Reynoldsville —The 2006 racing season came to an end Saturday evening at Hummingbird Speedway with points champions being crowned in all five classes. Feature winners on Eric McGarvey Memorial night included Luke Hoffner of Turbotville, Fuzzy Fields of Brockport, Bill McMillen of St. Marys, Paul Kot of DuBois, and Tim Bish of Ringgold.
The IC Light Beer four-cylinders started the feature action this evening with George Bailey and McMillen starting on the front row of the 15-lap main. Bailey and McMillen dragged race to the lead on the first lap with McMillen holding a slight lead at the line. McMillen held the lead at the midway point with Don Henry, Bailey, Aaron Henry, and Mike Anderson rounding out the top five. Two late race cautions kept the field tightly bunched together, but it was McMillen holding off Bailey for his third win of the season, and with the win McMillen leaped past Alan Barnett for his second straight points crown. Don and Aaron Henry won the heats.
The scheduled 25-lap Brookville Wood Products limited late model was next on the racing surface with Bernie Whiteford and Jim Parson, Jr. leading the way. Whiteford took control at the drop of the green flag with Rodney Phillips close behind. A caution flew on lap 3 when Phillips’s car slowed in turn 3. On the restart, Hoffner looked to the low side of Whiteford for the lead, but Whiteford fended off the challenge. After a lap 7 caution, Hoffner once again looked under Whiteford for the lead, but this time Hoffner made it stick as he took over the top spot on lap 8. Hoffner started to stretch out his lead at the halfway point with Whiteford, Parson, Bob McMillen, and Dave Shagla, Jr. trying to keep things close. Lap14 saw Dwayne Brooks spins his car on the front stretch, bringing out the caution. During the caution, rain started to fall with the drivers continuing to run under caution. Conditions got a little worse as drivers complained of mud covering their visors. Officials decided that with the race over halfway finished, and conditions not getting any better, that the race would be called official with Hoffner picking up sixth win of the season and claiming his first points championship at the speedway, Hoffner, Chuck Kennedy, and Dave Shagla, Jr. copped the heats.
As the late models headed to the pits, and some fans starting to leave, the rain stopped and the Kronik Energy Drink street stocks were brought trackside to try to run the track back in. After 5 minutes of run in time it was back to racing action with Fields and Levi Ardery on the front row of the 20-lap feature. Fields got the early jump on the field with Ardery, Gary Little, Denny Fenton, and Bob Connor keeping things close. The top five got a way from the rest of the field and was closing on the rear of the field by lap 8. A rash of minor spins kept things close in the second half of the race. Late in the race, Little tried a number of moves to get by Fields, but Fields was up to the challenge as he went on to take his fourth win of the year. Connor’s four wins and consistent finishes garnered him his third straight points title. Fields, Ardery, and Denny Fenton won the heats.
The Miller Brothers Furniture/By The Room Furniture pure stocks were next on the racing surface with Bill Huntington and Kot showing the way to the green flag in the 15-lap race. Huntington got the early jump on the field with Kot, Toby Saline, and Matt Heindl keeping close tabs on the leader. Kot wasted little time as he dove to the inside of Huntington for the lead on lap 3. Kot was able to stretch out his lead as Heindl and Huntington ran side by side for second. Two late race cautions kept the field bunched close together, but in the end it was Kot pulling away for his speedway leading seventh win of the year, and his first career points crown. Kot and Huntington claimed the heat race wins. Bish and Ben Smith led the field of front wheel drive four-cylinders trackside for their 15-lap main. Bish grabbed the early lead and stretched his advantage as six cars battle two wide and three deep for position behind him. Bish held the lead halfway in with Tom Pavelco, Smith, Jerry Walls and Russ Walls trying to close the gap. A late race caution brought the field back to Bish, but Bish was able to hold off Jerry Walls at the start/finish line to take his first win at the speedway this season. Walls consistent finishes and four feature wins garnered him the first ever front wheel drive point’s crown. Bish, Smith, and Michael Stoltz won the heats.
SPEEDWAY NOTES: 92 cars were in the pits this evening including 23 limited lates, 19 street stocks, 10 four-cylinders, 17 pure stocks, and 23 fwd four-cylinders. Rick McGarvey presented the feature winners with their trophies in honor of his son Eric. The speedway now readies itself for the annual banquet to be held on November 11 at The Bellamauro Social Hall in Reynoldsville. For banquet tickets call the track office at 653-8400. For other information on speedway activities visit the track’s website at www.hummingbirdspeedway.com.
Results Brookville Wood Products Limited Late Models: 1. Luke Hoffner, Turbotville; 2. Bernie Whiteford, Hastings; 3. Jim Parson, Jr., Bellwood; 4. Bob McMillen, St. Marys; 5. Dave Shagla, Jr., Sugar Grove; 6. Tom Shaffer, Punxsutawney; 7. Chuck Kennedy, Brockway; 8. Scott Alvetro, Reynoldsville; 9. Chris Farrell, Clearfield; 10. Pete Alspaugh, Russell; 11. Todd Baumgardner, West Decatur; 12. Curtis Lias, Smicksburg; 13. Adam Nixon, Grampian; 14. Spencer Husted, West Decatur; 15. Tom Jobe, Covode; 16. John Chesnalavich, Jr., Reynoldsville; 17. Dwayne Brooks, Falls Creek; 18. Loren Sallack, Johnsonburg; 19. Rodney Phillips, Punxsutawney; 20. Bill Davis, DuBois; 21. Audie Geer, Reynoldsville; 22. Eddie Connor, DuBois; 23. Donnie Connor, Reynoldsville
Kronik Energy Drink Street Stocks: 1. Fuzzy Fields, Brockport; 2. Gary Little, Clearfield; 3. Levi Ardery, West Decatur; 4. Denny Fenton, Clearfield; 5. Jamie Price, Clearfield; 6. Joe Kot, DuBois; 7. Bob Rosman, Sykesville; 8. Eric Baun, Rossiter; 9. Bob Connor, DuBois; 10. Pernell Beimel, St. Marys; 11. Lee Stewart, Clarion; 12. Mark Clark, Lanse; 13. Mike Hummell, Clearfield; 14. Randy Reitz, Valier; 15. Emory Rinehart, Jr., Morrisdale; 16. Scott Fenton, Clearfield; 17. Kie Brown, Punxsutawney; 18. Mark Bell, New Bethlehem Dqed: Tom Slack (Light)
IC Light Beer Four-Cylinders: 1. Bill McMillen, St. Marys; 2. George Bailey, Clearfield; 3. Mike Anderson, State College; 4. Aaron Henry, Brockway; 5. Alan Barnett, Philipsburg; 6. Don Henry, DuBois; 7. Randy Albert, Morrisdale; 8. Scott McCartney, Grampian; 9. Bob Ralston, Jr., Philipsburg; 10. Brandon Weidow, Byrnedale
Miller Brothers Furniture/By The Room Furniture Pure Stocks: 1. Paul Kot, DuBois; 2. Bill Huntington, Big Run; 3. Toby Saline, Kersey; 4. John Barley, DuBois; 5. Scott Kline, Kersey; 6. Mike Van Zandt, Callsenburg; 7. Pete Mackie, St. Marys; 8. Matt Heindl, St. Marys; 9. Josh Keith, Kane; 10. Steve Barnes, Punxsutawney; 11. Donnie Hynd, Philipsburg; 12. Brian Molnar, Falls Creek; 13. Robin Welsh, Stump Creek; 14. Josh Lindenmuth, Brockport; 15. Jeff Krach, Falls Creek DQ’ed: Brian Rhed (Light) DNS: Billy Mumau
Front Wheel Drive Four-Cylinders: 1. Tim Bish, Ringgold; 2. Jerry Walls, Sykesville; 3. Russ Walls, DuBois; 4. Jimmy Haag, DuBois; 5. Michael Stoltz, DuBois; 6. Dustin Fields, Brockport; 7. Mark Segerberg, DuBois; 8. John Spellen, DuBois; 9. Mike Lucas, Pleasant Gap; 10. Brittany Bouch, Reynoldsville; 11. Henry Himes, Brockway; 12. Michael Reed, Knoxdale; 13. Scott Buffington, Big Run; 14. Dave Kohler, DuBois; 15. Chris Woodel, Brockport; 16. Freddii Lee, Punxsutawney; 17. Steven Bouch, Reynoldsville; 18. Chuck Himes, Brockway; 19. Katie Hetrick, DuBois; 20. Tom Pavelco, Cherry Tree; 21. Ben Smith, Penfield; 22. Travis Timko, DuBois DNS: Brain Buffington