GALE RUTH JR MAKES TAKES HISTORIC WIN IN THE FIRST EVER 410 SPRINT FEATURE

With a record standing-room-only crowd on hand to witness the first ever 410 sprint race in track history, Titusville, PA’s Gale Ruth Jr. took the lead from Eric Williams on Lap 12 to put his name in the record books as the first sprint winner. Bellwood, PA’s Dwayne Tanneyhill took home his first Late Model feature win of the season, as did Brent Fields in Enduro action. Brookville, PA’s Rusty Martz wins another Super Stock main in front of the packed stands. Andy and Sherry Watt of Race 1 Speedway provided beautiful trophies for all feature winners.
“It was tough, but I got it done. It worked out better following Eric (Williams) for a few laps” stated Gale Ruth Jr next to his #5X sprint in Horizon Homes Victory Lane after his feature win. “I love it here, I wish we could run here weekly. It’s a real nice track. Thanks to my sponsors RK Virgile Scrap, F5 Designs, my family, my girlfriend, they all help a lot.” continued Ruth.

Ruth drew the #1 spot in the fan redraw, but outside pole sitter Eric Williams took the lead at the drop of the green. With Ruth and 4th starter Bobby Howard in tow. Howard drove under Ruth for 2nd in turn 2, but Ruth fired back down the back stretch and reclaimed the spot in turn 3 while Williams started opening an advantage. Williams caught lapped traffic on lap 4 and Ruth began to close the gap between himself and the leader as Brian Steinman spun in front of the leaders. The field missed the sideways #24S, but the first yellow of the even slowed the blistering pace.

Williams had a great restart and took a big lead into turn 1. Ruth continued hounding the leader before getting loose in turn 2 on lap 6. Ruth regained control of his mount without losing a spot, but Howard was quickly on Ruth’s back bumper. Andy McKisson, making his first start on 2008 came from his 10th starting spot to take 4th from John Schyler on lap 9 as Williams was running his own race out front. 11th starter Craig Folmar was engaged in a battle for 7th with Daryl Stimeling as 12th starter Scott Lutz snuck past the pair for the spot on lap 10. Williams caught the back of the field again on lap 11 as Ruth reeled in the leader. Ruth drove under William’s #76 in turn 4 for the lead as the halfway flags were displayed, but a caution for Jeff Taylor erased the lap.

Williams lined up on point for the restart and lead into turn 1, but Ruth got a terrific run off the bottom of turn 2 and took the lead down the back stretch. Once in front, Ruth immediately began opening a lead on Williams and Howard, who began a battle for 2nd. Williams had his impressive run come to an end with a spin in turn 2 on lap 14 after his car appeared difficult to steer. Once his car was pointed in the right direction, Williams refired and tailed the field for the restart.
Ruth lead his first restart of the event and used it to his advantage by opening a big lead on Howard. McKisson was now 3rd and began pressuring Howard for the runner up spot as Schyler and Stimeling were 4th and 5th. 9th starting Jeremy Ohl began closing on Stimeling as the leader was shown 5 laps to go. McKisson went high in turn 2, allowing Schyler to take the 3rd spot still on lap 20. McKesson’s #0 began to slow down the back stretch before bringing out the final yellow with a flat and heading to the pits. While under caution, Williams’ car came to a halt in turn 2 with a broken front axle. McKisson returned under yellow, but Williams was done for the night.

When racing resumed, Ruth had another good restart and put distance between himself and Howard. Schyler and Stimeling were battling for 3rd as Ohl joined the fight with Folmar watching from 6th. Stimeling took 3rd on lap 21 as Ohl grabbed 4th, sending Schyler to 5th. As the two to go flags were displayed, Howard closed on Ruth and was a car length behind the leader in turn 2. Ruth powered down the back stretch and opened a slight lead heading to the white flag. Howard tried one last time to close on the leader on the last lap, but Ruth once again put more breathing room between himself and Howard’s #49 as the checkered flag was in the air. Ruth crossed the line first, followed by Howard, Stimeling, Ohl, and Schyler. Folmar, Lutz, 19th starter Troy Vaccaro, McKisson, and Bill Jones Jr completed the top 10. Howard, Lutz, and Williams picked up heat race wins over the 19 car field. The record crowd showed their appreciation to the sprints as the field did a 4 wide salute prior to the feature event.

Next on the Thunder Mountain schedule will be a regular show of steel block late models, super stocks, pure stocks, RWD 4 cylinders, and enduros on August 1. Also on the program will be the first mechanics races of the season. Crew members of Late Models and Super Stocks will get their shot to try the wheel of the race cars they turn wrenches on weekly. Gates open at 5:00 with racing commencing at 7:30. General admission will be $10 with pit passes $20. Family passes are available for 2 adults and up to 3 children ages 12-16 for $25. For the latest information, visit the track’s web site at www.thundermountainspeedway.net.

COMPLETE RESULTS:
410 SPRINTS: (19 Cars)
1. 5X-GALE RUTH JR (Titusville, PA), 2. 49-Bobby Howard (Enola, PA), 3. 30-Daryl Stimeling (Lewistown, PA), 4. 5-Jeremy Ohl (Jersey Shore, PA), 5. 3T-John Schyler (Jamestown, NY), 6. 81-Craig Folmar (Phillipsburg, PA), 7. 33-Scott Lutz (Fredricksburg, PA), 8. 7T-Troy Vaccaro (Castalia, OH), 9. 0-Andy McKisson (Strattanville, PA), 10. 12J-Bill Jones Jr. (Irvona, PA), 11. 17-Mike Dehner (Clarion, PA), 12. 8K-Mike Kaminski (Ford City, PA), 13. 52-Jeff Weaver (Lock Haven, PA), 14. 5V-Vern Wasson (Jersey Shore, PA), 15. 1R-Gale Ruth Sr. (Pleasantville, PA), 16. 24S-Brian Steinman (Lucinda, PA), 17. 76-Eric Williams -DNF (Greenville, PA), 18. 17T-Jeff Taylor -DNF (Cherry Hill, NJ), 19. 71C-Jack Helget -DNF (Franklinville, NJ).
HEAT WINNERS: Howard, Lutz, Williams.