With three and a half months of the 2015 season in the books, things have been up and down for Thayne Hallyburton as he’s had some strong runs (two top-fives), as well as some not-so pretty moments.

“It’s been a pretty good year,” he commented before racing last week. “The car has shown some speed that it hadn’t show last year. The racing has been pretty good; it’s been pretty clean. I think, for myself, trying to find a little bit more speed and stay up there in the top-five. It’s been a pretty good year, specifically compared to last year. The car has been a lot better.”

The past month has seen the biggest extent of ups and downs for Hallyburton. On July 25, he was involved in a heavy crash that saw the whole side and front ripped up on the No. 14 Ritter Sport/H.S.C Powersports/Hillsdale Service Center/Knightwork Designs Late Model. Getting the car ready for the next week took a lot of work – about 300 or so man hours in total.

“It was a pretty good thrash,” Hallyburton commented. “But we had lots of help and everyone kind of pitched in and got it done. Can’t thank Junior Hanley enough. He dropped everything and got the car ready in a couple days for us so we could put the body back on. Without him, it wouldn’t be possible.”

He then bounced back a week later in style with a second place finish in the second feature on Aug 1. Last weekend things unfortunately didn’t go the way that Hallyburton wanted as a wreck took him out of contention in the second feature.

Now heading into this weekend, Hallyburton looks to bounce back and perhaps seize his first Sunset Speedway late model victory. Though he admits it will be tough as Taylor Holdaway has been quick lately, winning the last four straight.

“My brother (Travis) said to me last week after we got done, ‘We got first and second on the race on here on Earth; Taylor is just on Mars’,” Hallyburton said. “Unfortunately, it’s pretty tough to beat the 41 car but nothing that traffic can’t stall. Hopefully we stay green a little bit longer tonight.”

Hallyburton got his start in motorsports by racing snowmobiles, but was looking for something different as he got older.

“The snowmobiles kind of rear on you and your joints get brutalized,” he commented. “As they say – with age get a cage. So we got a cage. A lot safer and we thought it’d be a good transition as we got older.”

Starting at Barrie Speedway, Hallyburton worked his way up through the ranks, having success along the way. His biggest moment to date being his first career feature victory.

“It was pretty awesome,” he stated. “It was me and Gord Shepherd and everyone gone by half a track. Coming to the checkereds, he gave me a little punt and sent me pretty wide; it was a pretty good save.”

Perhaps the same type of victory magic could be in the works for the Hillsdale native at Sunset Speedway.