Matt Smith Winner at Thunder Mountain Saturday Night in the Modifieds
Column By: Joseph Phillips / THUNDER MOUNTAIN SPEEDWAY – LISLE, NY – Saturday at Thunder Mountain Speedway was a beautiful day for exciting racing. A regular program with Open Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman modifieds, 600cc Modifieds, 600cc Sprint cars , Factory Stocks and IMCA modifieds were on the nights program. Though it was a full moon, and a red one at that, the racing program ran off without a hitch.
The heat races ran off in quick fashion. By heat race 3 for the Open Mods, a heavy cushion built up in the corners. Landon Cummings looked like a Rodeo Bronco buster when he caught the lip, but he was able to keep the car under him to take the heat win. Once qualifying was complete, the grader was bought out to work the cushion and try to move the racing groove out.
While the track work was going during intermission, Kids bike races were held on the infield. All winners got a victory lane photo with a VP race fuels checkered flag and the Thunder Mountain feature winner sign.
The IMCA feature was up first and Keith Lamphere was the winner. Lamphere started the race in the 9th position and quickly worked his way to the front. James Lamphere started on the pole and finished in 4th. Keith was pushing his mod hard the entire race which was evident by his red hot brake rotors at races end.
The 600cc Mods saw Owen Mossow start in the 6th position and win the race by a few feet at the flag stand. Logan Ladue in the 23 car was second and a hard charging Tyler Talada was 3rd. Talada has been consistently coming from deep in the pack, and is the hottest 600cc Mod driver currently.
For the open modified feature, Jeff Sheely started on the pole and led a few laps. Earlier Sheely won his heat race in his DKM chassis #38. Jeff put on a great run but he was quickly chased down by the rest of the field, namely Matt Smith in the #28 modified. At the finish it was Smith, Tommy Collins, and Brett Tonkin rounding out the podium.
The DIRTcar sportsman was a barn burner. It took a few laps to get going, but the second half of the race saw Rich Talada in the #08 and Jordan Millard’s #99 battling for the lead, lap after lap. It was anyone’s race until the last couple of laps when Millard slipped high in turn 2, enabling Talada to pull ahead for the win. Millard then had to contend with the 39B of Matt Brewer , who had his own battle going with Grant Hilfiger, and Cody Jackson. For the podium it was Talada, Millard, and Brewer.
Over in the factory stocks, Jerry Lobdell Jr, in the 202L car was the victor, followed by Lukas Mills and Rich Sharpsteen. Zach Bobbett was the 600cc Sprint car winner followed by Mary Early in 2nd and Cameron Searls in the C7 sprint.
Next up for Thunder Mountain Speedway is the first ever Conner Sellars Memorial Race next Saturday. The DIRTcar 358 modifieds will be joining the action. A special race purse has been set up with lap sponsors and other’s pitching in for the race. It will definitely be a memorable race for Conner!
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