One To Remember: Nick Rochinski Earns First Thunder Mountain Victory In Spectacular Season Opener; Kevin Jordan (Open Sportsman), Chad Cook (Crate 602 Sportsman), Rudy Roth (Rookie), Steven Deinhardt (Street Stock), John Ayre (XCel 600 Modified) & Dylan Robinson (Four Cylinder) Also Triumph As 118 Cars Fill Pit Area
CENTER LISLE, NY – Nick Rochinski will never forget his breakthrough victory at Thunder Mountain Speedway.
Rochinski, of Dickson City, Pa., registered his first-career big-block/small-block Modified checkered at the Center Lisle, N.Y., three-eighths-mile oval in spectacular fashion, outdueling Mike Mahaney in a spirited, back-and-forth battle to win Saturday night’s Waymart Building Center/Sharkey’s Fuels Season Opener.
Rochinski earned $1,992 from the speedway and an additional $100 cash bonus in Victory Lane from race sponsors Chuck Grimm (Waymart Building Center of Waymart, Pa.) and Rocky Rosetti (Sharkey’s Fuels of South Canaan, Pa.) following the 30-lap main event.
Despite brisk temperatures, Thunder Mountain management pressed on with the Opening Night program. A hearty crowd watched some 118 race cars do battle on a fast, tacky racing surface.
Rochinski, who ran semi-regularly at the track last year, earned every penny of his winner’s share in an all-out battle with Mahaney through lapped traffic.
“This car was awesome tonight,” he exclaimed after exiting his Jeff Murray-powered No. 20R Teo-Pro car. “We don’t have any sponsors; we’re a family team, but we put together a good piece here. I have to thank my brother Kyle and my crew for all the work they put into getting this car together over the winter.”
Mahaney shot into the lead of the 25-car field at the start of the main event. Rochinski, however, powered around the outside to take command on a second-lap restart. Rochinski and Mahaney broke away from the field and by lap 10 were weaving through lapped traffic.
Mahaney, driving Jim Shear’s Olum’s-sponsored No. 77X, slipped past Rochinski on the 13th lap. Not to be denied, Rochinski erased Mahaney’s gap shortly after the halfway mark.
With just nine laps remaining and the crowd on its feet, Rochinski shot the gap on the inside of Mahaney to regain the command in turn two.
“Sometimes in lapped traffic it’s better to be second than leading,” Rochinski asserted. “It was a lot of fun to race with Mike (Mahaney). It was hard, clean racing.”
Rochinski etched his name in the Thunder Mountain record books as a Modified winner. Mahaney, of King Ferry, N.Y., settled for runner-up pay. Chris Stull of Cortland, N.Y., placed a steady third, followed by 11th-starter Brett Tonkin of Carbondale, Pa., and Billy Spoonhower of Berkshire, N.Y., advancing from 12th.
Defending track champion Brent Wilcox of Binghamton, N.Y., just missed a top-five finish, climbing from 14th on the grid.
Speedsville, N.Y.’s Kevin Jordan righted his trend of early season bad luck with a victory in the 20-lap Open Sportsman main event. Jordan, who won the night’s first heat race, led the entire distance to pick up a payday of $700, plus a $100 bonus from the night’s sponsors.
Eric Leet came on strong late in the event for second. Chris Jordan finished third after starting seventh. Brad Szulewski, an invader, started 15th in a rare Thunder Mountain appearance and placed fourth, while Kenny Hammond completed the front five. Hammond had run as high as second, got shuffled back to ninth on a restart, and recovered nicely for fifth.
Calling himself a “one-race wonder” Chad Cook of Deposit, N.Y., was the Crate 602 Sportsman victor. Cook was shaking down the No. 22K mount he built for his daughter prior to her taking the wheel next weekend. Cook and Pat Jordan spent nearly the entire 20-lap event battling for the lead.
Cook ultimately cleared Jordan with five laps remaining and drove on to the win. Shayne Spoonhower, Daryl Krebs and Frank Burnell placed third through fifth, respectively.
Making the long tow from Sullivan County to compete on Saturday, Bandolero graduate Rudy Roth won the 12-lap Rookie Sportsman feature in convincing fashion.
Deposit, N.Y.’s Steven Deinhardt opened the Barrett’s Race Cars & Components Street Stock season in Victory Lane. It wasn’t, however, a walk-away win for the division’s defending champion. Deinhardt was challenged by a persistent Earl Zimmer during the race’s second half, with Zimmer’s No. 2EZ working the inside line on Deinhardt’s No. 73.
Despite a caution with two laps remaining that regrouped the field, Deinhardt held off Zimmer, Kurt Decker, Rich Sharpsteen and Kevin Garland.
John Ayre of Mountaintop, Pa., had never seen Thunder Mountain Speedway prior to Saturday night. But he is now a fan. Ayre, driving forward from fourth starting position, won the 20-lap XCel 600 Modified main event after a thrilling three-car battle for the lead early on.
Ayre, who complimented the track surface and noted the sensation of speed, bested Will Eastman, Bud Leizear, A.J. Miller and Joe McCabe.
Dylan Robinson of Harpursville, N.Y., invaded and won a competitive 15-lap Four Cylinder feature. Robinson outraced his brother, Mike Robinson, Don Doster Jr., Frank Kennedy and Nick Kennedy.
Racing resumes at Thunder Mountain with a two-day weekend on May 2-3.
Saturday’s program includes Modifieds, Open Sportsman, Crate 602 Sportsman, Rookie Sportsman, Street Stocks, Four Cylinders, plus a “tour race” for the XCel 600 Modifieds and the Empire Lightning Sprints 1000cc Mini-Sprints. Gates open at 4 p.m., with hot laps at 6:20 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.
Saturday grandstand admission is $12 (Adults), $10 for Seniors (ages 65 and over) and Students (ages 10-17), with Kids 9 and under free. Pit admission is $30, with no license required.
On Sunday, the speedway hosts its first-ever ‘Small Car Showcase’ featuring NY6A winged 600cc Micro-Sprints, wingless 600cc Micro-Sprints, 270cc Micro-Sprints, Empire Lightning Sprints 1000cc Mini-Sprints, XCel 600 Modifieds and Slingshots. Gates open at noon, with a drivers’ meeting at 2:30 p.m., hot laps at 3 p.m. and racing at 4 p.m.
Sunday grandstand admission is $10 for Adults, $8 for Seniors (ages 65 and over) and Students (ages 10-17) and 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.
THUNDER THOUGHTS: The Thunder Mountain pit area was literally jammed to capacity for the opener, with late arrivals searching for a parking spot. The well-attended opener bodes well for a strong 2015 season on the Mountain in all divisions….
Management pressed the show through quickly on a cold night. The first heat race hit the track at 6:57 p.m., three minutes prior to the scheduled start time, and the Modified feature was in the books at 9:52 p.m., with the entire program done at 10:30 p.m. despite the huge car count….
New for the ’15 campaign, both the Crate 602 Sportsman and XCel 600 Modified divisions turned out in full force for the lid-lifter. A field of 19 XCel 600 Modifieds and 18 Crate 602 Sportsman took part in their respective “first-ever” Saturday events….
Engine issues forced Byron Worthing, Ryan Jordan and Mike Nagel Jr. to substitute rides for the Modified feature event….
Event sponsors Waymart Building Center and Sharkey’s Fuels brought more than 20 guests to enjoy the recently renovated sponsor/VIP tower. The speedway provided a fully catered meal for the Opening Night marketing partners. The active sponsor team also handed out $400 in bonus money at their discretion to top performers during the night….
The Modified field has a strong rookie crop that includes Butch Green, Colton Wilson, Steve Wren, Chance Spoonhower, Marshall Balzer and more….
Sam Folk made his debut as the Thunder Mountain head starter for the ’15 season….
With a $500 winner’s share weekly courtesy of Barrett’s Race Cars & Components, the Street Stock division’s 22-car turnout was a Southern Tier leader….
Qualifying heat winners were Chad Cook, Mike Mahaney and Brian Malcolm (Modified); Kevin Jordan and Kenny Hammond (Sportsman); Pat Jordan and Chad Cook (Crate 602 Sportsman); Rudy Roth (Rookie Sportsman); Tom Savercool, Steven Deinhart and Matt Spencer (Street Stock); Rob Compton, Joe McCabe and Brian Mady (XCel 600 Modified); and Gabe Forward and Mike Robinson (Four Cylinder)….
WAYMART BUILDING CENTER/SHARKEY’S FUELS RACE SUMMARY – APRIL 25, 2015
Modified Feature Finish (30 Laps): NICK ROCHINSKI ($1,992), Mike Mahaney, Chris Stull, Brett Tonkin, Billy Spoonhower, Brent Wilcox, Steve Cummings, Colton Wilson, Rusty Smith, Nick Petrilak, Ryan Jordan, Dan Humes, Chad Cook, Brian Malcolm, Tom McGurrin, Ken Titus, Marshall Balzer, Joey Colsten, Chance Spoonhower, Tom Collins Jr., Butch Green, Marc Goodwin, Byron Worthing, Steve Wren Jr., Mike Nagel Jr.
Open Sportsman Feature Finish (20 Laps): KEVIN JORDAN, Eric Leet, Chris Jordan, Brad Szulewski, Kenny Hammond, Tommy Eiklor, Travis Smith, Ricky Ross Jr., Mike Wilmot, Cory Pike, Jake Fowlston, Dan Burman, Nick Mady, Geordie Decker, Larry Hillis.
Crate 602 Sportsman Feature Finish (20 Laps): CHAD COOK, Pat Jordan, Shayne Spoonhower, Daryl Krebs, Frank Burnell, David Doig Jr., Randy Gates, Fran Hilton, T.J. Frost, Brian Mady, Todd Hayward, Dan Pease, Eric Boynton, Isaiah Forward, Todd Titus, Dustin Jordan, Chris Mangiarelli.
Did Not Start: Kyle Pierce
Rookie Sportsman Feature Finish (12 Laps): RUDY ROTH, Tyler Keener, Shawn Davis, Kenny Benjamin.
Street Stock Feature Finish (20 Laps): STEVEN DEINHARDT, Earl Zimmer, Kurt Decker, Rich Sharpsteen, Kevin Garland, Matt Spencer, Doug Stack, Clayton Force, Jonathan Carpenter, Tom Hampton, Dan Force, Brett Barrett, Tom Savercool, Kinser Hill, Trevor Dudley, Rick Brown, Jason Beebe, Bobby Hall, Don Russell, Mike Chilson, Rick Sinsabaugh, Justin Hall.
XCel 600 Modified Feature Finish (20 Laps): JOHN AYRE, Will Eastman, Bud Leizear, A.J. Miller, Joe McCabe, Kamdin Maby, Rob Compton, Jamie Frantz, Doug Windhausen, Eric Boyd, Jimmy Ayre, Dakota Anderson, Brian Mady, Charles Tibbitts, Bailey Boyd, Nick Chase, Kyle Fallis, Mike Mahaney.
Did Not Start: Lee McGurrin
Four Cylinder Feature Finish (15 Laps): DYLAN ROBINSON, Mike Robinson, Don Doster Jr., Frank Kennedy, Nick Kennedy, Guy Raymond Jr., Chris Taylor, Clayton Force, Don Cole, C.J. Whitehead, Brian Nornhold, Colin Davey, Gabe Forward.
Did Not Start: Kenny Underwood, Keith Potter
