Submitted by Robb Thomas
Reynoldsville, Pa (July 31, 2010) — As has become the norm this season, it was a battle of wills between the Hummingbird Speedway and Mother Nature. Once again, showers were in the forecast, but on this night, weather would not play a factor in the racing action. While a few rain drops did fall during the night, it was not enough to dampen the spirits of the fans and race teams on this special evening. It was Fan Appreciation Night at the Hummingbird Speedway, and this annual event has become a favorite of the fans as well as the race teams, which was evident by the large crowd and the full pit area. On Fan Appreciation Night, the race teams bring their hot rods on to the track during intermission for a meet and greet session with all the fans. The night has been compared to Halloween as the race teams bring treats and goodies to show their appreciation for the fans that show up each week to watch them race. Candy, drinks, stickers, autograph cards, and many other treats were passed out by the race teams, who filled the racing surface for the. The #22J Street Stock team of Joe Jordan brought two new bikes to give away, and “Big” Rich Womeldorf had an autographed door panel from his #2R Limited Late Model for a lucky fan who had the closest guess in the “Guess Big Rich’s Weight Contest.” A fun time was had by all as the fans mingled with their favorite drivers and got an up close look at the race cars. After the Fan Appreciation intermission, it was time to go racing!
The Pure Stocks kicked off the nights feature events with Jeremy Buck and Mike Calhoun leading the field to the green flag. Calhoun jumped out to the lead as Matt Heindl and Kyle Shannon quickly worked their way into the second and third positions. While the front three began to pull away from the pack, Steven Arthurs and Dave Kohler were locked in a tight battle for fourth. A flat tire would sent Arthurs to the pits, and a late spin by Kohler would take him out of contention for a top five finish. At the front, it was all Calhoun, as he continued to fend off heavy pressure from Heindl and Shannon all around the 1/3 mile bullring. As the laps wore down, Shannon began to pressure Heindl for second, giving a little bit of breathing room to Calhoun who would go on to win his first feature event at Hummingbird. Rounding out the top five were Heindl, Shannon, Ryan Hess, and Justin Kanouff. Heat race winners were: Shawn Munoz, Kyle Shannon, and Matt Heindl.
“The Dominator” Dom Surra and Fuzzy Fields lead the field of Street Stocks for their feature event. Fields would slide high in turn one, allowing Surra and Brian Rhed to sneak by on the inside. Before the first lap could be completed, Fields would get turned around in turn four bringing out the caution. Surra would take the lead on the restart, and it was a lead that he would never relinquish, as he would “dominate” every lap on his way to victory lane. Several cautions slowed the event, allowing drivers numerous chances to advance positions with the double file restarts. While Surra had a stronghold on the lead, second place was up for grabs as Jamie Price powered his way around Rhed to take the position. It wasn’t long before twelfth place starter Joe Kot made his presence known and worked his way into the top five. Within one lap, Kot was able to secure the third position from Bob Rosman, and the second position from Price. Once in second, Kot set his sights on Surra and began to run down the leader. Surra showed his strength by pulling away from Kot on the restarts and was never challenged as he drove the # T-3 to his first win of the season at Hummingbird. Following Surra across the line were, Kot, Price, Rosman and Fields. Heat race winners were: Brian Rhed, Dan Smeal, and Dom Surra.
The Limited Late Models were led to the green by “Big” John Reed and “The Bounty Hunter” Bob McMillen. McMillen would take the early lead and began to distance himself from the rest of the field, before the first of several cautions flew, erasing the lead that McMillen had opened up. Jake “The Snake” Shady made a run at McMillen on the restart by was unable to wrestle the lead away from the Bounty Hunter. Another caution slowed the pace and allowed everyone to regroup. On the restart, the fans had their eyes to the skies, as “The Turbotville Tornado” Luke Hoffner was beginning to challenge Shady for second. Hoffner quickly made his way around Shady for second and began to hound McMillen for the lead. With McMillen on the low side, and Hoffner on the high side, the pair raced side by side for several laps before Hoffner was able to grab the lead as the pair exited turn four. While Hoffner and McMillen were thrilling the crowd at the front of the pack, Eric Moore and Dwayne Brooks were putting on some moves as the battled their way into the top five after starting deep in the pack. With the laps winding down, Hoffner began to stretch his lead as Shady mounted a challenge to McMillen for second. For the third time this season “The Tornado” touched down in victory lane as Hoffner drove away from the pack to pick up the victory. McMillen, Shady, Brooks, and Moore rounded out the top five at the line. Heat race winners were: Cody Schultz, Jake Shady, and Luke Hoffner.
The Rear Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders were up next with George Bailey and Paul Metz Jr. on the front row. Bailey jumped out to the early lead as Alan Barnett and Adam Nixon settled in to second and third with Kyle Parson running fourth. A quick caution slowed the field and on the restart, Nixon’s car didn’t take off, allowing Barnett to get by for second. Barnett would be the first to challenge Bailey, briefly taking the lead before spinning in turn two. Devin Lewis and Randy Albert now occupied the second and third positions as Bailey continued to lead the event. The restart once again found Bailey pulling out to the lead, but a new challenger was lurking not far behind. Mike Anderson had worked his way from thirteenth to the top five and began to pick up positions each lap. After making his way around Lewis for second, Anderson quickly drew a bead on Bailey and made the pass for the lead as the pair raced out of turn four. On the restart, Anderson began to pull away as Nixon was making his way back to the front, taking the third position from Lewis, and then second from Bailey. Bailey would lose the handle in turn three, spinning into the infield and ending his run for the night. With the laps winding down, several cautions slowed the feature. Each restart would see Anderson fending off the challenges of Nixon as the pair raced nose to tail around the bullring. As the checkered flag flew it was Anderson holding on to claim the victory with Nixon, Lewis, Tim Bailey, and Barnett rounding out the top five. Heat race winners were: Adam Nixon, and Kyle Parson.
They always say they save the best for the last. On this night, that was very true. The always entertaining Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder class was up last, and what a race it was. The race started with a large tangle on the front stretch that involved nearly half the field. After re-aligning the field, Stephanie Lucas took the early lead with Ben Smith giving chase. Smith would take the lead from Lucas as the pair raced side by side out of turn two. Thirteenth place starter Doug Surra was showing his strength as he worked into the top five by the halfway point of the race. Surra would gain two positions with a thrilling move on a restart, and began to chase down Smith. Surra caught Smith with a hand full of laps remaining and the pair began to race side by side for the lead. A late caution temporarily put the battle on hold, but the pair picked up right where they left off when the green flag flew again. Surra held the lead by a nose as the pair were side by side with two laps to go. Smith wasn’t about to go away quietly. As the leaders took the white flag they were still side by side. There was contact entering turn one as Smith took the lead, but it would be short lived as Surra drove in hard into turn three where there was contact again. Both cars got out of shape, and Shawn Fedder attempted to thread the needle as the leaders tried to gather things up. As they exited turn four towards the checkered flag, Surra and Smith were still door handle to door handle with Fedder right there in the mix. At the line it was Surra picking up the win in the exciting feature event with Smith, Fedder, Lucas and Aaron Luzier rounding out the top five. Heat winners were Ben Smith, Lee Zalno, and Eric Luzier.
Notes: 99 race teams filled the pits including 20 Pure Stocks, 24 Street Stocks, 20 Limited Late Models, 14 Rear Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders, and 21 Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders. Trophies for the winning drivers were presented by the Bailey Family in memory of Caroline Bailey. Several things will be going on at the speedway in the month of August, as we begin our fund raisers for the Hahne Cancer Center. More information on the fund raising activities can be found on the web site at www.hummingbirdspeedway.com Next week at the speedway will be a regular 5 division show. Join us next week for an exciting night of short track racing action at the 1/3 mile bullring, The Hummingbird Speedway!
Full Results:
Pure Stock:
1. Mike Calhoun – Brockway
2. Matt Heindl – St. Marys
3. Kyle Shannon – Brockway
4. Ryan Hess – Frenchville
5. Justin Kanouff – Clearfield
6. Mike Van Zandt – St. Petersburg
7. Dave Kohler – Stump Creek
8. Jeff Krach – Falls Creek
9. Dustin Challingsworth – St. Marys
10. Jeremy Buck – Woodland
11. Steven Arthurs – Falls Creek
12. Frank Mayhew – Clearfield
13. Jim Challingsworth – St. Marys
14. Fran Gustafson – Weedville
15. Shawn Munoz – Punxsutawney
16. Roswell Babcock – Curwensville
17. DJ Leitzinger – Kingsport, Tennessee
18. Mike Miller – Dubois
DNS: Steve Scaife – Philipsburg
Street Stock:
1. Dom Surra – St. Marys
2. Joe Kot – Dubois
3. Jamie Price – Clearfield
4. Bob Rosman – Sykesville
5. Fuzzy Fields – Brockport
6. Brian Rhed – Brockport
7. Gary Little – Clearfield
8. Dan Smeal – Houtzdale
9. Jonny Lindenpitz – Knoxdale
10. Bob Ralston – Philipsburg
11. Paul Blake – Weedville
12. Zach Gustafson – Weedville
13. Pernell Beimel – St. Marys
14. Joe Jordan – Woodland
15. Brandon Connor – Dubois
16. Mark Clark – Lanse
17. Scott Winslow – Weedville
18. Chad Rougeux – Grampian
19. Orin Taylor – Dubois
20. AJ Myers – Mayport
21. Tim Sties – St. Marys
22. Ray Reynolds – Fallen Timber
DNS: Jim Bloom – Curwensville
Limited Late Model:
1. Luke Hoffner – Turbotville
2. Bob McMillen – St. Marys
3. Jake Shady – Beech Creek
4. Dwayne Brooks – Falls Creek
5. Eric Moore – Frenchville
6. Cody Schultz – Hyde
7. John Reed – Reynoldsville
8. Rich Womeldorf – Apollo
9. Jason Witherite – Luthersburg
10. Denny Draisma – Reynoldsville
11. Brian Molnar – Falls Creek
12. Paul Kot – Dubois
13. Mike Evock – Fort Bragg, North Carolina
14. Rob Molnar – Reynoldsville
15. Jeff Mease – Clearfield
16. Loren Salleck –
17. Kyle Beimel – St. Marys
18. John Chesnalavich Jr. – Reynoldsville
19. Todd Salleck –
20. Josh Young – Berwick
RWD 4 Cylinder:
1. Mike Anderson – Dubois
2. Adam Nixon – Grampian
3. Devin Lewis – Weedville
4. Tim Bailey – Morrisdale
5. Alan Barnett – Philipsburg
6. Bub Murarik – Philipsburg
7. Paul Metz Jr. – Julian
8. Eric Lucas – Clearfield
9. George Bailey – Clearfield
10. Kyle Parson – McClure
11. Randy Albert – Morrisdale
12. Don Henry – Brockway
13. Frank Wilson – McClure
DNS: Scott McCartney – McClure
FWD 4 Cylinder:
1. Doug Surra – Kersey
2. Ben Smith – Penfield
3. Shawn Fedder – Clearfield
4. Stephanie Lucas – Centre Hall
5. Aaron Luzier – Clearfield
6. Lee Zalno – Clearfield
7. Jacob Kline – Sykesville
8. Walt Fedder – Clearfield
9. Eric Luzier – Clearfield
10. Kie Brown – Punxsutawney
11. Rich Lucas – Wallaceton
12. Rusty Murray
13. Eric McCall – Grampian
14. Sean Gearhart – Falls Creek
15. Danny White – Dubois
16. Bryan Warren – Curwensville
17. Dustin Kemp – Clearfield
DNS: Chad Desmett, Josh Frantz
