Center Lisle, New York…..Paul Jensen of Edmeston avenged an opening night disappointment by taking home the thirty lap Modified feature last Saturday night at the Thunder Mountain Speedway. Jensen, last season’s co-champion took the lead early and never looked back out-distancing his nearest rival Chris Weaver by a comfortable margin at the checkers. Other winners were Kevin Jordan of Speedsville in the Sportsman, Jimmy Howard was a repeat winner in the Street Stocks, Doug Stack of Athens, Pa. won the Pure Stock twenty lapper, Rich Powell got the Four Cylinder gold, Tim Gwardyk took home the victory in the Thunder Dogs, Joel Austin won the Thunder Pups and in the first appearance of the 600 Modifieds is was Tommy Martocci getting the win.
Jensen, who was a victim of the backstretch wall last week while going for the lead didn’t let anything get in his way in getting the thirty lap win. Steve Babicek lead the first three laps before the high flying Jensen took the point on lap four. Once in front all Jensen had to do was hold the field at bay during the half dozen restarts that slowed the pace. He got a good break when front runner Mike Colsten was sent to the rear for making contact with the lapped car of Rod Hunsinger. The real race was going on behind Jensen as Babicek, Chris Weaver and Jim Gabriel Jr. going at it for the runner-up spot. Gabriel actually had the spot on a high side pass late in the race but couldn’t hold it as Weaver took to the inside as took the spot as Babicek faded out of the top five. With Jensen taking the checkers, Weaver copped a solid second and Gabriel was third. Brent Wilcox drove a steady race to get fourth and J. R. Hurlburt was fifth.
Kevin Jordan started on the pole of the twenty lap and led every lap to get the win but it was certainly not easy. Once again the race was behind the leader as Ryan Olsommer, Ray Taylor and last week’s winner Rodney Hart went at it. Hart was able to get to the number two spot but some contact with Jordan while going for the lead sent back behind Olsommer for third. That’s the way they stayed until the finish. Jordan getting the win followed by Olsommer, Hart and Taylor with sophomore Sportsman driver Bret Welch completing the top five.
Jimmy Howard was again the class of the field as he grabbed off win number two in this young season despite starting next to last. Clayton Ingram did the chasing but not the catching, as He had to settle for second. Larry Hillis took third Bill Rampe fourth and Oliver Gage was fifth.
The Pure Stock twenty lapper all boiled to a late race lead change with Richie Hills leading and then Doug Stack pulling a slide job on Hillis is to take the win. Kurt Decker was right there for third followed by Butch Green in fourth and former champion Mike Wilbur in fifth.
Rich Powell reversed his second place finish of a week ago with Ken Carson Jr., and took home his first win of the new season. Powell led the entire distance for the victory; Carson was second followed by Gary Card Jr. in third Jon Carter in fourth and Fred Newton in fifth.
Tim Gwardyk led wire to wire in the fifteen lap Thunder Dog feature. After not even starting last week due to some serious mechanical problems after warm-ups, used his pole starting spot to his advantage as he led every lap for the win. The race was marred by a spectacular flip in turn three as William Manuel did a two and a half gainer and landed on his wheels. Manuel was okay but the forlorn Thunder dog was relegated to the infield for the infield for the night, a ruined hulk. Last week’s winner Joe Sack came through the field to take home second followed by Jason Keith in third, Tim Grover fourth and Rory Backner rounded out the top five.
Joel Austin started up front and led a good portion of twelve lap Thunder Pup feature despite a number of yellow flags that slowed the pace. Sean Gardiner took home second followed by Nick Alexander, Chuck Wheeland Jr., and Nick Greist.
Also on hand was the first appearance of the 600cc Modifieds. Former URC driver Tommy Martocci took led from Kevin Gruber on lap six and never looked back garnering the win in the season opener for this traveling group. Chad Behler took home second followed by Gruber in third, Paul Tuthill in fourth and Brian Made was fifth.
Next week Thunder Mountain hosts a regular seven class show with the initial green going off at 6:30 pm with the gates opening at 4:00pm. In two weeks the popular Central New York Mini Sprints will be on hand while the week after that the Trackside Products Super Stock series make it’s first appearance. Thunder Mountain is located just off New York route 79 in Center Lisle, New York. For further info call 607-657-8202.
MODIFIED FINISH (30 Laps): Paul Jensen, Chris Weaver, Jim Gabriel Jr., Brent Wilcox, J. R. Hurlburt, Steve Babicek, Jeff Sheely, George Kostelansky, Don Hart Jr., Greg Tatich, Brent Boyer, Mike Colsten, Mike Dimorier, Dave Jenkins, Scott Brady, Tim Votra, Rod Hunsinger, Joe Uliana, Darren Keyser, Chad Cook, Ricky Yetter.
SPORTSMAN FINISH (20 Laps): Kevin Jordan, Ryan Olsommer, Rodney Hart, Ray Taylor, Bret Welch, P. J. Goodwin, Rich Green, Josh Pursell, Mike Lartz, Grant Hilfiger, Chad Cook, Paul Rooney, Chance Spoonhower, Joe Colsten, Duane Knapp, Joel Hilfiger, Mike Votra, Jason Tuttle, Scott Allen, Harold Humphrey, Mark Goodwin, Ernie Millon, Pat Votra, Shawn Mills.
PURE STOCK FINISH (20 Laps): Doug Stack, Richie Hillis, Kurt Decker, Butch Green, Mike Wilbur, Daryl Krebs, Louie Gordonier, Don Russell Jr., Mike Morse, Darl Ellis Jr., Randy Marsh, Steve Deinhardt, Ben Poirier.
THUNDER DOG FINISH: (15 Laps) Tim Gwardyk, Joe Sack, Jason Keith, Tim Grover, Rory Backner, Steve Simpson, David Ackley, Matt Pagliaro, Roger Walburn, Mark Keith Jr., Kevin Reik, Don Swansborough, Bradley Spicer, Steve Mattscheck, Joe Pritchard, Rick Frisco, Everett Swansborough, Joe Campbell, Robert Norris, Brady Foster, William Manuel. DNS-Adam Hoskins.
THUNDER PUPS (12 Laps): Joel Austin, Sean Gardiner, Nick Alexander, Chuck Wheeland Jr., Nick Greist, Paul Hewlett, Frank Fuller, Rich Gardiner, Ryan Oakley, Joseph Taylor, Gene Wheeland, Ken Underwood, Rick Tunnicliff, Dan Corwin, Mike Taylor, George Fielding, Sarah Alexander, Joe Fuller, Dusty Corwin, Amanda Tuttle. DNS-Bobby Edwards.