MARTZ CONTINUES WINNING; DONAHUE, REDDEN, TAYLOR, AND LEE FIRST TIME WINNERS AT THUNDER MOUNTAIN
Knoxdale, PA
June 13, 2008
Racing ahead of an approaching storm front, a 2 hour program showed Rusty Martz continued adding to his Super Stock wins while Mike Donahue (Pure Stocks), Jerry Redden (Late Models), Orin Taylor (RWD 4 Cylinders), and Jamey Lee (Enduros) take their first wins of the season.
Jerry Redden put an end to Matt Gaston’s winning streak by taking his first Steel Block Late Model win of 2008. With 15 cars on hand tuning up for the June 27 $2,000 to win Mike Eberl Memorial, John Chesnalavich Jr and Redden lead the field to green with Redden taking the immediate lead. Chesnalavich settled into 2nd while Chuck Kennedy and Dwayne Tanneyhill both drove around 3rd starter Bill Krause in turn 1. Tanneyhill stumbled in turn 2, losing 2 spots. One spot was regained as Krause spun in turn 4 bringing out a caution. A restart was wiped out with a caution involving Larry Wingard, Krause, and Bob Smith.
Redden lead the restart with Kennedy slipping by Chesnalavich for 2nd. Chesnalavich looped his #812 in turn 2, collecting Jason Witherite on lap 3 for the final caution. Once the field was relined, Redden once again commanded the lead and began a race of his own out front. Matt Gaston had quietly worked his way from 12th to 5th during the early caution periods and started pressuring Tanneyhill for 4th. The duo swapped the spot on laps 4 and 5 before Gaston took the spot again on lap 6 and set his sites on 3rd runner Rick Maxim. Gaston took the position on lap 9 with 2nd place Kennedy directly in front of the #47.
With Redden well in front, Kennedy and Gaston waged a race long battle for the runner up spot which Gaston grabbed for good as the white flag waved. While the 2nd and 3rd place cars were crossing the line with 1 to go, Redden was already heading down the back stretch en route to a dominating performance taking his first win. Gaston padded his point lead with a 2nd place finish ahead of Maxim who passed Kennedy on the final lap. Tanneyhill closely followed across the line in 5th. Bruce Raybuck, Bob Smith, Wingard, Chesnalavich, and Brian Smith rounded out the top 10. Tanneyhill and Kennedy picked up heat wins.
Rusty Martz lined up last on the grid and drew a lap 1 caution for a flat before clawing his way to his 4th Super Stock feature win of the season which tied him with the track high. Chad Obrien and Dale Yeaney made up the front row with Obrien taking the lead before Martz stopped with a flat right front tire. The #16M returned after a quick pit spot while the field was still under yellow.
Obrien lead the restart as Fuzzy Fields took 2nd from Yeaney at the completion of lap 3. Fields caught Obrien a lap later as the pair ran side by side into turn 1. Obrien held the spot out of turn 2 before Fields tried again on lap 6. The move stuck on lap 7 as Fields’ #28F took the lead and began pulling away. Martz made his way to 6th and took 5th from Tim Bish at the halfway mark.
While out front, Fields had a sizeable lead until flames shot from under his hood on lap 13. Fields slowed across the line leading lap 14 and headed to the pits with engine troubles. While all eyes were on Fields’ smoking machine, Martz drove by Steve Cook for 4th, Yeaney for 3rd, and Obrien for 2nd before inheriting the lead as Fields headed to the pits.
Once out front, Martz gradually pulled away to his 2nd win in as many weeks. Obrien, Yeaney, Cook, and Bish took 2nd through 5th. Completing the top 10 were Jim Handyside Jr, Johnny Lindenpitz, Fields, Jim Bloom, and Mike Desch. Fields and Martz put on a thrilling heat race with Fields taking the win. Desch won the 2nd heat.
Mike Donahue finally got the monkey off his back and claimed his first Pure Stock win of the season. Donahue started the season with an accident heading to the speedway and had his woes continue with mechanical failures in his latest appearances. Jason Bainey and Chuck Rittenhouse showed the field to the start as Bainey took the lead in turn 1. The lead was short lived as contact from Brian Rhed ended with both cars spinning in turn 2 bringing out a caution.
Donahue took the lead on the restart and never looked back. Bainey moved into 2nd on lap 3 with Rhed following to 3rd. While Donahue was opening ground each lap, Bainey and Rhed engaged in a battle for 2nd the rest of the distance. Donahue easily cruised to the win over Bainey, Rhed, Rittenhouse, and Bruce Hartzfeld Sr who was subbing for regular driver Bruce Hartzfeld Jr who is serving in the Army Reserves. Steve Barnes, Guy Coder, Nathan Yeaney, and Scott Hollopeter rounded out the field. Rhed took the heat race win.
Orin Taylor became the 3rd winner of the season in the new RWD 4 Cylinder division. Jason Young and Aaron Henry raced side by side into turn 1 at the start before 6th starter Taylor took the lead down the back stretch. Don Henry moved to 2nd with 8th starter and point leader Bill McMillen advancing to 3rd. D. Henry lost the handle in turn 3, spinning into the infield. No caution flew, but the miscue allowed McMillen to slip by for 2nd.
Taylor sailed to an easy win ahead of McMillen, D. Henry, Joe Malobicky Jr, and Brandon Weidow. Scott Overbeck, A. Henry, and Young completed the field. Don Henry won the lone heat race.
Jamey Lee had been knocking on the door for a feature win all season. The door finally opened as the Fairmont City, PA driver collected his first feature win. Lee took the lead from pole sitter Sam Orf Jr in turn 1 with Chuck White following into 2nd. 5th starter Jason Joiner soon moved into 3rd and started battling White for 2nd. Joiner took the spot on lap 6, leaving White to fend off a challenge from point leader Chad Greeley.
Lee was running a perfect race in front of Joiner as the front 2 worked lapped traffic problem free. With 2 laps 2 go, Joiner tried to close on Lee with lapped cars on the front stretch. Lee made short work of the slower machines and maintained his lead over Joiner. White wasn’t as fortunate as his #7W was pinned behind traffic, allowing Greeley to take 3rd as the white flag waved for the leaders. Lee held off one last challenge from Joiner to take the win. Joiner settled for 2nd with Greeley, White, and Shawn Lindemuth making up the top 5. Barry Myers, Richie Snell, Orf Jr, Mike Guthrie, and Randy Holliday rounded out the top 10. Joiner, White, and Lee were heat race winners.
Next on the schedule will be a regular show of Steel Block Late Models, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks, RWD 4 Cylinders, and Enduros. Fans will be treated to 2 extra features as the ladies return to the track for Powder Puff races for Pure Stocks and Enduros. Gates open at 5:30 with racing kicking off at 7:30.
The June 20 program provides Late Model drivers one last chance to prepare for the $2,000 to win Mike Eberl Memorial on June 27. With the late model rules open to aluminum engines, all cars must make the track weight of 2400 lbs.
Anticipation is building as fans look forward to the first ever 410 sprint race on July 25. Preparing for the upcoming special events, the track is making improvements including the opening of a pit concession stand, expanded pit areas, and additional bleacher installation. Fans are still encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets as plenty of open ground will continue to be available.
For all the latest news and announcements, visit the track’s web site at www.thundermountainspeedway.net.
COMPLETE RESULTS:
STEEL BLOCK LATE MODELS:
JERRY REDDEN (Mahaffey, PA), Matt Gaston (Punxsutawney, PA), Rick Maxim (Reynoldsville, PA), Chuck Kennedy (Brockway, PA), Dwayne Tanneyhill (Bellwood, PA), Bruce Raybuck (Falls Creek, PA), Bob Smith (Reynoldsville, PA), Larry Wingard (Punxsutawney, PA), John Chesnalavich Jr (Reynoldsville, PA), Brian Smith - DNF (Reynoldsville, PA), Bill Krause - DNF (Houtzdale, PA), Ed Connor - DNF (DuBois, PA), Jason Witherite - DNF (Luthersburg, PA), Cory Wilson - DNF (Reynoldsville, PA), Chris Clark - DNS (Curwensville, PA)
HEAT WINNERS: Tanneyhill, Kennedy
SUPER STOCKS:
RUSTY MARTZ (Brookville, PA), Chad Obrien (Corsica, PA), Dale Yeaney (Corsica, PA), Steve Cook (Sykesville, PA), Tim Bish (Ringold, PA), Jim Handyside Jr (Punxsutawney, PA), Johnny Lindenpitz (Knoxdale, PA), Fuzzy Fields -DNF (Brockport, PA), Jim Bloom -DNF (Curwensville, PA), Mike Desch -DNF (Tyrone, PA), Tom Greeley -DNS (Brookville, PA)
HEAT WINNERS: Fields, Desch
PURE STOCKS:
MIKE DONAHUE (Reynoldsville, PA), Jason Bainey (Clearfield, PA), Brian Rhed (Brockport, PA), Chuck Rittenhouse (Knoxdale, PA), Bruce Hartzfeld (Stump Creek, PA), Steve Barnes (Punxsutawney, PA), Guy Coder -DNF (Kersey, PA), Nathan Yeaney -DNS (Corsica, PA), Scott Hollopeter -DNS (Knoxdale, PA)
HEAT WINNER: Rhed
RWD 4 CYLINDERS:
ORIN TAYLOR (DuBois, PA), Bill McMillen (St Mary’s, PA), Don Henry (Brockway, PA), Joe Malobicky Jr (St Mary’s, PA), Brandon Weidow (Byrnedale, PA), Scott Overbeck (Reynoldsville, PA), Aaron Henry (Brockway, PA), Jason Young (St Mary’s, PA)
HEAT WINNER: D. Henry
ENDUROS:
JAMEY LEE (Fairmount City, PA), Jason Joiner (Brookville, PA), Chad Greeley (Brookville, PA), Chuck White (DuBois, PA), Shawn Lindemuth (Brookville, PA), Barry Myers (Brookville, PA), Richie Snell (Brookville, PA), Sam Orf Jr. (Hawthorn, PA), Mike Guthrie (Brookville, PA), Randy Holliday (Brookville, PA), Ryan Kemmer (Strattanville, PA), Shawn Dinger (Brookville, PA), Matt Krause (Brisbin, PA), Tony DeBoey (DuBois, PA), Cory Silvis (Brookville, PA), Mike Calhoun (Brockway, PA), Devin Dempsey (Brookville, PA), Wayne Terwillinger (Brookville, PA), Rusty Murray -DNF (Mayport, PA), Chris Woodel (Brockway, PA), Scott Brocious -DNS (Brookville, PA), Brent Lee -DNS (Fairmont City, PA)
HEAT WINNERS: Joiner, White, J. Lee
