kevin42k`
07-08-2008, 08:53 AM
From: www.xcelchassis.com
07.04.08 | Keppler is as hot as the fireworks at Thunder Mountain
Fireworks were on the card for the nights events and so were the Hoosier Tire 600 Modifieds. Returning to Thunder mountain racetrack for the only appearance this year, twenty-seven cars were signed in. Drivers were comparing notes since they were running a 50 lap feature and hoping to pocket the biggest payout of the year.
Starting of the night was the 12E of Eric Whitbe and the 35K of Mike Keppler. Whitbe would lead the first heat race and bring the field to the line. Ryan Suchon of the 37 would start pole for the second heat race but by lap 2 Kevin Gruber #33 would take the lead and never give it up. Chris Stockham would take the lead on lap 2 in the third heat race followed by the 2K of Kevin Pritchard. All three heat races went green to checkered.
After a brief intermission the 600 modifieds were staged and ready to roll. Eric (Roy) Whitbe and Kevin Gruber would sit on the front row for the 50 lap feature. Only three cautions during the race set up a long run segments. Chris Stockham took the lead on lap 3 unfortunently lost the battle with the inside tire in turn one and was done for the night. By this time Brian (Big Daddy) Mady driver of the 2 had moved up to second place with Mike Keppler inheriting the lead. They would come into lap traffic by lap 21. And again would come upon a lap car on lap 27. Lap 35 would bring out the last caution and at that point the 4JR of Butchie Getz had moved up to the fifth position. Lap 43 would prove the turning point of the race as the #2 of Brian Mady lost power and dropped down to the fifth position. Dave Baldwin driver of the #4 had moved his way up to the third position and would battle Getz for second for the next seven laps. This would give Mike Keppler the opening he needed to cross the checkerds in first place.
In victory lane he stated “ I want to thank North Rockland Towing for sponsoring the night events and to Dick Stark for being the night host”. It was an added bonus for Keppler since North Rockland Towing is also his sponsor for the 2008 season. Doug Borger, series owner, wanted to thank the drivers for putting on a great show for the large crowd on hand at Thunder Moutain. The Hoosier tire 600 Modified Series will head down I81 to Five Mile Point Speedway the next day for the first time this year.
Heat race 1 - Whitbe, Keppler, N. Mady, Szulewski, Colin
Heat race 2 - Gruber, Gardner, Pychinka, Baldwin Jr, Bowes
Heat race 3 - Stockham, Pritchard, B. Mady, Loux, Higgs
Feature:
KEPPLER, Getz, Baldwin Jr, Higgs, B. Mady, Whitbe, Coons, Bowes, Pritchard, Gruber, Szulewski, Suchon, B. Higgs, Lakatos, Smith, DeRiyder, Johnson, G. Loux, N. Mady, Stockham, Pychinka, Bartik, Skoniecki, Colon, Gardner, K. Loux, Baldwin Sr.
07.04.08 | Keppler is as hot as the fireworks at Thunder Mountain
Fireworks were on the card for the nights events and so were the Hoosier Tire 600 Modifieds. Returning to Thunder mountain racetrack for the only appearance this year, twenty-seven cars were signed in. Drivers were comparing notes since they were running a 50 lap feature and hoping to pocket the biggest payout of the year.
Starting of the night was the 12E of Eric Whitbe and the 35K of Mike Keppler. Whitbe would lead the first heat race and bring the field to the line. Ryan Suchon of the 37 would start pole for the second heat race but by lap 2 Kevin Gruber #33 would take the lead and never give it up. Chris Stockham would take the lead on lap 2 in the third heat race followed by the 2K of Kevin Pritchard. All three heat races went green to checkered.
After a brief intermission the 600 modifieds were staged and ready to roll. Eric (Roy) Whitbe and Kevin Gruber would sit on the front row for the 50 lap feature. Only three cautions during the race set up a long run segments. Chris Stockham took the lead on lap 3 unfortunently lost the battle with the inside tire in turn one and was done for the night. By this time Brian (Big Daddy) Mady driver of the 2 had moved up to second place with Mike Keppler inheriting the lead. They would come into lap traffic by lap 21. And again would come upon a lap car on lap 27. Lap 35 would bring out the last caution and at that point the 4JR of Butchie Getz had moved up to the fifth position. Lap 43 would prove the turning point of the race as the #2 of Brian Mady lost power and dropped down to the fifth position. Dave Baldwin driver of the #4 had moved his way up to the third position and would battle Getz for second for the next seven laps. This would give Mike Keppler the opening he needed to cross the checkerds in first place.
In victory lane he stated “ I want to thank North Rockland Towing for sponsoring the night events and to Dick Stark for being the night host”. It was an added bonus for Keppler since North Rockland Towing is also his sponsor for the 2008 season. Doug Borger, series owner, wanted to thank the drivers for putting on a great show for the large crowd on hand at Thunder Moutain. The Hoosier tire 600 Modified Series will head down I81 to Five Mile Point Speedway the next day for the first time this year.
Heat race 1 - Whitbe, Keppler, N. Mady, Szulewski, Colin
Heat race 2 - Gruber, Gardner, Pychinka, Baldwin Jr, Bowes
Heat race 3 - Stockham, Pritchard, B. Mady, Loux, Higgs
Feature:
KEPPLER, Getz, Baldwin Jr, Higgs, B. Mady, Whitbe, Coons, Bowes, Pritchard, Gruber, Szulewski, Suchon, B. Higgs, Lakatos, Smith, DeRiyder, Johnson, G. Loux, N. Mady, Stockham, Pychinka, Bartik, Skoniecki, Colon, Gardner, K. Loux, Baldwin Sr.