News from Thunder Mountain Speedway
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For Immediate Release/June 1, 2014
Nice Payday: Mike Clapperton Wins $1,500 Modified ‘Spring Championship’ At Thunder Mountain Speedway, Holding Off A Charging Mike Mahaney; Hillis, Spoonhower, Pierce, Deinhardt, Peters, Votra& Forward Also Visit Victory Lane Before Huge Crowd
CENTER LISLE, NY – Mike Clapperton picked the right night to visit Thunder Mountain Speedway Victory Lane.
Clapperton, of Sidney, N.Y., overcame his early season misfortune to collect a much-needed $1,500 payday in Saturday night’s big-block/small-block Modified ‘Spring Championship’ at the three-eighths-mile clay oval. The veteran driver won for the first time in 2014 in thrilling fashion, holding back the advances of a hard-charging Mike Mahaney.
Mahaney, looking for his second straight Thunder Mountain win, and Ryan Jordan flashed under the stripe side-by-side on Clapperton’s rear bumper in a finish that brought the season’s largest Saturday night crowd to its feet.
“This was the right night to hit it with the ‘Spring Championship’ extra money on the line,” Clapperton said after exiting his self-owned No. M16 Bicknell. “We’ve had a good car all year: we’ve just been the victim of those chain-reaction deals. It’s all part of racing, but we haven’t had much luck at all.”
Clapperton started the 30-lap main event from third position. Early on, outside-pole starter Billy Spoonhower set the pace. However, Clapperton gradually reeled him in. On lap eight, Clapperton ducked to the bottom to slip into the top spot.
“It looked like Billy had a good car early,” Clapperton said. “He got away from me a little there, but either he was backing up or I was getting better and I caught him.”
As Clapperton led, the battle for second intensified involving Steve Cummings, rookie Jordan and a quick-running Mahaney.
Sixth-starter Jordan pressed his No. R21 HigFab mount into the runner-up spot on lap 18. Mahaney followed into third a lap later.
Following a 27th-lap caution, Mahaney completed a go-for-broke pass for second. One final yellow, on lap 28, put Mahaney’s Olum’s-sponsored No. 21 on the rear bumper of Clapperton.
Following a 27th-lap caution, Mahaney completed a go-for-broke pass for second. One final yellow, on lap 28, put Mahaney’s Olum’s-sponsored No. 21 on the rear bumper of Clapperton.
Mahaney throttled up to Clapperton on the penultimate lap, but shoved the nose of his car, bringing Jordan into the fray. Clapperton raced across the line as the winner, with Mahaney, of King Ferry, N.Y., edging Dryden, N.Y.’s Jordan at the wire for second. Jordan, a Sportsman graduate, finished a Modified-best third.
“It’s good to be back here,” Clapperton said of Thunder Mountain. “Karl has done a great job with the place and it’s only going to get better. I missed running up here the last couple years.”
Nick Rochinski of Dickson City, Pa., recovered for fourth after dropping out of the top-five early and point leader Brent Wilcox of Binghamton, N.Y., finished fifth after starting ninth.
Vestal, N.Y., driver Larry Hillis wired the 20-lap Sportsman main event, earning $700 thanks to division sponsor Howard Jones Logging & Firewood. Hillis launched off the pole and turned back the late advances of Billy Spoonhower to win for the first time this season.
Spoonhower momentarily took the lead on a lap-15 restart but a caution negated the pass. Hillis drove on to the win over Spoonhower, Eric Leet, Charlie Hendrickson Jr. (recovering from a flat tire) and Tyler Singleton.
Shayne Spoonhower of Berkshire, N.Y., won his second 15-lap Rookie Sportsman main of the year.
Kyle Pierce of Spencer, N.Y., won a wild 12-lap main event for the visiting SRP Sprints. With double-file lapped traffic looming, Pierce slipped by David Smith racing out of turn four to the checkered. Pierce was driving the 600cc Micro-Sprint typically piloted by his father, former Thunder Mountain regular Cliff Pierce.
Smith, Dakota Anderson, Bill Nichols and Cheyenna Ling trailed.
Steven Deinhardt of Deposit, N.Y., found the outside lane just in time to win a competitive 20-lap Street Stock main. It was his second straight triumph in the division. Deinhardt had Gene Sharpsteen by a nose when a yellow flag flew on the 19th lap.
He was placed in the lead for the single-file restart and charged to the win over Sharpsteen, newcomer Tom Savercool (who picked up a $50 bonus as the highest-finishing first-time ’14 visitor), Earl Zimmer and Rich Sharpsteen.
Pat Votra of Marathon, N.Y., went two-for-two in Empire Sport Truck action, dominating the 12-lap main.
Bubba Peters, a resident of Sayre, Pa., won the 15-lap Pure Stock event, his first in more than two years. Peters emerged from a scuffle for the lead that sent Buck Mills Jr. spinning in the second turn. Peters then bested the elder Buck Mills in a paint-swapping charge to the checkered.
Isaiah Forward of Bouckville, N.Y., wired the 15-lap Four Cylinder feature for his fourth consecutive triumph. Following the win, track management announced 100 lbs. will be added to Forward’s car starting next Saturday, June 7. Mark Wheeler completed a late pass of Mackenzie Gibson for second.
THUNDER THOUGHTS: Southeastern New York star Jeff Heotzler invaded Thunder Mountain with Mel Schrufer’s No. 2a Modified following a Friday washout at Accord (N.Y.) Speedway. The Wallkill, N.Y., driver had driven into fourth spot on lap 28 when driveline issues sent him to the infield. Heotzler hopes to return to Thunder Mountain when his schedule permits….
Howard Jones Logging & Firewood sponsored Kids’ Bike Races, which took place on the frontstretch during intermission. Winners were Ayden White (ages 3-5), Hunter Boynton (ages 6-8) and Ryan-David Kadaronak (ages 9-11)….
Starting next Saturday, June 7, Modifieds will be permitted to run softer American Racer tires on the rear: 38 or harder right-rear and 33 or harder left-rear. Sportsman drivers voted to continue running the harder 44-48 compound tires across the back at a pre-race drivers’ meeting….
Brian Malcolm was the recipient of a free tire via a random draw of Lias Tire/American Racer incentive program participants. Roy Shields, meanwhile, receives a free pass for next Saturday’s event. Tyler Singleton was picked to receive the $85 off tire certificate for the Sportsman division in Victory Lane….
Track conditions continue to improve thanks to the work of speedway owner Karl Spoonhower. Passing was prevalent during the main events after intermission watering….
The largest Saturday crowd of the season filled the speedway’s concrete grandstand on a beautiful night for racing….
Heat winners were Billy Spoonhower and Steve Cummings (Modified); Larry Hillis and Marshall Balzer (Sportsman); Shayne Spoonhower (Rookie Sportsman); Jason Beebe and Ricky Davis Sr. (Street Stock); Pat Votra (Empire Sport Trucks); Buck Mills (Pure Stock); and Mackenzie Gibson and Isaiah Forward (Four Cylinder)….
Racing resumes on Saturday, June 7 with Fan Appreciation Night. Cars and drivers will be accessible for a meet and greet with fans during intermission. A complete program is on the docket for big-block/small-block Modifieds, Sportsman, Rookie Sportsman, Street Stocks, Empire Sport Trucks, Pure Stocks and Four Cylinders.
IMCA-style Modifieds will be added to the program in their first appearance of the season. While the complete purse is TBA, the IMCA-style Modifieds will receive $65 to take the green flag.
If 21 or more big-block/small-block Modifieds sign in, the purse will increase to $1,500 again next Saturday.
Residents of Greene with photo ID will receive $5 grandstand admission. Scouts in uniform will be admitted free of charge with a paying adult.
Pit and grandstand season passes from Five Mile Point, I-88, Penn Can and Skyline again will be accepted for FREE admission on Saturday.
Gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. Adult grandstand admission is $10. Seniors (65 and over) and students (ages 10-17) pay $8. Kids nine and under are FREE. Pit admission is $30, with no license required.
For rules, general information and a complete schedule, visit www.thundermtnspeedway.com. The speedway office number is 607.657.8202. On race day, call 607.849.7899. The speedway e-mail is thundermtnspeedway@gmail.com. “Like” Thunder Mountain Speedway on Facebook or follow @thundermtnspeed on Twitter.
Thunder Mountain Speedway is located at 91 Hunts Corners Road Center Lisle, NY 13797, approximately 25 miles north of Binghamton. The three-eighths-mile clay oval features hillside concrete seating, free parking and camping, a variety of concession items and novelties, a family environment and more.
MAY 31, 2014 QUICK RESULTS SUMMARY
Modified Feature Finish (30 Laps): MIKE CLAPPERTON ($1,500), Mike Mahaney, Ryan Jordan, Nick Rochinski, Brent Wilcox, Chad Cook, Brian Malcolm, Byron Worthing, Ken Titus, Jeff Heotzler, Brent Boyer, Steve Cummings, Greg Birosh, Bob Hamm Jr., Billy Spoonhower, Roy Shields.
American Racer/Lias Tire Free Tire Certificate: Brian Malcolm
Free Pass (Track Regular): Roy Shields
Free Pass (Track Regular): Roy Shields
Sportsman Feature Finish (20 Laps): LARRY HILLIS ($700), Billy Spoonhower, Eric Leet, Charlie Hendrickson Jr., Tyler Singleton, Marshall Balzer, Geordie Decker, Tom Tophoven, Butch Green, Chance Spoonhower, Colton Wilson, Marc Goodwin, Kevin Jordan, Scott Conover, Chris Jordan.
American Racer/Lias Tire $85 Certificate: Tyler Singleton
Newcomer Bonus ($50): Marc Goodwin
Newcomer Bonus ($50): Marc Goodwin
SRP Sprint Feature Finish (12 Laps): KYLE PIERCE, David Smith, Dakota Anderson, Bill Nichols, Cheyenna Ling, Chaz Ford, Alan Lockwood, Chad Tibbals, Gary Page.
Rookie Sportsman Feature Finish (12 Laps): SHAYNE SPOONHOWER, Scott George.
Street Stock Feature Finish (20 Laps): STEVEN DEINHARDT, Gene Sharpsteen, Tom Savercool, Earl Zimmer, Rich Sharpsteen, Jason Beebe, Brenton Miller, John Cooper Jr., Matt Spencer, Dan Force, John Hoover, Ricky Davis Sr., Jonathan Carpenter, Mike Wilbur, Harold Wilbur, Steve Wren, Daryl Krebs.
Newcomer Bonus ($50): Tom Savercool
Empire Sport Truck Feature Finish (12 Laps): PATRICK VOTRA, Allen Hodge, Brandon Clapperton, Bob Crandall.
Did Not Start: Craig Gaerity.
Pure Stock Feature Finish (15 Laps): BUBBA PETERS, Buck Mills, Kevin Garland, Tom Velez, Kristina Whittemore, Chris Bennett, Buck Mills Jr., Michael Morse.
Four Cylinder Feature Finish (15 Laps): ISAIAH FORWARD, Mark Wheeler, Mackenzie Gibson, Guy Raymond Jr., Rick Sinsabaugh, Chris Taylor, Mike Taylor, Sue Sinsabaugh, Collin Davey, Trevor Dudley, Angus Hines, Gabe Forward, Matt Gibson.
Did Not Start: Bernie Shay, Keith Potter.
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Brett Deyo
Promotions, Public Relations & Marketing
Thunder Mountain Speedway
Thunder Mountain Speedway
91 Hunts Corners Road Center Lisle, NY 13797
Cell: 845.728.2781
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@thundermtnspeed on Twitter
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