TANNEYHILL, MARTZ, SHANNON, GREELEY REPEAT WINNERS; RALSTON LATEST FIRST TIME WINNER AT THUNDER MOUNTAIN SPEEDWAY
Knoxdale, PA
August 8, 2008
After missing the bulk of the scattered rain showers in the area, Thunder Mountain Speedway kept its near perfect record in tact with its 14th of 15 scheduled events thus far. Dwayne Tanneyhill picked up his 2nd Late Model win of the season and carved into Matt Gaston’s point lead while Chad Greeley extended his Thunderbolt Enduro point lead with his division high 5th feature win. Like a broken record, Rusty Martz grabbed his 10th Super Stock win and stretched his points lead. Kyle Shannon took home his 2nd Pure Stock win while Bob Ralston Jr grabbed his first RWD 4 Cylinder win of the season. The Hrinya family sponsored trophies in honor of their parents, Ed & Betty Hrinya.
Dwayne Tanneyhill admits to finally getting his brand new car working to his likings as he picked up his 2nd late model win in 3 weeks. Lining up outside of pole sitter Chuck Kennedy, Tanneyhill lead at the drop of the green. Kennedy tried to take the top spot in turn 2, but Tanneyhill’s momentum carried him to a lead down the back stretch. Jerry Redden spun bringing out a yellow on lap 1. Ed Connor brought out a caution a lap later as he slowed before heading to the pits.
Back under green, Kennedy pulled along side Tanneyhill at the flag stand and remained glued to the #81’s drivers door for 2 laps as Matt Gaston was closing on the leaders from 3rd. Tanneyhill gained control of the top spot on lap 5 as Gaston was all over the back of Kennedy’s car. The pace was slowed once again on lap 9 with a John Chesnalavich spin in turn 4. On the ensuing restart, Gaston drove under Kennedy down the back stretch before getting sideways in turn 4. Luke Hoffner, who started 12th, had no where to go and made hard contact and nearly flipped in mid air. The red flag was displayed, but all drivers were ok. Gaston was pushed to the pits while Hoffner remained on the track and lined up 4th for the restart.
When racing resumed, Tanneyhill went back to work leading the way over Kennedy, Brian Smith, and Hoffner. Redden worked his way back to 5th at the halfway point as Tanneyhill had a sizeable lead over Kennedy. As the laps clicked off, Tanneyhill’s lead grew as Hoffner took 3rd from Smith and reeled in Kennedy. The two were side by side at the white flag before Hoffner took the runner up spot in turn 2. Tanneyhill went on to win over Hoffner, Kennedy, Smith, and Redden. Chesnalavich, Dan Stormer, Josh Watt, Connor, and Scott Fenton completed the top 10. Gaston and Hoffner were heat winners.
And the beat goes on: Rusty Martz dominated the Super Stock feature en route to his 6th consecutive win and 10th on the season. Dale Yeaney and Jamie Barber lead the field to green with Barber grabbing the lead into turn 1. Tim Bish and Jim Handyside Jr swapped their 3rd and 4th starting spots as Chad Obrien and Mike Dempsey battled for 5th. As lap one was scored, Martz came from his customary 12th starting spot to take 5th and closing on Handyside for 4th. Tim Steis brought out the caution on lap 2 with a turn 2 spin.
Barber maintained the lead after the restart got underway as Martz took 4th from Handyside and reeled in Bish. On lap 3, Martz disposed of Bish and Yeaney in one move in turn 3 and found himself in second. Martz caught Barber on lap 4 made a pass for the lead in turn 3 to lead lap 5. Martz quickly built a full straight stretch lead which was erased with a Jay Kelichner spin in turn 3 on lap 6. Mike Desch made contact with the front stretch wall on the restart which kept the yellow flag flying. Desch was ok, but done for the night.
Martz lead the restart with Barber and Bish in tow. Bish slowed out of turn 2 and was off the pace heading down the back stretch. Bish tried to pull his #1B into the infield, but failed to pull far enough out of harms way bringing out a yellow on lap 8. Martz took control of the restart and built a half straight stretch lead over Barber by the half way mark. Chad Obrien moved to 3rd before slowing on the back stretch and coasting to the pits on lap 12, ending his night.
After a lap 15 caution for Kelichner, Martz was unchallenged as he went on to win over Barber, Skip Lindemuth, Pat Crawford, and Dempsey. Rounding out the top 10 were Handyside, Yeaney, Johnny Lindenpitz, Steis, and Obrien. Martz and Handyside picked up heat race wins.
Kyle Shannon has been running a limited schedule at Thunder Mountain, but one with success as he snared his 2nd Pure Stock feature win in his latest visit. Shannon started on the pole flanked by Bruce Hartzfeld. The duo were side by side at the start before Shannon took the lead. Hartzfeld fought back and grabbed the top spot on lap 3 as Brian Rhed and Mike Donahue were locked in a battle for 3rd. The top 4 cars were all in position to lead at any point at the halfway flags as Guy Coder brought out the only caution of the event.
When green replaced yellow, Hartzfeld lead into turn 1 and 2, but Shannon fired back and reclaimed the lead in turn 3. Donahue’s run came to an end on lap 9 and he slowed and headed to the pits. Donahue was married at 8:08AM and celebrated his wedding by competing, but ended with results he would have not liked to have seen.
With 5 laps to go, Shannon was opening his lead over Hartzfeld and Rhed while Alan Trunzo moved to 4th. At the 2 to go signal, Shannon had a half stretch lead and easily went on to pick up the win over Hartzfeld, Rhed, Trunzo, and Nathan Yeaney. Rounding out the 10 car field were Steve Barnes, Donahue, Coder, Chuck Rittenhouse, and Cody McNaughton. Shannon and Hartzfeld won the preliminaries.
Bob Ralston Jr would have liked to compete at Thunder Mountain more regularly, especially after his first RWD 4 Cylinder feature win. Joe Malobicky Jr and Ralston made up the front row with Ralston taking the lead at the start. Don Henry took 2nd in turn 1 before getting sideways in turn 2. Malobicky made contact to Henry’s left rear spinning the #68, leaving Aaron Henry no place to go as his #12 made heavy contact with the #68. All 3 cars were done for the night.
A complete restart was in order which saw Ralston resume his lead. With 1 lap in the books, Paul Metz looped his mount in turn 2, collecting Ken Erskine. Both cars were towed to the pits under yellow. Back under green, the final 9 laps were caution free as Ralston won over point leader Bill McMillen and Brandon Weidow. Metz and Erskine were scored 4th and 5th as D. Henry, A. Henry, and Malobicky rounded out the field. Don Henry won the heat race.
Chad Greeley continued his quest to the Thunderbolt Enduro Point Championship with his 5th feature win of the season. Roswell Babcock and Randy Rickard lead newcomer Chris Myers and Greeley at the start, but a spin by Shawn Lindemuth negated the initial green. After a complete restart, Rickard took the lead before Greeley took over the top spot on lap 3. Rickard, Chris Myers, Babcock, and Barry Myers engaged in a battle for the runner up spot which lasted the majority of the event until a caution with 2 to go reset the field for a green-white-checkered finish.
Greeley lead the restart as Chris Myers hung with the leader into turn 1. After fending off an inside challenge from Myers, Greely held on to the lead exiting turn 2 and went on to win over Chris Myers, Rickard, Babcock, and 12th starter Jamey Lee. 6th through 10th went to Barry Myers, Brent Fields, Jason Joiner, Randy Holliday, and Cory Silvis. Chris Myers, Lee, and Rickard won heat races earlier in the program.
Next on the Thunder Mountain schedule is a regular 5 division show of Steel Block Late Models, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks, RWD 4 Cylinders, and Thunderbolt Enduros. Fan Appreciation Night, which was originally scheduled for the 15th, has been pushed back to the 22nd. USAR Hooters Cup star Benny Gordon will have his Samuel Metal #66n car and hauler on display, and the series point leader will also be on hand to sign autographs during the program.
For the latest information, visit the track’s web site at www.thundermountainspeedway.net
COMPLETE RESULTS:
STEEL BLOCK LATE MODELS:
1. DWAYNE TANNEYHILL, 2. Luke Hoffner, 3. Chuck Kennedy, 4. Brian Smith, 5. Jerry Redden, 6. John Chesnalavich Jr., 7. Dan Stormer, 8. Josh Watt, 9. Ed Connor, 10. Scott Fenton. 11. Larry Wingard -DNF, 12. Matt Gaston -DNF, 13. Cory Wilson -DNS.
HEAT WINNERS: Gaston, Hoffner.
SUPER STOCKS:
1. RUSTY MARTZ, 2. Jamie Barber, 3. Skip Lindemuth, 4. Pat Crawford, 5. Mike Dempsey, 6. Jim Handyside Jr., 7. Dale Yeaney, 8. Johnny Lindenpitz, 9. Tim Steis -DNF, 10. Chad Obrien -DNF, 11. Tim Bish -DNF, 12. Chad Rougeux -DNF, 13. Mike Desch -DNF, 14. Jay Kelichner -DSQ, 15. Phil Uplinger -DNS.
HEAT WINNERS: Martz, Handyside.
PURE STOCKS:
1. KYLE SHANNON, 2. Bruce Hartzfeld, 3. Brian Rhed, 4. Alan Trunzo, 5. Nathan Yeaney, 6. Steve Barnes, 7. Mike Donahue -DNF, 8. Guy Coder -DNF, 9. Chuck Rittenhouse -DNS, 10. Cody McNaughton -DNS.
HEAT WINNERS: Shannon, Hartzfeld.
RWD 4 CYLINDERS:
1. Bob Ralston Jr., 2. Bill McMillen, 3. Brandon Weidow, 4. Paul Metz Jr. -DNF, 5. Ken Erskine -DNF, 6. Don Henry -DNF, 7. Aaron Henry -DNF, 8. Joe Malobicky Jr. -DNF.
HEAT WINNER: D. Henry.
THUNDERBOLT ENDUROS:
1. CHAD GREELEY, 2. Chris Myers, 3. Randy Rickard, 4. Roswell Babcock, 5. Jamey Lee, 6. Barry Myers, 7. Brent Fields, 8. Jason Joiner, 9. Randy Holliday, 10. Cory Silvis, 11. Richie Snell, 12. Shawn Lindemuth, 13. Shawn Dinger, 14. Michael Fields, 15. Rusty Murray, 16. Wayne Terwillinger, 17. Devin Dempsey, 18. John Miller -DNF, 19. Sam Orf Jr. -DNF, 20. Ryan Kemmer -DNS, 21. Mike Guthrie -DNS.
HEAT WINNERS: C. Myers, Lee, Rickard.
