Upswing: Chad Cook Turns Around Early Struggles, Wins First Of 2015 In Thunder Mountain Modified Action; Eric Leet (Sportsman), Adam Hilton (Crate 602 Sportsman), Dominic Fuller (Rookie), Steven Deinhardt (Street Stock), Will Eastman (XCel 600 Modified) & Dylan Robinson (Four Cylinder) Also Visit Victory Lane

Upswing: Chad Cook Turns Around Early Struggles, Wins First Of 2015 In Thunder Mountain Modified Action; Eric Leet (Sportsman), Adam Hilton (Crate 602 Sportsman), Dominic Fuller (Rookie), Steven Deinhardt (Street Stock), Will Eastman (XCel 600 Modified) & Dylan Robinson (Four Cylinder) Also Visit Victory Lane

CENTER LISLE, NY – Chad Cook broke free from his early season struggles on Saturday night at Thunder Mountain Speedway.

Cook, a former champion from Deposit, N.Y., drove to his first big-block/small-block Modified score of the 2015 season at the Center Lisle three-eighths-mile oval, fending off a persistent Brian Malcolm to win the 30-lap main event. Cook earned $1,200 for his efforts driving Mike Costello’s No. 222.

Another massive crowd filled the Thunder Mountain concrete grandstand for Saturday’s program, contested under picture-perfect weather conditions.

“We were off here the first couple weeks,” Cook admitted. “We figured some stuff out but the car still wasn’t perfect yet. I had to be careful how I drove it because it would go from loose to tight. I knew Brian (Malcolm) was right there.”

Cook took command on the second lap of a rough-and-tumble main event from pole starter Ken Titus. Meanwhile, a battle for second raged behind him. Malcolm’s Chris Clark and Tom Coar No. 119 Troyer emerged in the runner-up spot following a lap-nine restart when he cleared his teammate, defending track champion Brent Wilcox.

Malcolm, in between cautions, was able to draw in on race leader Cook. On the 17th lap he pulled to the inside of Cook in turns three and four. However, Cook was able to repel the advance.

Malcolm made another run at Cook during the race’s last three laps but was unable to unseat the leader.

Cook put his name on the board as a ’15 feature winner on the Mountain, the third different victor in three Modified races run this year. Malcolm, of Lake Ariel, Pa., settled for second. Point leader Mike Mahaney of King Ferry, N.Y., drove Jim Shear’s No. 77X to a third-place result.

Defending track champion Wilcox of Binghamton, N.Y., recovered from involvement in a lap-12 homestretch tangle to finish fourth, marching through traffic in the race’s second half. Making his first start of the season, Mike Clapperton of Sidney, N.Y., drove from 20th to finish fifth.

Point leader Eric Leet has been a model of consistency in the Open Sportsman division. On Saturday, the Marathon, N.Y., driver earned the biggest win of his career, taking a $1,000 payday home from the 20-lap main. Leet inherited the top spot on the third lap when Ricky Ross Jr. slowed.

Billy Spoonhower, making his first Sportsman start of the year, cut through the field to finish second. Invader Brandon Walters drove from 15th to third, having completed repairs following a heat-race collision with an infield marker tire. Tommy Eiklor finished fourth and Randy Green completed the front five in a rare Thunder Mountain start.

Making the long drive from Buffalo, N.Y., worthwhile, Adam Hilton topped the 20-lap Crate 602 Sportsman headliner. Hilton inherited the lead moments before the halfway mark when Pat Jordan and Shayne Spoonhower, who had been trading the lead, tangled entering turn three.

From that point on, Hilton led the event to win in his first start of the year on the Mountain driving the No. 3 car normally piloted by his father, Fran. Daryl Krebs, Lanson Albanese, Rich Powell and Geoff Powell trailed.

Dominic Fuller was an unlikely winner of the 15-lap Rookie Sportsman division. The Clay, N.Y., driver fell behind early, but was able to surge ahead inside the final five laps. Opening Night winner Rudy Roth overcame an early spin to chase Fuller across the line.

In a finish that electrified the crowd, Steven Deinhardt of Deposit, N.Y., narrowly edged out Jonathan Carpenter for his third straight checkered in the Barrett’s Race Cars & Components Street Stock division. Deinhardt, who started ninth, took the lead on lap nine from rookie Trevor Dudley. However, Carpenter kept Deinhardt honest in the late stages of the 20-lap event.

With two laps remaining, Carpenter was able to pull even inside Deinhardt’s No. 73. Sparks flew as the duo raced under the white flag. Still side-by-side entering the final two turns, contact was made coming to the checkered. Deinhardt literally won by a nose over Carpenter, Don Russell, Rich Sharpsteen and Brett Barrett.

Will Eastman completed a weekend sweep of XCel 600 Modified competition in the Southern Tier. The Oneonta, N.Y., driver, who also won at I-88 Speedway in Afton, N.Y., on Friday, took the 20-lap main in convincing fashion. Eastman took over the lead on lap two and ran away with the event. Brian Mady, Tom Shiner, Abbey Price and A.J. Miller trailed.

Harpursville, N.Y., driver Dylan Robinson went three-for-three in Four Cylinder competition this season. Robinson, after a back-and-forth battle with Kenny Underwood for the lead, assumed command for good with two laps remaining when Underwood collided with a lapped car in turn two. Underwood was able to continue for second, followed by Todd Stanton, Rich Wagner and Phil Burns.

Racing resumes on Saturday, May 16 with a complete program featuring Modifieds, Open Sportsman, Crate 602 Sportsman, Rookie Sportsman, Street Stocks, XCel 600 Modifieds and Four Cylinders. The SRP Sprints make their first visit of the season to the track, as well.

Gates open at 4 p.m., with hot laps at 6:20 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. Adult grandstand admission is $12. Seniors (ages 65 and up) 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.

THUNDER THOUGHTS: Again, the Thunder Mountain pit area was bulging for the third Saturday show of the ’15 season. Some 110 race cars were in competition with no added divisions on the program. Racing was completed by 11 p.m. despite the busy card….

Kevin Bates made his debut in the track’s Modified division and raced from deep in the field to sixth at the finish. The Lake Ariel, Pa., driver plans to compete at a number of different venues this season….

Mike Clapperton was impressive in his drive from 20th-to-fifth in the Modified event. Clapperton was a very late arrival after driving to Rochester, N.Y., during the day and installing the engine in his No. M16 at 5 p.m. Clapperton had lost an engine on practice night at I-88 earlier this spring….

The Dylan Robinson/Kenny Underwood Four Cylinder battle provided thrills for the fans with the pair swapping the lead back and forth. The Four Cylinder division expanded with the addition of a half-dozen newcomers….

Qualifying heat winners were Chris Stull, Brian Malcolm and Chad Cook (Modified); Ricky Ross and Tommy Eiklor (Open Sportsman); Pat Jordan and Daryl Krebs (Crate 602 Sportsman); Dominic Fuller and Shawn Davis (Rookie Sportsman); Matt Spencer, Donald Russell and Brett Barrett (Street Stock); Doug Windhausen and Brian Mady (XCel 600 Modifieds); Kenny Underwood and Dylan Robinson (Four Cylinder)….

MAY 9, 2015 RACE SUMMARY

Modified Feature Finish (30 Laps): CHAD COOK, Brian Malcolm, Mike Mahaney, Brent Wilcox, Mike Clapperton, Kevin Bates, Chris Stull, Ken Titus, Colton Wilson, Mike Nagel Jr., Steve Cummings, Billy Spoonhower, Nick Rochinski, Tom McGurrin, Marshall Balzer, Chance Spoonhower, Marc Goodwin, Byron Worthing, Mike Wilbur, Ryan Jordan.

Did Not Start: Steve Wren

Open Sportsman Feature Finish (20 Laps): ERIC LEET ($1,000), Billy Spoonhower, Brandon Walters, Tommy Eiklor, Randy Green, Chris Jordan, Kenny Hammond, Nick Mady, Kevin Jordan, Travis Smith, Dan Burman, Jacob Fowlston, Ricky Ross Jr., Geordie Decker, Larry Hillis.

Crate 602 Sportsman Feature Finish (20 Laps): ADAM HILTON, Daryl Krebs, Lanson Albanese, Rich Powell, Geoff Powell, Pat Jordan, Shayne Spoonhower, Randy Gates, Dan Pease, Dustin Jordan, Joshua Underwood, Isaiah Forward.

Rookie Sportsman Feature Finish (15 Laps): DOMINIC FULLER, Rudy Roth, Tyler Keener, Shawn Davis, Kerri Cook, Kinser Hill, Terry Falter.

Did Not Start: Kailee DiMorier, Kenny Benjamin, Dayton Koney, Hunter Pease.

Street Stock Feature Finish (20 Laps): STEVEN DEINHARDT, Jonathan Carpenter, Don Russell, Rich Sharpsteen, Brett Barrett, John Cooper Jr., Matt Spencer, Earl Zimmer, Trevor Dudley, Dan Force, Bob Buono, Mike Chilson, Doug Stack, Levi Davis, Kevin Garland, Shawn Boynton, Chuck Murray.

Did Not Start: Bobby Hall, Rick Sinsabaugh.

XCel 600 Modified Feature Finish (20 Laps): WILL EASTMAN, Brian Mady, Tom Shiner, Abbey Price, A.J. Miller, Joe McCabe, Doug Windhausen, Eric Boyd, Matthew Colwell, Dana Davis, Bailey Boyd, Nick Chase, Dakota Anderson, Kamdin Maby.

Four Cylinder Feature Finish (15 Laps): DYLAN ROBINSON, Kenny Underwood, Todd Stanton, Rich Wagner, Phil Burns, Guy Raymond Jr., Lee Wagner, Kevin Whitman, Chris Taylor, Brian Nornhold, Kyle Rogers, Collin Davey, Don Cole, C.J. Wheeland, Mike Taylor, Ryan Wood.

Did Not Start: Clayton Force.