Colsten Wins Another At Thunder Mountain
Center Lisle, New York.....Mike Colsten, in the Don's Automotive Mall Ford powered Modified won his second consecutive feature last Saturday night at the Thunder Mountain Speedway in the headline thirty lapper on Green Do-It Center night at the speedway. Jamie Shea, John Payne, Billy Spoonhower, Greg Martindale and Don Harvey were also winners on the exciting card.
Colsten, who started twelfth on the field took the lead from pole sitter Randy Decker on lap twelve and never looked back in the caution flag filled event. Decker, who had led the first twelve looked strong when in front but was no match for Colsten s Ford when challenged on a lap twelve restart. Also looming was another two time winner, Doug Worthing who had started eleventh but on the last restart with two laps to go was right on Colsten s back bumper. When the green flew Colsten took off and Worthing was no match and had to settle for the runner-up spot. A strong run for second place points man J. R. Hurlburt in the Decker owned Olsen mount finishing third while Mike Nagel and Randy Decker completed the top five finishing spots.
Jamie Shea made it look easy as he cruised to the victory in the twenty lap Street Stock feature. Shea, who started sixth on the field took the lead on lap four from Mike Wilbur and started to open up a comfortable margin on the field. Only one minor caution flag early in the race slowed the pace allowing Shea to open up the gap between himself and the rest of the field. Point leader Scott Conover got to second late in the race but could put any dent in the lead Shea had built up and had to settle for the second spot as the checkers flew. Harold Humphrey in a strong run came home third followed by Chris Piasecki in fourth and Gary Roberts in fifth.
Greg Martindale held off the late challenges of six time feature winner Lee Dewitt to capture his first 2000 Four Cylinder Modified feature win of the year. Martindale, who started third on the field took the lead early from Bruce Detro and weaved his way throughout extensive lapped traffic for the win. Dewitt, who started deep in the field got close to Martindale as the Popsicle sticks of the flogger signaled two to go but couldn t mount a challenge to the veteran Martindale and had to be content with second. Detro came home a strong third for his best finish since his return while Scott Allen took fourth and George Howe rounded out the top five.
For the eighth time in ten starts, Don Harvey captured the fifteen lap Mini Sprint feature that was marred by a fire in the front end of Jeff Lamoth s car. The fire was quickly put out and the race resumed. Harvey stretched out his margin over second place runner Steve Boyle as the laps wound down. Boyle couldn t get close to Harvey but finished with his best effort of the year. Garry Moore took home third while Steve Klock and Ed Warren completed the top five finishing spots.
The Four Cylinder Stock feature went flag to flag without a yellow as Billy Spoonhower out dueled Rick Phillips to claim his second victory of the season. The duel lasted three laps before Phillips got a little loose coming off turn two and lost many spots. This allowed Spoonhower to open up about a ten car length lead over the rest of the pack. Point leader Harold Humphrey got to second late in the race but couldn t get no closer than five car lengths behind Spoonhower at the end and wound up second. Joe Bush had a strong third place effort while Nathan Stevens and Jeff McKinney rounded out the top five.
The twenty lap Pure Stock feature got off to an auspicious start as four cars came together off turn two. Minor damage was done and a couple of cars were done for the evening. When the race resumed point leader John Payne and three time feature Larry Hillis went at it tooth and nail for a number of laps running side by side with Hillis finally getting the advantage late. There were no more yellows after the first lap and the front running duo separated themselves from third place John Dale Howey by a got distance as the laps clicked off. Hillis came across the line first for his fourth win in a row with Payne getting second, Howey for third while Brian Decker and Bill Morse finished out the top five. After the race the second place finishing Payne put up money to Hillis torn down. After a lot of wrangling was awarded the win without a teardown as Hillis essentially refused to be torn down.
Next week will be regular show of Modifieds, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, Four Cylinder Stocks, Four Cylinder Modifieds and Mini Sprints will be in action with a 6:30 race time scheduled.
MODIFIED FINISH: Mike Colsten, Doug Worthing, J. R. Hurlburt, Mike Nagel, Randy Decker, Dave Jenkins, Carl Nagel, George Kostelansky, Jimmy Wrench, Tom McGurrin, Rick Whitney, Rod Hunsinger, George Lewis III, Jeff Bronson, Dick Sundgren, Larry Dilello, Mike Frost, George Hoffmier Jr., Jerry Colsten, Brian Weaver, Paul Jensen, Chris Weaver, Dave Zona, Rick Wilk, Ed Hawley
STREET STOCK FINISH: Jamie Shea, Scott Conover, Harold Humphrey, Chris Piasecki, Gary Roberts, P. J. Goodwin, Billy Spoonhower, Brian Decker, Mike Wilbur, Barry Stephens, Tracy Gregory, George Lynch Sr., John Morse, Bill Rampe, Max Moshier Jr., Mike Decker.
FOUR CYLINDER MODIFIED FINISH: Greg Martindale, Lee Dewitt, Bruce Detro, Scott Allen, George Howe, Mike Payne, Dick Case, Curt Pierce, Bill Bushaw, Karen Dewitt, Cliff Pierce, Ick Pierce, Steven Bump, Howie Jones, Howard Dewitt, Buzz Barton Jr., Alan Bush, Bruce Knaak, Kala Bush
MINI SPRINT FINISH: Don Harvey, Steve Boyle, Garry Moore, Steve Klock, Ed Warren, Ryan Lund, Mike Emhoff, James Brush, Frank Rumenknapp, Pete Hammond, Aric Copeland, Jeff Lamothe, Steve Diffendorf, Bruce Gould.
PURE STOCK FINISH: John Payne, John Dale Howey, Brian Decker, Bill Morse, Chad Parks, Toby Baker, Chris Wolfe, Larry Rozelle, Mike Wilbur, Bob Mills, Don Russell Jr., Mike Austin, Don Moshier.
FOUR CYLINDER STOCK FINISH: Billy Spoonhower, Harold Humphrey, Joe Bush, Nathan Stevens, Jeff McKinney, Rick Phillips, Jerry Wilcox, Eric Eaton, Jeff Wilcox, John Wilcox, Steven Green, Fred Newton, Chuck Rowley, Richard Wolford, Dick Dyson.