FIELDS EARNS A HARD FOUGHT WIN IN SUPER STOCKS; BAINEY REPEATS IN PURE STOCKS; FIRST OF THE SEASON FOR KENNEDY IN LATE MODELS; MCMILLEN EARNS WILD WIN IN RWD’S; WOODEL CLAIMS RAIN-SHORTENED THUNDERBOLT FEATURE AT THUNDER MOUNTAIN SPEEDWAY

May 2, 2008

Knoxdale, PA...The old saying "It Thunders Before It Rains" held true at Thunder Mountain Speedway as plenty of stormy action hit the track before the rains did on Roger’s Auto Repair Night. Celebrating in Horizon Homes Victory Lane were Fuzzy Fields (Super Stocks), Jason Bainey (Pure Stocks), Chuck Kennedy (Steel Block Late Models), Bill McMillen (RWD 4 Cylinders), and Chris Woodel (Thunderbolt Enduros).

Making his first appearance of the season, Josh Jacoby started on pole for the 13 car Super Stock feature and was flanked on the outside by Chad Obrien. As the green flag waved to kick off the night’s action, Jacoby and Brian raced side by side into turn 1. 3rd starting Fuzzy Fields made his presence known from the get go as he tried to go 3 wide out of turn 2. Obrien headed into turn 3 with the lead as Fields took 2nd with Rusty Martz coming from 5th to 3rd at the completion of lap 1. Jacoby gave up his 4th spot as he took his #88 to the pits. Obrien not only watched Fields open a lead on his #77 machine, he also began feeling the pressure from Martz. With 4 laps in the books, Fields had a ½ straightaway lead while Martz took the runner up spot from Obrien as Gary Little moved into 4th with Mike Desch falling to 5th.

Fields was cruising out front as Martz tried to make up ground, closing slightly. At the halfway mark, Fields was entering lapped traffic while Little closed on Obrien and began the battle for 3rd. Little took the spot on lap 13 but was nearly half a track behind the front two runners. Fields went through traffic with no problems and maintained his advantage over Martz with a clear track ahead on lap 14. With 5 laps to go, Martz moved close enough to begin challenging Fields for the point.

Fields held off Martz for the next lap, but Martz took the lead in turn 2 of lap 17. As the lead duo crossed the line with 2 to go, Obrien slowed on the backstretch bringing out the only caution of the race. Not only was it a tough break for Obrien who gave up 4th, it negated the lap and Martz’s pass for the lead.

As the field took the green flag for the restart, Fields maintained his lead through turns 1 and 2, but Martz closed again in 3 and 4. Martz kept chipping away at Fields as the two were side by side as the white flag flew. Through turns 1 and 2, Martz and Fields were still side by side and entered the backstretch. Fields, from Brockport, PA had the edge going into turn 3 and closed the door in turn 4 going on for his first win of the season in the VSI #28F. Martz settled for second ahead of Little, Tim Bish from 8th, and Desch. The balance of the top 10 was Johnny Lindenpitz, Dale Yeaney, Obrien, Thomas Greeley, and Jim Handyside Jr. Martz and Desch were heat race winners.

Next up was the Pure Stock feature, which saw Chuck Rittenhouse and Alan Trunzo leading the field to green. The front row cars battled side by side into turn 1 before Rittenhouse took the lead out of turn 2. Bruce Hartzfeld took 2nd and Jason Bainey was up to 3rd. Brian Rhed moved to 4th, sending Trunzo back to 5th at the completion of a wild lap 1 where virtually every position was challenged in turns 1 and 2. Rhed took 3rd from Bainey while Hartzfeld pulled alongside Rittenhouse to battle for the lead before a yellow for debris. During the caution laps, newcomer Timothy Llewellyn headed pitside.

Rittenhouse took the restart with more pressure from Hartzfeld as Bainey retook 3rd from Rhed before Hartzfeld suddenly slowed in turn 2 bringing out a caution. Hartzfeld exited the track, surprisingly so did Rittenhouse handing the top two spots to Bainey and Rhed. While under yellow, 4th place Steve Barnes lost a front wheel, which lengthened the caution period allowing Rittenhouse to return before the restart.

Bainey held his lead into turn 1 after the restart, but Rhed tried the low side in turn 2. Bainey pulled ahead down the backstretch before slowing in turn 3 with a flat right front tire. Bainey tried limping to the pits to no avail, so caution flew at lap 2. Rhed lined up first for the restart with Trunzo and Rittenhouse in tow. The restart was scrapped with another debris caution as Bainey returned still on the lead lap.

The lap 2 restart showed Rhed once again leading Trunzo, Rittenhouse and Bainey. The order remained the same with 3 laps in the books before the leader misfortune continued as Rhed slowed in turn 1 giving the lead to Trunzo. Rhed headed to the pits on lap 4 as Hartzfeld returned to the action laps down. While Trunzo was still out front, Bainey passed Rittenhouse for 2nd on lap 5.

Bainey closed on Trunzo a lap later and continued his pressure until the 2 to go flags waved. Bainey pulled alongside Trunzo in turn 2 as the pair raced 2 wide down the backstretch and into turns 3 and 4. With the white flag waving overhead, the leaders were still side by side and headed into turn 1 setting up a last lap shootout. Bainey got a run on the outside of turn 2 and took the spot heading down the backstretch. Trunzo battled back and drove hard into turns 3 and 4. Bainey used his outside momentum to propel his #22 into a car length lead over Brockway, PA’s Trunzo’s #27T at the checkered flag. Rittenhouse battled back for 3rd while Nathan Yeaney and Hartzfeld were 4th and 5th. Rhed, Barnes, and Llewellyn were scored 6th through 8th. Clearfield, PA’s Bainey won the lone heat race over the 8-car field.

Keith Witherite and Bobby McMillen led the Steel Block Late Model feature to starter Tom Mott’s green flag. McMillen jumped into the lead in turn 1, but the start was wiped out after a caution for Scott Fenton. With a complete restart in order, Witherite held the top spot into turn 1 as Matt Gaston challenged McMillen for 2nd. Gaston took the spot while 5th starter Chuck Kennedy followed into 3rd. McMillen continued to slip back with 7th starting Todd Baumgardner taking over the 4th spot on lap 2. Out front, Gaston closed on Witherite and took the lead from the #4W. Kennedy’s #51 caught Witherite on lap 4 and challenged for the 2nd spot into turn 3. The two made contact as Kennedy made the pass sending Witherite to 4th just ahead of Baumgardner.

Gaston was entering lapped traffic on lap 5 and made short work of the slower cars, preventing Kennedy from making up distance on the leader. Kennedy cleared the traffic and the two leaders had clear track ahead of them at lap 10. Jerry Redden started to challenge McMillen for 5th the same lap. Gaston was opening a big lead over Kennedy as Luke Hoffner stopped on the front stretch bringing out the yellow banner. The yellow flag turned to red as McMillen stopped in turn 3 with flames under the hood of his #50. Fire crews were quickly able to aid the St Mary’s, PA veteran and his mount could safely be pushed to the pits with no visible damage.

Resetting the field for the restart, Gaston again led Kennedy to the green with Baumgardner in 3rd ahead of Witherite. Witherite got sideways in turn 3 collecting Rick Maxim and Dwayne Tanneyhill bringing out a caution. Maxim left the track with heavy rear end damage while Witherite and Tanneyhill were able to continue. When racing resumed, Gaston remained out front with Kennedy’s #51 in tow. Tanneyhill took the 4th spot from Redden on lap 12.

Gaston began opening a lead as the field began to string out at the half way mark. Suddenly, Gaston’s right rear tire was visibly losing air as he had a full straight stretch lead as he entered lapped traffic once again. On lap 19, Gaston’s tire finally caused the #47 to slow in turn 4 bringing out the final yellow flag of the event. Gaston headed for a quick pit stop and returned just as the green flag waved for the restart.

Kennedy commanded the said restart and put plenty of distance between himself and Baumgardner’s #17B and Tanneyhill who was now in 3rd. With 2 laps to go, Hoffner challenged Redden for 4th while Kennedy was checking out in the lead. Redden held off Hoffner as the white flag flew.

Brockway, PA’s Kennedy took the win followed by Baumgardner, Tanneyhill, Redden, and Hoffner. Rounding out the top 10 were John Chesnalavich Jr, Gaston, Bill Krause, Larry Wingard, and Fenton. Kennedy and Tanneyhill were heat race victors over the 15-car field.

The Rear Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders saw their field grow from 3 cars to 7 after 1 week of action in the records. Cooter Wolfe used his outside pole starting spot to take the lead from polesitter Bob Ralston Jr with 4th starting Bill McMillen moving into 2nd in turn 2. McMillen made a bid for the lead in turn 4, but Wolfe closed the door and led at the line as opening night winner Don Henry moved into 3rd from 5th. McMillen tried again in turn 2 taking the low side, but Wolfe once again kept his #15W in front of McMillen’s #51.

At the halfway mark, Wolfe still led McMillen with the pair having a safe distance between themselves and Henry in 3rd with Ralston and Joe Malobicky Jr in 4th and 5th. After completion of the lap, caution flew for debris and Henry went to the pits but returned before the green waved. McMillen tried the bottom on the restart, but Wolfe was strong on the top and kept his lead as Jason Young brought out the final caution.

With 3 laps to go, Wolfe took the restart ahead of McMillen and held the lead through turns 1 and 2. Wolfe got sideways in turn 4 in front of McMillen who made contact, which resulted in Wolfe spinning. Wolfe gathered up his car and continued without a yellow flag. McMillen had the lead over Ralston and Malobicky Jr as the white flag was displayed. Malobicky pulled along side of Ralston and made the pass in turn 2, but was well behind teammate McMillen. St. Mary’s, PA’s McMillen went on to win over Malobicky Jr., Ralston, Brandon Weidow, and Henry. Wolfe was 6th with Young scored in the 7th position. Henry won the single heat race.

With the rains quickly approaching on the radar, the whopping 29-car "Thunderbolt" Enduro field was headed trackside. Front row starters Brent Lee and Chad Greeley were 1-2 into turn 2 with Chris Woodel safely ahead of the pack of 3 wide cars 4th-20th. The pack was unable to sort itself out on the backstretch as several cars piled up bringing out a yellow. Lee and Greely resumed their battle for the lead at the restart as Woodel put his #8-Ball in the mix. Greeley took the lead heading into turn 3 with Woodel following into 2nd.

Greeley encountered heavy lapped traffic on lap 7 with Woodel following the #27 out of turn 2. A caution for Scott Brocious and Todd English slowed the pace once again. When green replaced yellow for the restart, Greeley continued to lead, but Woodel was all over the back bumper of the leader. Woodel took the lead on lap 8 before a lap 9 caution for debris. Woodel led the restart and into turn 1, but Greeley challenged in turn 2. What appeared to be a great battle for the lead was cut short after another caution for debris on lap 9. While the field was being realigned for the restart, the rains finally came cutting the feature short.

Brockway, PA’s Woodel was credited with the win over Greeley, B. Lee, Shawn Lindemuth, and Jamey Lee. Completing the top 10 were Mike Guthrie, Jason Joiner, Sam Orf Jr., Ryan Kemmer, and Bryan Warren. Lindemuth, Woodel, and Orf Jr. were heat race winners.

On tap for the May 9th action at Thunder Mountain will be a regular show of Steel Block Late Models, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks, RWD 4 Cylinders, and Enduros. Gates open at 4:00PM with racing beginning at 7:30 PM. Be sure to check the Thunder Mountain web site at www.thundermountainspeedway.net for all the latest news and information.

 

COMPLETE RESULTS:

Total Car Count: 72

 

SUPER STOCKS: (13 CARS)

1: FUZZY FIELDS (Brockport, PA), 2: Rusty Martz (Brookville, PA), 3: Gary Little (Clearfield, PA), 4: Tim Bish (Ringold, PA), 5: Mike Desch (Tyrone, PA), 6: Johnny Lindenpitz (Knoxdale, PA), 7: Dale Yeaney (Corsica, PA), 8: Chad Obrien- DNF (Corsica, PA), 9: Thomas Greeley- DNF (Brookville, PA), 10: Jim Handyside JR- DNF (Punxsutawney, PA), 11: Eric Baun- DNF (Rossiter, PA), 12: Steve Cook- DNF (Sykesville, PA), 13: Josh Jacoby- DNF (Ginter, PA).

HEAT WINNERS: MARTZ, DESCH

 

PURE STOCKS: (8 CARS)

1: JASON BAINEY (Clearfield, PA), 2: Alan Trunzo (Brockway, PA), 3: Chuck Rittenhouse (Knoxdale, PA), 4: Nathan Yeaney (Corsica, PA), 5: Bruce Hartzfeld (Stump Creek, PA), 6: Brian Rhed- DNF (Brockport, PA), 7: Steve Barnes- DNF (Punxsutawney, PA), 8: Timothy Llewellyn- DNF (Penfield, PA).

HEAT WINNER: BAINEY

 

STEEL BLOCK LATE MODELS: (15 CARS)

1: CHUCK KENNEDY (Brockway, PA), 2: Todd Baumgardner (West Decatur, PA), 3: Dwayne Tanneyhill (Bellwood, PA), 4: Jerry Redden (Mahaffey, PA), 5: Luke Hoffner (Turbotville, PA), 6: John Chesnalavich Jr (Reynoldsville, PA), 7: Matt Gaston (Punxsutawney, PA), 8: Bill Krause (Houtzdale, PA), 9: Larry Wingard (Punxsutawney, PA), 10: Scott Fenton (Clearfield, PA), 11: Jeremy Newcome (Punxsutawney, PA), 12: Josh Watt (DuBois, PA), 13: Bobby McMillen (St. Mary’s, PA), 14: Keith Witherite (Curwensville, PA), 15: Rick Maxim (Reynoldsville, PA).

HEAT WINNERS: KENNEDY, TANNEYHILL

 

REAR WHEEL DRIVE 4 CYLINDERS: (7 CARS)

1: BILL MCMILLEN (St. Mary’s, PA), 2: Joe Malobicky Jr (St. Mary’s, PA), 3: Bob Ralston Jr (Phillipsburg, PA), 4; Brandon Weidow (Byrnedale, PA), 5: Don Henry (Brockway, PA), 6: Cooter Wolfe (St. Mary’s, PA), 7: Jason Young- DNF (St. Mary’s, PA).

HEAT WINNER: HENRY

 

ENDUROS: (29 CARS)

1: CHRIS WOODEL (Brockway, PA), 2: Chad Greeley (Brookville, PA), 3: Brent Lee (Fairmount City, PA), 4: Shawn Lindemuth (Brookville, PA), 5: Jamey Lee (Fairmount City, PA), 6: Mike Guthrie (Brookville, PA), 7: Jason Joiner (Brookville, PA), 8: Sam Orf Jr (Hawthorn, PA), 9: Ryan Kemmer (Strattanville, PA), 10: Bryan Warren (Curwensville, PA), 11: Randy Rickard (Summerville, PA), 12: Steve Cook (Sykesville, PA), 13: Randy Holliday (Brookville, PA), 14: Richie Snell (Brookville, PA), 15: Matt Krause (Brisbon, PA), 16: Michael Fields (Brookville, PA), 17: Wayne Terwillinger (Brookville, PA), 18: Devin Dempsey (Brookville, PA), 19: Jody Frantz (Luthersburg, PA), 20: Cory Silvis- DNF (Brookville, PA), 21: Barry Myers- DNF (Brookville, PA), 22: Todd English- DNF (Clearfield, PA), 23: Eric McCall- DNF (Grampion, PA), 24: Kyle Lindenmuth- DNF (Brockport, PA), 25: Scott Brocious- DNF (Brookville, PA), 26: Steven Ghezzi- DNF (Penfield, PA), 27: Aaron Hill- DNF (Brookville, PA), 28: Shawn Dinger- DNF (Brookville, PA), 29: Mike Calhoun- DNS (Brockway, PA).

HEAT WINNERS: LINDEMUTH, WOODEL, ORF JR