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By: Nick Stark
CENTER LISLE, NY --- Paul Jensen made it three in a row, narrowly
defeating
Wade Decker at the line in the Don’s Automotive Mall Modifieds.
Berkshire
native, Chance Spoonhower, shook the monkey off his back by garnering
his
first career victory in the Autoworks of Ithaca Sportsman Modifieds.
Rich
Talada stole one away late in the race to make it two in two weeks in
the
Billy’s Auto Sales & Service Hurricane Street Stocks. Victory was
bittersweet for Don Harvey Jr., crossing the stand in 1st, but Harvey
would
blow his motor as he took the checkers. Earl Zimmer won yet another
race in
the Road Warriors, while Kenny Underwood did just the same in the Road
Bandits. Bruce Kindberg chalked up his 2nd win of the season at
Thunder
Mountain in the XCel Chassis 600cc Modifieds.
17 cars would hit the starting grid for the 30 lap Modified feature
event,
with polesitter, Justin Andrews, jumping out to the early advantage in
his
Bio-Haz Solutions Inc. #9 machine. Andrews set a blazing pace out in
front,
but the man on the move was seventh place starter, Paul Jensen. In
just 5
short laps, Jensen wheeled his #57 Teo to the top spot, powering
underneath
Andrews for the lead. Jensen would begin to check out from the rest of
the
field, but cautions would keep him at bay and within striking distance
of
the “Afton Assassin” Wade Decker. Like the top spot was the item on
the
auction block, Decker would make bid after bid for the lead, but Jensen
was
just too strong. At the finish, it was Jensen with his 3rd straight
win and
5th overall on the season. Wade Decker would post another solid finish
by
coming home as the runner-up. The Hart’s Logging #35 of Don Hart Jr.
was a
steady third, holding off the late charge of Tim Votra, while Dave
Jenkins
would rounded out the top 5.
Chance Spoonhower has encountered issues galore in his #34 machine,
blowing
the motor just a week ago, and by virtue of handicap, he would pace the
stout field of Sportsman Modifieds to the green flag. Spoonhower would
be
the leader through lap 1, but McGraw’s Mike Dimorier made a great move
on
the apron of the speedway to steal it away in turn 2. Dimorier would
continue to lead for 5 more circuits until mechanical failure would
ultimately end his run. This would hand the lead back over to
Spoonhower,
who took it graciously and ran with it. Spoonhower would lead the
remaining
19 laps, winning his 1st ever Sportsman Modified feature event. Larry
Hillis, long time full-fender veteran, was able to stave off the late
race
charge of Rodney Hart for the bridesmaid finish, his best to date.
Shawn
Mills chalked up yet another top 5, as did Josh Pursell of Owego, NY.
Randy Marsh, sophomore competitor, has been so close on so many
occasions,
coming up just shy for his first career win in the Hurricane Street
Stock
division. Saturday night would yield the same result, as Marsh had
things
well in hand for the first 15 laps. A slight bobble in turn 2 would
open
the door just enough for Rich Talada and his #Oh7 ride. Talada,
running the
extreme bottom line, would finish the deed from there, winning for the
2nd
straight week. Marsh still wound up with a 2nd place finish, while
Steven
Deinhart, John Cooper Jr., and Mike Wilbur Sr. rounded out the top 5.
The Central New York Mini Sprints ran their first caution free race of
the
season, as Don Harvey Jr. dominated the 16 car field en route to the
checkers.
22 Xcel Chassis 600cc Modifieds hit the 3/8 mile clay oval, but it was
the
#01 of Bruce Kindberg who proved to be the class of the field, winning
his
2nd event at the Center Lisle speedway.
Earl Zimmer rebounded from a blown motor last Sunday night, walking
away
with yet another win in the Road Warriors. Rick Frisco finished a
distant
2nd, with Gary Brown posting his best career finish, coming home 3rd.
Steve
Simpson and Pat Parker rounded out the top 5.
A wild 3 car battle raged all race long between Road Bandit veterans
Kenny
Underwood, Nick Greist, and John Hoover. Underwood would never give up
the
lead, but Greist and Hoover made countless attempts to rip it from his
clutches. Underwood would not falter, crossing the stand with the win,
further adding to his point lead. Greist would have to settle for 2nd,
as
would Hoover for 3rd. 14 year old Austin Welch chalked up 4th, while
Ray
Oakley rounded out the top 5.
Next week’s racing action will feature the Sportsman, Hurricane Street
Stocks, Warriors, Bandits, NY Modified Midgets, Midstate Antique Stock
Car
Club, and a 6 & 8 cylinder combined enduro. Gates will open at 4:00 PM
with
racing getting underway at 6:30 PM.
Thunder Mountain Speedway is home of the 5th Annual Hurricane Harry A.
Uhl
Street Stock Memorial and hosts racing every Saturday night from April
through October. The Speedway is located off exit 8 of Interstate 81.
From
there follow route 79 west for five miles and turn right in Center
Lisle and
follow the signs. For more information about the upcoming events at
Thunder
Mountain call the speedway office at (607) 849 - 7889 or checkout our
website at http://www.thunderracetrack.com
Modifieds (17 cars): PAUL JENSEN, Wade Decker, Don Hart Jr., Tim Votra,
Dave
Jenkins, Chad Cook, Ricky Yetter, Steve Babicek, Mike Marold Jr., Jeff
Sheely, George Hildebrant, Justin Andrews, Tim Mayne, Jason Andrews,
Scott
Brady, JR Buis, Brent Boyer
Heat Winners: Brent Boyer, Wade Decker
Sportsman Modifieds (19 cars): CHANCE SPOONHOWER, Larry Hillis, Rodney
Hart,
Shawn Mills, Josh Pursell, Chris Stull, PJ Goodwin, Kevin Jordan, Mike
Dimorier, Mike Wilbur Sr., Mike Austin, Eddie White, Gary Card Jr.,
Bret
Welch, Jason Tuttle, Don Caldwell, Billy Spoonhower, Brian White, Geoff
Heafy
Heat Winners: Josh Pursell, Shawn Mills, Larry Hillis
Hurricane Street Stocks (18 cars): RICH TALADA, Randy Marsh, Steven
Deinhart, John Cooper Jr., Mike Wilbur Sr., Richie Hillis, Ralph
Champion
Jr., Buck Mills Jr., Nick Robinson, Scott Smith, Ricky Marsh, Steven
Mattschek, Roger Walburn, Leif Birdsall, Michael Morse, Mike Wilbur
Jr.,
Donnie Russell Jr., DNS – Jason Makosky
Heat Winners: Rich Talada, Steven Deinhart
CNY Mini Sprints (16 cars): DON HARVEY JR.
Heat Winners: Don Harvey Jr., Mike Kiser
600cc Modifieds (22 cars): BRUCE KINDBERG
Heat Winners: Brian Mady, Mike Keppler
Road Warriors (13 cars): EARL ZIMMER, Rick Frisco, Gary Brown, Steve
Simpson, Pat Parker, Adam Hoskins, Don Swansborough, Frank Wheeland,
Joe
Fuller, Freddie Velez, Harold Walburn, Dusty Corwin, DNS – Marshall
Balzer
Heat Winners: Earl Zimmer, Steve Simpson
Road Bandits (16 cars): KENNY UNDERWOOD, Nick Greist, John Hoover,
Austin
Welch, Ray Oakley, Nick Alexander, Dan Wood, Dwight Bell, Andrew
Harvey,
Travis Block, Josh Backus, Kimberley Spicer, Tommy Velez, Don Greist
Jr.,
Dave Jenkins, Joel Austin
Heat Winners: Kenny Underwood, Joel Austin
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