CENTER LISLE, NY – An overheating engine and spirited challenge from Brian Malcolm couldn’t keep Chad Cook from Victory Lane on Saturday at Thunder Mountain Speedway.
Cook, of Deposit, N.Y., nursed the Mike Costello-owned No. 222 to the win in a competitive 30-lap big-block/small-block Modified main event, earning the $1,200 top prize. Cook’s late-race struggle was evident in the winner’s circle where steam and coolant poured from the car during his post-race interview.
“We’ve had an issue with this car running hot,” Cook said afterward. “I was trying to let off and go easy once I got the lead, then all of a sudden I saw the ‘119’ (Malcolm) under me and I knew I had to pick it up.”
Cook, the winner of the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP ‘Lightning on the Mountain’ event on Memorial Day weekend, started sixth on the grid. By lap six, he sat third. Working the outside line of the three-eighths-mile oval, Cook swept past pole starter Ken Titus to take over the top spot.
As Cook led, Malcolm was methodically working toward the front from his 11thstarting position.
At lap eight, Malcolm’s Sharkey’s Fuels/Waymart Building Center No. 119 cracked the top-five.
By lap 11, Malcolm was second and he arrived in third before the race’s final caution flag on the 13th circuit.
During the race’s final half, Malcolm gradually reeled in Cook’s No. 222, ultimately working to the inside with less than 10 laps to go. At lap 24, Malcolm put the nose of his car inside Cook’s. With five to go, they were even.
Cook, however, prevailed off the outside and led Malcolm under starter Ronnie Ford’s checkered flag by a car-length.
“It seems like we’ve either been on or way off this year, hot or cold,” Cook said. “I hope we can keep rolling through the summer.”
Malcolm, of Lake Ariel, Pa., settled for second capping a strong weekend that included a win at his Friday night home track. Late in the race, Alan Barker of Norwich, N.Y., ran down the leaders, finishing in third after starting 14th. Jeremy Smith of Triangle, N.Y., continued his consistent run in fourth, edging Danny Creeden of Wurtsboro, N.Y., at the line. Creeden recovered for fifth after a lap-two spin.
A go-for-broke, outside-lane pass granted Brian White his third consecutive Open Sportsman victory. White earned $1,000 for his efforts in the 20-lap event.
White stalked Kevin Jordan, peering to his inside lap-after-lap, before a caution set up a single-file restart on lap 18. The Owego, N.Y., driver throttled his No. 56 to the outside. White ran side-by-side with Jordan at the one-to-go signal and surged ahead on the final lap.
“Kevin got a good jump on that last restart,” White said. “I drove hard into (turn) one on the top there and it stuck. I have to thank the track crew tonight. The track was wide and there was bite all the way across.”
White extended his lead in the division’s point standings with the win.
Jordan finished second, with Chris Jordan, New Jersey visitor J.R. Fulper and Chance Spoonhower in tow.
Milford, Pa., driver Brian Mady led only the most important two laps of the Crate 602 Sportsman 20-lap main to take the victory. Mady, who started eighth, was able to successfully duck to the inside of Shayne Spoonhower coming to the white flag. Once in front, Mady raced to his second triumph of the 2016 campaign.
Spoonhower, who had led the event after passing Gregg Turner on the sixth lap, settled for second. Geordie Decker, running in the Crate 602 division while his open engine is repaired, drove from 12thto finish third, with 11th-starter Isaiah Forward and James McIntyre, from ninth, completing the front five.
Ryan Alsdorf of Bethel, N.Y., bounced back from a flip the previous Saturday to earn his first 15-lap Rookie Sportsman win. Alsdorf withstood the challenges of Jason Beebe during the race’s final laps. Beebe settled for second, ahead of Dan Allen, Landon Cummings and first-time visitor Leo McGurrin.
Jonathan Carpenter continued his hot streak with a 20-lap Street Stock victory. Carpenter, who worked inside Earl Zimmer at the race’s midway point, won for the third time in five days! The New Milford, Pa., native won at I-88 Speedway in Afton, N.Y., on Tuesday and Friday before taking the Thunder Mountain score Saturday.
Zimmer placed second, ahead of sophomore Trevor Dudley, Matt Spencer and Doug Stack Jr., who led much of the race’s first half before a restart tangle sent him to the tail.
Oneonta, N.Y.’s Will Eastman, the defending XCel 600 Modified champion on the Mountain, raced to his second 20-lap victory of the season. Eastman chased down early leader Justin Shiner, then survived the only restart of the event on the 19th of 20 laps to take the win. Shiner was the runner-up, with Joe McCabe, Jamie Frantz and Kyle Fallis trailing.
A back-and-forth battle for FWD Four Cylinder supremacy ended with Kenny Underwood of Tunkhannock, Pa., pulling off a last-lap pass to take the 15-lap victory. Underwood and Rich Gardiner swapped the top spot on several occasions before Underwood prevailed to win his first of the season. Gardiner, Gabe Forward, Chris Taylor and Eric Rowley completed the front five.
THUNDER THOUGHTS: A wide and racy track surface prevailed after the Karl Spoonhower-led track crew dug up the clay and watered it heavily for the program. Competitors and fans praised the on-track action and conditions for Saturday’s event….
Another strong pit contingent included 23 Modifieds, 17 Open Sportsman, 22 Crate 602 Sportsman, 10 Rookie Sportsman, 16 Street Stocks, 20 XCel 600 Modifieds and 14 FWD Four Cylinders….
The Modified feature was completed by 9:38 p.m. and the entire event was in the books by 11 p.m. thanks to a swiftly run show….
The large crowd rose to its feet often with three features decided by lead changes within the final two laps….
Racing resumes on the Mountain Saturday, July 2 with the ‘Red, White & Blue Special’ for Modifieds ($1,776-to-win), Open Sportsman, Crate 602 Sportsman, Rookie Sportsman, Street Stocks, XCel 600 Modifieds (non-points) and FWD Four Cylinders plus the visiting SRP Micro-Sprints. There will be a spectacular fireworks show, as well.
Pit gates will open at 4 p.m. Hot laps begin at 6:20 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m.
Adult grandstand admission is $14. Seniors (ages 65 and over) and Students (ages 10-17) pay $12. Kids 9 and under are FREE. Pit admission is $32, with no license required.
For Thunder Mountain Speedway 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.
THUNDER MOUNTAIN SPEEDWAY RESULTS SUMMARY – JUNE 25, 2016
Modified Feature Finish (30 laps): CHAD COOK, Brian Malcolm, Alan Barker, Jeremy Smith, Danny Creeden, Brent Wilcox, Billy Spoonhower, Tyler Siri, Ken Titus, Chris Stull, Ryan Jordan, Barry White, Byron Worthing, Mike Decker, Arnie Slade, John Morse, Lee Dewitt, Bob Hamm, Chris Ostrowsky, Randy Brokaw, Colton Wilson, Nick Nye, Sam Allen.
Open Sportsman Feature Finish (20 laps): BRIAN WHITE, Kevin Jordan, Chris Jordan, J.R. Fulper, Chance Spoonhower, Eddie White, Daniel Burman, Carl Bittenbender, Larry Mekic, Jason Tuttle, Cole Price, Greg Morgan, Dayton Coney, Larry Hillis, Thomas Ferguson, Dan Burman.
Did Not Start: Tommy Eiklor
Crate 602 Sportsman Feature Finish (20 laps): BRIAN MADY, Shayne Spoonhower, Geordie Decker, Isaiah Forward, James McIntyre, Gregg Turner, Matt Brewer, Mike Nagel Jr., Matt Roberts, Lanson Albanese, Rich Powell, Daryl Krebs, Dustin Jordan, Hilary Ward, Pat Parker, Pat Jordan, Kailee DiMorier, Kimberlee Morgan, Tom Collins, Bob Stahl, Robert Barker, T.J. Frost.
Rookie Sportsman Feature Finish (15 laps): RYAN ALSDORF, Jason Beebe, Dan Allen, Landon Cummings, Leo McGurrin, Colby Hendrickson, Bill Reidenbach, Justin Cobb, Connor Spoonhower.
Did Not Start: Denny Grenier.
Street Stock Feature Finish (20 laps):JONATHAN CARPENTER, Earl Zimmer, Trevor Dudley, Matt Spencer, Doug Stack Jr., Shane Wolf Jr., Damon Decker, Dan Mazzarese, Rick Sinsabaugh, Jacob Fowlston, Jack Holcomb Jr., Gene Sharpsteen, John Hoover, Jeff Wilcox, Mike Wilbur, Norm Whittemore.
XCel 600 Modified Feature Finish (20 laps): WILL EASTMAN, Justin Shiner, Joe McCabe, Jamie Frantz, Kyle Fallis, Dana Davis, Tom Shiner, Kamdin Maby, Eric Boyd, Chris Jordan, Doug Windhausen, Nick Chase, Bailey Boyd, Chris Kithcart, Bob Rowback, Dakota Andersen, Justin DiMorier, Dusty Decker, Drew Fallis.
Did Not Start: Jacob Waibel
FWD Four Cylinder Feature Finish (15 laps): KENNY UNDERWOOD, Rich Gardiner, Gabe Forward, Chris Taylor, Eric Rowley, Jeremy Warren, Guy Raymond Jr., Josh Hubbard, Zack Hayward, Caleb Lacey, Sheldon Whitman, Dave Jenkins, Clint Kadarondak.
Did Not Start: Keith Beach
No comments:
Post a Comment