Reynoldsville, PA — Clear skies welcomed racers and fans at Hummingbird Speedway Saturday night for the final regular show of the season. Car counts were on the low side this week as several teams decided to chase some of the big money races in the area weekend, while others made the tow to Hummingbird to get one more night at the bullring in preparation of their upcoming specials. It was Emergency Services Personnel Night at the speedway with trophies sponsored and presented by the Friendship Volunteer Fire Company of Falls Creek. The members on the Falls Creek Fire Company are on hand at the speedway each week to provide fire, rescue and first aid services, and Saturday night they were recognized for their continued support of the speedway. The members of the fire company circled the speedway along with an Ambulance from DuBois EMS and received a nice round of applause from the crowd and racers in attendance. After the invocation by Dave Kosko, and the playing of the National Anthem, it was time to go racing!
The Rear Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders were up first with Adam Nixon and Mark Hummel occupying the front row. When the green flag flew it was Nixon jumping to out to the lead with point champion Mike Anderson settling in to second. Anderson would challenge Nixon several times during the event, but was unable to gain the advantage as he had his hands full with the third place car of Alan Barnett for much of the event. The driver on the move was tenth place starter George Bailey. Bailey worked both the high and low lines of the speedway on his way to front. As the laps wound down, Nixon began to stretch his lead as Anderson continued in second. Bailey made his way around Barnett for third and challenged Anderson for second, as Nixon took the checkered flag at the line. Nixon claimed his speedway leading sixth feature win of the season, with Anderson, Bailey, Barnett and Don Henry rounding out the top five. Heat race winners were Adam Nixon, and Mark Hummel.
The Street Stocks were short on cars but not short on excitement. Joe Kot jumped out to the lead at the start of the event with Levi Ardery giving chase in second. As Ardery threw everything he had at Kot, Steve Cook and “The Hurricane” Gary Little were locked in a battle for the third position. Little was running the high line again this week, but then dropped to the bottom of the speedway to take the third spot from Cook. Kot was beginning to open up a comfortable lead as Little began working on Ardery for the second position. Little found his way around Ardery and began to reel in Kot as the laps went by. A late caution erased the advantage that Kot had gained and put Little right on his bumper for the restart, as third place running Ardery pitted under caution. Kot and Little raced side by side before Little was able to pull off the winning pass while exiting turn two. Little took home his second consecutive victory with Kot, Cook, Scott Hollopeter and Sam McClellan rounding out the top five. The single heat was won by Gary Little.
The Limited Late Models came to the speedway next for their 25 lap feature. A nineteen car field was on hand as many of the track regulars skipped the specials in the area to get one more night on the bullring in anticipation of the upcoming specials. “Big” Rich Womeldorf took the initial lead from his front row starting spot with “The Turbotville Tornado” Luke Hoffner and Cody “The Kid” Schultz right behind him. Womeldorf led the first few circuits before getting crossed up a bit in turns three and four. The slight miscue by Womeldorf opened the door for Hoffner and Schultz as both got by “Big Rich” exiting turn four. Schultz challenged Hoffner throughout the event, pulling even with the leader on several occasions. The battle for third was heating up as Derrick Rodkey, Bill Davis and the returning John Chesnalavich were all vying for the position. As Hoffner and Schultz continued to fight for the lead, Eric Moore who was returning after a long absence was making his presence felt as he worked his way into the third position after starting ninth. Moore was able to run down the leaders and began to challenge Schultz for second, giving point champion Hoffner some breathing room as the Tornado touched down in victory lane for the fourth time this season. Schultz was able to hold off Moore for second with Rodkey and Chesnalavich rounding out the top five. Heat winners were Cody Schultz, Luke Hoffner and Rich Womeldorf.
The Pure Stocks were brought to the green flag by Todd English and Matt Heindl with English taking the lead at the start. English was challenged at each end of the speedway by Heindl as sixth place starter Steve Arthurs worked his way into third and began to challenge for second. The top three pulled away from the rest of the field as English continued to fend of the pressure of Heindl. Arthurs worked his way around Heindl for second with a handful laps left, but was unable to mount a challenge to English. English would take the checkered flag, picking up his first career feature win the pure stocks with Arthurs, Heindl, Jerry Walls and Jody Frantz rounding out the top five. English took his victory lap in a unique way as he drove around the track in reverse on his way to a very excited victory lane celebration. Heat race winners were: Todd English and Matt Heindl.
The Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders were up next to close out the show with Mike Lucas and Shawn Fedder leading the field to the green flag. Lucas would take the early lead before Fedder worked his way into the lead. Ben Smith and Chuck White tangled on the backstretch, while both were able to continue, the mishap removed both cars from the top five. As the laps wound down, Fedder continued to lead with Lucas and Kenny White applying pressure, but Fedder was too strong on this night, as he took the checkered flag to pick up his second win of the season. Rounding out the top five were Lucas, K. White, Bryan Warren and Stephanie Lucas. Heat wins were taken by Chuck White and Ben Smith.
Pit Notes: 65 cars signed in for competition including 14 RWD 4 Cylinders, 8 Street Stocks, 19 Limited Late Models, 12 Pure Stocks, and 12 FWD 4 Cylinders. A match race at intermission pitted pure stock driver Matt Heindl against RWD 4 Cylinder point champion Mike Anderson. Anderson took home the win in the match race. An added attraction at intermission was the head shaving event to benefit the Hahne Cancer Center. Throughout the season, donation votes have been taken and the highest vote earning speedway official would have their head shaved. The lucky winner in a run-a-way vote was track preparation manager Peach Caltagarone, who had his head shaved in front of the crowd by Betsy Boyle and Kristy Connor of Betsy Boyle Hair and Image Salon. Over $400 was raised for the Hahne Cancer Center. With all the regular shows in the books for the 2009 season, the speedway in making preparations for their upcoming specials. Next week, The Mick Orsich Memorial Late Model Open will be held with $2,000 going to the winner of the 35 lap event. A regular show for the Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, and both 4 cylinder classes will be on the card. A Chinese Auction will be held with all proceeds being donated to the Hahne Cancer Center. The Hummingbird Speedway is hoping to surpass $15,000 in donations to the Hahne Cancer Center over the past four years! General Admission is $15 and pit admission is $20. Fans and race teams are reminded about the change in starting times. Gates now open at 3:30pm with racing at 6pm. Make plans to join us for the Mick Orsich Memorial Late Model Open on the bullring at the Hummingbird Speedway. More information can be found at www.hummingbirdspeedway.com
Complete Results:
RWD 4 Cylinders
- Adam Nixon (Grampian)
- Mike Anderson (DuBois)
- George Bailey (Clearfield)
- Alan Barnett (Philipsburg)
- Don Henry (Brockway)
- Mark Hummel (Philipsburg)
- Randy Albert (Morrisdale)
- John Gilbert (Falls Creek)
- Tim Bailey (Morrisdale)
- Devin Lewis (Weedville)
- Mike Maines (Philipsburg)
- Matt Esbaugh (Grampian)
- Bobby Battaglia (Reynoldsville)
- Paul Metz Jr. (Julian)
Street Stocks:
- Gary Little (Clearfield)
- Joe Kot (DuBois)
- Steve Cook (Sykesville)
- Scott Hollopeter (Reynoldsville)
- Sam McClellan
- Paul Blake (Weedville)
- Levi Ardery (West Decatur)
- Steven Cook (Sykesville)
Limited Late Models:
- Luke Hoffner (Turbotville)
- Cody Schultz (Hyde)
- Eric Moore (Frenchville)
- Derrick Rodkey (Osceola Mills)
- John Chesnalavich (Reynoldsville)
- Bill Davis (DuBois)
- Dwayne Brooks (Falls Creek)
- Denny Fenton (Clearfield)
- Tommy Kroenwetter (St. Marys)
- Bob McMillen (St. Marys)
- Rich Womeldorf (Apollo)
- John Brady (Clearfield)
- Bill Krause (Fernwood)
- Brian Molnar (Falls Creek)
- Kyle Beimel (St. Marys)
- Bruce Raybuck (Falls Creek)
- Paul Kot (Brockway)
DNS: Jake Shady (Jersey Shore)
DNS: Bob Smith (Reynoldsville)
Pure Stocks:
- Todd English (Clearfield)
- Steve Arthurs (Falls Creek)
- Matt Heindl (St. Marys)
- Jerry Walls (DuBois)
- Jody Frantz (DuBois)
- Travis Brady (Clearfield)
- Justin Kanouff (Clearfield)
- Ryan Jones (Reynoldsville)
- Billy Mamau (Rossiter)
- Roswell Babcock (Curwensville)
- Donny Hinds (Philipsburg)
DNS: Jeff Krach (Falls Creek)
FWD 4 Cylinders:
- Shawn Fedder (Clearfield)
- Mike Lucas (Centre Hall)
- Kenny White (DuBois)
- Bryan Warren (Curwensville)
- Stephanie Lucas (Centre Hall)
- Rich Lucas (Wallaceton)
- Chuck White (DuBois)
- Brian Crawford (Punxsutawney)
- Dave Bainey (Osceola Mills)
- Travis Donahue (Elbon)
- Ben Smith (Penfield)
DNS: Aaron Luzier (Clearfield)
Robb Thomas
Race Reporter
Hummingbird Speedway