TWO REPEAT WINNERS, TWO FIRST TIMERS AT THUNDER HILL
As the 2010 racing season nears the halfway point, one would think that the points races would be settling in at Thunder Hill Speedway, with the projected champions becoming obvious. One would be wrong. If anything, the deeper into the season that we go, the tighter the point races get. Last week, the races were tightened by the fact that all four feature winners were first-timers. This week, Mat Stallbaumer and Kyle Olberding scored repeat wins, while Jim Powell Jr. and Jeromy Wagner picked up their first trophies of the year.
Mat Stallbaumer did not make his first appearance at the Hill until the second race, but has made his presence known since then with a feature win and consistent top-five runs. On Saturday night, he was able to come from his fourth-row starting spot to score his second win of the year, which pulled him into fifth place in the IMCA Modified point standings, a short 25 points back of leader Jordy Nelson. Kyle Stallbaumer was able to make it a family 1-2 finish by taking the runnerup spot, while last week’s winner Allan Halderman finished third. After missing last week, Jordy Nelson’s fourth place finish enabled him to retake the point lead from a tie with Brent Alverson, and Danny Holt rounded out the top five. In the point standings, it is Nelson with a 7 point advantage over Alverson, followed by Jeff Herbers, Tom Charles, and Mat Stallbaumer.
Kyle Olberding has kept his #75 machine at or near the front of the IMCA Northern SportMod fields all year, and on Saturday night, he was able to score his third win of the year. It was far from an easy run, however, as Olberding started outside fifth row and had to make his way forward through some very tough competition. He had company on his way up, however; Kelly Kneisler came from 15th starting spot with a hard charge to finish second. Eddie Schwope Jr. also made plenty of passes, starting 11th and finishing third. Schwope was chased home by Luke Stallbaumer and Jeff Davis. In the point standings, Schwope clings to a 12-point lead over Olberding, with Rich Boyden and Mike Taylor tied for third and Kneisler poking his way into the top five.
Jim Powell Jr. had been absent from the IMCA Stock Car wars for a few weeks, but made his return worthwhile by taking the checkers in Saturday night’s feature. Tim Lange started and finished second, with Eric Weyer also holding his start spot in third. Marvin Griffith Jr. came home fourth with last week’s winner, Matt Haid, completing the top five. Griffith remains the division point leader, with Eric Weyer in second, Haid in third, Greg Deters tied with Tim Lange in fourth.
The IMCA Hobby Stock division featured a last-to-first performance by Jeromy Wagner, who started shotgun on the field and made his way through the pack to take the win. Another 2010 winner, Waylon Banks, scored a strong second, with point leader Brian Stich riding home third. Coming fourth and fifth were the Fords of Pat Streeter and Jim Streeter. Stich remains the point leader, followed by Rodney Walker, Jim Streeter, Melissa Bruning, and Pat Streeter.
Late Model fans should mark their calendars for Saturday, July 24, when the O’Reilly NCRA Late Model Series brings the gladiators back to the high banks of Thunder Hill Speedway. Top racers from six states are expected to be in attendance, led by point leader Kelly Boen.
Next up for Thunder Hill will be the Oren Covert Memorial, a special race for the IMCA Weekly Divisions honoring longtime Topeka racer Oren Covert. Next Saturday, July 17, the IMCA Weekly Racing Series continues at Thunder Hill, with the Oren Covert Memorial. Gates open at 4:00 PM, with the driver’s meeting set for 6:30. Hot laps will hit the track at 7:00, with heat races to follow. 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). For more information, please visit http://www.racethunderhillspeedway.com.
Hobby Stock – A Main
FinishStartCarDriverHometownRace Points
1929 Jeromy Wagner Kensington , Ks39.00
2615 Waylon Banks Lawrence , Ks38.00
3721 Brian Stich Topeka , Ks37.00
4511S Pat Streeter Everst , Ks36.00
5322 Jim Streeter Everest , Ks35.00
6862 Josh Haid Meriden , Ks34.00
74RD69 Rodney Walker Easton , Ks33.00
8255 Rachel Bruning Everest , Ks32.00
9123P Patrick Mcguire St. Joseph, Mo31.00
Northern SportMod - A Main
FinishStartCarDriverHometownRace Points
11075 Kyle Olberding Seneca , Ks40.00
2150K Kelly Kneisler Mayetta , Ks39.00
31191E Eddie Schwope Jr. St. Joseph, Mo38.00
43L26 Luke Stallbaumer Tecumseh , Ks37.00
51727 Jeff Davis Topeka , Ks36.00
61212B Bryan Rigsby Topeka , Ks35.00
7811K Rodney Klinkner Manhattan , Ks34.00
8207X Lance Lincoln Topeka , Ks33.00
9450 Gary Holthaus Topeka , Ks32.00
101317S Mike Taylor Topeka , Ks31.00
111447K Kevin Keller Leavenworth , Ks30.00
122142VR Bret Degand Topeka , Ks29.00
13182P Cory Larson Holton , Ks28.00
142421 Brian Stich Topeka , Ks27.00
1522222 Dustin Crist St. Joseph, Mo26.00
16222A Alvie Christofferson St. Joseph, Mo25.00
17169S Devin Stock Topeka , Ks24.00
1894U Rich Boyden Topeka , Ks23.00
19531X Scott Schoemann Belvue , Ks22.00
20138 Brian Neiberger Meriden , Ks21.00
21237D Levi Gunn -20.00
22791 Joey Schwope St. Joseph, Mo19.00
2367JR Rob Holt Jr. Mayetta , Ks18.00
241978P Drake Pitmon Mayetta , Ks17.00
Stock Car - A Main
FinishStartCarDriverHometownRace Points
1620P Jim Powell Lecompton , Ks37.00
2217 Tim Lange Meriden , Ks36.00
33C15 Eric Weyer Centralia , Ks35.00
4175M Marvin Griffith Jr. Delia , Ks34.00
5422 Matt Haid Meriden , Ks33.00
677D Derek Wenzl Atchison , Ks32.00
758 Tony Noll Nortonville , Ks31.00
Modified - A Main
FinishStartCarDriverHometownRace Points
17M80 Mat Stallbaumer Tecumseh , Ks40.00
23K27 Kyle Stallbaumer Tecumseh , Ks39.00
32178 Allen Halderman Topeka , Ks38.00
4104J Jordy Nelson Marysville , Ks37.00
5187D Danny Holt Topeka , Ks36.00
6123 Josh Carpenter Diller , Ks35.00
7981 Tom Charles Bonner Springs, Ks34.00
8814P Travis Patch Holton , Ks33.00
9512P Jeff Herbers Holton , Ks32.00
101515 Kenny Ziegler Junction City, Ks31.00
11622A Brent Alverson Centralia , Ks30.00
121109 Rick Dreasher Hoyt , Ks29.00
131628 John Kampsen Meriden , Ks28.00
1413M38 Bob Miller Holton , Ks27.00
151413 Brian Tefft, Jr Topeka , Ks26.00
16411 Scott Brown Meriden , Ks25.00
17125 Jeff Coleman Atchison , Ks24.00
18176 Melvin Bailey Hoyt , Ks23.00
191940 Shawn Lee Spickard , Mo22.00
