Thunder Mountain Speedway News September 8, 2014
News from Thunder Mountain Speedway
Media Contact: Brett Deyo – thundermtnspeedway@gmail.com or 845.728.2781
For Immediate Release/Sept. 8, 2014
Billy Spoonhower Switches Cars, Earns $1,750 Season Championship Night Modified Triumph After Epic Battle With Mike Clapperton; Jordan, Shayne Spoonhower, Ward, Carpenter, Searles, Cole, Morse, Mills, Forward & O’Hara Score On Busy Thunder Mountain Night; 106 Cars Jam Pit Area!
CENTER LISLE, NY – Billy Spoonhower annexed his second Modified feature win of the season at Thunder Mountain Speedway on Sunday night, while Brent Wilcox capped his ultra-consistent 2014 campaign with the track championship in the big-block/small-block Mod ranks.
After rain postponed the final points-paying event of the season at the Center Lisle three-eighths-mile oval for 24 hours, a beautiful Sunday set the stage for a busy night of racing. Some 106 race cars filled the pit area for Season Championship Night.
Berkshire, N.Y.’s Spoonhower earned $1,750 for the 30-lap Modified triumph after a back-and-forth battle with Mike Clapperton. The $1,500 posted purse was increased by Sharkey’s Fuels of South Canaan, Pa. Sharkey’s owner ‘Rocky’ Rosetti was on hand for Sunday’s event and put up the extra $250.
Chad Cook led the opening three laps from his pole starting position before Spoonhower, working the inside lane, took command at lap four. Meanwhile, veteran Mike Clapperton found a home in the extreme outside lane. At lap six, he took over second.
Building momentum with each lap, Clapperton powered his No. M16 past Spoonhower to take command on lap 14: however, he wasn’t able to shake Spoonhower’s No. 34, which remained on Clapperton’s left-rear quarter-panel in a fan-pleasing side-by-side battle.
With lapped traffic looming, Spoonhower darted to Clapperton’s inside to reclaim the lead at lap 28, besting the Sidney, N.Y., veteran by a car-length at the line.
Spoonhower was running his Sportsman championship-winning car outfitted with his Modified powerplant. He made the switch in preparation for the higher-paying season-ending events in the region.
“The best thing I ever did was buy this car from Jim Gabriel,” an elated Spoonhower said. “It works. I saw Mike (Clapperton) never really got away from me. It looked like his tire was going away at the end.”
Clapperton settled for second, followed by track champion Brent Wilcox of Binghamton, N.Y., a three-time winner who never finished worse than seventh all season driving the Tom Coar and Chris Clark No. 27. Wilcox led the point standings all season after a win in the May 10 Season Opener. His previous title came in 2006.
A returning Mike Mahaney of King Ferry, N.Y., drove the Jim Shear-owned No. 77X to a fourth-place finish and Kirkwood, N.Y., driver Ken Titus completed the front five in Don Stark’s No. 9s.
A season of misfortune ended for Chris Jordan in the 20-lap Sportsman main. Jordan, plagued by misfortune in 2014, finally reached Victory Lane, earning a $700 payday.
Jordan briefly led the event on lap four, only to turn the top spot back to pole starter Larry Hillis one lap later. At one point dropping to third, Jordan’s No. 22J came to life in the outside lane following the race’s final restart on lap 14. He swept past Larry Hillis with four laps remaining and drove to a popular win.
Hillis, Butch Green, Eric Leet and Chance Spoonhower trailed at the finish.
An 11th-place finish was enough for Billy Spoonhower to earn the Sportsman championship.
In Rookie Sportsman competition, Shayne Spoonhower of Berkshire, N.Y., secured the divisional title with his 10th win of the season in the regularly scheduled 12-lap event, while first-time visitor Tyler Ward of Norwich, N.Y., annexed the Aug. 16 heldover event.
Jonathan Carpenter believed his chances for a Street Stock victory were over when he went to the pits following an opening lap tangle in the 20-lap main. However, the Hallstead, Pa., driver wasn’t to be denied. Carpenter’s No. J12 sliced through traffic, taking the lead from Earl Zimmer on the 14th circuit for his second win of the season on the Mountain. He earned $500.
Zimmer, 2014 Street Stock champion Steven Deinhardt (who also pitted early), Kinser Hill and Rich Sharpsteen finished second through fifth, respectively.
Matt Cole translated his first Thunder Mountain appearance into a triumph in the 15-lap IMCA-style Modified main event. The Binghamton, N.Y., driver cleared Craig Ward for the lead on the 11th lap. It was retribution for Cole, who clipped an inside marker tire in the heldover event battling for the lead.
Dan Searles won his first-ever IMCA-style Modified feature in the rain-postponed 15-lap event from Aug. 16. Searles took over a lead he would not relinquish on a lap-six restart.
Jason Tuttle secured the IMCA-style Modified championship.
In Pure Stock competition, Buck Mills utilized a last-lap pass to win the 12-lap main event, while Michael Morse rode the topside of the track to triumph in the Aug. 16 heldover 12-lapper.
Newark Valley, N.Y.’s Morse was declared the Pure Stock point title winner.
A dominant year for Bouckville, N.Y., teenager Isaiah Forward was capped on Sunday. Forward swept the 15-lap Four Cylinder events, the heldover Aug. 16 show and the regularly scheduled main, to secure the Four Cylinder championship. Kenny Underwood chased Forward across the line in both events.
Doug O’Hara of Sherburne, N.Y., won the two Empire Sport Truck main events, while Sidney, N.Y.’s Brandon Clapperton registered his first title in the division.
THUNDER THOUGHTS: Officials hustled through a busy program that included 13 feature events. The Modified main was completed by 9:25 p.m., with the entire show in the books by 10:34 p.m. A respectable crowd turned out for the rain-postponed program….
It was a memorable weekend for the Jordan family, with Chris Jordan taking Sunday’s Sportsman triumph and brothers Kevin and Pat taking the Open and Crate 602 wins Saturday at Skyline (N.Y.) Raceway….
Mike Mahaney hopped into the Jim Shear No. 77x to help dial the car in for Penn Can (Pa.) Speedway on Tuesday and the Season Championship event at N.Y.’s I-88 Speedway Friday….
The 16-car IMCA-style Modified field was the largest of the season at Thunder Mountain….
The Modified win for Billy Spoonhower was the second of his career in the track’s headline division….
Heat winners were Billy Spoonhower and Chad Cook (Modified); Larry Hillis, Eric Leet and Colton Wilson (Sportsman); Joshua Underwood (Rookie Sportsman); Craig Ward and Dan Searles (IMCA-style Modified); Daryl Krebs and Ricky Davis Sr. (Street Stock); Buck Mills Jr. and Michael Morse (Pure Stock); Bob Crandall (Empire Sport Truck); and Kenny Underwood and Isaiah Forward (Four Cylinder).
Racing resumes at Thunder Mountain Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 14 with the MjH Oilfield Wade Decker Memorial organized by the Decker family.
The big-block/small-block Modifieds headline the Wade Decker Memorial with a 50-lap event paying $5,000 to the winner (with $25 “Gambler’s Fee” posted, $3,500 without) and $250 to take the green flag. The Sportsman will run a 40-lap main with a hefty $1,250 winner’s share (with $20 “Gambler’s Fee” posted, $750 without) and $100 to take the green and the Street Stocks will take part in a 30-lap feature paying $1,000 to the winner (with $15 “Gambler’s Fee” posted, $750 without) and $120 to take the green, honoring Denny Decker. The Street Stock portion of the program has support from Cartrette Logging.
Doug Borger’s XCel 600 Modifieds are also on the card for the special event with a touring series 20-lap main.
All divisions will draw for their starting positions with a redraw of top qualifiers for the main events.
Gates will open at 3 p.m. with a drivers’ meeting at 6 p.m. Hot laps will kick off at 5 p.m. and racing begins at 6 p.m.
Grandstand admission is $20 for Adults, $18 for Seniors (65 and over), $15 for Students (ages 10-17) and FREE for kids nine and under. Pit admission is $35, with no license required.
Those returning with ticket stubs from the Aug. 31 ‘Sprint Car Saturday’ will receive $2 off grandstand admission for the Wade Decker Memorial.
For rules, 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.
SEPTEMBER 7, 2014 SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT RACE SUMMARY
Modified Feature Finish (30 Laps): BILLY SPOONHOWER ($1,750), Mike Clapperton, Brent Wilcox, Mike Mahaney, Ken Titus, Ryan Jordan, Bob Henry Jr., Brian Malcolm, Steve Cummings, Mike Ward, Steve Babicek, Byron Worthing, Chad Cook, Chris Stull, John Morse, Roy Shields.
2014 Modified Champion: Brent Wilcox
American Racer/Lias Tire Certificate: Ken Titus
Sportsman Feature Finish (20 Laps): CHRIS JORDAN, Larry Hillis, Butch Green, Eric Leet, Chance Spoonhower, Travis Smith, Lee Dewitt, Lanson Albanese, Nick Nye, Colton Wilson, Billy Spoonhower, Rob Compton, Geordie Decker, Marshall Balzer, Chad Miller, Shayne Spoonhower, Jake Fowlston, Fran Hilton, Andrew Ferguson, Kevin Jordan.
2014 Sportsman Champion: Billy Spoonhower
American Racer/Lias Tire $85 Certificate: Chris Jordan
Street Stock Feature Finish (20 Laps): JONATHAN CARPENTER, Earl Zimmer, Steven Deinhardt, Kinser Hill, Rich Sharpsteen, Jason Rhodes, Daryl Krebs, Kevin Boynton, Kyle Stark, Jason Beebe, Kevin Garland, Ricky Davis Sr., Cody Brown, Gary Noe, Tom Savercool, Dan Force.
2014 Street Stock Champion: Steven Deinhardt
Rookie Sportsman Feature Finish (12 Laps): SHAYNE SPOONHOWER, Tyler Ward, Cole Price, Dave Doig Jr., Joshua Underwood, Nick Enson, Tyler Keener, Brett Neely.
Aug. 16 Rookie Sportsman Feature Finish (12 Laps): TYLER WARD, Cole Price, Shayne Spoonhower, Tyler Keener, Josh Underwood, David Dowd Jr., Brett Neely.
Did Not Start: Coty Bishop.
2014 Rookie Sportsman Champion: Shayne Spoonhower
IMCA-Style Modified Feature Finish (15 Laps): MATT COLE, Matt Jones, Kurt Decker, Craig Ward, Jason Tuttle, Mike Stoddard, Justin Slezak, Tyler Stoddard, Kenny Winn, Dan Searles, Mike Wilbur, Mike Wilbur Jr., Tim Vandermark, Terry Falter, Lee Folland, Tyler Belcher.
Aug. 16 IMCA-Style Modified Feature Finish (15 Laps): DAN SEARLES, Matt Jones, Tim Vandermark, Kurt Decker, Jason Tuttle, Tyler Stoddard, Matt Cole, Mike Wilbur, Lee Folland, Mike Stoddard, Craig Ward, Justin Slezak, Kenny Winn, Tyler Belcher, Terry Falter, Mike Wilbur Jr.
2014 IMCA-Style Modified Champion: Jason Tuttle
Pure Stock Feature Finish (12 Laps): BUCK MILLS, Tom Hampton, Michael Morse, Gary Cleveland, Jeff Wilcox, Dylan Gaylord, Levi Davis, Billy Shoemaker, Bubba Peters.
Did Not Start: Richard Hurlburt
Aug. 16 Pure Stock Feature Finish (12 Laps): MICHAEL MORSE, Bubba Peters, Tom Hampton, Gary Cleveland, Jeff Wilcox, Richard Hurlburt, Levi Davis, Buck Mills.
Did Not Start: Mitch Quail Jr.
2014 Pure Stock Champion: Michael Morse
Empire Sport Truck Feature Finish (6 Laps): DOUG O’HARA, Ralph Cuozzo, Bob Crandall, Brandon Clapperton.
Aug. 16 Empire Sport Truck Feature Finish (12 Laps): DOUG O’HARA, Ralph Cuozzo, Bob Crandall, Brandon Clapperton.
2014 Empire Sport Truck Champion: Brandon Clapperton
Four Cylinder Feature Finish (15 Laps): ISAIAH FORWARD, Kenny Underwood, Rich Wagner, Mark Wheeler, Ray Oakley Sr., Mackenzie Gibson, Guy Raymond Jr., Phil Burns, Mike Taylor, Jeremiah Cox, Clint Kadarondak, Jeremy Hale, Damien Bausenwein, Quinn Shay, Eric Rowley.
Aug. 16 Four Cylinder Feature Finish (15 Laps): ISAIAH FORWARD, Kenny Underwood, Mark Wheeler, Jeremie Hale, Phil Burns, Guy Raymond Jr., Rick Sinsabaugh, Chris Taylor, Mackenzie Gibson, Ray Oakley Sr., Mike Taylor, Rich Wagner, Clint Kadarondak, Ryan Wood, Thomas Ferguson, Keith Potter, Lee Wagner.
2014 Four Cylinder Champion: Isaiah Forward
