
Colsten, who by luck of the draw started on the pole, led the first two laps before being passed by outside pole sitter Paul Jensen who set a torrid pace for the first eighteen laps that went non-stop. Colsten had his hands full meanwhile with an extremely fast Pat Jordan and Brian Weaver in the Decker Logging mount. After completion of the eighteenth laps a couple of cars got together in turn one bringing out the race's first caution period. On the restart Colsten moved back to the point as Jordan bobbled going into turn two collecting Jensen, Doug Worthing and J. R. Hurlburt in the process which in turn gave the runner-up spot to Weaver. As the race drew to a close, Weaver got a wheel under Colsten a number of times but was unable to complete the pass and wound up having to settle for second.
Bob Hamm Jr. in a great drive came home in the third spot followed by Alan Rudalavage in fourth and Brent Wilcox completing the top five spots.
Second year Thunder Mountain driver Anthony Reggie beat pole sitter Tony Vyziak to the first turn on the start of the twenty lap Sportsman feature and for the most part the opening night feature was his but veteran driver Kevin Jordan had other ideas. Jordan pressured Reggie for the remainder of the race, even Leading lap sixteen before Reggie re-asserted himself on the next circuit. Reggie came home with the victory, his first ever at Thunder Mountain over a strong running Jordan in second by less than a car length. Craig Terrell, who had problems in his heat race and started scratch on the field, made a strong run and came home third followed by Tom McGurrin in his Sportsman debut, fourth and defending track champion Chad Cook in fifth.
It was almost business as usual for defending Street Stock track champion, Jamie Shea. After starting in the fourth spot, Shea was content to let Harold Humphrey lead lap one before taking command. Once in front, Shea opened a comfortable gap between himself and the rest of the field that included a great battle for the second spot between Humphrey, last year's point runner-up, Ed McKernan and second generation driver Matt Roberts. With five to go and Shea still out front Roberts moved by Humphrey and went after Shea. On the last lap he caught him but couldn't make an inside pass stick at the checkers and it was Shea with win number one in the 2002 season. Roberts was a strong second followed by McKernan in third, Humphrey in fourth and Pete Gulick in the Sprint PCS machine completing the top five.
Two time Pure Stock track champion Mike Wilbur was certainly glad his feature was only fifteen laps long as just after leading most of the distance in a caution marred 15 lap Pure Stock feature, his car quit just past the start finish line. Wilbur led the first ten laps from his fifth starting spot before a strong Buck Mills got by on lap eleven. Mills led the next three times around before encountering a mechanical problem giving the lead back to Wilbur who held on to the end. Don Moshier was closing fast but had to settle for second while Rich Green, John Cooper and Brian Hicks rounding out the top five.
The fifteen lap Mini Sprint headliner was filled with drama as invader Mike Emhoff led the early going before being passed by former track champion Don Harvey on lap four. Once out in front Harvey tried to stretch his gap but a faulty oil cooler pump and Emhoff's persistence kept the race close for the caution filled event. Harvey belching smoke badly came home in front with little room over Emhoff in one of better recent outings at Thunder Mountain in second. The front running duo was followed by Phil Peworchik in third, Dale Pitcher in fourth and last years point runner-up Rick Wust finishing out the top five finishers in the seventeen car field.
Pole sitter Frank Fink led the first six laps of the fifteen lap Four Cylinder Stock field before getting loose coming off turn two on the seventh circuit. In the process of getting correcting he was t-boned by invader Bob Doolittle. Both cars were done for the night. This gave the lead to former track champion Harold Humphrey. But he had company in the form of last years top point finisher Rich Powell and another invader Chuck Powelczyk. The front running trio separated themselves from the rest of the field as they were putting on a show. Powell finally gained the upper hand on the last go round as Humphrey and Powelczyk banged wheels and both got a little sideways. Both recovered with Powelczyk gaining his best ever Thunder Mountain finish with second and Humphrey wound up third. Shawn Mills came home fourth and sophomore driver Ed Dyson was fifth.
The fifteen lap Four Cylinder Modified was a start to finish battle between Dwarf Car veteran Louie Gordonier and youngster Ben Bushaw. This duo swapped the lead numerous times with Gordonier finally coming out on top at the end with Bushaw settling for second. Curt Pierce took home third followed by George Howe in fourth and Kala Bush in fifth. In the post race inspection, Gordonier's stretched Dwarf Car was found not up to specs giving the win to Bushaw, his first ever.
Next week will be a regular show consisting of the Modifieds, Sportsmen, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, Four Cylinder Modifieds, Four Cylinder Stocks and Mini-Sprints. Gates will open at 4:00 with racing set to begin at 6:30. Thunder Mountain is located just off New York Route 79 in Center Lisle.