Date Posted:  May 2, 2010

Little-Z, Big Win

In the first round the qualified field was handicapped by the previous week's driver performance, forcing race winner Bob Chenoweth to a twelfth place starting spot in the middle of the field, surrounded by top contender Kevin Albers and the defending three-time division champion Randy 'the Rocket' Rusnell.  At the front of the field 'Speedy' Kevin Heist would set the opening lap pace from pole position, alongside the black and gold #8 of Steve Perry, nicknamed the Killer Bee.

The fast cars in the middle started to make their way forward in the early laps, as complications in Kevin Heist's #20 sent him through the field in the opposite direction.  Steve Perry took up the leadership mantle and started to pull away from the competition leaving battles raging on behind him.

Two drivers who mixed things up in traffic were Chenoweth and Dave Silverthorn Jr.  In his first night out, with new #97 number and paint scheme, Silverthorn brought an aggressive, bordering on reckless, driving style to the already wild and untamed Thunder Car class.  Earning a black flag for rough driving in his opening heat race Silverthorn missed the message and continued to move traffic aside with the force of his bumper.  Another penalty for his driving style put Silverthorn to the back of the field for a mid-race restart, joined by Bob Chenoweth.  Randy Rusnell was caught in the middle of the action and as an involved car also ended up at the back of the line in a late race restart.

A stroke of terrible luck struck the London Recreational #13 of Brad Collison, as the former championship winner broke a rear axle while racing for the lead.  A rear wheel flew off the race car and bounced around until becoming trapped beneath the front end of #73 Nick Troback.  Collison required the assistance of the Ray's Towing team to get back to his pit, where the team went to work repairing the car for round 2.

At the front Steve Perry offered little chance for challenge keeping at least a car length ahead of his top pursuer.  But a slow reaction to the green flag on a late restart caused a change with only a few laps to go.  Second position #10 Dennis Cybalksi found himself surrounded by fluorescent green numbers as he picked up the pace on the front straightaway, as the brothers Zardo - #46 Lane and #48 Billy - flew by, one from the inside and the other in the higher lane.  Three wide towards corner one, the two Holmes on Homes race machines lined up in second and third on the back chute to track down Steve Perry.  Their efforts would fall just shy, running out of laps as they rushed to the rear bumper of the Holmar Plumbing #8.

When asked in victory lane about the Zardo challenge Perry answered with a smile, "I never saw them coming.  I never looked back."  He was focused on staying out front and pushing the AirQuest Heating & Air race machine to the limit to win the first round of the night's main event.  After the second round, it was clear that he - and all of us - need to an keep eye on the next generation Zardo racers.

A top three finish to each of their credit in the first round, Lane and Billy Zardo lined up the County Interiors #46 and #48 in eleventh and twelfth for the second round start.  Jeff Bean in the Krown Stoney Creek #37 earned the pole position, starting alongside a twice penalized Dave Silverthorn Jr.  Behind Silverthorn in fourth was 'Big Bag' Bob Chenoweth, and only a couple more cars behind was Randy Rusnell.  A wild start was expected the moment the lineup made its debut.

The Thunder Cars didn't disappoint - or surprise - as the full field barreled into the first turns on the opening lap.  Already with an altercation to their credit, Chenoweth and Silverthorn tied up again this time in front of the accelerating field.  Chenoweth was spun around, Silverthorn narrowly escaped and fortunately further carnage was avoided.  With Chenoweth put the to the rear of the field the BDS Enterprises #97 was able to steal the lead away from Jeff Bean on the next attempted restart, and begin to build a dominant distance back to second place.

Erinn Bailey in the St. George OK Tire #02 was first to lead a challenge to chase down Silverthorn, but she was soon displaced by the rushing Rocket Rusnell and Kevin Albers.  The Spira #72 and Wasteco #27 hooked up and ran down the #97, seemingly creating panic in the cockpit.  With Rusnell flying in the high line, supremely strong in the outside lane, and with Albers constantly trying to take advantage of a growing gap to the inside, Dave Silverthorn Jr had no idea where he would be safe on the race track.  For three laps SIlverthorn would drift high in the corner to push Rusnell up against the concrete wall and then dive bomb to the inside as he approached the straightaway almost shearing off the nose of the Assante Financial Management #27.  Despite growing concern for blocking the officials made no effort to reprimand Silverthorn and clean up the leader battle.  Finally in turn four contact was made and an incident followed, but a caution flag had already been thrown for #37 who had popped a hose and dropped all kinds of fluid at the corner exit and back straightaway.  Details of the corner four altercation were forgotten, and as Randy Rusnell and Kevin Albers both limped off to make pit stops, Silverthorn rose to the front of the field again in #97.

Now with the brothers Zardo lining up in third and second, Silverthorn would have a whole new cast to contend with in the closing laps.  On the restart it was Billy Zardo in the Holmes on Homes #48 who lead the charge at #97.  Looking for a move down low, Zardo started to the inside in turn one.  Silverthorn tried another chop block but came across the nose of #48 who refused to make out of the throttle with an accelerating field of cars on his rear bumper.  Silverthorn was sent spinning through the dust on the back chute as Zardo sped away.  A caution flag followed, giving the #97 an opportunity to rejoin the line.  After chasing down the #48 a stiff shot in the back was given - under caution - to express his feelings of discontent toward to the turn two result.  An unsportsmanlike penalty was issued and Silverthorn was removed from the remainder of the competition.

With only four laps remaining there was a new leader at the front of the field, and his younger brother was starting second.  Billy Zardo - 17 years old - has won a number of Thunder Car races in his young career, and Lane Zardo - 15 years old - only one week earlier made his Thunder Car debut after campaigning a Mini Stock the previous year.  As the drivers watched the green flag wave to restart the race fans could have sworn that two grizzled veterans were at the front. 

When I write that there was no give in their battle for the win, I mean it.  Into corner one the two Zardo racers went number to number through the turns, unaware of any challenges growing behind them.  Steve Perry, Randy Rusnell and Brad Colliosn were all lining up with ambitions of victory, but at the front it was a Z-team duel.  Lane worked the #46 down to the bottom of the track, hugging the yellow line as he raced the inside lane.  Billy Zardo fought to hold the momentum on the outside but the #48 was in a bad spot with no help.  The lineup got behind Lane and slowly over the closing laps the #48 was shuffled back.  In front of the previous race winner and two past champions, Lane Zardo drove on to the checkered flag - his first Thunder Car main event victory in just his second week in the division.

Stunned as he climbed out of the car, Lane Zardo excitedly waved to the cheering and screaming crowd as he accepted accolades for his race win.  Billy Zardo was quick to join him in the winners' circle, pouncing on his younger brother with ecstatic congratulations, repeating "I never gave it to you.  You earned it.  That was awesome!"

When asked about the emotion of winning that race Lane expressed, "I'm speechless.  I can't believe it.  When we were chasing [Silverthorn] I thought it would be cool to finish second and third, and then we restarted I thought it would be great to be first and second.  I have to give huge thanks to my Grandpa and my Dad who helped me put this car together.  This is incredible."

Ontario's favourite Thunder Cars are back in action every Saturday night all summer long.  See schedule for details.