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Moyer tames Thunder Hill Speedway
MAYETTA, KS (May 23) - The warmest night of the summer treated fans to the
hottest racing of the summer, as the late models of the Lucas Oil MLRA
Series made their first visit to the high banks of Thunder Hill Speedway in
over three years and 112 cars jammed the Thunder Hill pit area. Prerace buzz
surrounded national dirt late model legend Billy Moyer bringing his famed
#21 to the Hill for the first time in the track’s 16 year history.
Moyer, who had scored an MLRA win at Sedalia, MO, on Friday night, was able
to complete the weekend sweep – but it was far from an easy score. He was
joined in Victory Lane by Tom Charles (IMCA Modifieds), Mike Nichols (IMCA
Stock Cars), Eddie Schwope, Jr. (IMCA Northern Sportmods), and Waylon Banks
(IMCA Hobby Stocks).
Thirty-four MLRA Late Models checked into the Thunder Hill pits, including
several past winners at Thunder Hill. When the lineup was set, Chad Simpson,
of Mt. Vernon, IA, started on the pole. Simpson used his pole spot to great
advantage, as he streaked into an early lead, pursued closely by Terry
Phillips, Dave Eckrich, Al Purkey, and several others running in a pack.
Meanwhile, eighth-starting Moyer began picking cars off one by one.
For awhile, it looked as if Simpson was simply going to lead from wire to
wire. As the leaders moved through lapped traffic, Phillips could get no
closer than four car lengths from Simpson’s bumper. Moyer, in third, was
following in Phillips’ tire tracks, but didn’t appear to have the speed to
advance further. A late-race sequence of yellows, however, changed the
complexion of the race. On the first restart, Moyer quickly dispatched
Phillips and in another couple of laps made a high-side pass on Simpson. Two
more late yellows allowed Simpson shots at regaining his lead, but he could
get no farther than the door of the Batesville veteran’s machine. At the
finish, it was Moyer followed by Simpson.
The IMCA Modified feature was just as hotly contested and wasn’t decided
until the checkered flag flew. Jordy Nelson was in hot pursuit of his third
consecutive feature win at the Hill, and early on, it looked like he might
manage it. Past track champion Tom Charles was moving his way through the
pack, however, and just past halfway, he cleared 2008 Modified champ Darron
Fuqua (making his first Thunder Hill appearance of the year) for second
place. That set up a duel between Nelson, taking the short route on the
inside, and Charles, using the momentum on the top. For eight laps, Nelson
clung to the pole and to a slim lead over Charles. Then on the next-to-last
lap, Nelson bounced through a hole in turn two, losing just enough momentum
to allow the veteran Charles to push his familiar yellow #81 to victory. For
Charles, it put another tally on a long list of IMCA victories going back
more than two decades. Charles and Nelson were followed to the flag by
Darrick Klima, Fuqua, and Scott Brown.
Thirty-one IMCA Northern SportMods made their way to Thunder Hill, the
largest single field of any weekly class so far this year. After four heats
and a B-feature, the action didn’t disappoint. Early on, it looked like the
Schwope brothers would take both first and second place money back to St.
Joseph, as Joey Schwope eased past early leader Kelly Kneisler on lap five
and was quickly caught by Eddie Schwope, Jr. Eddie then pulled past Joey and
moved out to a comfortable lead, while a group of about 10 cars battled
behind them. Eventually, Joey fell back into the pack contesting positions
2-7. At the finish, it was Eddie Schwope, Jr., followed by Kyle Olberding,
Kneisler, Rich Boyden (who was battling stomach pains and had checked
himself out of a hospital in order to race), and Joey Schwope.
Mike Nichols made it 2-for-2 in visits to Thunder Hill this year in the IMCA
Stock Car division, but several drivers gave notice that they were not about
to let him have an easy time of it. First, Nichols had to contest the lead
that polesitter Marvin Griffith, Jr., had built up; then cautions allowed
Tim Lange to pull up to Nichols’ bumper and take a run at him. Lange
appeared to have a solid lock on second place until his car slowed going
into turn three on the last lap. This created a wild finish where the Weyer
brothers, battling for third and fourth, split around Lange at the flag,
with Eric Weyer edging Lange for second, with Leif Weyer finishing fourth.
Griffith recovered from a flat tire to finish fifth.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks featured a new winner, with Waylon Banks breaking up
the Stich-and-Gunn show of the first three weeks. Brian Stich started
fourth, but had moved into the lead by turn one of the first lap, leaving
Gunn to work his way through the field. On lap three, however, Stich slowed
and rolled into the pits, placing Gunn in second. Gunn’s charge for a third
victory, however, were spoiled when Banks made a move around Gunn in turn
two, and after a couple of laps of challenge from Gunn, was able to pull out
to a 10-car-length lead which he maintained for the rest of the race. Danny
Masters could stay on the same straightaway with the front pair, but could
get no closer and had to settle for third. Fourth went to John Bass, while
Rodney Walker rounded out the top five.
Racing action resumes next Saturday night, May 29, with the annual Don Garst
Memorial race, featuring the IMCA Weekly Racing divisions. Pit gates open at
4:00 PM and grandstand gates at 5:00 PM, with the driver’s meeting set for
6:15. Hot laps will hit the track at 6:30, with the first heat at 7:30 PM.
Pit passes will be $25.00. Grandstand general admission is $10.00, Seniors
65 and up are $8.00 each, kids 6-12 are $5.00, and kids 5 and under are
free. Thunder Hill Speedway is located at 11995 142nd Road in Mayetta, KS (2
miles West of US-75 and 142nd Road). The Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models will
return to settle their championship at the two-day Thunder on the Hill
program, on October 8 and 9. For more information, please visit
www.racethunderhillspeedway.com.
FEATURE RESULTS
Thunder Hill Speedway
Mayetta, KS
Sat. May 22, 2010
Lucas Oil MLRA
A-Main
1. Billy Moyer
2. Chad Simpson
3. Terry Phillips
4. John Anderson
5. Dave Eckrich
6. Brad Looney
7. Al Purkey
8. Joe Kosiski
9. Jeremy Payne
10. Mike Wiarda
11. David Turner
12. Chris Smyser
13. Shad Badder
14. J D Hubert
15. Shawn Harker
16. Zack Simmons
17. Evan Hubert
18. Chris Spieker
19. Andrew Kosiski
20. Bill Koons
21. Al Humphrey
22. Justin Asplin
Hobby Stocks - A Main
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 5 15 Waylon Banks Lawrence , Ks 39.00
2 8 7D Levi Gunn Fairview , Ks 38.00
3 4 2 Danny Masters Topeka , Ks 37.00
4 6 74 John Bass Topeka , Ks 36.00
5 1 RD69 Rodney Walker Easton , Ks 35.00
6 2 11S Pat Streeter Everst , Ks 34.00
7 9 62 Josh Haid Meriden , Ks 33.00
8 3 21 Brian Stich Topeka , Ks 32.00
9 7 25 Melissa Bruning Everst , Ks 31.00
Northern SportMod - A Main
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 11 91E Eddie Schwope Jr. St. Joseph, Mo 40.00
2 7 75 Kyle Olberding Seneca , Ks 39.00
3 2 0K Kelly Kneisler Mayetta , Ks 38.00
4 3 4U Rich Boyden Topeka , Ks 37.00
5 8 91 Joey Schwope St. Joseph, Mo 36.00
6 4 11K Rodney Klinkner Manhattan , Ks 35.00
7 5 31X Scott Schoemann Belvue , Ks 34.00
8 17 21 Brian Stich Topeka , Ks 33.00
9 9 2P Cory Larson Holton , Ks 32.00
10 14 7X Lance Lincoln Topeka , Ks 31.00
11 19 7JR Rob Holt Jr. Mayetta , Ks 30.00
12 16 50 Gary Holthaus Topeka , Ks 29.00
13 21 X1 Tracy Schaefer Topeka , Ks 28.00
14 18 78P Drake Pitmon Mayetta , Ks 27.00
15 1 C4 Curtis Dreasher Hoyt , Ks 26.00
16 24 0 Marty Randol Topeka , Ks 25.00
17 23 47K Kevin Keller Leavenworth , Ks 24.00
18 12 17H Robert Herring St. Joseph, Mo 23.00
19 13 75R Robert Griffith Sr Mayetta , Ks 22.00
20 22 L26 Luke Stallbaumer Tecumseh , Ks 21.00
21 20 76 Brandon Mitchell Topeka , Ks 20.00
22 15 33X B J Dauer Marquette , Ks 19.00
23 10 41 Chris Dishong Atchison , Ks 18.00
24 6 17S Mike Taylor Topeka , Ks 17.00
Stock Car - A Main
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 8 63 Mike Nichols Harlan , Ia 40.00
2 7 C15 Eric Weyer Centralia , Ks 39.00
3 5 17 Tim Lange Meriden , Ks 38.00
4 4 28 Leif Weyer Centralia , Ks 37.00
5 3 75M Marvin Griffith Jr. Delia , Ks 36.00
6 2 22 Matt Haid Meriden , Ks 35.00
7 11 29 Greg Deters Centralia , Ks 34.00
8 6 20P Jim Powell Lecompton , Ks 33.00
9 1 42C Terry Coder Topeka , Ks 32.00
10 9 91 Brad Labonte Lawrence , Ks 31.00
11 10 99 Brian Labonte Lawrence , Ks 30.00
12 12 292 Jeff George Savannah , Mo 29.00
Modified - A Main
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 81 Tom Charles Bonner Springs, Ks 40.00
2 7 4J Jordy Nelson Marysville , Ks 39.00
3 12 2K Darrick Klima Belleville , Ks 38.00
4 11 87 Darron Fuqua - 37.00
5 3 11 Scott Brown Meriden , Ks 36.00
6 5 3 Josh Carpenter Diller , Ks 35.00
7 9 70 Justin Becker Holton , Ks 34.00
8 23 22A Brent Alverson Centralia , Ks 33.00
9 16 09 Rick Dreasher Hoyt , Ks 32.00
10 15 13 Brian Tefft, Jr Topeka , Ks 31.00
11 10 52 Cliff Shepard Ogden , Ks 30.00
12 17 33 Jerome Thomas Junction City, Ks 29.00
13 21 M38 Bob Miller Holton , Ks 28.00
14 14 M80 Mat Stallbaumer Tecumseh , Ks 27.00
15 6 28 John Kampsen Meriden , Ks 26.00
16 1 7D Danny Holt Topeka , Ks 25.00
17 20 K27 Kyle Stallbaumer Tecumseh , Ks 24.00
18 22 12P Jeff Herbers Holton , Ks 23.00
19 8 14P Travis Patch Holton , Ks 22.00
20 4 25 Jeff Coleman Atchison , Ks 21.00
21 13 6 Melvin Bailey Hoyt , Ks 20.00
22 18 178 Allen Halderman Topeka , Ks 19.00
23 19 3X Trey Morgan Junction City, Ks 18.00
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