Chad Cook Feels At Home Driving Mike Costello No. 222, Wins Second Thunder Mountain Speedway Modified Feature In Three Weeks; Leet, Spoonhower, Sharpsteen, Pierce, Jones, Peters, O’Hara & Forward Also Earn Victories On Busy Night
CENTER LISLE, NY – Chad Cook wishes he brought his back-up car out earlier.
Cook, 38 of Deposit, N.Y., dusted off his second car, Mike Costello’s No. 222, and won with it out of the box at Thunder Mountain Speedway on July 12. He appeared poised for victory July 19 before a flat left-rear tire ended his drive to the front. On Saturday night, Cook drove to his second 30-lap big-block/small-block Modified win in three weeks at the three-eighths-mile clay oval.
“We were struggling with the other car and decided to bring this one out a few weeks ago,” Cook said. “I wish we had done it a lot earlier.”
Cook started seventh in the main event. He made quick work of the field early on, following caution flags on laps two, three and five.
Cook surpassed Billy Spoonhower, who had supplanted Byron Worthing as the leader on the second circuit, with seven laps in the books. The final 25 laps ran caution-free and Cook opened up a lead of more than a straightaway for the triumph.
“This car is working here right now,” Cook said. “I thought we had a good shot last week and we peeled the left-rear tire off. It was just as fast tonight.”
Eighth-starter Brent Wilcox of Binghamton, N.Y., took over second on lap eight and chased Cook for the remainder of the distance. Wilcox, a three-time winner at Thunder Mountain this season, extended his point lead with the runner-up effort.
Spoonhower, of Berkshire, N.Y., was a consistent third, followed by 12th-starter Brian Malcolm of Lake Ariel, Pa., and Ken Titus of Kirkwood, N.Y.
For the first time this season, Eric Leet of Marathon, N.Y., was the 20-lap Sportsman victor. Leet led the event from start-to-finish. Billy Spoonhower, who started sixth, slipped past Kevin Jordan for second on lap 16 but ran out of time before he could challenge Leet.
Jordan, Larry Hillis and Geordie Decker completed the front five.
For the ninth time this season, Shayne Spoonhower of Berkshire, N.Y., scored a Rookie Sportsman checkered flag in the 12-lap main.
Rich Sharpsteen collected $800 for his triumph in the 20-lap Street Stock main. The winner’s share was boosted by $400 in bounty money for a driver who was able to end Steven Deinhardt’s win streak at four straight. Sharpsteen drove from fourth to the lead in just one lap’s time and held the top spot through the finish. Deinhardt, from eighth, arrived in second one lap shy of the checkered and settled for a second-place result. Tom Savercool, Daryl Krebs and Jason Beebe followed.
For the first time, Matt Jones of McLean, N.Y., registered a 12-lap IMCA-style Modified victory, surviving a late-race caution flag to hold off Ken Winn.
Kyle Pierce of Spencer, N.Y., thwarted the efforts of Bill Nichols to win the 12-lap SRP Sprint headliner.
Doug O’Hara of Sherburne, N.Y., translated his fourth Empire Sport Truck start of the season at Thunder Mountain into his third win. O’Hara’s effort in the 15-lap ‘Tailgate Party’ special annexed him a $200 payday.
For the fourth time this season, Sayre, Pa.’s Bubba Peters was the 12-lap Pure Stock victor. Peters held off Buck Mills Sr. in the final laps.
Isaiah Forward won his ninth 15-lap Four Cylinder main of the season in dominant fashion. Forward took over the lead on lap four and was never headed. The Bouckville, N.Y., teenager holds a commanding lead in the point standings.
THUNDER THOUGHTS: Strong Modified runs ended early for Mike Mahaney (broken driveshaft yoke, lap 10), Mike Clapperton (shredded right-rear tire, lap 29) and Steve Cummings (final-lap spin). All appeared poised for top-three finishes at the time…
SRP Sprint winner Kyle Pierce is the son of former Thunder Mountain regular Cliff Pierce, who also pilots a 600cc Micro-Sprint now…
With an afternoon threat of rain, dry track conditions prevailed during the fast-paced program, which was completed in full by 10:10 p.m…
Heat winners were Byron Worthing and Roy Shields (Modified); Kevin Jordan (Sportsman); Cole Price (Rookie Sportsman); Rich Sharpsteen and Brenton Miller (Street Stock); Cliff Pierce (SRP Sprint); Ken Wynn (IMCA-style Modified); Kevin Garland (Pure Stock); Doug O’Hara (Empire Sport Truck); and Isaiah Forward and Guy Raymond Jr. (Four Cylinder).
Racing resumes Saturday, Aug. 2, with a complete program of Modifieds, Sportsman, Rookie Sportsman, Street Stocks, IMCA-style Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Empire Sport Trucks and Four Cylinders. Cortland residents will receive $5 grandstand admission with proper photo ID.
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.
JULY 26, 2014 RESULTS SUMMARY
Modified Feature Finish (30 Laps): CHAD COOK, Brent Wilcox, Billy Spoonhower, Brian Malcolm, Ken Titus, Chris Stull, Bob Henry Jr., Steve Cummings, Greg Birosh, Roy Shields, Mike Clapperton, Byron Worthing, Mike Mahaney, Marc Goodwin.
Sportsman Feature Finish (20 Laps): ERIC LEET, Billy Spoonhower, Kevin Jordan, Larry Hillis, Geordie Decker, Chance Spoonhower, Chris Jordan.
Street Stock Feature Finish (20 Laps): RICH SHARPSTEEN ($800 – BOUNTY), Steven Deinhardt, Tom Savercool, Daryl Krebs, Jason Beebe, Brenton Miller, Earl Zimmer, John Hoover, Chuck Murray, Nick Alexander, Bob Mills, Tyler Belcher, Ricky Davis Sr., Dan Force.
Rookie Sportsman Feature Finish (12 Laps): SHAYNE SPOONHOWER, Cole Price, Tyler Keener.
Did Not Start: Joshua Underwood
IMCA-Style Modified Feature Finish (12 Laps): MATT JONES, Ken Winn, Jason Tuttle, Craig Ward, Mike Wilbur Jr.
Pure Stock Feature Finish (12 Laps): BUBBA PETERS, Buck Mills, Roger Walburn, Mitch Quail Jr., Levi Davis, Michael Morse.
Empire Sport Truck Feature Finish (15 Laps): DOUG O’HARA, Bob Crandall, Brandon Clapperton, Allan Hodge, Pat Votra.
Four Cylinder Feature Finish (15 Laps): ISAIAH FORWARD, Mike Taylor, Mark Wheeler, Chris Taylor, Guy Raymond Jr., Rick Sinsabaugh, Mackenzie Gibson, Thomas Ferguson, Ray Oakley Sr.
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