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Thunderhill Speedway
Banquet Summary
Over 350 drivers, crewmen,
and fans made their way to the Jackson County Fair Building in Holton, KS for the 2003 Thunderhill Speedway Awards Banquet.
As
it would be discovered later in the evening, the 2003 Point Champions can drive much better than they can sing. Late Model
Champ Tom Grist, Modified Champ Kerry Davis, Superstock Champ Steven Bowers Jr., and Factory Stock Champ Nic Bidinger gave
their best rendition of 'We Are the Champions', but made no case to give up racing for singing. Pony Stock Champ Dave Hill
and Cruiser Champ Joe Campbell opted out of singing, most likely because they didn't feel the singing ability of the other
champions was quite up to par with that of theirs.
The top 10 finishers were honored in every class, and brief speeches
were given by the point champions. Dave Hill announced he would be moving to a 'B' Modified despite the fact that Thunderhill
does not have a B-Mod class because, "I'll be running a lot of B Features." Tom Grist discussed his plans to follow the Topless
Outlaw Racing Association, and Kerry Davis accepted his awards with his young son Kyle at his heels. Davis targeted 2012 as
the date to look for young Kyle to capture his first championship.
All in all, over $16,000 of cash, contingencies,
and prizes were awarded. Boubon Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, and CMan Graphics all helped to contribute to the awards.
Rookie
of the year honors were awarded to Chase Austin in Late Models, Chad VanHoutan in Modifieds, Jason Park in Superstocks, Nic
Bidinger in Factory Stocks, and John Grist in Pony Stocks. Factory Stock driver Kelly Barnard was named Newcomer of the Year,
and Norman Davis was announced as Sportsman of the Year for his outstanding attitude and commitment to racing.
Additional
door prizes awarded included a 27" Television from Mike's Auto Service, a computer setup kit from Midwestern Computers
Inc., a Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1/4 hood, and a Dale Earnhardt table lamp.
No Takers on Bounty Davis Wins Sixth Consecutive
Thunderhill
Speedway 5-15-04 Mayetta, KS
With five consecutive wins for Kerry Davis in the Superstock division,
a $200 bounty would be added to anyones winnings that could beat Davis fare and square in the Superstock main event.
After
starting on the pole, Davis jumped into the early lead and never looked back. Cautions would keep the field close through
the course of the race, but Davis was never seriously challenged. For his win he earned half of the bounty money. Despite
starting in the 12th spot, Joey Selbach was able to finish in second, and may have been able to challenge Davis with a better
starting position. The drivers will try again next week, as another $100 bonus will be available to anyone who can stop Davis
winning streak.
Justin Boney dominated the Modified feature for his second win of the season at Thunderhill, but his most
impressive performance may have came in the heat race. Going for the lead, Boney would nearly spin, causing him to drop to
dead last nearly a half lap behind the leaders. Boney would regroup and put the hammer down as he began picking off cars left
and right in the eight lap heat race. By the final lap Boney was part of a four car battle for the lead. With the crowd on
its feet cheering him on, Boney flew into the second spot in the final corners, just missing the first place position at the
finish by a nose. Kerry Dvais would finished second to Boney in the feature after starting in the 10th position.
The Midwest
Outlaw Lightning Sprint Cars made their first visit of the season to Thunderhill, with Phil Heavelow picking up top honors.
Heavelow consistently ran lap times similar to that of Late Models at Thunderhill, proving that although these mini sprints
are small in size, they are not lacking in speed. Phil started in the 10th position to take the win, while Beau Heavelow started
12th and finished 2nd.
The original Factory Stock winner was DQd after post race inspection, giving Nic Bidinger his fourth
win of the season. Bidinger started in the ninth spot and consistently picked off positions as he worked his way to the front
by the end of the 15-lap event. Travis Tenpenny, who started in 12th, would work his way all the way into third, and Greg
Deters would come from 15th to fifth.
Spiderman Steven Goodman returned to victory lane after a three-week absence by
picking up his third win of the season. Goodman started on the inside of the fourth row and took over the lead on lap 5. Devin
Stock, who started on the outside of the fourth row would finish in the second spot.
The Dwarf Cars debuted a new look
with many of the drivers piloting the new Mod Lights. These half-scale Modifieds are looking to be a growing trend in the
future. David Raffurty dominated the race in his Mod Light, turning in lap times equal to many full size Modifieds.
Purkey tops large Late Model field, Davis doubles up Thunderhill
Speedway, 5-8-04
MAYETTA,
Kan. -- A top field of Late Model drivers made their way to Thunderhill Speedway this Saturday to compete with the Topless
Outlaw Racing Association Late Models. By the end of the evening, 45 Late Models from six states would do battle on the high
banked speedway.
A caution slowed the start of the TORA A Main before a lap could be completed, but that would be
the only caution of the night for the top notch field. Ryan McAninch jumped out into an early lead, but it would be short
lived as Al Purkey and Steve Kosiski pulled along side and the trio went three wide battling for the lead. Coming out of turn
four to finish the second lap Purkey pulled ahead to take the lead. It was a lead that Purkey would never relinquish as he
dominated a field of top drivers to take the win. Rookie Chris Morgan would come from a 22nd starting position to finish eighth,
while Tim Echevarria used the high line to garner a top 10 finish after winning his B Feature.
Kerry Davis continued
his winning ways in the Superstock class, while also making it to victory lane in the Modifieds for the first time this season.
Jake Richards would hold a commanding lead for the first half of the Superstock race, but it was only a matter of time before
Davis worked his way to the front. After starting on the outside of the fourth row, Davis caught and passed Richards just
after half way. The Superstock win for Davis was his fifth in row. In the Modifieds, Davis made his way to the front slightly
quicker, after starting on the inside of the third row. Davis passed early leader Travis Patch after two laps to take the
lead for good. Patch, Scott Terry, and Rick Stallbaumer would put on an exhibition for second as they used every bit of the
wide speedway. Davis would win unchallenged, Patch would finish second, Terry third, and Stallbaumer fourth. Davis is now
the fifth different winner in six races in the Modifieds.
Another new face visited victory lane for the first time
in nearly a decade. Richard Boyd of Silver Lake started on the front row and would lead the race from start to finish. The
win would not come easily though, as Boyd would be challenged by Joey Noll for a good part of the race. Noll would actually
take the lead at one point, only to be passed again by Boyd in the next corner. Nic Bidinger eventually made his way into
second and looked as if he would challenge for the lead, but contact from behind by Noll would send Bidinger to the pits and
Noll to the back of the field. Boyd is the sixth winner in eight races in the Factory Stocks.
Another unbelievable
finish highlighted the Pony Stock feature, with the winner taking top honors by less than a nose for the third consecutive
weekend. This week the winner was Kay Hill, who started on the outside of the fourth row. Hill moved into the lead on lap
four, but was challenged by Devin Stock and Steven Goodman for the remainder of the race. Coming to the checkered flag Stock
made his move with Goodman trailing, but he fell just short as Hill won her second feature of the season.
Tony and
Tony Noll would win the Cruiser race, followed in second by Ben Lutz, with the team of Elliott and Curtis finishing third.
Motorsports Trifecta This Weekend at Thunderhill Speedway, 4-29-04
Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, KS will play host to three separate
events this weekend. On Saturday, May 1, a tornado of speed and dirt will be served up as Stock Cars are set to burn rubber
on the 4/10 mile high banked dirt oval. Sunday, May 2 will play host to high flying Motorcross Races and a ground pounding
Antique Tractor Pull.
Regular races are on tap for Saturday; with Modifieds, Superstocks, Factory Stocks,
Pony Stocks, and Cruisers on the schedule. In the Modifieds, DeSoto ace Dustin Boney has won the last two feature events,
while former champions Kurt Johnston and Kerry Davis are still searching for their first wins of the season. Davis has a win
and then some in the Superstocks; as he brings a three race win streak into this weekend. Joey Selbach, who has finished 2nd
twice to Davis and 3rd once during that streak, will be one of the top competitors looking to end his winning streak. Five
winners in six races continue to keep fans guessing in the Factory Stocks, with defending Champion Nic Bidinger being the
only repeat winner thus far. In the closest finish of the season so far Kay Hill held off Steven Goodman by a nose last weekend
in the Pony Stocks, and there has yet to be a repeat winner in three races in the two-man Cruisers.
Kids bicycle
races are also scheduled for intermission Saturday evening. Participants must provide their own bike (training wheels optional),
and helmets are encouraged. Gates will open at 5pm, hot laps will begin at 6:30, and races will start at 7:30. General admission
is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $3 for children aged 7-13, and children 6 and under are free. For race day information
call the Speedway at 785.966.2844.
Maxwell Gets Sprint Win, Boney Makes it Two in A Row
Thunderhill Speedway 4-25-04 Mayetta, KS
Saturday
rains were enough to cancel the races for one night, but it didnt put a damper on the action for Sunday as the Midwest Sprint
Car Series highlighted the rescheduled events.
Harry Myers held the lead in the MSCS Feature until past the
halfway point. Chris Maxwell spent most of that time working through traffic after starting on the outside of the third row.
After moving into second Maxwell saw the track open up in front of him and began the task of reeling Myers in. It would only
take a couple of laps as Maxwell would catch and then pass Myers. After the pass for the lead, Maxwell put plenty of distance
between himself and second while cruising to the win.
Dustin Boney continued his streak of impressive performances
in the Modified ranks by capturing his second straight win. Scott Terry would lead the first nine laps of the feature after
starting on the outside of the front row, only to have that lead taken away by Kurt Johnston on lap ten. Johnston held the
field at bay until Boney moved to the high side of the speedway and began his run. Boney would eventually move past Johnston
on lap 16 and hold the lead for the win. Boney started the race on the outide of the fourth row.
Kerry Davis
continued his recent dominance in the Superstocks by winning his third consecutive feature. Davis won his heat race and then
led all 15 laps of the feature for the convincing victory.
Yet another new face visited victory lane in the
Factory Stock division. Josh Everhart led the first two laps after starting on the front row, but it wasnt long before Fast
Fred McClain was able to move from the outside of the fourth row and take over the lead. McClain would be challenged briefly
by both Larry Schmidt and Richard Boyd, but he could not be denied his first win at Thunderhill Speedway.
Despite
the fact that there were only eight Pony Stocks in the feature event, and that Kay Hill would lead all 12 laps of the feature,
there was more than enough excitement to end the race. Hill held a comfortable lead throughout the race until a caution was
thrown with three laps remaining for a spin. As the field bunched up for the restart, it was Spiderman Steven Goodman sitting
in the second spot looking for his third win in a row. The two would battle for the top spot during the three remaining laps
with Good the high side of the speedway and began his run. Boney would eventually move past Johnston on lap 16 and hold the
lead for the win. Boney started the race on the outide of the fourth row.
Kerry Davis continued his recent
dominance in the Superstocks by winning his third consecutive feature. Davis won his heat race and then led all 15 laps of
the feature for the convincing victory.
Yet another new face visited victory lane in the Factory Stock division.
Josh Everhart led the first two laps after starting on the front row, but it wasnt long before Fast Fred McClain was able
to move from the outside of the fourth row and take over the lead. McClain would be challenged briefly by both Larry Schmidt
and Richard Boyd, but he could not be denied his first win at Thunderhill Speedway.
Despite the fact that
there were only eight Pony Stocks in the feature event, and that Kay Hill would lead all 12 laps of the feature, there was
more than enough excitement to end the race. Hill held a comfortable lead throughout the race until a caution was thrown with
three laps remaining for a spin. As the field bunched up for the restart, it was Spiderman Steven Goodman sitting in the second
spot looking for his third win in a row. The two would battle for the top spot during the three remaining laps with Goodman
pulling even on many occasions but never able to gain the lead outright. Goodman would hold the lead coming out of turn four
to the checkered flag, but Hill gained a good run coming out of the corner. As the two pulled even down the front straight,
it was Hill who owned the advantage by less than a nose at the finish line.
Randal Reeves and Wayne Belveal
came from the last starting spot in the Cruisers to take over the lead at the halfway mark of the race. The two would extend
their lead and take home a convincing victory.
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