Thunder on the Hill Closes out 2006 Season. . . . . . . .

The NAPA Auto Parts/COMDIAL Telephone Communications Thunder on the Hill Racing Series closed out the 2006 season with the House of Thunder Halloween Party and the Grandview THUNDER 5-25's on Saturday night at the Grandview Speedway. All that was missing on this night was a full moon and a black cat as cold weather provided the chills, the Modifieds the thrills, the ARDC Wingless midget the spills and URC stirred up a batch of controversy that had the fans refusing to leave the grandstands, even after the drop of the final checker flag of the night. This five feature format has always been a favorite of the fans and after this event, the Thunder Series promotion is sure to keep this one on the schedule.

With one-hundred and thirty-eight race cars in the pit area, the parking lot and a few in the neighbors back yard, the Grandview Speedway/Thunder on the Hill season finale opened with the Glick Fire Equipment Ghostly Legends. It was a wild, tooth and nail battle with as many as three cars challenging for the lead. Josh Morrow was an early race contender for the win as Rodney Kistler moved into the mix. Eventually, Tom Mayberry joined the party and took the lead on lap ten. Mayberry felt the pressure from Morrow right up to five laps to go, then lapped traffic offered Mayberry an opportunity to run and hide from the rest of the field. Mayberry took the win with Morrow second over Rodney Kistler, Randy Kissinger and Geremy Shaeffer.

The second of five twenty-five lap features took to the speedway with the Wild & Wingless ARDC Midgets now taking a turn on the Grandview Speedway one-third mile high-banks. Almost like a wicked spell was cast, youthful female driver Michele Miller took a wild flip in turn two in the early going. Ray Bull was also involved in a tangle that sent him to the rear, restarting the race in the twenty-eight spot. When green flag racing resumed, Fred Schell was the wizard at the front of the pack leading his challengers that included Paul Kline and Kathy Kurtz. Shell remained the top gun until lap seven when P.J. Gargulio took the lead. By lap nine, Grandview Modified racer, Tracy Readinger was second and looking to make a move.

Gargulio remained the leader until Readinger took the top spot on lap eighteen. Then from nowhere, like a rabbit jumping out of a hat, Ray Bull had moved into second (from his twenty-eight starting position) and on the hunt after the race leader. Bull took the lead on lap nineteen and went on to score a popular win with Readinger finishing second followed by Gargulio, Eric Heydenreich and Steve Lenig.

The Looney Late Models were up for the third feature of the night. John Geisler led the first three laps with Mike Kellner taking the lead on lap four. One lap later, Mark Malcolm became the third different leader of the race. Malcolm soon was faced with the challenges of Brian Shuey who was pressing the leader by lap nine. Greg Hoffmaster moved into third and the stage was set for a three car battle for the lead. On lap nineteen, while going for the lead, Shuey spun between turns three and four, displaying the caution flag. On the restart, Malcolm was on point with Greg Hoffmaster now in a position to challenge. But wait, Chuck Schutz was on charge and chasing down the leaders. On the white flag lap, Hoffmaster tried to pass for the lead in turn four, but spun into the infield and the caution was displayed. With one lap remaining, Mark Malcolm held on for the win with a determined Chuck Schutz knocking on the door and finishing second. Making up the top five were Rick Todorow, Bryon Sipe and Randy Stoudt.

The Nasty NASCAR Modifieds delivered the best performance of the night, completing their twenty-lap feature in just nine minutes. Tom Umbenhauer of Richland, PA scored his first Grandview victory and led the entire twenty-five lap distance. Although that might sound easy, it really wasn't. At the drop of the green flag, Umbenhauer was challenged by Mike Gular with Kevin Hirthler close in the chase. The one and only caution was displayed on lap night when Ray Swinehart, Hirthler and Terry Meitzler tangled in turn four.

With the field ready to restart, Umbenhauer now had Jeff Strunk in the runner-up spot. Strunk made a strong run for the lead then on lap thirteen, the popular Bethel, PA driver pulled to the infield with mechanical problems. In the late stages of the event, lapped traffic was going to play a part as Mike Gular and Craig VonDohren had caught the leader. With two laps remaining, Umbenhauer, Gular and VonDohren were three abreast between turns one and two all looking for a larger piece of Grandview Speedway real estate. Umbenhauer nosed ahead for the run down the backstretch, but going into turn three, Gular and VonDohren were all over the leader. As the checker flag fell, Umbenhauer earned the win over Mike Gular, Craig VonDohren, Doug Manmiller and MeMe DeSantis.

There's an old staying that you save the best for last and that just might have been the case Saturday night as the URC Spooky Sprints took the Grandview Speedway. In beautiful four abreast formation and fireworks bursting in the sky, the green flag fell and the fans had no idea of what the next twenty-five laps would bring. As the field charged into turn one, Scott Pursell (driving the John Pinter owned sprint car) flipped after contact with Brook Weibley, Dave Ely and Jimmy Stitzel. Pursell did walk away uninjured. On the restart, Mares Stellfox set the pace with Mark Bitner close in the chase. Bill Brian Jr., and Kevin Welsh were in a battle for third and fourth with Kramer Williamson watching the action from the fifth spot. Like in any URC event, all eyes were on Curt Michael who was charging to the front of the pack.

As the race went on, slower traffic was again going to play a role in this event as a five car battle for the win was being staged. Stellfox was on point followed by Mark Bitner, Kevin Welsh, Bill Brian Jr and yes, Curt Michael. The top five were now racing under a blanket when on lap eighteen, Robbie Stillwaggon spun in turn one, displaying the caution flag. With a clear track ahead, the green flag fell and Stellfox took off like she saw a ghost. By lap nineteen Curt Michael was in third and moved into second on lap twenty-one. For the next three laps, Michael inched his was closer to the leader. The dramatic turning point of the race came on the final lap. Stellfox used the high lane as Michael went to the bottom. When exiting turn four, Michael drifted high and made hard contact with Stellfox, sending her URC sprint car into the fourth turn wall. The checker and red flag was displayed with the win going to Trenton, NJ driver Mark Bitner as Kevin Welsh finished second. Stellfox did walk away uninjured but was left with a badly damaged sprint car. Curt Michael was penalized two spots for aggressive driving, going from first to third in the final run down. Making up the top five were Bill Brian Jr and Brian Seidel.

Also on the program was the BPG/Chad Sinon Motorsports 358 Non-Winner's Race that was won by Jon Kellner Jr. The Fred's Trailer Parts/Valley Forge INC Non-Winner's race for URC saw rookie driver Davey Sammons take the win.

Paul Weaver was the winner in a twenty-car starting field for the Restored Race cars.