Memorial Day Weekend Kicks Off With Lee, Buebeck, Watt, McClellan, Gordon As Winners

By: Zach Garman

Knox Dale- As the sun started to set for another night of Friday action, the United States Air Force was on hand to swear in their new cadets as they go on to answer our nation’s call and to protect the freedoms we all have in the United States of America. First on hand for the evening were the Kinetic by Windstream Semi Late Models. Jon Lee in the 5L and Kyle Smith Jr in the 42 made up the front row to go green. On the start, Lee would jump out to the early lead before a pile up in turn one occurred. On the restart, Doug Surra in the T3 jumped to second as Kevin Dickson in the 9 moved into third. Jeremy Ohl in the 5J raced to second before the caution flag flew for a spun Dustin Challingsworth in turn three. On the third restart, Jeff Sweeney in the 222 settled into fourth as Rich Wicker in the 2T and Nick Erskine in the 5X battled for fifth before the caution came out for George Bailey in turn three. On the restart, Ohl and Lee would duke it out for the lead as Josh Jacoby in the 88 moved into sixth. Joe Martin in the 28S ran in seventh as Todd English 711, Rich Wicker 2T, and Zach Myers in the 1M battled for seventh.Joe Martin in the 28S would be making his way to the front before the 5X of Erskine spins in turn two. On the restart, Ohl and Lee would continue to battle each other for the lead as Martin and Surra battled for third. The caution flag flew once again as Doug Surra slows in turn two with mechanical issues. On the next restart, Wicker and Martin battled for third as Lee passes Ohl for the lead. As the laps counted down, Ohl would continue to try to hunt down the 5L of Lee for the lead, but it was all Jon Lee in the end who held on after a strong race to collect the win. Lee was followed by Jeremy Ohl, Joe Martin, Rich Wicker, Kyle Smith Jr, Dustin Challingsworth, Bob McMillen, Brian Rhed, Caleb Whiteford, Joe Malobicky, Doug Surra, Josh Jacoby, Zach Myers, Nick Erskine, Nick Fulmer, Jeff Sweeney, Luke Barnett, George Bailey, Todd English, Bernie Whiteford, Ryan Caldwell, Kevin Dickson, Gary Stitt, Scott Umbaugh, Joe Becker, Austin Getch, Kevin Geist, Jim Challingsworth, Paul Ivory, Kylee Brown, Casey Wolfe. Heat winners included Kyle Smith Jr, Jon Lee, and Kevin Dickson. The Bmain winner was Bernie Whiteford.

Second on card were the Dunlap Lawn & Garden Front Wheel Drive Four Cylinders. Wes Staley in the 73S and the 8H of Joe Huber made up the front row to go green. On the start, Staley took the early lead as Huber ran in second. One lap later, the caution flag came out for the 7 of Dj Clark on the backstretch. On the restart, Philip Bubeck in the 2 and the 8H of Huber battled for second as Curtis Mohney in the 33M moved into fourth. The 42 of Jeff Huber battled the 3H of Shawn Hadden for fifth as Bubeck took the lead. As the laps counted down, Bluebeck had a strong run going and went on to win the feature event. Bubeck was followed by Curtis Mohney, Wes Staley, Jeff Huber, Joe Huber, Shawn Hadden, Wyatt Zimmerman, Zack Frantz, Chad Greeley, Austin Fedder, Greg Kiehl, Jason Rittenmore, Dylan Hickok, Wayne Newberry, and Dj Clark. Heat winners were Wes Staley and Joe Huber.

Third for the evening were the Watt Logging Pure Stocks. Duke Davidson in the 81 and the 871 made up the front row for fifteen laps. On the start, Davidson stole the early lead as Justin Watt in the 00 moved into fourth. Raven Fuller in the 10R and Tim Steis in the 45 battled for fifth before Steis spins in turn two. On the restart, Watt moved into third as Steis and Fuller battled again for fourth. Rich Waltman Jr in the 8JR moved into fifth as Steis spins in turn two. On the restart, Davidson took the lead again as the laps counted down. At the end, it was Davidson who went on to collect the checkers. After tech results, the 81 and 871 were disqualified as this moved Justin Watt in the 00 to the feature event winner. Watt was followed by Rich Waltman Jr, Raven Fuller, Tim Steis, 27, Davidson (DQ), and Mumau (DQ). The lone heat winner was Duke Davidson.

Fourth for the evening were the Legend Powersports Super Late Models. Kyle Knapp in the 33k and Del Rougeux in the 28D made up the front row for twenty five laps. On the start, Knapp, Rougeux, and Chris Hackett in the 33 battled for the lead. Gale Huey in the 11H moved into third as Hackett took over the second place position. Bob Dorman in the 19 took the high side groove to pass Rougeux as Matt Lux in the 111 and Levi Sikora in the 57S battled for fifth. One driver making his way through the field was the 7M of Chad McClelland. McClelland would pass Huey for third before the caution came out for a spun Nate Brady in turn two. On the restart, McClelland passes Hackett and Knapp for the lead as Knapp battled back. Gale Huey and Bob Dorman battled for fourth before they got together in turn four. On the restart, Huey moved into fourth as Matt Lux cracked the top five to take over the fifth position. A few laps later, the caution flag came out for debris in turn two. On this restart, Levi Sikora took over the fifth position as Knapp and McClelland battled for the lead. Chris Hackett and Lux duked it out for third before Curtis Teats blew a tire in turn two to bring out the caution. On the restart ,Sikora moved into fourth as Matt Lux charged to the third position. With five laps to go, McClelland, Knapp, and Lux duked it out for the lead before McClelland moved up high in turn two to stretch out his lead. At the end, it was Chad McClelland who went on to win the Super Late Model feature. McClelland was followed by Kyle Knapp, Matt Lux, Chris Hackett, Levi Sikora, Gale Huey, Dan Smeal, Johnny Lindenpitz, Skip Lindenmuth, Bob Dorman, Richard Tripodi, Curtis Teats, Del Rougeux, and Nate Brady. Charlie Powell and Kenny Schaffer were DNS. The heat winners were Chris Hackett and Matt Lux.

Last for the evening were the FDR HVAC Street Stocks. Tim Bish in the 11B and the 983 of Zach Gustafson made up the front row to go green. On the start, Bish took the early lead as the 28 of Fuzzy Fields and the Tri6 of Andrew Gordon battled for third. One lap later, Ray Hickok in the 4ORD spins in two to bring out the caution. On the restart, Bish takes the lead back as Gordon moved into third. The 29 of Curtis Bish and the 12 of Trevor McCann battled for fifth. Cregan Brady spins in turn two as Curtis Bish passes McCann for fifth. On the restart, Fields and Gordon get together in turn three. The next restart seen Curtis Bish move into third as McCann moved back into fourth. A few laps later, leader Tim Bish slows on the front stretch with mechanical issues. On the restart, Gordon took over the lead as Curtis Bish ran in second. At the end, it was Andrew Gordon who went on to win the nights feature event. Gordon was followed by Curtis Bish, James Scharba, Zach Gustafson, Allen English, Gary Luzier, Dalton Gustafson, Tim Bish, Trevor McCann, Ray Hickok, Fuzzy Fields, and Cregan Brady. Heat winners were Curtis Bish and Tim Bish.

Thank You to all who came out last night to Thunder Mountain Speedway to kick off their Memorial Day weekend. Remember the reasoning behind it, and Thank those who have kept us and are keeping us safe with all the freedoms we have in our country. Freedom is not free! Best of luck to the United States Air Force cadets as you men and women go on to answer our nation’s call and defend our great country, Thank You!