Reynoldsville, Pa. — Mother Nature tried to steal the show, but the Hummingbird Speedway forged ahead and completed the entire show on Fan Appreciation Night this past Saturday. The Hummingbird Speedway track crew worked diligently to prepare the track after a few showers hit the area before race time. Several drivers brought their cars out to help run in the track before the action started, and once again after a shower hit the speedway during the heat races. Fan Appreciation Night is a favorite of the fans and drivers alike, as the fans get to see the cars up close and meet their favorite drivers during the intermission. The scene was like Halloween in July, as fans strolled from driver to driver, shaking hands, getting an autograph, and receiving candy and other gifts from many of the drivers. After the autograph session, it was time for racing, a few small showers passed through but none were enough to put a damper on the action. Trophies for the night were sponsored and presented by Dave’s Kar Kare in St. Marys, and the second place finishers in each division were awarded trophies by the Bailey family in Memory of Caroline Bailey.
Kicking off the feature events were the Rear Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders with two time feature winners Aaron Henry and Adam Nixon leading the way for the Caroline Bailey Memorial. Henry and Nixon have put on some great shows in the divisions this year, and tonight was no exception as Henry took the early lead with Nixon looking high and low for a way around him. After several laps of chasing Henry, Nixon made his move using the low line to take the lead, and began to pull away. At the halfway point, it was Nixon leading the way, with Henry running second, while Alan Barnett, Mike Anderson, and Bill Washek battled for third. Henry found a line he liked and began to real in Nixon as the laps were winding down. With a handful of laps to go, Henry tried several moves to regain the lead, but was unsuccessful as Nixon held him off to pick up his third win of the season. Rounding out the top five were Barnett, Anderson and Washek. The winner and runner up received their trophies and were congratulated in victory lane by the family and friends of Caroline Bailey. Heat race wins went to Randy Albert, Adam Nixon, and Aaron Henry.
Eighteen Street Stocks answered the call for feature action and were led to the green flag by Mark Clark and Dom Surra who making his first appearance at the speedway this season. Surra would take the lead at the start and never look back as he turned back challenges on several restarts in the caution filled event to take the win. Orin Taylor provided pressure to Surra for most of the event before falling victim to mechanical problems late in the race. As Surra continued to dominate the event, all eyes were on thirteenth place started Gary Little who had worked his way up to second but was unable to mount a challenge for the lead as Surra captured the checkered flag in his first event of the season at the speedway. The top five at the line were Surra, Little, Jamie Price, Steve Cook, and Dan Smeal. Heat race wins were taken by Dan Smeal, Scott Hollopeter, and Bob Connor.
The Limited Late Models were next up on the track as Dwayne Brooks and Josh Young led the field at the start of the twenty-five lap event. It didn’t take long for the caution to wave as the field bunched up entering turn one, causing an eight car pileup. Several cars were able to pull away under their own power, while others had to be removed on the hook. After the dust settled, the field was re-aligned and saw Derrick Rodkey jump out to the lead on the restart. Rodkey would set the early pace as Brooks stayed right on his rear bumper. A caution just before the halfway point allowed Brooks to get the jump and take the lead away from Rodkey on the restart. Rodkey continued to pressure Brooks while having his own hands full fending of the challenges of Denny Fenton and Luke Hoffner. Brooks began to stretch his lead after a late race caution and held a comfortable lead at the finish, as he picked up his second win of the season. It was heartbreak for Rodkey who had a top three finish fall by the wayside as something broke on the car in turn three on the final lap. The top five as they crossed the strip were Brooks, Hoffner, Fenton, Bobby McMillen, and Rich Womeldorf.
The Pure Stocks were up next with Vaughn Kougher and Zach Gustafson on the front row. At the green flag, third place starter Bob Alcorn got the jump and took the lead in turns one and two with Bruce Hartzfeld and Kougher settling into second and third. Alcorn was feeling the pressure from Hartzfeld as Todd English and Jeremy Buck worked their way into the top five. Several cautions slowed the event as Alcorn continued to hold the lead. Just past the halfway mark, Buck was able to work his way into second place and began to challenge Alcorn at both ends of the speedway while the battle for third place was heating up with Hartzfeld, Matt Heindl, and Nathan Yeaney were each making a bid for the position. A late caution set up a two lap dash to the finish. Buck gave it everything he had on the final lap and was side by side with Alcorn at the stripe, but it was Alcorn taking the win by a nose in the exciting photo finish. As they crossed the line, the top five were, Alcorn, Buck, Hartzfeld, Heindl, Gustafson.
The Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders were the final event of the evening, with Kenny White and Chuck White leading the way from their front row starting spots. After several failed attempts at the start, Chuck White jumped out to the lead with Mitch Kohler, Josh Frantz, Stephanie Lucas and Kenny White all giving chase. A scary moment in the event occurred when Shawn Fedder lost a tire in turns three and four, causing his car to impact one of the barrier tires. After the impact, the car flipped onto its roof on the front stretch. After a few tense moments, Shawn emerged from the car unhurt. As racing action continued, C. White continued to lead the way while the rest of the field jockeyed for position. As the field took the checkered flag, it was Chuck White picking up his third win of the season, with Frantz, Kohler, Bryan Warren and S. Lucas rounding out the top five.
Pit Notes: 96 cars entered for competition including 17 Rear Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders, 19 Street Stocks, 16 Limited Late Models, 22 Pure Stocks, and 22 Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders. Next weeks racing action will feature all five divisions with trophies presented by RAM Septic Service. Come out and join us for an exciting night of racing on the 1/3 mile bullring at Hummingbird Speedway!
Complete Results:
Rear Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders:
1. Adam Nixon (Grampian)
2. Aaron Henry (Brockport)
3. Alan Barnett (Philipsburg)
4. Mike Anderson (DuBois)
5. Bill Washek (Clearfield)
6. Randy Albert (Morrisdale)
7. Paul Metz Jr. (Julian)
8. John Gilbert (Falls Creek)
9. #57
10. Don Henry (Brockway)
11. Devin Lewis (Weedville)
12. Mike Maines (Clearfield)
13. Mark Hummel (Osceola Mills)
14. Lester Hudson
15. George Bailey (Clearfield)
16. Scott McCartney
DNS. Eric Lucas
Street Stocks:
- Dom Surra (Kersey)
- Gary Little (Clearfield)
- Jamie Price (Hyde)
- Steve Cook (Sykesville)
- Dan Smeal (Houtzdale)
- Joe Kot (DuBois)
- Jim Bloom (Curwensville)
- Craig Bainey
- Robert Reinhart
- Mark Clark (Lanse)
- Bob Rosman (Sykesville)
- Orin Taylor (DuBois)
- Mike Hummel (Clearfield)
- Scott Winslow (Weedville)
- Bob Connor (DuBois)
- Scott Hollopeter (Reynoldsville)
- Neil Wilson Jr. (Clearfield)
- Pernell Beimel (St. Marys)
DNS: Mike Bailey (Osceola Mills)
Limited Late Models:
- Dwayne Brooks (Falls Creek)
- Luke Hoffner (Turbotville)
- Denny Fenton (Clearfield)
- Bob McMillen (St. Marys)
- Rich Womeldorf (Apollo)
- Cody Schultz (Hyde)
- Derrick Rodkey (Osceola Mills)
- Donnie Connor (Reynoldsville)
- Bruce Raybuck (Falls Creek)
- Bill Burns (Johnstown)
- Jim Parson Jr. (Bellwood)
- Brian Molnar (Falls Creek)
- Kyle Beimel (St. Marys)
- Josh Young (Berwick)
DNS: John Brady (Clearfield)
Pure Stocks:
- Bob Alcorn (St. Petersburg)
- Jeremy Buck (Woodland)
- Bruce Hartzfeld (Stump Creek)
- Matt Heindl (St. Marys)
- Zach Gustafson (Weedville)
- Mike Calhoun (Brockway)
- Nathan Yeaney (Brookville)
- Josh Fields (Brockport)
- Justin Kanouff (Clearfield)
- Travis Brady (Clearfield)
- John Barley (DuBois)
- Ryan Jones (Reynoldsville)
- Shawn Munoz (Punxsutawney)
- Vaughn Kougher (Reynoldsville)
- Brian Boboige (Falls Creek)
- Jeff Krach (Falls Creek)
- Chris Wolf (Johnstown)
- Fran Gustafson (Weedville)
- Steven Cook (Sykesville)
- Todd English (Clearfield)
- Don Hines (Philipsburg)
DNS: B.J. Hudson (Clearfield)
Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders:
- Chuck White (DuBois)
- Josh Frantz
- Mitch Kohler (Rockton)
- Bryan Warren (Curwensville)
- Stephanie Lucas (Centre Hall)
- Doug Surra (Kersey)
- Mike Lucas (Centre Hall)
- Aaron Luzier (Clearfield)
- Chuck Erskine (Clearfield)
- Dustin Kemp (Clearfield)
- Joe Nelson Sr. (DuBois)
- Rich Lucas (Wallaceton)
- Brian Fields (Brockport)
- Walt Fedder (Curwensville)
- Joe Jordan
- Dave Bainey (Osceola Mills)
- Shawn Fedder (Clearfield)
- Kenny White (Dubois)
- Brian Paulson
- Bill Butler (Sykesville)
- Joe Nelson (DuBois)
DNS: Bob Smay (Clearfield)
Robb Thomas
Race Reporter
Hummingbird Speedway