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May 29th, 2009
Jim Larock, Tommy Eicklor, John Cooper Jr., Royce Currie, and Kenny Underwood capture Spring Championship honors at Thunder Mountain Speedway.
The fans at Thunder Mountain Speedway this past Friday night were treated to some fantastic racing on championship night, as competitors battled to the finish to decide who would reign victorious.
The Doug's Trash Removal Hurricane Street Stocks were first in the feature race line-up as 18 cars took to the lightning fast 3/8 mile "fast track." John Cooper Jr. out of Dryden, N.Y. was aboard his popular Bell's Auto Care, Avon by Sharon, 4 Roses machine and seized the lead on the first lap of this full fender battle. Cooper was not to be denied of his first victory of the 2009 season as throughout the 20 lap affair he fought off challenges from several racers including Rich Talada, Rich Green, Buck Mills, and Chargin' Charlie Gilbert. The beautiful 4 Roses machine was flawless to the finish with Charlie Gilbert, Rich Talada, Mike Wilbur Sr., and Rollin' Thunder Rich Green rounding out the top five spots.
The Road Warrior division started 14 cars in its' championship event as Ken Winn and Royce Currie battled for the lead early on. Eventually Currie would park the #R2 into the top spot and cruise home to the checkers for the second time at Thunder Mountain Speedway. Rookie, Winn garnered his best finish with a fine second place run, with Brandon Nielson, Gary Brown, and Harold Walburn finishing fifth.
As always, the Hunt's Auto Service Modified Sportsman division provided the fans with another exciting feature event as "The Shock" Jimmy Larock cruised to his second win of the 2009 Thunder Mountain season. Gary Card Jr. and P.J. Goodwin brought the 16 car field to the green flag as they battled back and forth for the lead, only to see Larock sneak in and steal the top spot early in the 25 lap event. The P and T Fabricating, Auto Value Parts Store Bicknell car was unstoppable as Larock used his patented low side racing to build a substantial lead over the rest of the field until a 14th lap caution would pack the field together for another exciting dash to the checkers. Larock was up to the challenge as he again raced out to a sizeable lead and cruised to victory lane. "Fast" Eddie White made a last ditch effort to catch the 58L, but just plain ran out of laps as he finished a solid second at the stripe with Goodwin capturing another top 5 effort with third, Vestal's Richie Hillis with a career best in the Modified Sportsman division finishing 4th, and a season best 5th for Gary Card Jr.
The Road Bandit class had a new face in victory lane as invader Kenny Underwood solidified his star status in the division with a convincing flag to flag win in the 15 lap affair. "Ricky Bobby" Bobby Edwards finished a solid 2nd, Smokin' Dave Jenkins 3rd, team mate Ray Oakley 4th, and "Halebone" Jeremy Hale a fine 5th place.
Current Doug's Speed Shop I.M.C.A. point leader Tommy Eicklor experienced misfortune in his heat event that forced him to seek a "borrowed" ride for the 20 lap championship event. He was able to do so as competitor Jason Makosky loaned Eicklor the #19 machine, a car Eicklor raced several years ago at various tracks. Eicklor raced with early leader Tyler Stoddard as the two went back and forth for the race lead. Finally, the "Barton Rocket" grabbed the top spot and survived several challenges from Stoddard to capture his third win of the season. The 2008 champion of the I.M.C.A. division at Thunder Mountain displayed the driving talent he posseses, as he garnered the popular win before a very surprised crowd. Certainly not a dominant performance, but a very solid performance for the driver out of Barton, N.Y.
A demolition derby would round out the "championship" race night with Newark Valley driver Gary Brown caturing the crowd pleasing event.
Next Friday night presents another exciting night of racing action as these same five divisions will be in action along with an I.M.C.A. Modified "Hot Dog Race." The gates will open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 6:15 p.m., and racing at 7 p.m. sharp. Thunder Mountain Speedway offers a very low $10 admission for Adults, with Students (10 - 17) and Senior Citizens just $8. Children 9 and under are FREE as always. For race day info please call (607)849-7889 or (607)227-9602. Thunder Mountain Speedway is located off Interstate 81 (exit 8 Whitney Point) then 79 west 5 minutes to Hunt's Corner Rd., and follow the road 1/4 mile to race track entrance. Visit our web site at
www.thunderracetrack.com
Hunt's Auto Service Modified Sportsman
1. #58L Jim Larock
2. #20 Eddie White
3. #55 P.J. Goodwin
4. #31 II Richie Hillis
5. #2X Gary Card Jr.
6. #51Z Ryan Olsommer
7. #36 Ben Bushaw
8. #31 Larry Hillis
9. #00 Brett Welch
10. #00Jr. Joe Reeves
11. #V28 Wesley Campbell
12. #2D Chad Dailey
13. #V29 Nick Galayda
14. #56 Brian White
15. #20Jr. Nick White
16 #45 Tim Votra
Doug's Speed Shop I.M.C.A. Modifieds
1. #19 (44) Tommy Eicklor
2. #32 Tyler Stoddard
3. #23 Mike Stoddard
4. #U2 Gary Roberts
5. #01R Eric Redmond
6. #00 Jasper Redmond
7. 3SIX Mike Wilbur Sr.
8. #10 Chris Fleming
9. #29 Jason Tuttle
Doug's Trash Removal Hurricane S/S
1. #4 Roses John Cooper Jr.
2. #28 Charlie Gilbert
3. #OH7 Rich Talada
4. #109 Mike Wilbur Sr.
5. #56 Rich Green
6. #44 Norm Whittemore
7. #39 Butch Green
8. #71 Marshall Balzer
9. #SIX Mike Wilbur Jr.
10. #2 Chuck Culbertson
11. #17 Randy Marsh
12. #12A T.J. Anderson
13. #26 Ricky Marsh
14. #5X Darl Ellis
15. #11S Rob Snow
16. #83 Steven Mattscheck
17. #X2 Rick Frisco
18. #15 Buck Mills Sr.
Road Warriors
1. #R2 Royce Currie
2. #1K Kevin Winn
3. #85R Brandon Nielson
4. #3B Gary Brown
5. #88 Harold Walburn
6. #15 Buck Mills Jr.
7. #67 Don Swansborough
8. #48 Mark Cardew
9. #RT7 Fred Velez
10. #55 Don Lantz Jr.
11. #14A Lanson Albanese
12. #76K Cody Mitchell
13.#78 Jesse Velez
14. #83N Jack Holcumb Jr.
Road Bandits
1. #16 Kenny Underwood
2. #81 Bobby Edwards
3. #31J Dave Jenkins
4. #31R Ray Oakley
5. #19J Jeremy Hale
6. #17 Chris Taylor
7. #2K Gary Kinne
8. #83Brandie Alexander
9. #4S Mike Seamon
10. #D11 Matt Clark
11. #8 Rob Storey
12. #86 Dan Rowlands
13. #66 John Hoover
14. #21R Kyle Ross
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