HERBERS, NICHOLS, DREASHER, AND STICH KICK OFF NEW ERA AT THUNDER HILL

Fans who left Thunder Hill Speedway Saturday night thinking that they had seen Tom Charles win the first IMCA Modified feature of the new era at Thunder Hill have a surprise in store.  Charles did, in fact, take the checkered flag in the feature, but a rules infraction by the most experienced IMCA competitor in the field handed the feature win to Holton’s Jeff Herbers.  Herbers was joined in victory lane by Harlan, Iowa’s Mike Nichols (IMCA Stock Cars), Curtis Dreasher (IMCA Northern SportMods), and Brian Stich (IMCA Hobby Stocks).

The veteran Charles was looking to win for a second night in a row after posting the win at Lakeside Speedway on Friday night, but a rocker arm stud girdle (illegal under IMCA Modified rules) resulted in a  disqualification.  Charles explained, “We had been running this car in some non-IMCA races and just flat forgot to remove the stud girdles.  IMCA did their job and we failed to do ours.  We’ll get them off the car and be back next week.”  Herbers’ win and Justin Becker’s 2^nd place made it a 1-2 sweep for Holton drivers, who were followed by Brent Alverson, Lance Brooks, and Jeff Coleman.

Nichols is beginning his campaign for a fourth national IMCA Stock Car Championship, and made the long haul to Thunder Hill from his Harlan, Iowa home worth it with the Stock car win.  Nichols finished a distant third in his heat, but quickly learned the high banks to snag the checkered.  He was followed to the flag by fellow Iowan Jeff Jolderbma, Marvin Griffith Jr., Eric Weyer, and Greg Deters.

Like many nights in 2009, a Dreasher showed the way home in the Northern SportMod feature.  This time, however, it was Curtis, as Rick has moved up to the IMCA Modified division.  Dreasher had to fend off challenges from Eddie Schwope Jr. and Kyle Olberding, but kept the top spot to the end.  Rounding out the top five were Kevin Vanlandingham and Chris Dishong.

After watching the IMCA Hobby Stocks, many fans looked for the rope joining the #21 of Brian Stich and the #7d of Levi Gunn.  The two waged a neck-and-neck battle all night, both in the heat race and the feature.  Gunn won the battle in the heat race, while Stich prevailed in the war in the feature race.  Finishing third was John Bass, with Mike Elliot bringing his Ford home in fourth and Rodney Walker finishing fifth.

Thunder Hill’s IMCA Weekly Racing Series continues next Saturday, April 24, with gates opening at 4:00 PM, with the driver’s meeting set for 6:15.  Hot laps will hit the track at 6:30, with the first heat at 7:00 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 142^nd Road in Mayetta, KS (2 miles West of US-75 and 142^nd Road).  For more information, please visit http://www.racethunderhillspeedway.com.

RESULTS:  Saturday Night, April 17

IMCA Modifieds:

IMCA STOCK CARS:

IMCA NORTHERN SPORTMODS:

IMCA HOBBY STOCKS: