SHETLER, REDDEN, MARTZ, HICKOK, AND JOINER FIND VICTORY LANE AT THUNDER MOUNTAIN SPEEDWAY
May 29, 2009
Knoxdale, PA
Mother nature threw all she had at Thunder Mountain Speedway, but the track crew fought back and prepared a tacky surface for the return of the 410 Sprint Cars. Dan Shetler made the long haul from Johnstown, PA to take home the 410 Sprint feature win. Jerry Redden held off a hard charging Matt Gaston to garner his first Steel Block Late Model win of the season. Rusty Martz returned from a week off and took home his 2nd Super Stock main. Ray Hickok invaded Thunder Mountain and picked up a Pure Stock feature win while Jason Joiner ended his bad luck with a Thunderbolt Enduro feature win on Marcy Reiter Trophy Night.
With questionable weather in the area keeping a handful of sprint drivers home, 17 winged warriors trekked to the 3/8 mile Jefferson County oval for the highly anticipated return of the 410 Sprints. “Showtime” Dan Shetler inherited the lead from a disappointed Danny Holtgraver on lap 14 and flew to his first feature win of the season in his #7K. “I liked the high side here. We struggled a little in the heat, but we made some changes that worked great. I like it, we’ll be back for the other 2 shows here” commented Shetler in victory lane. “We did a lot of the maintenance late last night, I left after midnight and the crew kept working and got us here. We lost one of our biggest supporters to cancer over the winter. This one’s for Davey, he’s smiling down on the 7K tonight.” continued Shetler.
Teammates Johnny Beaber and Jeff Taylor drew the front row starting spots in the redraw with Beaber’s #7B taking the lead at the drop of the green. Danny Holtgraver got by Taylor for 2nd with Shetler in 4th and Craig Folmar to 5th from 8th. Beaber had a comfortable lead over Holtgraver until the #D4 began closing on the legendary Gibsonburg, OH veteran on lap 3. Holtgraver caught Beaber and took the lead on lap 5 while Shetler and Folmar began a battle for 4th. Holtgraver started opening a lead over Beaber, who had his hands full with Taylor until a lap 8 caution for Mark Whitebread slowed the torrid pace. Whitebread’s #10 coasted to a stop in turn 2 and was pushed to the pits ending his night.
Back under green, Holtgraver again darted ahead of Beaber while Shetler took 3rd from Taylor on lap 11. Shetler then moved outside of Beaber and grabbed 2nd on lap 12 and started chasing down Holtgraver. As the leader started to catch lapped traffic, Shetler closed the gap between 1st and 2nd. A great battle for the lead was shaping up, but Holtgraver coasted to a stop just off the front stretch on lap 14 bringing out the yellow. An injector came off of the #D4 ending the popular Pittsburgh, PA youngster’s night.
With Shetler now in control of the restart, Beaber and Taylor had a battle for 2nd and were soon joined by Folmar. Folmar drove under Taylor on turn 4 on lap 15 grabbing 3rd while Andy McKisson moved to 5th. Shetler’s car got better and better as he started opening a huge lead over the field. The lead was a full straightaway with 5 laps to go as Beaber and Folmar were side by side for 2nd. Beaber held off the #81 of Folmar as Shetler was getting away from the battle for 2nd. With 2 laps to go, Shetler had nearly a half lap lead as Folmar once again drove under Beaber in turn 4. Shetler cleared Beaber at the white flag while Shetler was already heading down the back stretch and easily held on to take the win. Folmar earned a hard fought 2nd with Beaber having his best run since returning from a 15 year absence finishing 3rd. McKisson and Taylor were 4th and 5th respectively. Daryl Stimeling, Jimmy Seger, Dylan Proctor, Bill Jones Jr, and Jack Helget rounded out the top 10. Heats were won by Tony Beaber and Folmar.
Jerry Redden used his front row starting spot to his advantage and took home his first Steel Block late Model feature win in a non-stop event. “I’m pretty tired” stated Redden. “I saw Matt, I figured if I’m blocked in (traffic), he is too.”
Redden and Bruce Raybuck led the field to green with Redden taking the top spot with Raybuck and Rick Maxim in tow. Redden went high in turn 2 and the top 3 went 3 wide for the lead. Redden fought back and regained his grip on the lead as Chuck Kennedy and Bill Krause battled for 4th. On lap 5, Gaston joined the battle coming from his 13th starting spot. Maxim began to slow and headed to the pits as Gaston passed Krause and Kennedy and moved to 3rd. Gaston closed on Raybuck and grabbed 2nd at lap 10 as Redden was approaching lapped traffic ahead. Ed Connor came from 12th to take 5th from Krause on lap 14 as Redden was in heavy traffic out front. Gaston caught the leader in the midst of looking for a way around the 3 wide lapped cars. Gaston tried going high in turn 3 and got beside Redden, but Redden got by 1 lapped car and maintained the lead with 2 laps to go. The lapped cars were still a factor, but Redden found a nice line through the slower cars and put some distance between himself and Gaston as the white flag waved. Redden had no problem clearing the remaining traffic and went on to win over Gaston, Kennedy, Connor, and Raybuck who fell to 5th at the white flag lap. The balance of the top 10 was Krause, Tom Snyder, John Chesnalavich, Bill Davis, and John Reed. Gaston and Maxim picked up heat wins.
Rusty Martz added to his win total by taking home the Super Stock feature trophy. “The car didn’t feel as good as last time, but it got the job done. The track was different in the turns, but racing is a guessing game. That’s what makes it fun” stated Martz in victory lane.
Tim Bish and Martz paced the 12-car field to the green with the duo side by side through turns 1 and 2. Martz took the lead in turn 3. Martz held a firm lead through the race, but Bish remained in striking distance when a lapped car spun in front of the leader in a near-miss situation for Martz on lap 13. Caution flew and reset the field with Martz, Bish, Skip Lindemuth, Fuzzy Fields, and Brandon Connor. Martz began opening a lead after the restart and despite one more caution held on for the win. Bish was solid 2nd. Lindemuth, Connor and Fields completed the top 5. 6th through 10th went to Jim Handyside, Jay Kelichner, Steve Barnes, Gary Luzier, and Randy Reitz. Chad Rougeux and Martz were heat winners.
Jason Joiner took the lead from Aaron Hill on lap 1 and never looked back, becoming the first driver to end Jamey Lee’s dominance on the Thunderbolt Enduro division. “Thanks to all my sponsors and everyone. Tim Bish helped me a lot with this car” said Joiner next to his #619 in victory lane.
Chad Greeley and Hill made up the front row of the 22-car field. The cars were side by side before Greely slowed off turn 2 allowing Hill to lead and Joiner to move to 2nd. Hill and Joiner battled for the lead before Joiner grabbed the spot exiting turn 2 with 1 lap in the books. Newcomer Dan Luzier was 3rd with Shawn Lindemuth and Greeley battling for 4th. Despite a few close calls in traffic, Joiner was in control of the field for the distance and went on to win over Luzier, Hill, Lindemuth, and Jamey lee who took 5th from Greeley at the halfway mark. Chuck White, Greeley, Sam Orf Jr, Dustin Kemp, and Tom Pavelko completed the top 10. Heats went to Luzier, Lee and Joiner.
Ray Hickok is no stranger to Thunder Mountain Speedway’s victory lane as the Commodore, PA driver owns Thunderbolt Enduro feature wins. Hickok made his first appearance in his #48 Pure Stock a memorable one as he took home the feature win.
Bruce Hartzfeld and Brian Rhed lead the 14-car field to the start as Hartzfeld lead lap 1. 2nd row starts Hickok and Bob Alcorn quickly made their way forward as Hickok lead lap 2 with Alcorn in 2nd a lap later. At the halfway mark, the front 2 cars were well ahead of 3rd place Rhed and 4th place Hartzfeld. The lone caution came with 2 laps to go as Kyle Shannon coasted to a stop in turn 3, ending his night. While under yellow, Alcorn relinquished his 2nd place spot by heading to the pits with a flat right rear tire and did not return. Newcomer Kylie Hamilton headed pitside right behind Alcorn ending her night.
With the top 2 cars in points sitting in the pits, Rhed found himself in 2nd hoping to gain ground on the point leaders. Hickok was just too much as he went on to win over Rhed, Alan Trunzo, Hartzfeld, and Zach Gustafson. Nathan Yeaney, Guy Coder, Mike Calhoun, Alcorn, and Shawn Hadden rounded out the top 10. Alcorn and Hickok were heat winners.
Thunder Mountain Speedway will have a regular show of Steel Block Late Models, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Thunderbolt Enduros on Friday, June 5. Gates open at 5:00 with racing kicking off at 7:30. Get the latest information and sign up for interactive features at the tracks web site www.thundermountainspeedway.net.
MAY 29, 2009 COMPLETE RESULTS
410 SPRINTS: (17 Cars)
1. DAN SHETLER, 2. Craig Folmar, 3. Johnny Beaber, 4. Andy McKisson, 5. Jeff Taylor, 6. Daryl Stimeling, 7. Jimmy Seger, 8. Dylan Proctor, 9. Bill Jones Jr, 10. Jack Helget, 11. Tony Beaber, 12. Russ Sansosti, 13. Vern Wasson, 14. Ryan Lynn, 15. Gale Ruth Sr, 16. Danny Holtgraver (DNF), 17. Mark Whitebread (DNF).
HEAT WINNERS: T. Beaber, Folmar
STEEL BLOCK LATE MODELS: (13 Cars)
1.JERRY REDDEN, 2. Matt Gaston, 3. Chuck Kennedy, 4. Ed Connor, 5. Bruce Raybuck, 6. Bill Krause, 7. Tom Snyder, 8. John Chesnalavich Jr, 9. Bill Davis, 10. John Reed, 11. Rich Womeldorf, 12. Doug Updyke, 13. Rick Maxim (DNF).
HEAT WINENRS: Gaston, Maxim
SUPER STOCKS: (12 Cars)
1.RUSTY MARTZ, 2. Tim Bish, 3. Skip Lindemuth, 4. Brandon Connor, 5. Fuzzy Fields, 6. Jim Handyside Jr, 7. Jay Kelichner (DNF), 8. Steve Barnes (DNF), 9. Gary Luzier (DNF), 10. Randy Reitz (DNF), 11. Jamie Barber (DNF), 12. Chad Rougeux (DNS).
HEAT WINNERS: Rougeux, Martz
THUNDERBOLT ENDUROS: (22 Cars)
1. JASON JOINER, 2. Dan Luzier, 3. Aaron Hill, 4. Shawn Lindemuth, 5. Jamey Lee, 6. Chuck White, 7. Chad Greeley, 8. Sam Orf Jr, 9. Dustin Kemp, 10. Tom Pavelko, 11. Ryan Kemmer, 12. Cory Silvis, 13. Jon Lee, 14. Matt Krause, 15. Scott Brocious, 16. Barry Myers, 17. Randy Holliday, 18. Rusty Murray, 19. Roswell Babcock (DNF), 20. Chuck Himes (DNF), 21. Randy Rickard (DNF), 22. Calvin Heilman (DNF).
HEAT WINENRS: Luzier, Lee, Joiner
PURE STOCKS: (14 Cars)
1.RAY HICKOK, 2. Brian Rhed, 3. Alan Trunzo, 4. Bruce Hartzfeld, 5. Zach Gustafson, 6. Nathan Yeaney, 7. Guy Coder, 8. Mike Calhoun, 9. Bob Alcorn (DNF), 10. Shawn Hadden (DNF), 11. Kyle Shannon (DNF), 12. Kylie Hamilton (DNF), 13. Rick Anderson (DNS), 14. Josh Fields (DNS).
HEAT WINENRS: Alcorn, Hickok
