ERIC WILLIAMS SCORES HIS FIRST EVER FEATURE WIN BESTING A FIELD OF 26 410 SPRINTS AT THUNDER MOUNTAIN SPEEDWAY; MATT GASTON, RUSTY MARTZ, KYLE SHANNON AND JASON JOINER ADD TO THEIR WIN TOTALS ON MID SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT.

June 26, 2009

Knoxdale, PA

In only his 2nd year behind the wheel of a 410 powered sprint car, Eric Williams scored a hard fought feature win at Thunder Mountain Speedway. Matt Gaston (Steel Block late Models), Rusty Martz (Super Stocks), Kyle Shannon (Pure Stocks), and Jason Joiner (Thunderbolt Enduros) all repeat winners on Mid Season Championship night.

After leading much of the inaugural 410 Sprint event in 2008 before retiring with front end damage, Greenville, PA’s Eric Williams held off May 29 winner Dan Shetler to capture his first ever feature win. “Yeah, this is my first ever win. Dan (Shetler) showed me his nose once, I thought he had me. I wasn’t going to let him get by again, this race was mine.” commented an elated Williams. “Thanks to my sponsors Approved Toilet Rentals, Penn-Ohio Electrical Contractors, IMPACT Designs, and Hine Racing Equipment” continued Williams next to Miss Thunder Mountain Speedway Brittany Bouch and his J&J Chassis #7 in victory lane.

Craig Folmar and Williams made up the front row after the driver redraw and were joined by Jack Sodeman Jr from 3rd in a 3 car battle for the lead at the drop of the green. Gary Rankin spun at the start and brought out a yellow resulting in a complete restart. Folmar’s car was slow on the restart, bottling up cars in the middle of the pack as Williams took off in the lead with 6th starter Andy McKisson in pursuit. Sodeman and Folmar were 3rd and 4th before 8th starter Dan Shetler took 4th from Folmar on lap 3. The same lap saw Williams go high in turn 4 allowing McKisson to pull beside the leader. Williams hold off the challenge and entered lapped traffic on lap 4. In traffic, McKisson used a lapped car to take the lead briefly, but Williams fought back and regained the top spot as Sodeman joined the fight for the lead. The thrilling battle was ended on lap 6 when Sodeman made contact with McKisson as both cars spun bringing out a yellow. 14th starter Daryl Stimeling was collected in the spin. McKisson and Stimeling restarted as Sodeman was towed to the pits with front end damage.

The ensuing restart was the start of trouble as the red flew before the field crossed the flag stand. Many of the cars were crossed up and damaged including Rod George, Jeff Taylor, Gale Ruth Sr, Garrett Krummert, and Johnny Beaber. George was able to continue, but the remainder of the stopped cars had their nights come to an early end. While under red, Sodeman made repairs in the pits and tailed the field for the restart before being involved in a lap 8 caution with Lindsay Enscoe and Dave Delisle in turn 2. Sodeman suffered additional front end damage and called it a night.

Back under green, Williams still had his hands full with Shetler and 20th starter Danny Holtgraver who moved to 3rd. Rookie Chris Best was 4th with Tony Beaber and Bob Howard battling for 5th. Howard took the spot on lap 10 and reeled in Best. Out front, Shetler had a great run down the front stretch and drove by Williams in turn 2 just before yellow waved for Delisle’s stopped car resulting in a yellow. With the lap not scored, Williams restarted in the lead and opened ground on Shetler. With 17 laps in the books, Howard was all over Best as McKisson came from the tail to join the fight for 4th.

Three minor cautions gave Shetler additional chances to pressure Williams for the lead, but Williams was up to the challenge and held on for his career first feature win. Shetler was a close 2nd with Best recording his best finish of 3rd. George came back to finish 4th ahead of Howard in 5th. McKisson settled for 6th with Gary Rankin, Tony Beaber, Chuck Brion, and Bill Jones Jr completing the top 10. Howard, McKisson and Gary Rankin took home heat race wins. In the 3rd heat, Rich Brungard got sideways leaving Vern Wasson nowhere to go as his #49V became the first sprint flip victim at Thunder Mountain. Both drivers were ok, but done for the night.

Kyle Shannon used the double points he earned with his 3rd feature win to take over the Pure Stock point lead. Former point leader Brian Rhed started on pole with Shannon on the outside, but Shannon took the lead at the start. Rhed ran 2nd before Bob Alcorn took the spot on lap 2 and chased down Shannon. The pair swapped the lead after a lap 8 restart and through lap 9 before Shannon reasserted himself out front. Once he was back out front, Shannon pulled away and took the win over Alcorn, Rhed, Josh Fields and Nathan Yeaney. Completing the top 10 were Steven Cook, Jason Young, Guy Coder, Zach Gustafson, and Alan Trunzo. Fields and Shannon won heats over the 12 car field.

Matt Gaston captured his 3rd Steel Block late Model win after the 25 lap feature was in the books. Going into the race, Ed Connor held the points lead but was not at the track. Donnie Connor was behind the wheel of his #27C and made contact with the front stretch wall in heat race action, ending his night. Gaston and new point leader Chuck Kennedy paced the field to green with Gaston leading Kennedy and Rick Maxim. Gaston led every lap and won over Kennedy, Maxim, Bill Davis, and Chris Ferrell. Jerry Redden, Derek Rodkey, Jim Parson Jr, John Reed, and Bruce Raybuck made up the top 10. Redden and Gaston bested the field of 14 in heat race competition.

Rusty Martz picked up his track-leading 4th feature win in Super Stock action. Skip Lindemuth started on pole due to his points lead with Tim Bish along side. Bish jumped out to the lead with 3rd starter Martz in tow. Lindemuth slowed and headed to the pits, relinquishing his points lead to Bish. Martz took the lead on lap 3 and never looked back. Bish stayed within striking distance and well ahead of Bob Connor, who was subbing for Brandon Connor in his #17C. At the end it was Martz, Bish and Connor finishing ahead of Fuzzy Fields and Jamie Barber who came from 10th. The bottom half of the top 10 went to Mike Asel, Dom Surra, Steve Cook, Chad Obrien, and Gary Luzier. Martz and Surra won heats over the 16 car field.

Jason Joiner broke up the tie of 2 wins with point leader Jamey Lee by claiming his 3rd Thunderbolt Enduro win of the season. Lee and Chuck White made up the front row as Lee took the lead at the start. Joiner took the lead in turn 4 heading to the completion of lap 1. The leaders had a scare when Melvin Wisor spun to the infield. As he re-entered the track in turn 4, the lead pack had to take evasive action to miss the lapped car. Everyone escaped and resumed their battle. Joiner led the distance with Lee and White swapping 2nd and 3rd throughout the event. Lee finished 2nd with a last lap pass on White, who fell out of the running. Chad Greeley, Randy Holliday, and Aaron Hill completed the top 5. Ryan Kemmer, Randy Rickard, Cory Silvis, Brandon Reitz, and Gabe Shaffer rounded out the top 10. With 22 cars on hand, heat wins went to Joiner, Kemmer and Hill.

Thunder Mountain Speedway will be idle on July 3, but will return to action on July 10th with a regular show of Steel Block Late Models, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Thunderbolt Enduros. Visit the track’s web site at www.thundermountainspeedway.net

COMPLETE RESULTS:

410 Sprints: (26 Cars)

1. ERIC WILLIAMS, 2. Dan Shetler, 3. Chris Best, 4. Rod George, 5. Bob Howard, 6. Andy McKisson, 7. Gary Rankin, 8. Tony Beaber, 9. Chuck Brion, 10. Bill Jones Jr., 11. Pete Miller III, 12. Gale Ruth Sr., 13. Lindsay Enscoe, 14. Danny Holtgraver (DNF), 15. Daryl Stimeling (DNF), 16. Dave Delisle (DNF), 17. Jack Sodeman Jr. (DNF), 18. Craig Folmar (DNF), 19. Johnny Beaber (DNF), 20. Jeff Taylor (DNF), 21. Garrett Krummert (DNF), 22. Jack Helget (DNF), 23. Sheila Rankin (DNF), 24. Gale Ruth Jr. (DNF), 25. Rich Brungard (DNS), 26. Vern Wasson (DNS).

HEAT WINNERS: Howard, McKisson, G. Rankin

STEEL BLOCK LATE MODELS: (14 Cars)

1. MATT GASTON, 2. Chuck Kennedy, 3. Rick Maxim, 4. Bill Davis, 5. Chris Ferrell, 6. Jerry Redden, 7. Derek Rodkey, 8. Jim Parson Jr., 9. John Reed, 10. Bruce Raybuck (DNF), 11. Chad Maney (DNF), 12. Doug Updyke (DNF), 13. Donnie Connor (DNS), 14. John Poling III (DNS).

HEAT WINNERS: Redden, Gaston

SUPER STOCKS: (16 Cars)

1. RUSTY MARTZ, 2. Tim Bish, 3. Bob Connor, 4. Fuzzy Fields, 5. Jamie Barber, 6. Mike Asel, 7. Dom Surra, 8. Steve Cook, 9. Chad Obrien, 10. Gary Luzier, 11. Denny Draisma, 12. Steve Barnes, 13. Phil Uplinger, 14. Johnny Lindenpitz, 15. Skip Lindemuth (DNF), 16. Dan Henry (DNF).

HEAT WINNERS: Martz, Surra

PURE STOCKS: (12 Cars)

1. KYLE SHANNON, 2. Bob Alcorn, 3. Brian Rhed, 4. Josh Fields, 5. Nathan Yeaney, 6. Steven Cook, 7. Jason Young, 8. Guy Coder, 9. Zach Gustafson, 10. Alan Trunzo (DNF), 11. Jim Gullace Jr. (DNF), 12. Kyle Lindemuth (DNF).

HEAT WINNERS: Fields, Shannon.

THUNDERBOLT ENDUROS: (22 Cars)

1. JASON JOINER, 2. Jamey Lee, 3. Chad Greeley, 4. Randy Holliday, 5. Aaron Hill, 6. Ryan Kemmer, 7. Randy Rickard, 8. Cory Silvis, 9. Brandon Reitz, 10. Gabe Shaffer, 11. Chuck White, 12. Steve Arthurs, 13. Wayne Terwillinger, 14. Sam Orf Jr., 15. Rusty Murray, 16. Melvin Wisor, 17. Roswell Babcock (DNF), 18, Scott Brocious (DNF), 19. Barry Myers, 20. Dan Bish (DNF), 21. Chuck Himes (DNS), 22. Dennis Tracer (DNS).

HEAT WINNERS: Joiner, Kemmer, Hill.