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FINISHED 7TH
Zoubek, Schoenberger, Chambers, Johnson headline night 2 of 'Thunder on the Hill'
Mayetta, KS - September 25, 2011By: Troy Harrison
Full pits, close competition, top IMCA drivers, and a smooth racetrack resulted in features that went down to the wire in nearly every class as Thunder Hill Speedway closed out its 2011 season with night 2 of the “Thunder on the Hill” IMCA special. Emerging as winners were Bob Zoubek (BSB Manufacturing IMCA Modifieds), Jeremy Chambers (Kansas National Guard IMCA Northern SportMods), Jason Schoenberger (Heinen Repair Service IMCA Stock Cars), and Brandon Johnson (BuyRaceParts.com IMCA Hobby Stocks).
The first feature out on the track was the IMCA Hobby Stock feature, and it was brought to the green by Kyle Broughman and Travis Darnall. While Broughman quickly faded, Darnall took off in the lead followed by 2011 track champion Brian Stich. For awhile, Darnall held off Stich’s assault, but the Topeka driver eventually slipped past. Stich’s lead was short-lived, however, as Nebraskan Brandon Johnson moved around the high side to take a lead.
Jacob Crowell also worked his way past Stich, but was unable to get close enough to mount a challenge. A late-race yellow allowed Crowell and Stich to close to Johnson’s back bumper, and Crowell made a final shot going into turn three, but at the end of the feature it was Johnson taking the win, followed by Crowell, Stich, Travis Snyder, and Darnall.
Dusty Leonard has come on strong at the Hill in the second half of the season, and with him starting in the pole position for the Kansas National Guard IMCA Northern SportMod feature, it appeared that the feature might go wire-to-wire. Leonard gave it his best shot. The good news for the Marysville, KS, driver was that he led all but about 50 feet of the 25-lapper. The bad news was that the 50 feet he didn’t lead was the most important. Behind Leonard, much of the feature resembled a rugby scrum as much as a race, as three-wide and four-wide action was the rule.
By halfway, Jeremy Chambers had worked his way up to second spot behind Leonard, but it appeared that Chambers didn’t have enough to get by. However, a strong move into turn three on the last lap gave Chambers the speed to slip underneath Leonard and nip him by a bumper at the checkered flag. The finish was close enough that neither driver was sure who won, and officials held both on the track until the win could be determined. Finishing third behind Leonard was Tyler Sutton, with Jesse Shotts fourth and track champion Kyle Olberding fifth.
That made for a tough act to follow by the Heinen Repair Service IMCA Stock Cars, but they gave it a great run. The front row consisted of the #2 and #3 drivers in IMCA national points, with Jason Schoenberger on the pole and Mike Nichols outside. The anticipated shootout between the two failed to materialize, however. Schoenberger was able to pull clear of Nichols going into turn one on the first lap. Coming off turn four to complete two laps, Nichols’ engine expired. To make matters worse, as he attempted to pull into the infield, Kyle Vanover was trying an inside pass and the two collided.
Vanover was able to continue but had to go to the back of the pack. After the green fell, Schoenberger pulled out to a lead that at times reached a half-straightaway. He was driving the slick track much like an asphalt track, right on the bottom and seldom getting sideways. Meanwhile, great action was happening behind him as Vanover was charging through the pack, and a pitched battle for the second spot was happening between Iowa’s Clay Christian and Greg Deters.
Late in the race, Vanover joined the party and the three drivers swapped spots 2-4 several times as Schoenberger calmly remained in front. A late race yellow, caused when Jack Finan’s transmission decided to exit the car, allowed the second three to close on Schoenberger, but they were unable to find the speed to get around Schoenberger’s expert management of the low groove. At the flag, it was Schoenberger, Vanover, Christian, Deters, and Jim Powell Jr.
The BSB Manufacturing IMCA Modified feature was brought to the green by Brandon Gemmill and Mat Stallbaumer. It took a couple of attempts to get a start in, but Gemmill pulled clear of the field and appeared determined to duplicate Schoenberger’s wire-to-wire feat. Meanwhile, all eyes were on Jay Noteboom and Jordan Grabouski, who were fighting their way forward from the 8th and 15th starting spots, respectively. That suited Bob Zoubek just fine, as he found the low groove to his liking. He used the same low line that Schoenberger used to clear the rest of the field, and on lap 8, he moved past Gemmill into the field.
Noteboom and Grabouski moved into the second and third spots by halfway, and searched high and low for a line that would give them the speed to overcome Zoubek on the bottom. They never found it. Zoubek kept the lead to the end. Big changes in the top three happened on the last couple of laps, however. In turn two on the last lap, Noteboom suddenly had mechanical trouble and dove into the pits, surrendering second to…not Grabouski. Grabouski had overcooked it into turn one, allowing Lance Borgman to ease his car into second. Grabouski held on for third, followed by Gemmill, with the top five completed by Darrick Klima.
This event wrapped up the 2011 racing season at Thunder Hill Speedway. For information on the 2012 season, watch www.racethunderhillspeedway.com.
FEATURE RESULTS
"Thunder on the Hill"
Thunder Hill Speedway
Mayetta, KS
Sat. September 24, 2011
Hobby Stocks - A Main
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 10 11 Brandon Johnson Dewitt , Ne 0.00
2 8 3C Jacob Crowell Clearwater , Ks 0.00
3 4 21 Brian Stich Topeka , Ks 0.00
4 6 48 Travis Snyder Beatrice , Ne 0.00
5 2 86D Travis Darnall Mayetta , Ks 0.00
6 5 2 Ryan Roschewski Beatrice , Ne 0.00
7 3 74 John Bass Topeka , Ks 0.00
8 11 02 Aaron Brown Holton , Ks 0.00
9 1 66 Kyle Broughman Onaga , Ks 0.00
10 15 M87 Mallory Walters Berryton , Ks 0.00
11 14 22A Brock Alverson Centralia , Ks 0.00
12 7 88 Brandon Willems Lawrence , Ks 0.00
13 13 63L Larry Hunter Meriden , Ks 0.00
14 9 72 Levi Austin Rosehill , Ks 0.00
15 12 27 Dominic Thyfault Topeka , Ks 0.00
Northern SportMod - A Main
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 5 17 Jeremy Chambers Parsons , Ks 0.00
2 1 17D Dusty Leonard Marysville , Ks 0.00
3 2 3G Tyler Sutton Beloit , Ks 0.00
4 10 61 Jesse Shotts Topeka , Ks 0.00
5 6 75 Kyle Olberding Seneca , Ks 0.00
6 20 C4 Curtis Dreasher Hoyt , Ks 0.00
7 3 222 Dustin Crist St. Joseph, Mo 0.00
8 9 91 Joey Schwope St. Joseph, Mo 0.00
9 11 91E Eddie Schwope Iii St. Joseph, Mo 0.00
10 12 17X Clint Baker Meadville , Mo 0.00
11 21 56M Mike Appel Dodge City, Ks 0.00
12 18 9S Devin Stock Topeka , Ks 0.00
13 24 11K Rodney Klinkner Manhattan , Ks 0.00
14 16 78P Drake Pitmon Mayetta , Ks 0.00
15 23 H1 Mark Hunziger Oregon , Mo 0.00
16 19 19P Adam Patch Holton , Ks 0.00
17 14 55 Tyler Frye Belleville , Ks 0.00
18 13 85C Clay Sellard Bucklin , Ks 0.00
19 8 4U Rich Boyden Dover , Ks 0.00
20 4 76 Mike Taylor Topeka , Ks 0.00
21 7 73T Truman Asher St. Joseph, Mo 0.00
22 17 92 Daniel Smith Wichita , Ks 0.00
23 15 41 Brent Fielder Abilene , Ks 0.00
24 22 67X Brandon Williams St. Joseph, Mo 0.00
Stock Car - A Main
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 6X Jason Schoenberger Gorham , Ks 0.00
2 7 19 Kyle Vanover Beatrice , Ne 0.00
3 9 7 Clay Christian Avoca , Ia 0.00
4 6 29 Greg Deters Centralia , Ks 0.00
5 17 20P Jim Powell Lecompton , Ks 0.00
6 3 22 Matt Haid Meriden , Ks 0.00
7 10 75M Marvin Griffith Jr. Holton , Ks 0.00
8 14 91 Brad Labonte Lawrence , Ks 0.00
9 12 25 Chad Devereaux Underwood , Ia 0.00
10 11 53W Larry Waters Ozawkie , Ks 0.00
11 4 28 Leif Weyer Centralia , Ks 0.00
12 16 11 Robby Hartpence Tonganoxie , Ks 0.00
13 8 C15 Eric Weyer Centralia , Ks 0.00
14 15 88 Mark Ronnebaum Centralia , Ks 0.00
15 13 48 Jack Finan Topeka , Ks 0.00
16 2 63 Mike Nichols Harlan , Ia 0.00
17 5 2S Reagan Sellard Bucklin , Ks 0.00
Modified - A Main
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 7 5S Bob Zoubek Dorchester , Ne 0.00
2 12 76 Lance Borgman Beatrice , Ne 0.00
3 15 30 Jordan Grabouski Beatrice , Ne 0.00
4 1 G3 Brendon Gemmill Ponca City, Ok 0.00
5 6 2 Darrick Klima Belleville , Ks 0.00
6 2 M80 Mat Stallbaumer Topeka , Ks 0.00
7 14 98 John Allen Chanute , Ks 0.00
8 5 28 Bryan Rigsby Topeka , Ks 0.00
9 17 9 Brandon Blochlinger Concordia , Ks 0.00
10 16 4J Jordy Nelson Marysville , Ks 0.00
11 20 14P Travis Patch Holton , Ks 0.00
12 18 K27 Kyle Stallbaumer Topeka , Ks 0.00
13 26 25P Mike Petersilie Hoisington , Ks 0.00
14 24 747 Corey Burch Junction City, Ks 0.00
15 9 12P Jeff Herbers Holton , Ks 0.00
16 8 7N Jay Noteboom Hinton , Ia 0.00
17 10 81 Tom Charles Bonner Springs, Ks 0.00
18 4 62 Hunter Marriott Brookfield , Mo 0.00
19 25 178 Allen Halderman Topeka , Ks 0.00
20 21 B2 Bobby Bills Wichita , Ks 0.00
21 3 87 Kenny Sweet Wichita , Ks 0.00
22 19 19 P J Conger St. Joseph, Mo 0.00
23 13 12H Mike Hansen - 0.00
24 23 70 Justin Becker Holton , Ks 0.00
25 22 3B Nic Bidinger Perry , Ks 0.00
26 11 43C Brian Calhoon Beloit , Ks 0.00
