Rain Stops Thunder Mountain Speedway Saturday Program After Qualifying; Feature Event Postponement Creates HUGE Labor Day Weekend Two-Day Extravaganza With ‘Sprint Car Saturday’ Aug. 30 and Wade Decker Memorial Aug. 31; No Racing Saturday, Aug. 23
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CENTER LISLE, NY – After surviving a pair of rain showers, heavy precipitation put a stop to racing at Thunder Mountain Speedway on Saturday night.
Four laps were complete in the evening’s first feature – the 20-lap Sportsman main – when rainfall intensified and thoroughly soaked the three-eighths-mile clay oval. The rain, predicted to last through the Sunday morning hours, forced the postponement of the features. All qualifying action had been completed despite two significant showers that led to a pair of delays taking more than an hour total to dry and grade the track surface.
Heat winners before the rain were Brent Wilcox and Bob Henry Jr. (Modified); Geordie Decker and Chris Jordan (Sportsman); Shayne Spoonhower (Rookie Sportsman); Ricky Davis Sr. and Jason Beebe (Street Stock); Jason Tuttle (IMCA-style Modified); Bubba Peters (Pure Stock); Doug O’Hara (Empire Sport Truck); and Richard Wagner Jr. and Phil Burns (Four Cylinder).
Larry Hillis led Chance Spoonhower when the Sportsman feature was stopped at lap four.
With the speedway silent next Saturday (Aug. 23) for fencing and facility work, the features have been rescheduled for Labor Day weekend, setting up a huge two days of racing on the Mountain Aug. 30 and 31.
The Aug. 16 Modified (30 laps), Street Stock (20 laps) and remaining 16 laps of the Sportsman main event will now join the Saturday, Aug. 30 ‘Sprint Car Saturday’ special for an historic night of racing topped by the first-ever visit by the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints (ESS) 360 Sprint Cars to Thunder Mountain. Competitors in the Modifieds, Sportsman and Street Stocks should return with their wristbands from Aug. 16 for the ‘Sprint Car Saturday’ event.
The ESS squad of touring racers, celebrating their 31st anniversary season, will headline a unique ‘Sprint Car Saturday’ program co-promoted by BD Motorsports Media LLC with a 25-lap main paying $2,000-plus to the winner.
The event also includes the CRSA 305 Sprint Cars, Empire Lightning Sprints, SRP Sprints (now open to all winged 583cc, 600cc and 636 cc Micro-Sprints, any fuel and adjustments, $500 to win with 24 cars) plus a huge fireworks display. The fireworks show will be larger than the track’s Independence Day display on July 5. The Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club will also be on hand to provide a glimpse into the sport’s stories past.
For the special “wing night” there will be hot wing specials in the concession stands and other surprises for fans.
Admission pricing for the Aug. 30 ‘Sprint Car Saturday’ is as follows: $18 for Adults, $16 for Seniors (ages 65 and over) and $12 for Students (ages 10-17). Kids 9 and under are FREE. Pit admission is $30.
The Aug. 16 main events for the Rookie Sportsman (12 laps), IMCA-style Modifieds (15 laps), Four Cylinders ($200 to win, 15 laps), Pure Stocks ($200 to win, 12 laps) and Empire Sport Trucks (12 laps) will be contested on Sunday, Aug. 31 as part of the MjH Oilfield Wade Decker Memorial. Competitors should bring wristbands to the gate.
The big-block/small-block Modifieds headline the Wade Decker Memorial with a 50-lap event paying $5,000 to the winner (with $25 “Gambler’s Fee” posted, $3,500 without) and $250 to take the green flag. The Sportsman will run a 40-lap main with a hefty $1,250 winner’s share (with $20 “Gambler’s Fee” posted, $750 without) and $100 to take the green and the Street Stocks will take part in a 30-lap feature paying $1,000 to the winner (with $15 “Gambler’s Fee” posted, $750 without) and $120 to take the green, honoring Denny Decker. The Street Stock portion of the program has support from Cartrette Logging.
All divisions will draw for their starting positions with a redraw of top qualifiers for the main events.
Gates will open at 4 p.m. with a drivers’ meeting at 6 p.m. Hot laps will kick off at 6:20 p.m. and racing begins at 7 p.m.
Wade Decker Memorial grandstand admission is $20 for Adults, $18 for Seniors (65 and over), $15 for Students (ages 10-17) and FREE for kids nine and under. Pit admission is $35, with no license required. Those attending with grandstand ticket stubs from Saturday’s program will receive $2 off.
A talented competitor who progressed from the Street Stocks to race in the Southern Tier and beyond in the Modified division, Wade Decker tragically lost his life on Dec. 5, 2011 in a logging accident. He was just 37 years old. The Decker family has worked to raise money for the second running of the Wade Decker Memorial event. The first event was run in 2012 at I-88 Speedway in Afton, N.Y. Pat Ward of Genoa, N.Y., was the inaugural event winner.
Fans and racers are encouraged to camp on the speedway grounds for the weekend doubleheader. A post-race bonfire is planned for Saturday night with a Sunday horseshoe and bean-bag tournaments planned prior to the start of racing.
Aside from the posted purses, a number of special incentives have been set up for the event.
Halfway leader bonuses of $500 (Modified), $250 (Sportsman) and $150 (Street Stock) will be paid out.
Lap sponsorships are filling in at $25 per lap (Modified), $20 per lap (Sportsman) and $15 per lap (Street Stock). To sponsor a lap, contact Brenda Decker via e-mail at Brenda.j.decker@outlook.com. All lap money raised goes directly to the drivers.
Modified heat winners will take part in a Dash for Cash paying $1,000 to the winner.
The drivers leading the most laps in each of the three divisions will take home custom coolers filled with ice cold beer thanks to Lakey’s Tavern in Susquehanna, Pa.
The Modified Hard Charger will take home a certificate for a set of four new Integra shocks.
A unique prize is set for the Modified driver selected as the Hard Luck Award recipient: a guided turkey/deer hunt for driver and crew chief at Full Fan Lodge in Montrose, Pa. Full Fan Lodge is online at www.fullfanlodge.com.
E-Z Red Manufacturing of Deposit, N.Y., has provided several took kits and combinations to be given away to lucky recipients in all three divisions.
Fans will be part of the Wade Decker Memorial experience, as well. The first 50 fans through the gate for the Sunday event will receive a can koozie. A tee-shirt cannon will be shooting giveaways into the stands during the night and more.
For Thunder Mountain Speedway 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.
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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
"Thunder Mountain Speedway" on Facebook
@thundermtnspeed on Twitter
@thundermtnspeed on Twitter
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