MARTZ, RHED, KENNEDY AND HENRY FAMILIAR FACES TO VICTORY LANE; CHAD GREELEY TAKES HIS FIRST OF THE SEASON; POWDER PUFFS TO GREELEY AND RITTENHOUSE AT THUNDER MOUNTAIN SPEEDWAY
Knoxdale, PA
May 23, 2008
The cars and stars of Thunder Mountain Speedway kicked off the Memorial Day Weekend in a big way with 7 features up for grabs. Rusty Martz continues his great season by taking home another Super Stock win while Chuck Kennedy (Steel Block Late Models) and Brian Rhed (Pure Stocks) each picked their second wins of the season. Chad Greeley won his first Enduro race of 2008 while Jessi Greeley parked the same car in Victory Lane for the Enduro powder Puff event. Tricia Rittenhouse claimed the Pure Stock Powder Puff feature win.
During the preliminary events, back stretch flagman Bob Beck was injured after being struck by a car who was trying to slow for a caution. Beck suffered a severe leg injury and was transported by ambulance and later airlifted to Altoona for surgery. As of late Friday night, Beck contacted track owner Audi Geer and informed everyone he was awaiting surgery and was feeling ok. Stay tuned to the track’s web site at www.thundermountainspeedway.net for progress of the recovery of the likable Beck.
Rusty Martz put on a dominating performance in his Cypress Gift Shop/St. Mary’s Chevrolet/Redline Performance/Faster Chassis #16M in the process of taking his 2nd Super Stock win at Thunder Mountain. “This car was unbelievable tonight, we had a great set up from the get-go.” stated Martz after his win that might not have happened according to plan. “We almost didn’t come tonight, we were going to save the car for specials later this weekend. I figured if something is going to happen, it will happen anyway so I decided we may as well just race” explained Martz.
Making his first start of the season, Jay Blum lined up on the pole with ever-improving Dale Yeaney along side. With the initial start waved off due to a Jesse Bish caution, 3rd starter Steve Cook and 4th place Martz took over the top two spots on the restart. Martz took the lead on lap 2 and began to pull away from the field. Point leader Fuzzy Fields came from 12th to 2nd by lap 9. Except for a few challenges from Fields on restarts, Martz had a fairly easy time holding off the field en route to his win. Fields was 2nd with Cook, Yeaney, and Johnny Lindenpitz completing the top 5. Jesse Bish, Tom Slack, Jim Handyside Jr., John Poling III, and Chad Rougeux rounded out the top 10. Martz and Fields claimed heat race wins.
Brian Rhed padded his point lead with his 2nd Pure Stock feature win. Newcomer Sam McAdams and Chuck Rittenhouse lead the field to green with McAdams taking the top spot into turn 1. 3rd starter Dan Kennedy, also making his first start of the season, took the lead on lap 2 and was cruising all alone out front. Rhed charged from 9th to 2nd and set chase after Kennedy. Kennedy spun his mount with a handful of laps remaining, sending Rhed to the lead for the final laps. Kennedy came through the field to finish 2nd with Rittenhouse, John Barley, and Steve Barnes making up the front 5. Nathan Yeaney, Paul Trunzo, McAdams, and Bruce Hartzfeld rounded out the field. Hartzfeld and Rhed were heat race winners.
Chuck Kennedy earned a hard fought late model win over a hard charging Matt Gaston. Cory Wilson and Kennedy made up the front row of the feature as Kennedy immediately jumped out to the lead with 4th starter Gaston coming to 2nd on lap 3. With 20 laps going green, Gaston didn’t allow Kennedy a break from his pressure as he tried high and low to take the lead. Kennedy was flawless and held off Gaston as Rick Maxim brought out the only yellow on lap 20. Gaston tried once more to drive under Kennedy on the restart, but Kennedy was up to the challenge and won over Gaston, Luke Hoffner, Dwayne Tanneyhill and Wilson. Rounding out the top 10 were Jerry Redden, Mike Shoemaker, Maxim, Donnie Connor, and Larry Wingard. Tanneyhill and Hoffner took heat race wins.
Chad Greeley became the 4th Enduro winner in as many weeks. Randy Rickard and Barry Myers lead the field to green with Jamey Lee and Brent Lee in row #2. The Lee’s quickly moved to the front with Jamey taking the lead with Brent in tow. Jamey found his #44 hung behind a lapped car allowing Brent to sneak by for the lead on lap 4. Jamey charged back and retook the top spot on lap 6. Greeley, who started 5th, was up to 3rd at the halfway mark and joined the two leaders in a 3 car battle out front. With 3 laps to go, Jamey Lee began to slow and headed to the pits, handing the lead to Brent Lee with Greeley in 2nd. Greeley disposed of Lee on the restart and went on to win his first of the season. Greeley, Jamey Lee, and Brent Lee were heat race victors.
Opening night winner Don Henry parked his #68 Rear Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder in victory lane for the 2nd time this season. Henry took the lead from Cooter Wolfe and easily took the win over Bill McMillen, Cooter Wolfe, Joe Malobicky Jr., Jason Young, and Brandon Weidow. Henry won the lone heat race.
Tricia Rittenhouse defeated Jamie Turner in the Pure Stock Powder Puff event. Jessi Greeley and Shannon Lee continued their male counterpart’s battle in the Enduro Powder Puff with Greeley taking the win. Melissa Hill, Sylvia Irwin, Tricia Himes, and Nicole Lee completed the field.
Thunder Mountain Speedway will be back in action on Friday, May 30 with a regular show of Steel Block Late Models, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks, Enduros, and RWD 4 Cylinders. The postponed Mike Eberl Memorial has been rescheduled for June 27. More details will be announced when finalized.
