CENTER LISLE, NY – Alan Barker put forth a valiant effort, but it was Danny Creeden once again in Victory Lane at Thunder Mountain Speedway.
Creeden, of Wurtsboro, N.Y., won for the fifth straight time in big-block/small-block Modified competition at the three-eighths-mile clay oval, earning the $1,200 payday and extending his lead in the division’s championship standings as time winds down toward the September finale.
“Alan (Barker) is fast,” Creeden said. “I thought he was going to be the one to beat us tonight.”
Creeden started the 30-lap main from 11th. Billy Spoonhower set the early pace before Ryan Jordan moved his new Hig Fab No. R21 to the lead. Barker, who started 10th, was making tracks toward the front using his trademark outside lane, ultimately taking command.
Creeden struggled early on through traffic but emerged in second by the race’s one-third point.
Barker, working the high line, repelled Creeden’s inside advances lap-after-lap before Creeden was able to pull even off a restart in turn two. Barker fought back on the inside, but it was Creeden who drove away for the victory.
The checkered for Creeden came just in time, as his car’s right-rear American Racer tire was deflated in Victory Lane.
Barker, of Norwich, N.Y., settled for second, followed by Chad Cook of Deposit, N.Y., who surged forward from 18th starting position in the Mike Costello-owned No. 222. Jeremy Smith of Triangle, N.Y., placed fourth after starting eighth and Jeff Sheeley of Alplaus, N.Y., who earned his first top-five finish of the season.
Chance Spoonhower of Berkshire, N.Y., won for the second consecutive event in Open Sportsman competition, earning $700. Spoonhower emerged from a three-car race for the lead, clearing both Larry Hillis and Larry Mekic to take command. Spoonhower had started the 20-lap feature from eighth on the grid.
Eric Leet, the 2015 champion, returned to the speedway and overcame a mid-race spin to rally for second, with Sportsman rookie Mekic, Kevin Jordan and Hillis completing the front five.
Lansing, N.Y., driver Tom Collins Jr. won for the second time this season in Crate 602 Sportsman action. Collins rolled to the front from fifth starting spot. During the second half of the 20-lap feature, Brian Mady – moving forward from 10th – applied pressure to Collins’ lead, but couldn’t make the pass.
Milford, Pa.’s Mady was second, with defending champion Pat Jordan, a rim-riding Kenny Hammond from 11th and Isaiah Forward rounding out the top-five finishers.
In a two-car duel, Dan Allen of Berkshire, N.Y., outgunned Ryan Alsdorf to earn the 15-lap Rookie Sportsman nightcap triumph.
With an increased $1,000 winner’s share on the line, Binghamton, N.Y., driver Matt Spencer prevailed in the Street Stock division. Spencer, who won the $1,000 event a year ago, repeated the feat on Saturday. Spencer fought hard for the checkered. A stout 24-car field of Street Stocks signed in for the event.
Late in the race, Spencer was pressured by an emerging Shane Wolf Jr., who started from seventh. Wolf had track position inside Spencer when a caution flew on the 16th lap.
Spencer regained composure and fended off Wolf’s advances, winning at the line by a half car-length.
Wolf settled for runner-up status, with ‘the Logger’ Earl Zimmer, Trevor Dudley and Dan Searles in tow.
Keystone State driver Jamie Frantz throttled to the XCel 600 Modified 20-lap score. Frantz was pursued by moonlighting Modified driver Byron Worthing who started eighth in the Chris Kithcart No. 51. Worthing worked Frantz high and low before a last-ditch effort at the lead failed and he spun to the infield on the final lap.
Frantz went on to win over youthful talent Kamdin Maby, Will Eastman, Joe McCabe and a returning Paul DeRuyter.
Michael Robinson was a fortunate FWD Four Cylinder 15-lap winner. Robinson led the entire distance, but just as he crossed under the checkered, his car quit, forcing it to be pushed to Victory Lane. Rich Gardiner, Eric Rowley, Caleb Lacey and Chris Taylor placed second through fifth, respectively.
THUNDER THOUGHTS: Track conditions drew rave reviews across the board on Saturday with limited dust and multiple racing grooves in place. Minimal track work was required during the night, with the Modified feature completed by 10 p.m. on a fast-paced evening….
2015 Modified track champion Mike Mahaney returned after his home track of Canandaigua (N.Y.) rained out. Mahaney drove the Jim Shear-owned No. 77X to sixth, recovering from a flat tire….
Kenny Hammond, veteran of the Open Sportsman division, returned to Thunder Mountain, this time with a Crate 602 engine under the hood. Hammond had been on the sidelines after hurting his engine early in the season….
Late-season car counts were strong with 22 Modifieds, 18 Open Sportsman, 24 Crate 602 Sportsman, seven Rookie Sportsman, 24 Street Stocks, 15 XCel 600 Modifieds and eight FWD Four Cylinders in the pits….
Racing resumes Saturday, August 27 with a full program of Modifieds, Open Sportsman, Crate 602 Sportsman, Rookie Sportsman, Street Stocks, XCel 600 Modifieds and FWD Four Cylinders.
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 $12. Seniors (ages 65 and over) and Students (ages 10-17) pay $10. Kids 9 and under are FREE. Pit admission is $30, 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 RACE SUMMARY – AUGUST 20, 2016
Modified Feature Finish (30 laps): DANNY CREEDEN, Alan Barker, Chad Cook, Jeremy Smith, Jeff Sheeley, Mike Mahaney, Chris Wood, Barry White, Brian Malcolm, Cory Costa, Nick Mady, Butch Green, Colton Wilson, Roy Shields, Ryan Jordan, James Cornell, Sam Allen, Nick Nye, Brent Wilcox, Billy Spoonhower, Randy Brokaw, Byron Worthing.
Open Sportsman Feature Finish (20 laps): CHANCE SPOONHOWER, Eric Leet, Larry Mekic, Kevin Jordan, Larry Hillis, Tommy Eiklor, Jerry Tonti Jr., Dan Burman, Greg Morgan, Marshall Balzer, Dayton Coney, Jason Tuttle, Daniel Burman, Thomas Ferguson, Landon Cummings, Eddie White, Brian White.
Did Not Start: Chris Jordan.
Crate 602 Sportsman Feature Finish (20 laps): TOM COLLINS JR., Brian Mady, Pat Jordan, Kenny Hammond, Isaiah Forward, Matt Brewer, Mike Nagel Jr., Rich Talada, Brenton Miller, Bob Stahl, Shayne Spoonhower, Tyler Keener, Pat Parker, James McIntyre, Kimberlee Morgan, Rob Compton, T.J. Frost, Gregg Turner, Kinser Hill, Kailee DiMorier, Lanson Albanese, Daryl Krebs.
Disqualified: Allen James
Did Not Start: Colby Hendrickson.
Did Not Start: Colby Hendrickson.
Rookie Sportsman Feature Finish (15 laps): DAN ALLEN, Ryan Alsdorf, Matt Sherwood, Anthony Rundell, Dylan Robbins, Connor Spoonhower.
Did Not Start: Taylor Hendrickson.
Street Stock Feature Finish (20 laps):MATT SPENCER ($1,000), Shane Wolf Jr., Earl Zimmer, Trevor Dudley, Dan Searles, Dan Force, Damon Decker, Jonathan Carpenter, Gene Sharpsteen, Dylan Cece, Doug Stack Jr., Jon White, Jack Holcomb Jr., John Hoover, Brett Barrett, Rich Fife, Rick Sinsabaugh, Eric Boynton, Lanson Albanese, Keith Beach, Norm Whittemore, Donald Russell, Jeff Wilcox, Mike Wilbur.
XCel 600 Modified Feature Finish (20 laps): JAMIE FRANTZ, Kamdin Maby, Will Eastman, Joe McCabe, Paul DeRuyter, Eric Boyd, Dana Davis, Chris Jordan, Bailey Boyd, Doug Windhausen, Dakota Andersen, Byron Worthing, Damon Henry, Jacob Waibel, Rich Green.
FWD Four Cylinder Feature Finish (15 laps): MICHAEL ROBINSON, Rich Gardiner, Eric Rowley, Caleb Lacey, Chris Taylor, Mike Taylor, Clint Kadarondak, Zach Hayward.
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