Thunder Mountain Speedway Car Count Hits 169 Saturday
Story By:BRETT DEYO /BD MOTORSPORTS MEDIA Photos By:DUANE CANFIELD / RACERSGUIDE.COM
CENTER LISLE, NY –May 9, 2016- After a disappointing performance in the Season Opener, Chad Cook rebounded on Saturday.
For the first time in 2016, Deposit, N.Y.’s Cook reached big-block/small-block Modified Victory Lane at Thunder Mountain Speedway, earning a $1,200 payday for his efforts in the Mike Costello-owned No. 222.
Once again, Thunder Mountain led the way in the region with the pit area over-filled. Some 169 race cars hit the Center Lisle, N.Y., three-eighths-mile during the busy night.
“With this field of cars, you’ve got to take these wins up here on the Mountain when you can get them,” Cook said. “We didn’t have any luck at the opener but we were fortunate with the draw tonight and the car was where I needed it.”
By virtue of a redraw, Cook started the 30-lap main from the pole position. Cook paced the entire distance with shuffling for position behind him.
Ryan Jordan was Cook’s closest pursuer for much of the event. However, with just seven laps remaining, Jordan was forced to the pit area with a deflating right-rear tire on his No. R21. That handed the runner-up position over to Alan Barker, a first-year Modified regular on the Mountain.
Barker, of Norwich, N.Y., chased Cook to the finish, recovering from a tangle while inside the top-five on Opening Night. Sophomore Modified talent Colton Wilson of Dryden, N.Y., guided the Pat Lynch-fielded No. 42 to a third-place finish, ahead of a rim-riding Nick Rochinski of Dickson City, Pa., from 10th and ninth-starter Tyler Siri of Watkins Glen, N.Y.
Returning to weekly competition at Thunder Mountain in 2016, Candor, N.Y., driver Brian White drove to a $700 payday in the 20-lap Open Sportsman main. White started from fourth position and took the lead from New Jersey invader J.R. Fulper following a third-lap restart.
White’s most formidable challenge came in lapped traffic during the race’s final five laps, allowing Fulper to close him. However, White maintained the advantage and completed his homecoming to racing on the Mountain.
Fulper, in his debut at Thunder Mountain, finished a solid second, followed by Kevin Jordan (up from seventh), Eddie White in his first start of the season and two-time ’16 winner Geordie Decker.
Berkshire, N.Y., driver Shayne Spoonhower won for the first time this year in the 20-lap Crate 602 Sportsman main, taking home a $500 top prize. Spoonhower started fourth in a strong 26-car field and was able to clear Street Stock graduate Daryl Krebs on the eighth tour of the three-eighths-mile oval.
Once in front, Spoonhower – driving a former Andy Bachetti car – marched to victory, followed by Krebs, Matt Brewer, Dale Welty and Tom Collins Jr.
Dan Allen of Berkshire, N.Y., won for the first time in Rookie Sportsman action, dominating the 15-lap feature. Ryan Alsdorf chased Allen across the line.
For the point season opener on April 30, defending Street Stock champion Steven Deinhardt was on the sidelines with engine woes. He returned in style Saturday, taking his first checkered of the year in a green-to-checkered romp from the pole position. Jonathan Carpenter rallied for his second consecutive runner-up finish, followed by Nick Robinson, Brett Barrett and Doug Stack Jr.
Doug Windhausen, a second-generation driver from Fabius, N.Y., won his second 20-lap XCel 600 Modified main of the early season. Windhausen, whose first score of the year came in a pre-season main on April 23, grabbed a lead he wouldn’t relinquish from young Kamdin Maby on the eighth lap.
Travis Rigante, in his first start of 2016, finished second followed by Maby, Joe McCabe and Chris Kithcart.
In the first Saturday appearance by the touring NY6A Micro-Sprints, Ben Kysor of Dansville, N.Y., took command on the 12th lap and marched on to victory in a fast-paced 20-lap main. Nate Hendrix, who led the opening 11 circuits, settled for runner-up pay, with John Smith, Tyler Walker and D.J. Forbes in tow.
Michael Robinson of Harpursville, N.Y., won the 15-lap FWD Four Cylinder main, his third consecutive score in the division. Keith Potter, Dave Jenkins, Chris Taylor and Kyle Rogers trailed.
THUNDER THOUGHTS: Despite threatening weather at times, a huge turnout of 169 race cars took part in the program: 26 Modifieds, 24 Open Sportsman, 26 Crate Sportsman, 11 Rookie Sportsman, 20 Street Stocks, 28 XCel 600 Modifieds, 22 NY6A Micro-Sprints and 12 FWD Four Cylinders….
Among the Modified division’s long-haul drivers were Dan Humes of Canaan, Conn., returning for the second straight week and Jim Britt, a Bridgeport (N.J.) Speedway regular towing north from the Philadelphia suburb of Broomall, Pa….
The 24-car Open Sportsman field was among the largest in recent memory for a weekly program….
A healthy crowd braved the cool night and intermittent rain showers for a rapidly run program finished in its entirety by 10:43 p.m….
Heat winners included Chad Cook, Byron Worthing and Tyler Siri (Modified); Eddie White, Travis Smith and Brian White (Open Sportsman); Tom Collins Jr., Dale Welty and Bob Stahl (Crate 602 Sportsman); Connor Spoonhower and Dan Allen (Rookie Sportsman); Trevor Dudley, Steven Deinhardt and Nick Robinson (Street Stock); Wyatt Harrar, Travis Rigante, Kamdin Maby and Eric Boyd (XCel 600 Modified); D.J. Forbes, John Scarborough and Cheyenna Ling (NY6A Sprints); Dylan Robinson and Dave Jenkins (FWD Four Cylinders).
Racing resumes at Thunder Mountain Speedway next Saturday, May 14 with Modifieds offering $1,500 to the winner, Open Sportsman, Crate 602 Sportsman, Rookie Sportsman, Street Stocks, XCel 600 Modifieds and FWD Four Cylinders.
Pit gates will open at 4 p.m. Hot laps begin at 6:20 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m.
Adult grandstand admission is $12. Seniors (ages 65 and over) and Students (ages 10-17) pay $10. Kids 9 and under are FREE. Pit admission is $30, with no license required.
For Thunder Mountain Speedway general information and a complete schedule, visit www.thundermtnspeedway.com. The speedway office number is 607.657.8202. On race day, call 607.849.7899. The speedway e-mail is thundermtnspeedway@gmail.com. “Like” Thunder Mountain Speedway on Facebook or follow @thundermtnspeed on Twitter.
Thunder Mountain Speedway is located at 91 Hunts Corners Road Center Lisle, NY 13797, approximately 25 miles north of Binghamton. The three-eighths-mile clay oval features hillside concrete seating, free parking and camping, a variety of concession items and novelties, a family environment and more.
MAY 7, 2016 QUICK RESULTS SUMMARY
Modified Feature Finish (30 laps): CHAD COOK, Alan Barker, Colton Wilson, Nick Rochinski, Tyler Siri, Danny Creeden, Barry White, Bob Hamm Jr., Ken Titus, Jim Britt, Byron Worthing, John Morse, Ryan Jordan, Jim LaRock, Dan Humes, Dan Loiodice, Lee DeWitt, Billy Spoonhower, Nick Nye, Brent Wilcox, Chris Ostrowsky, Jeremy Smith, Mike Clapperton, Todd Hayward, Brian Malcolm, Sam Allen.
Open Sportsman Feature Finish (20 laps): BRIAN WHITE, J.R. Fulper, Kevin Jordan, Eddie White, Geordie Decker, Chance Spoonhower, Travis Smith, Larry Hillis, Bobby Trapper Jr., Dan Burman, Cole Price, Larry Mekic, Dayton Coney, Duane Knapp, Greg Morgan, Thomas Ferguson, Chris Jordan, Jason Tuttle, Daniel Burman, Aaron Shelton, Phil Goetschius, Tommy Eiklor, Tim French.
Did Not Start: Kenny Hammond
Crate 602 Sportsman Feature Finish (20 laps): SHAYNE SPOONHOWER, Daryl Krebs, Matt Brewer, Dale Welty, Tom Collins, Mike Decker, Mike Nagel Jr., Russell Hendrickson, Tyler Ward, Dustin Jordan, Bob Stahl, Gregg Turner, Isaiah Forward, Brian Mady, Hilary Ward, Kinser Hill, James McIntyre, Kimberlee Morgan, Tyler Keener, Pat Jordan, Devon Zona, Rich Powell, Will Shields, Lee Foland, Todd Hayward, Kailee Dimorier.
Rookie Sportsman Feature Finish (15 laps): DAN ALLEN, Ryan Alsdorf, Colby Hendrickson, Jason Beebe, Tim French Jr., Art Priscott, Kerri Cook, Anthony Rundell, Connor Spoonhower, Justin Cobb, Nick St. John.
Street Stock Feature Finish (20 laps): STEVEN DEINHARDT, Jonathan Carpenter, Nick Robinson, Brett Barrett, Doug Stack Jr., Shane Wolf Jr., K.J. Yager, Gene Sharpsteen, Trevor Dudley, Earl Zimmer, Jacob Fowlston, T.J. Frost, Rich Sharpsteen, Brad Butcher, Eric Boynton, Donald Russell, Jon White, Rick Sinsabaugh, John Hoover.
Did Not Start: Matt Spencer
XCel 600 Modified Feature Finish (20 laps): DOUG WINDHAUSEN, Travis Rigante, Kamdin Maby, Joe McCabe, Chris Kithcart, Eric Boyd, Dakota Andersen, Will Eastman, Jamie Frantz, Grant Schibilia, Bailey Boyd, Justin Shiner, Paul DeRuyter, Dana Davis, Travis Fichter, Dusty Decker, Hunter Diehl, Wyatt Harrar, John Burnside, Damon Henry, Bob Rowback, Norm Whittemore, Tom Shiner, Abby Price, Billie Koch, Jacob Waibel.
Did Not Start: Chris Jordan, Luke Harrar
NY6A Micro-Sprint Feature Finish (20 laps): BEN KYSOR, Nate Hendrix, John Smith, Tyler Walker, D.J. Forbes, Johnny Scarborough, Jared Zionkowski, Jacob Lewczyk, Mickey Ciliberto, Brandyn Griffin, Charles Hunt, John Kreckman, Cheyenna Ling, Gary Kratzer, Lisa Kratzer, Wyatt Walker, Terry Griffin, Danny Knoll, Matt Smith, Katy Knoll, Clayton Brewer III, Bob Finley.
FWD Four Cylinder Feature Finish (15 laps): MICHAEL ROBINSON, Keith Potter, Dave Jenkins, Chris Taylor, Kyle Rogers, Mitch Gardiner, Guy Raymond Jr., Keith Tesiero Jr., Keith Tesiero Sr., Mackenzie Gibson, Clint Kadarondak, Ryan Wood.
