MIKE CALHOUN, DENNY FENTON, AND TIM BISH CAPTURE THEIR FIRST WINS OF THE SEASON WHILE RYAN KEMMER BAGS HIS 2ND AT THUNDER MOUNTAIN SPEEDWAY: FANS READY FOR THE RETURN OF THE 410 SPRINTS!
June 18, 2010
Knoxdale, PA
Clear blue skies brought Thunder to the 3/8 mile Jefferson County speedplant as fans saw Mike Calhoun win his first ever Pure Stock feature and Denny Fenton snare his first Steel Block late Model main. Tim Bish grabbed his first Super Stock win of the season while Ryan Kemmer claimed his 2nd Thunderbolt Enduro checkers.
The highly competitive Pure Stocks were first on the card with Roswell Babcock and Lori Weaver leading the field to starter Tom Mott's green. Third starter Mike Calhoun quickly moved to the lead with Matt Krause and Zach Gustafson in persuit. Gustafson took over the runner up spot on lap 2 as 9th starter Kyle Shannon was charging through the field. Shannon took 2nd from Gustafson on lap 5 and chased down Calhoun out front. Gustafson had a battle with Josh Fields as Steve Matko and Jason Joiner waged a battle for 5th. As the laps quickly ran out, Shannon tried high and low to get around Calhoun and made a valiant effort as the duo headed to the checkered flag. With an inside run out of turn 4, Shannon drove under Calhoun down the front stretch. Calhoun had his outside momentum vault him to a half car length win at the line. Shannon settled for 2nd with Gustafson holding off Fields for 3rd. Joiner won the battle for 5th while Matko was 6th. Krause, Shawn Lindemuth, Lori Weaver and Babcock rounded out the top 10. Shannon and Lindemuth were heat winners.
Denny Fenton finally had luck go his way in the Steel Block Late Model feature after confessing in victory lane he has had his share of misfortune this season. Fenton was slated to line up 4th, but front row starter John Brady loaded his car at intermission. This moved Fenton to the outside front row alongside Denny Draisma, making his first start of the season. Matt Gaston spun in turn 3, resulting in a complete restart. On said restart, Gaston was caught up in a Chris Clark-Bruce Raybuck pileup near the front stretch wall bringing out a red. All drivers were ok, but Clark and Raybuck were done for the night. Another multi car incident claimed Draisma and Bill Krause before a lap was in the books. Once green flag racing was underway, Fenton took the lead over John Chesnalavich and Luke Hoffner with gaston up to 4th. Gaston moved to 2nd on lap 3 and took the lead from Fenton on lap 7. Gaston appeared to be on his way to his 4th win in as many races before a Chesnalavich spin slowed the field on lap 12. While under yellow, Gaston's car coasted to a stop on the back stretch after terminal engine failure ended his run. As Gaston was pushed to the pits, Fenton lined up in front of Rick Maxim and Hoffner when racing resumed. Maxim began pressuring Fenton as Hoffner had a battle with Chesnalavich for 3rd. Under yellow for a Rob Molnar spin, Hoffner headed to the pits with a flat tire but returned to the track before the green flag waved. As the laps were winding down, Maxim was in persuit of Fenton as Hoffner moved back into 3rd. Fenton stretched his lead and went on to a popular win over Maxim, Hoffner, Chesnalavich, and Brian Molnar. Rob Molnar was 6th while Gaston, Draisma, Krause, and Raybuck were credited with 7th through 10th at the pay window. Clark and Hoffner took home heat race wins.
Steve Barnes and Bruce Hartzfeld paced the Super Stock field to the start with Hartzfeld leading Gary Luzier and Fuzzy Fields. Tim Adamson, Eric Baun, Tim Bish and Brandon Connor went 4 wide on lap 2 with Adamson taking 4th. Fields passed Luzier for 2nd on lap 4 as Hartzfeld was running a strong race out front in his Super Stock rookie season. His lead lasted until lap 8 as he slowed before a Brian Rhed spin brought out the yellow. Hartzfeld headed to the pits handing the lead to Fields for the restart. Bish and Baun dispatched Adamson and Luzier to move to 2nd and 3rd. Bish was all over the back bumper of Fields before taking the lead in a strong move on lap 12. Once in front, Bish motored ahead as Fields had his hands full with last week's winner Baun. Bish went on unchallenged to win his first of the season as Baun made a last turn pass to take 2nd from Fields. Fields settled for 3rd with Skip Lindemuth and Rhed 4th and 5th. Luzier, Adamson, Connor, Hartzfeld and Barnes rounded out the field. Lindemuth and Bish claimed preliminary wins.
After a fan-drawn heads up invert, heat winners Ryan Kemmer and Chad Greeley lined up on the front row with Kemmer taking the lead. Greeley was in persuit of the leader as Shawn Hadded was 3rd with Jacob Kline 4th. The field ran in that order until lap 8 as Greeley and Kline both headed to the pits. Greeley returned on lap 10 as Kemmer held off Hadded for his 2nd feature win of the season. Hadden keeps improving each week and had a solid 2nd. Randy Rickard, Mike Fields, and Rusty Murray made up the top 5 with Greeley, Kline, Randy Holliday, and Cory Silvis completed the field.
The next event on tap at Thunder Mountain Speedway will be the first appearance of the mighty 410 Sprint Cars! The powerful winged machines are eager to return after the initial show was washed out on May 28. 2 time winner "Showtime" Dan Shetler and 2008 winner Gale Ruth Jr, fresh off a Sharon Speedway win will be in action along with some of the best drivers in Western and Central Pa sprint car racing. The Steel Block Late Models, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Thunderbolt Enduros will also be in action with double points on the line. The TMS Kids Club will hold a Pop Toss for all kids under 12 in attendance. Gates open at 5:00 with sprint hot laps at 7:00. The first heat race hits the track at 7:30. Ms Dirt Trackin' 2010 Arynne Moody will be on hand with postors and autographs available to early fans. Arynne will join Miss TMS Brittany Bouch in victory lane for trophy ceremonies. Adult General Admission is $15 with Pit Passes $25 for this event. A Family Pass is available for $30 and admits 2 adults and up to 3 kids for 1 price. All information to this event and many more can be found on the track’s web site at www.thundermountainspeedway.net.
COMPLETE RESULTS:
Pure Stocks:
1. Mike Calhoun, 2.Kyle Shannon, 3.Zack Gustafson, 4.Josh Fields, 5.Jason Joiner, 6.Steve Matko, 7.Matt Krouse, 8.Shawn Lindemuth, 9. Lori Weaver, 10.Roswell Babcock, 11.Steve Authers, 12.Jason Young- DNF
Heat Winners: Shannon, Lindemuth
Steel Block Late Models:
1. Denny Fenton 2. Rick Maxim 3. Luke Hoffner 4. John Chesnalavch 5 Brian Molnar 6. Rob Molnar 7. Matt Gaston-DNF 8. Denny Draisma-DNF 9. Bill Krause-DNF 10. Bruce Raybuck-DNF 11. Chris Clark –DNF 12. John Brady-DNS
Heat Winners: Clark, Hoffner
Super Stocks:
1. Time Bish, 2. Eric Baun, 3. Fuzzy Fields, 4. Skip Lindemuth, 5. Brian Rhed, 6. Gary Luzier, 7. Tim Adamson, 8. Brandon Connor, 9. Bruce Hartzfeld-DNF, 10.Steve Barnes-DNF
Heat Winners: Lindemuth, Bish
Thunderbolt Enduros:
1. Ryan Kemmer, 2. Shawn Hadden, 3. Randy Rickard, 4. Mike Fields, 5. Rusty Murray, 6. Chad Greeley, 7.Jacob Kline-DN,F 8. Randy Holliday-DNF, 9. Cory Silvis-DNF, 10. Dustin Kemp-DNS, 11. Chris Arnold-DNS,
Heat Winners: Kemmer, Greeley.
