GALE RUTH JR MAKES TAKES HISTORIC WIN IN THE FIRST EVER 410 SPRINT FEATURE AND $1,000; DWAYNE TANNEYHILL GRABS HIS FIRST LATE MODEL WIN OF THE SEASON; RUSTY MARTZ KEEPS ROLLING IN SUPER STOCKS; BRENT FIELDS FIRST IN ENDUROS AT THUNDER MOUNTAIN SPEEDWAY

Knoxdale, PA

July 25, 2008

With a record standing-room-only crowd on hand to witness the first ever 410 sprint race in track history, Titusville, PA’s Gale Ruth Jr. took the lead from Eric Williams on Lap 12 to put his name in the record books as the first sprint winner. Bellwood, PA’s Dwayne Tanneyhill took home his first Late Model feature win of the season, as did Brent Fields in Enduro action. Brookville, PA’s Rusty Martz wins another Super Stock main in front of the packed stands. Andy and Sherry Watt of Race 1 Speedway provided beautiful trophies for all feature winners.

“It was tough, but I got it done. It worked out better following Eric (Williams) for a few laps” stated Gale Ruth Jr next to his #5X sprint in Horizon Homes Victory Lane after his feature win. “I love it here, I wish we could run here weekly. It’s a real nice track. Thanks to my sponsors RK Virgile Scrap, F5 Designs, my family, my girlfriend, they all help a lot.” continued Ruth.

Ruth drew the #1 spot in the fan redraw, but outside pole sitter Eric Williams took the lead at the drop of the green. With Ruth and 4th starter Bobby Howard in tow. Howard drove under Ruth for 2nd in turn 2, but Ruth fired back down the back stretch and reclaimed the spot in turn 3 while Williams started opening an advantage. Williams caught lapped traffic on lap 4 and Ruth began to close the gap between himself and the leader as Brian Steinman spun in front of the leaders. The field missed the sideways #24S, but the first yellow of the even slowed the blistering pace.

Williams had a great restart and took a big lead into turn 1. Ruth continued hounding the leader before getting loose in turn 2 on lap 6. Ruth regained control of his mount without losing a spot, but Howard was quickly on Ruth’s back bumper. Andy McKisson, making his first start on 2008 came from his 10th starting spot to take 4th from John Schyler on lap 9 as Williams was running his own race out front. 11th starter Craig Folmar was engaged in a battle for 7th with Daryl Stimeling as 12th starter Scott Lutz snuck past the pair for the spot on lap 10. Williams caught the back of the field again on lap 11 as Ruth reeled in the leader. Ruth drove under William’s #76 in turn 4 for the lead as the halfway flags were displayed, but a caution for Jeff Taylor erased the lap.

Williams lined up on point for the restart and lead into turn 1, but Ruth got a terrific run off the bottom of turn 2 and took the lead down the back stretch. Once in front, Ruth immediately began opening a lead on Williams and Howard, who began a battle for 2nd. Williams had his impressive run come to an end with a spin in turn 2 on lap 14 after his car appeared difficult to steer. Once his car was pointed in the right direction, Williams refired and tailed the field for the restart.

Ruth lead his first restart of the event and used it to his advantage by opening a big lead on Howard. McKisson was now 3rd and began pressuring Howard for the runner up spot as Schyler and Stimeling were 4th and 5th. 9th starting Jeremy Ohl began closing on Stimeling as the leader was shown 5 laps to go. McKisson went high in turn 2, allowing Schyler to take the 3rd spot still on lap 20. McKesson’s #0 began to slow down the back stretch before bringing out the final yellow with a flat and heading to the pits. While under caution, Williams’ car came to a halt in turn 2 with a broken front axle. McKisson returned under yellow, but Williams was done for the night.

When racing resumed, Ruth had another good restart and put distance between himself and Howard. Schyler and Stimeling were battling for 3rd as Ohl joined the fight with Folmar watching from 6th. Stimeling took 3rd on lap 21 as Ohl grabbed 4th, sending Schyler to 5th. As the two to go flags were displayed, Howard closed on Ruth and was a car length behind the leader in turn 2. Ruth powered down the back stretch and opened a slight lead heading to the white flag. Howard tried one last time to close on the leader on the last lap, but Ruth once again put more breathing room between himself and Howard’s #49 as the checkered flag was in the air. Ruth crossed the line first, followed by Howard, Stimeling, Ohl, and Schyler. Folmar, Lutz, 19th starter Troy Vaccaro, McKisson, and Bill Jones Jr completed the top 10. Howard, Lutz, and Williams picked up heat race wins over the 19 car field. The record crowd showed their appreciation to the sprints as the field did a 4 wide salute prior to the feature event.

 

Dwayne Tanneyhill’s season hasn’t started the way he would have liked it to, but the defending track champion may have turned the corner after winning his first steel block late model feature of the season. “I’m still trying to figure this car out. It was good enough to hold on, but I’m glad it’s over” stated Tanneyhill in victory lane with his Race 1 trophy in hand.

Tanneyhill and John Chesnalavich Jr lead the 13 car field to green with Tanneyhill taking the lead into turn 1. Brian Smith took 2nd from Chesnalavich on lap 2 as 12th starter Matt Gaston was up to 8th. Tanneyhill began opening up a lead before Bill Krause brought out the first caution with a turn 3 spin. When green replaced yellow, Tanneyhill still lead Smith and Chesnalavich. 4th running Ed Connor got loose in turn 2, allowing Bobby McMillen and Gaston into 4th and 5th as Connor regained control and held onto 6th. Gaston took 4th from McMillen on lap 7 and closed the gap between himself and Chesnalavich as the yellow flag waved for the slowing cars of Rick Maxim and Bill Davis.

McMillen spun on the ensuing restart, then Tanneyhill went back to work leading Smith, Chesnalavich and Gaston. Chesnalavich went high in turn 2 on lap 14, allowing Connor and Gaston by the #812. Gaston returned the favor on lap 16 which moved Chesnalavich back into 4th. The field settled into position until a Josh Watt caution on lap 18 saw Gaston take his #47 pit side, ending his run.

Tanneyhill lead the restart with the #22S of Smith all over his back bumper. With 2 laps to go, Tanneyhill was up to the challenge and held off the pressure. Smith tried the inside pass in turn 2 as they pair were working on the white flag lap. Tanneyhill had momentum from the outside and held off Smith through turns 3 and 4. Tanneyhill took the win over Smith, Connor, Chesnalavich, and Krause. Rounding out the top 10 were Chuck Kennedy, Jason Witherite, Davis, Watt, and Gaston. Krause and Smith were heat race winners.

 

The Super Stock wins keep coming for Rusty Martz who said “This one wasn’t easy. I saw the white flag, I didn’t know it was almost over.” Martz was referring to his last turn pass to steal the win from Dan Smeal. “Dan was fast. I don’t know what happened, maybe his tires went. But my car came on strong at the end” continued Martz.

Tim Bish and Gary Little made up the front row for the start, but a multi-car pile up in turn 1 involving Mike Desch, Steve Cook, David Green, Denny Curry, and Jim Handyside Jr forced a complete restart. Little lead the 2nd start attempt with Bish and Smeal in pursuit. John Poling brought out a caution with his turn 3 spin on lap 2. Little maintained his lead for the restart with Bish and Smeal still battling for 2nd. Martz moved from 12th to 5th by lap 3. On lap 4, he took 3rd from Bish as Smeal took the lead from Little. Steve Barnes stopped on the back stretch bringing out a yellow.

Smeal lead the restart ahead of Little and Martz with Bish and Eric Baun battling for 4th. Martz took 2nd from Little on lap 7 and began chipping away at Smeal’s large lead. At the halfway point, Smeal had a 5 car advantage over Martz and Little. Bish and Baun were still fighting for 4th with 5 laps to go. Martz caught Smeal with 2 laps to go and tried to find a way around the #44. With the white flag waving, Smeal held the lead through turns 1 and 2 and down the back stretch. Heading into turn 3, Smeal held a slight lead but left the bottom open for Martz to stick his #16M into the lead coming out of turn 4. Martz won by a car length over Smeal. Little, Bish and Baun were the top 5 ahead of Curry, Cook, Austin Roy, Chad Obrien, and Mike Dempsey. With 20 cars on hand, heat winners were Smeal, Martz, and Desch.

 

Twenty seven “Thunderbolt” Enduros were signed in the pits to do battle, but Brett Fields earned a hard fought win after taking over the #8ball from Chris Woodel. After a heads up invert, heat winners Kie Brown and Bob Pease made up the front row with fellow heat winner Jamey Lee starting 3rd. Brown took the lead at the green with Lee and Pease side by side at the line. Lee took 2nd into turn 2 before taking the lead from brown in turn 3. Lee lead lap 1 with Aaron Hill and Fields following the #44J across the line. Brown went high in turn 1 and into the wall. Caution flew and Brown’s night ended on the hook.

Lee lead the restart with Hill in tow. Pease moved to 3rd ahead of Fields as the two began a battle for 3rd. Wayne Terwillinger spun in turn 3 resulting in a yellow on lap 3. When racing resumed, Lee and Hill fought for the lead while Fields retook 3rd from Pease. Lap 4 saw a 4 car battle for the lead shaping up before Randy Rickard came to a halt in turn 4 bringing out a caution. Lee lead the restart again as Fields moved to 2nd ahead of Hill. Steve Cook took 3rd from Pease as Chad Greeley moved to 5th. Fields took the lead from Lee on lap 5 and was leading at the halfway mark when Pease climbed back to 2nd as Lee was off the pace. Hill, Greely and Cook filled out the top 5. Pease, Hill and Greeley went 3 wide for 2nd with Pease emerging the runner up in turn 4 of lap 9. The top 5 were all in position to grab the top spot with 2 laps to go as Lee’s night ended as his car stopped on the back stretch.

A green-white-checkered finish was underway as Fields lead the cars to the restart. Greeley made a strong outside move to vault into 2nd ahead of Pease and Hill. Fields took the white flag with Greely closing fast, but Fields held on to take his first Thunder Mountain feature win. Point leader Greeley was 2nd with Pease, Hill and Cook making up the top 5. 6th through 10th went to Barry Myers, Bryan Warren, Richie Snell, Mike Guthrie, and Sam Orf Jr.

 

Next on the Thunder Mountain schedule will be a regular show of steel block late models, super stocks, pure stocks, RWD 4 cylinders, and enduros on August 1. Also on the program will be the first mechanics races of the season. Crew members of Late Models and Super Stocks will get their shot to try the wheel of the race cars they turn wrenches on weekly. Gates open at 5:00 with racing commencing at 7:30. General admission will be $10 with pit passes $20. Family passes are available for 2 adults and up to 3 children ages 12-16 for $25. For the latest information, visit the track’s web site at www.thundermountainspeedway.net.

 

COMPLETE RESULTS:

410 SPRINTS: (19 Cars)

1. 5X-GALE RUTH JR (Titusville, PA), 2. 49-Bobby Howard (Enola, PA), 3. 30-Daryl Stimeling (Lewistown, PA), 4. 5-Jeremy Ohl (Jersey Shore, PA), 5. 3T-John Schyler (Jamestown, NY), 6. 81-Craig Folmar (Phillipsburg, PA), 7. 33-Scott Lutz (Fredricksburg, PA), 8. 7T-Troy Vaccaro (Castalia, OH), 9. 0-Andy McKisson (Strattanville, PA), 10. 12J-Bill Jones Jr. (Irvona, PA), 11. 17-Mike Dehner (Clarion, PA), 12. 8K-Mike Kaminski (Ford City, PA), 13. 52-Jeff Weaver (Lock Haven, PA), 14. 5V-Vern Wasson (Jersey Shore, PA), 15. 1R-Gale Ruth Sr. (Pleasantville, PA), 16. 24S-Brian Steinman (Lucinda, PA), 17. 76-Eric Williams -DNF (Greenville, PA), 18. 17T-Jeff Taylor -DNF (Cherry Hill, NJ), 19. 71C-Jack Helget -DNF (Franklinville, NJ).

HEAT WINNERS: Howard, Lutz, Williams.

 

STEEL BLOCK LATE MODELS: (13 Cars)

1. DWAYNE TANNEYHILL (Bellwood, PA), 2. Brian Smith (Reynoldsville, PA), 3. Ed Connor (DuBois, PA), 4. John Chesnalavich Jr (Reynoldsville, PA), 5. Bill Krause (Houtzdale, PA), 6. Chuck Kennedy (Brockway, PA), 7. Jason Witherite (Luthersburg, PA), 8. Bill Davis (DuBois, PA), 9. Josh Watt -DNF (DuBois, PA), 10. Matt Gaston -DNF (Punxsutawney, PA), 11. Bobby McMillen -DNF (St Mary’s, PA), 12. Rick Maxim -DNF (Reynoldsville, PA), 13. Cory Wilson -DNS (Reynoldsville, PA).

HEAT WINNERS: Krause, Smith.

 

SUPER STOCKS: (20 Cars)

1. RUSTY MARTZ (Brookville, PA), 2. Dan Smeal (Houtzdale, PA), 3. Gary Little (Clearfield, PA), 4. Tim Bish (Ringold, PA), 5. Eric Baun (Rossiter, PA), 6. Denny Curry (Clearfield, PA), 7. Steve Cook (Sykesville, PA), 8. Austin Roy (Punxsutawney, PA), 9. Chad Obrien (Corsica, PA), 10. Mike Dempsey (Brookville, PA), 11. Tom Greeley (Brookville, PA), 12. David Green (St. Mary’s, PA), 13. John Poling III (Punxsutawney, PA), 14. Steve Barnes (Punxsutawney, PA), 15. Skip Lindemuth (Brookville, PA), 16. Pat Crawford (Distant, PA), 17. Johnny Lindenpitz (Knoxdale, PA), 18. Jamie Barber -DNF(Grampian, PA), 19. Mike Desch -DNF(Tyrone, PA), 20. Jim Handyside Jr -DNF(Punxsutawney, PA).

HEAT WINNERS: Smeal, Martz, Desch.

THUNDERBOLT ENDUROS: (27 Cars)

1. BRENT FIELDS (Brockway, PA), 2. Chad Greeley (Brookville, PA), 3. Bon Pease (Blairsville, PA), 4. Aaron Hill (Brookville, PA), 5. Steve Cook (Sykesville, PA), 6. Barry Myers (Brookville, PA), 7. Bryan Warren (Curwensville, PA), 8. Richie Snell (Brookville, PA), 9. Mike Guthrie (Brookville, PA), 10. Sam Orf Jr. (Hawthorn, PA), 11. John Miller (Punxsutawney, PA), 12. Cory Silvis (Brookville, PA), 13. Matt Krause (Brisbin, PA), 14. Randy Holliday (Brookville, PA), 15. Rusty Murray (Mayport, PA), 16. Wayne Terwillinger (Brookville, PA), 17. Shawn Dinger -DNF(Brookville, PA), 18. Scott Brocious -DNF (Brookville, PA), 19. Jason Joiner -DNF(Brookville, PA), 20. Jamey Lee -DNF(Fairmount City, PA), 21. Ryan Kemmer -DNF(Strattanville, PA), 22. Scott Stello -DNF(Punxsutawney, PA), 23. Randy Rickard -DNF(Summerville, PA), 24. Eric Luzier -DNF(Clearfield, PA), 25. Shawn Lindemuth -DNF(Brookville, PA), 26. Kie Brown -DNF(Punxsutawney, PA), 27. David Kohler -DNS(Stump Creek, PA).

HEAT WINNERS: Hill, Lee, Pease.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

August 1: Regular Show

(Late Models, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks, RWD 4 Cylinders, Enduros) Plus Mechanics Races for LM & SS

August 8: Regular Show

(Late Models, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks, RWD 4 Cylinders, Enduros)

August 15: Regular Show PLUS Fan Appreciation/Autograph Night

(Late Models, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks, RWD 4 Cylinders, Enduros)