RPW Exclusive: A Look Back at the Wade & Randy Decker Memorial at Thunder Mountain
Exclusive By: JOE PHILLIPS / RPW – CENTER LISLE, NY – After a day of relaxing and BBQ’s, fans and race teams made the climb up Thunder Mountain for the Wade and Randy Decker Memorial race on Monday evening. This event officially ended the 2025 season at Thunder Mountain Speedway.
Before the races, Brenda Decker, wife of the late Wade Decker, was selling t-shirts and hats for the Modified and factory stock races.
Brenda did relate a quick story that when Thunder Mountain Speedway opened in 1992, the opening race was scheduled for the day of Wade and Brenda’s prom. Brenda went stag so Wade could participate in the first ever race at the speedway!
On tap for the night was a 25 lap feature for the Hustle The Highway series for 600 cc Modifieds, 40 lap Randy Decker Feature for Factory Stocks and the Wade Decker 50 lap feature for the Open Modifieds.
A total of 35 open modifieds, 30 600cc Mods, and 23 factory stocks signed to compete. This set up a consolation race for the modified and 600cc Cars.
Invaders of note were Matt Williamson, Anthony Perrego, Danny Tyler and Danny Creeden. Interestingly, Perrego had to qualify for the feature through the consolation race.
In contrast to Saturday, Labor Day was a bit warmer. Despite the normal track prep methods, the track went dry slick quickly during the heats. Dust wasn’t an issue but traction was. This was especially evident during the Factory Stock 40 lap feature.
The race was marred by several cautions just to get a lap in. Green flag runs didn’t go more than 5-7 laps. The biggest culprit was wheel spin coming out of the turns. Factory stocks use DOT highway type tires and they were spinning like they were on ice. And once the rear wheels spun, around they came. After multiple cautions, the race was checkered short at 30 laps. Butch Green, in the #18 car was declared the winner.
The Hustle the Highway 600cc feature was won by Jacob Waibel, followed by Ali Scutt, and Logan Ladue in third. The feature had a few cautions but went relatively smoothly. Tyler Talada, 2025 600cc Mod champ, also had to qualify for the feature through the consolation race.
The Hustle the Highway Series is run by 600cc Mod driver Doug Windhausen. Doug himself does not participate in the Series races, as he is tied up getting drivers registered and handling other issues. Otherwise, Doug can be seen racing in his Terrell Chips sponsored #8 machine.
Joshua Landers and Garett Rushlow paced the modifieds to start the feature. Landers lead the race till a caution on Lap 11. On the restart, Mat Williamson would take over the second position from Zach Payne. On Lap 17, “Money Mat” took the lead for good, and held on to win convincingly.
Making moves climbing through the field after starting deep in the pack was Anthony Perrego. Perrego started in the 22nd spot, and was able to climb all the way back to 4th at the checkered flag.
Brandon Loucks ran a good race, but unfortunately spun coming out of Turn 4 during the feature. Loucks had to restart in the rear after the incident and finished in 11th. Loucks may have been the one to challenge Williamson for the win, having showed speed early on. Jimmy Zacharias was another driver that had a tough night. After being shuffled back a few times, Zacharias came home 9th.
2025 Open Modified driver Darren Smith dropped out of the race early in his JSR #12 machine. That was probably the biggest surprise of the night, as Smith is a consistent runner at every race.
Danny Creeden , Cody Higbie, and Daniel Morgiewicz Jr were battling each other for position all night and finished fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.
The Wade Decker and Randy Decker Memorial Race was the perfect finish to the Labor Day weekend and the 2025 season. Thunder Mountain Speedway is silent until October 31st, which is the Second Annual Monster Bash. On tap is the 600cc Modified Hustle the Highway Series, the Chad Sindoni Memorial Factory Stocks , the Ed Billings Memorial IMCA modifieds and the 600 sprints.
November 1st has another full day of racing with the Open Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman, 600cc Mods and the first ever appearance of the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series.
Enjoy the leaves and fall colors that are almost upon us, and support the local race tracks!
