Submitted by Robb Thomas, Race Reporter Hummingbird Speedway
Reynoldsville, PA (June 20, 2010) — With an early summer heat wave in full force, and showers and thunder storms popping up all across the region, the Hummingbird Speedway stayed the course and beat Mother Nature to finally record their second consecutive show of this season on Saturday night. A brief shower delayed the start of the evening, but once the track crew finished running in the track, it was full speed ahead for an action packed night of racing at the 1/3 mile bullring! Picking up the Fathers Day Special trophyies, which were sponsored by Horner Wildlife Taxidermy & Bait, were Alan Barnett in the 4 Cylinders, Dan Smeal in the Street Stocks, Cody “The Kid” Schultz in the Limited Late Models, Aaron Luzier in the FWD 4 Cylinders and Steven Arthurs earned his first feature win in the Pure Stocks.
The Rear Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders were up first with Paul Metz Jr. and Randy Albert leading the field to the green flag. Metz would take the early lead before Albert was able to slip by just before the caution flew for an incident involving Adam Nixon and Don Henry. Henry would drive away while Nixon was towed from the speedway with front end suspension damage. The restart found Albert gaining the advantage with Metz and Alan Barnett hot on his tail. As Albert began to put some distance between himself and the rest of the pack, disaster struck as the leader lost the handle exiting turn two and spun into the infield. Metz inherited the lead, but his run at the front was short lived as he encountered mechanical problems and entered the pit area, turning the lead over to Barnett. Barnett would withstand heavy pressure from Mike Anderson throughout the event, while Henry worked his way back to third after re-starting at the rear from his earlier incident. With the laps winding down, Anderson tried high and low to find a way around the leader, but Barnett held off all the charges in route to victory in the 15 lap feature event. Following Barnett across line were, Anderson, Henry, Albert and Bub Murarik. Heat races were won by Mike Anderson and Don Henry.
The Street Stocks were next on the track for their 20 lap feature, with two heavy hitters occupying the front row. Dan Smeal and Gary Little brought the field to the line with Smeal jumping into the early lead. Joe Kot would provide plenty of excitement tonight as he was chasing his third win in a row, but would have to come from deep in the pack to make it happen. Before one lap could be completed, it looked like Kot?s chances would be short lived, as Levi Ardery hit a tire marker and Kot was left with no where to go, as he ran into the back of Ardery. Kot was able to continue as Ardery took the long ride back to the pits. Pernell Beimel was also able to drive away after contacting the front stretch wall during his attempts to avoid the accident. The ensuing restart found Smeal taking off into the lead with Little, Bob Rosman, and Jim “Animal” Bloom fighting for second. Bloom would remove himself from the battle as he spun alone in what was becoming a very tricky turn two. With Smeal still in the lead, Little and Rosman continued their battle for second, as Kot had worked his way up to fourth and was beginning to reel in the top three. Kot got around Rosman for third and used the low line to gain the second position from Little coming out of turn four as Smeal took the white flag indicating one lap to go. Before the race could end, Joe Jordan spun in turn two and was hit hard by Chad Rougeux, both drivers were ok, but their cars were heavily damaged. The caution setup a two lap shoot out between Smeal and Kot, and the fans were buzzing as leaders took the green flag. Kot made his move in turn one on the start but was unable to make the pass. Kot wasn?t ready to settle for second, and made a charge through turns three in four in an attempt to gain some ground on Smeal, but Kot would lose the handle and spin during the charge. Smeal still wasn’t able to breath easy as the caution set up a green, white checkered finish with Little right back on his tail. Little took one last shot at Smeal as they entered turn one, but Smeal turned back the challenge and went on to earn his first victory of the year at Hummingbird. Kot, who restarted at the rear of the field made his way back to fourth at the finish but was penalized two spots for jumping the start. Following Smeal into the top five were, Little, Rosman, Ray Reynolds, and Bruce Hartzfeld. Heat race winners were Bob Rosman and Gary Little.
The Limited Late Models were up next with “Big” Rich Womeldorf and Cody “The Kid” Schultz on the front row. Womeldorf took the early lead before Schultz made his way around in turn four. Derek Rodkey provided some early excitement as he went around Bob McMillen and Womeldorf on the same lap to gain the second position. Schultz was beginning to put some distance between himself and Rodkey who had his hands full with McMillen. A quick caution for a displaced marker tire bunched up the field, and found Rodkey slowing on the front stretch ending his bid at top finish. Schultz took off on the restart as several drivers were swapping positions in the top five. McMillen, John Chesnalavich Jr., David Lyons, Eric Moore and Dwayne Brooks were putting on a show as they battled back and forth for a spot in the top five. As the race continued, McMillen and Chesnalavich began to reel in Schultz as the field continued to jockey for position behind them with Luke Hoffner and Donnie Connor added to the mix. With the laps winding down, McMillen and Chesnalavich were right on top of Schultz with McMillen making his bid for the lead. As Schultz took the white flag McMillen made his move entering turn one. McMillen got into the back of Schultz but in a great display of sportsmanship, he backed out of the throttle to keep from spinning the leader, but Schultz wasn’t out of the woods yet, as Chesnalavich used the opportunity to get by McMillen and pull even with Schultz down the backstretch. The pair raced side by side through turns three and four as the checkered flag was in the air. Schultz, Chesnalavich and McMillen were nearly three wide as they exited turn four, with Schultz squeaking out the victory by a narrow margin as McMillen slipped by Chesnalavich for second in one of the closest finishes in recent memory! Lyons and Brooks rounded out the top five after a spirited battle for the fourth position. Heat race victories went to Eric Moore and Luke Hoffner.
The Pure Stocks came to the track with a 19 car field, led by Kevin Clark and Steven Arthurs. Arthurs took off in to the early lead as Mike Calhoun and Matt Heindl quickly made their way in to the top three. While Calhoun and Heindl tried to keep Arthurs in their sites, thirteenth place starter Kyle Shannon was making his way to the front, breaking into the top five before the halfway point. The comfortable lead that Arthurs had gained began to evaporate as he entered lap traffic allowing Calhoun to gain some ground on him. Heindl had his hands full with Shannon as the pair raced for third while maneuvering through lapped traffic. Shannon finally pulled off the pass for third as the pair split a lapped car exiting turn two. At the front, Calhoun caught Arthurs and began to apply heavy pressure, pulling even with the leader on several occasions. A caution with two laps to go set up another exciting finish for the night. Arthurs gained the advantage on the restart, but Calhoun was right there to continue the challenge for the lead. Calhoun made one final charge on the white flag lap, but Arthurs was able to turn away the challenge as he would take the checkered flag, earning his first win in the Pure Stock division. Rounding out the top five were, Calhoun, Shannon, Ryan Hess, and Heindl. Matt Heindl, Steven Arthurs, and Kyle Shannon won the heat races.
The final event of the evening was the 12 lap Front Wheel Drive feature. The field was led to the green by Chad Desmett, and Lee Zalno. It took several attempts to get the feature started as numerous cautions plagued the field. Aaron Luzier who started fifth was sent to the rear for rough driving as the result of one of the cautions, but that wasn?t the last time he would be heard from as he charged through the field to the front. Zalno lead early with Jacob Kline hot on his tail. Shawn Fedder was making his way to the front from his thirteenth staring spot, but all eyes were on the #5L of Luzier as he was on a mission to get to the front of the field. Luzier would mount a furious charge to the front, overtaking the leader and never looking back as he went on to pick up the feature win after a hard charging performance. Rounding out the top five were S. Fedder, Zalno, Bryan Warren and Kline. The three heat races were won by Aaron Luzier, Shawn Fedder and Jacob Kline.
Pit notes: 76 cars were in the pits including 10 Rear Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders, 14 Street Stocks, 15 Limited Late Models, 19 Pure Stocks, and 18 Front Wheel Drives. Special thanks to Horner Wildlife Taxidermy & Bait for sponsoring the Fathers Day Special trophies! Next week at the track will be the Mid Season Point Championship, with double points in all divisions! Bring your friends and family for an action packed night of entertainment at the 1/3 mile bull ring, The Hummingbird Speedway.
Full Results:
Rear Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders:
1. Alan Barnett – Philipsburg
2. Mike Anderson – Dubois
3. Don Henry – Brockway
4. Randy Albert – Morrisdale
5. Bub Murarik – Philipsburg
6. Randy Coombs – Big Run
7. Paul Metz Jr. – Julian
8. Devin Lewis – Weedville
9. Tim Bailey – Morrisdale
10. Adam Nixon – Grampian
Street Stocks:
1. Dan Smeal – Houtzdale
2. Gary Little – Clearfield
3. Bob Rosman – Sykesville
4. Ray Reynolds – Fallen Timber
5. Bruce Hartzfeld – Stump Creek
6. Joe Kot – Dubois
7. Mark Clark – Lanse
8. Jim Bloom – Curwensville
9. Scott Winslow – Weedville
10. Joe Jordan – Woodland
11. Chad Rougeux – Grampian
12. Pernell Biemel – St. Marys
13. Paul Blake – Weedville
14. Levi Ardery – West Decatur
Limited Late Models:
1. Cody Schultz – Hyde
2. Bobby McMillen – St. Marys
3. John Chesnalavich – Reynoldsville
4. David Lyons – Corry
5. Dwayne Brooks – Falls Creek
6. Eric Moore – Frenchville
7. Luke Hoffner – Turbotville
8. Donnie Connor – Reynoldsville
9. John Reed – Reynoldsville
10. Rich Womeldorf – Apollo
11. Rick Maxim – Reynoldsville
12. Brian Molnar – Falls Creek
13. Bob Smith – Reynoldsville
14. Rob Molnar – Falls Creek
15. Derek Rodkey – Osceola Mills
Pure Stocks:
1. Steven Arthurs – Falls Creek
2. Mike Calhoun – Brockway
3. Kyle Shannon – Brockway
4. Ryan Hess – Frenchville
5. Matt Heindl – St. Marys
6. BJ Hudson – Clearfield
7. Dustin Challingsworth – St. Marys
8. John Munoz – Punxsutawney
9. Jim Challingsworth – St. Marys
10. Brian Boboige – Falls Creek
11. Dave Kohler – Stump Creek
12. Tim Gardner – Osceola Mills
13. Frank Mayhew – Clearfield
14. Justin Kanouff – Clearfield
15. Zach Gustafson – Weedville
16. Kevin Clark – Olanta
17. Jeremy Buck – Woodland
DNS: Roswell Babcock (Curwensville) and Jody Frantz (Dubois)
Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders:
1. Aaron Luzier – Clearfield
2. Shawn Fedder – Clearfield
3. Lee Zalno – Clearfield
4. Bryan Warren – Curwensville
5. Jacob Kline – Sykesville
6. Walt Fedder – Clearfield
7. Chad Desmett – Curwensville
8. Eric Luzier – Clearfield
9. Brian Crawford – Punxsutawney
10. Eric McCall – Grampian
11. Nathan Yeaney – Corsica
12. Bill Webber – Clearfield
13. Kie Brown – Punxsutawney
14. Rich Lucas – Wallaceton
15. Devin Yeaney – Corsica
16. Stephanie Lucas – Centre Hall
17. Dustin Kemp – Clearfield
