By: XCR_KingGinger

11/29/15 (Markleysburg, PA) As November came to the end, it was time, yet again, for the annual Turkey Gobber 100 in the famous Thunder~n~Lightning chassis! This year, the Gobbler was hosted at the popular Roaring Knob Speedway. The Knob has been know for its two lane racing action for the past few months. It was no different tonight as drivers took to the bottom and the top of the track. 16 drivers made it out to the race, doubling last year's count of only 8. Drivers included SKM_Wheel, Rac87, and former IFRT member, VLR_End.

Qualifying rolled out in three groups as everyone was averaging about 13.26-13.31 in hot laps. However, few drivers would surprise and would qualify faster. Top 5 qualifiers included: VLR_Shock (13.21), SKM_Wheel (13.22), VLR_Momper (13.24), XCR_KingGinger (13.24), and VLR_END (13.26). Shock, Wheel, and Momper would all start on the poles for their heats.

As heats rolled out, many expected the front row sitters to advance into the show. However, it was not meant to be for KingGinger as heat #1 rolled out. Heat 1 was won by Shock and second place was stolen from KG by VLR_Bubba. KG ended up rolling his car and did not finish. ICE_KK, VLR_Eric, and IFRT48 followed Bubba. Heat 2 was dominated by Wheel and END as they cruised to advance into the feature. Heat 3 was a close race up front between Momper and JFR_LP. In the closing laps, LP had Momper worried as he was on his bumper for the final two laps. Momper prevailed along with LP and both headed to the feature.

The 6 lap dash was calm as Shock went on to win with Wheel and Momper in 2nd and 3rd. The B-Main was exciting however. At the green, KK jumped to lead, but was closely followed by BLS_J-MAC.  Last place starter, KG passed 5 cars in the first lap, weaving in and out of the cars. KG  found himself in 3rd with Rac87 in 4th. JMAC continued to challenge KK as KG approached. JMAC had to deal with KG, but KG managed to pass him on the high side like he had been for the whole B. KK ended up securing the B victory and starting spot 7.

As the cars lined up, the National Anthem played. Everyone was teared up by time the fireworks went off. And after a pace lap, the green flag was dropped, beginning the race. The top 3 qualifiers, Shock, Wheel, and Momper cruised out to a half second lead over the rest of the pack. 4th place starter, Bubba, had an early battle with LP before he prevailed and began his trek to catch the leaders. In the back, KG had worked to 5th behind LP. After a few laps side by side, KG also prevailed against LP. KG was running consistent 13.20s, not seen running the top side. The only other drivers to run the top fully was Shock, Bubba, and KK.

On lap 9, disaster struck early. Shock, while battling Wheel, collided with the wall in turn two, causing his car to turn around and go head first into Bubba. The wreck allowed Wheel to get a bigger and lead, and for Momper to regain lost ground. KG also avoided the wreck and was able to gain on Momper. For the next 50 laps, they would race side by side with KG up top and Momper on bottom. The wreck cause END's night to end as his car was to damaged. Shock eventually was able to turn around and keep going, which was a great decision in the long run. It would be a long trek back up to the lead for Shock, but if anyone could do it, it would be him.

Wheel continued to dominate and gained a 3.5 second lead on KG and Momper. During the time where Ginger and Momper were battling, LP had slowly crept up on the two drivers. Before LP arrived, Ginger was able to finally clear Momper on the top. Momper had to keep LP behind him as he wanted a top 3 finish. Momper managed to do so as LP scraped the wall which caused him to fall back. It seemed like the race was at that point all but over, but the racing gods apparently wanted to see a race. On lap 58, Wheel had a 3.2 second lead over Ginger. That same lap, Shock blew a tire and spun around in turn 1 and 2. With the flat tire, came a much needed caution for everyone. In a split second, Wheel saw his three second lead evaporate. He now was right beside speedy Ginger and just in front of Momper.

 At the restart, Wheel, Ginger, and Momper all jumped out ahead of the pack. Just nine laps into the restart, Momper collided with the inside wall and saw his chances of winning the race go bye bye. He managed, however, to maintain third. While Wheel and Ginger started their 25 lap battle for the lead, Shock managed to move up the field into 4th behind Momper from last! Shock proved he could still win this race. Up front, Wheel and Ginger began duking it out for the lead. Ginger was much faster on the top side than Wheel was on the top. Wheel came to block Ginger from getting a run in the corner and passing him. Ginger threw sliders, and so did Wheel. It was a back and forth race until about lap 85, when Ginger got loose in turn 1 and never recovered. Wheel moved back to the bottom to where he was fast at. Shock, on the other hand, was still flying. He capitalized on another Momper mistake and took third away from him and set his eyes on Ginger for second. He would not have enough laps to do so. Wheel pulled away from Ginger to win his 3rd Turkey Gobbler 100! Ginger had to settle for second as he came up short of the biggest win of his career, and coming from the back, Shock got third.

 Full Results: 
SKM_Wheel ($25)
XCR_KingGinger
VLR_Shock
VLR_Momper
JFR_LastPlace
VLR_Bubba
ICE_KK21Jr
BLS_J-MAC
Rac87,
VLR_End
XCR_28
IFRTWAR48
VLR_Eric41
Blake28
XCR_RollTide28
Goldfish