Submitted by Robb Thomas, Hummingbird Speedway
Nearly every race track in the country has a premier event each season. For the Hummingbird Speedway, that signature event is the annual Mick Orsich Memorial Late Model Open. A large crowd was on hand this past Saturday night to enjoy the beautiful weather and a great night of racing action in honor of one of the most influential men in the speedway’s history. As the night was dedicated to the memory of Mick, several special events were included during the evening. The Orsich Family presented all the feature winners with beautiful glass trophies in victory lane, and members of the Orsich family were also declared honorary starters and waved the green flag at the start of the feature events. A Chinese Auction was held with proceeds benefiting the Hahne Cancer Center in Dubois. Hollidaysburg’s Steve Everhart returned to Hummingbird Speedway and came out on top of a field of 40 Late Models by winning the $2,000 to win Late Model Open. Feature winners in the regular divisions included Fuzzy Fields of Brockport (Street Stock), Jeremy Buck of Woodland (Pure Stock), Adam Nixon of Grampian (4 Cylinder), and Danny White of Dubois (Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder). Before the racing action began, all ninety cars in the pit area were brought to the speedway to perform a 4 Wide Tribute Lap in honor Mick, while the fans stood and cheered in appreciation of the drivers salute.
First up for feature action were the Pure Stocks, with Steven Arthurs and Jeremy Buck leading the field to the green flag. The action was furious as Buck took the early lead with Arthurs all over his rear bumper. The #471 of Matt Heindl made his way into the mix, along with Kevin Clark in his black #11. An early caution jumbled up the line up as several cars pitted, and the restart saw Buck again take off into the lead with Heindl fending off heavy pressure from Clark for second. Another caution with a handful of laps remaining would setup what would become a very exciting finish as Buck and Heindl raced side by side for the remaining laps swapping the lead as well as a little bit of paint as they raced each other hard to the finish. On the final lap, the pair were side by side as the white flag flew with Buck gaining a slight advantage through turns one and two. Heindl wasn’t about to give up as he charged to the high side of turn three and was right beside Buck as the pair exited turn four. It was a drag race to the finish and the crowd was on their feet as Heindl brushed the outside wall on the front stretch just before the stripe, giving Buck a slim advantage as he brought home the victory! The top five at the finish were Buck, Heindl, Clark, Mike Calhoun, and Arthurs. Heat races were won by, Steven Arthurs and Jeremy Buck. The exciting finish in the Pure Stocks had the crowd all geared up and ready for more!
The 35 lap Mick Orsich Memorial Late Model Open was next up on the card, and the field lined up in a 4 wide parade lap in honor of Mick. Regional Super Late Model standouts Gregg Satterlee and last years winner Denton Boyer were on the front row and led the field to the green flag out of turn number four. Satterlee got the jump on the start and led the field down the front stretch, but the car failed to turn as he entered the first corner. Something broke on the #22 and sent Satterlee straight into the outside barrier, collecting Boyer on the way. Several cars got together in turn one as the field bunched up behind the crash resulting in minimal damage to all cars with the exception of Satterlee who took the long ride back to the pit area on the hook. The complete restart found track regular Eric Moore on the front row alongside Boyer. Moore took off into the lead before another caution for a multi car incident on the backstretch slowed the field once more. Several early cautions would slow the event, but Moore would pull away each time on the restart leaving the rest of the field in his dust. Moore was beginning to open up a sizable advantage as the field raced through a long green flag run. Behind the leader, the battle for second was intense as Boyer was fending off the challenges of Billy Dickson and Steve Everhart. Everhart was looking strong as he used the low side of the speedway to take third from Dickson and began to put heavy pressure on Boyer for second. The Double Zero Moore was beginning to enter lapped traffic when the caution waved once again erasing the large lead that he had built. The restart found Moore again rocketing out to the lead with Everhart getting by Boyer on the low side of turns three and four for second. It didn’t take long for Everhart to reel in Moore, and he again used the low side of turns three and four to make the pass for the lead. While Everhart began to put some distance between himself and Moore a few more drivers were beginning to make some noise as eight place starter Chris Farrell and sixteenth place starter Luke Hoffner were putting on a show on the top side of the speedway. Farrell was locked in a battle with Jake Shady for fourth while Hoffner was wrestling with Denny Fenton for a spot in the top ten. At the front of the pack, Moore had begun to run down Everhart as the leader was working lapped traffic and made a bid for the lead on the low side of turns three and four just before the caution flew for a spin in turn one that happened right in front of the leaders. With a clear track in front of him, Everhart began to distance himself from the pack once again, as with Moore and Boyer giving chase. Farrell made his way around Shady and began to challenge Boyer for third. Hoffner was fast on the top side, and had worked his way in to the top five as Everhart’s lead continued to grow. Everhart was checking out on the field as the laps wound down. Boyer found himself trapped on the outside line of the speedway and fell back quickly before taking the #56 to the pits ending his hopes of a repeat win. Everhart was just about to take the two laps to go signal when the yellow flew for a crash in turns one and two. The restart would setup a three lap shoot out with Everhart leading a trio of Hummingbird regulars, Moore, Farrell and Hoffner to the green. Moore got a great run down the back stretch and stuck his nose under Everhart in turn three, but was unable to complete the pass for the lead. Farrell who was third on the restart jumped to the high side of the speedway and took second from Moore as the field took the two laps to go sign. Farrell ran the high line and made up several car lengths on Everhart as the field came to the white flag. Farrell had the momentum on his side and charged hard into turn one as Everhart dove to the bottom. The pair were side by side as they exited turn two with Everhart gaining a slight advantage down the back chute. Farrell made one last charge on the high side in turns three and four and pulled even with Everhart as the pair exited turn four. The fans were on their feet once again as the pair raced to the checkered flag with Everhart fending off the hard charging Farrell at the line to pick up the $2,000 victory! This was Everhart’s second big win at Hummingbird as he picked up the Chili 100 victory last season. Following Everhart across the line were, Farrell, Moore, Hoffner and Dwayne Brooks. Heat race winners for the 40 late models were, Gregg Satterlee, Steve Everhart, Denton Boyer, Chuck Kennedy, and Eric Moore. Luke Hoffner and John Myers won the Twin B-Mains and Gregg Satterlee won the Community First Dash For Cash.
The Street Stocks were led to the green flag by Fuzzy Fields and point champion Joe Kot. Fields would lead all 20 laps in route to the feature win. The battle was for second as Kot raced hard in the early stages with Gary Little before Little spun himself out of the top five. Fields had the field covered as Kot had his hands full fending off the challenges of Jamie Price and Eric Baun, while Paul Blake was quietly working his way into the top five. As the laps wound down, Field continued to dominate with Kot and Baun putting on a great show for second. Blake used the low side of the speedway to take the fourth spot from Price as the field took the white flag. At the checkered it was all Fields with Kot holding on to second, and Baun, Blake and Price rounding out the top five. Fuzzy Fields and Joe Kot won the dual heat races.
Adam Nixon took the lead at the start of the Rear Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder feature and led every lap on his way to victory lane. Devin Lewis and Tim Bailey rounded out the finishing order on the night. Adam Nixon won the lone heat race.
Danny White took the lead on the start of the Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder feature, and led every lap, but it wasn’t an easy victory as he had his hands full all race long with challenges from Stephanie Lucas and Aaron Luzier. The top three put on a thrilling battle throughout the 12 lap feature with White picking up the victory as Lucas and Luzier traded paint on the final lap in their battle for second. Following White across the line were, Lucas, Luzier, Jacob Kline and Bob Pease. Heat race winners were Stephanie Lucas and Danny White.
Notes: 90 cars filled the pit area including 40 Late Models, 16 Street Stocks, 15 Pure Stocks, 16 Front Wheel Drives, and 3 Four Cylinders. The Late Model field represented a good mix of Steel Block Limited Lates and Super Lates, with competitors coming from several regional tracks including, Hummingbird, Thunder Mountain, Marion Center, Clinton County, Dog Hollow, and Hagerstown. There will be no racing at the track the next two weeks. The next event will be October 9th as Chili Promotions will present the 11th Annual Chili 100. On the card will be the Chili 100 $3,000 to win 100 lap Late Model Event, along with a 50 lap, $1,000 to win Street Stock event, and the Pure Stocks and Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders each competing in 25 lap, $250 to win events. Gates will open for the Chili 100 at 12pm with racing scheduled to start at 4pm. General Admission will be $15 for adults, $7 for students, and children under 12 Free. Pit admission will be $30. More information including payouts and rules for the Chili 100 can be found at the Hummingbird Speedway website. Join us as we team up with Chili Promotions to present the 11th Annual Chili 100 Sue Mathews Memorial!Â
Full Results:
Mick Orsich Memorial Late Model Open:
1. Steve Everhart – Hollidaysburg
2. Chris Farrell – Clearfield
3. Eric Moore – Frenchville
4. Luke Hoffner – Turbotville
5. Dwayne Brooks – Falls Creek
6. Chuck Kennedy – Brockway
7. Denny Fenton – Clearfield
8. Josh Kennelley – Blanchard
9. Billy Eash – Johnstown
10. Jerry Redden – Mahaffey
11. John Chesnalavich Jr. – Reynoldsville
12. Denny Draisma – Reynoldsville
13. Sammy Stile – Charleroi
14. Jake Shady – Beech Creek
15. Bernie Whiteford – Hastings
16. Denton Boyer – Punxsutawney
17. Wes Bonebrake – Hagerstown, Md
18. Josh Young – Berwick
19. John Reed – Reynoldsville
20. Tommy Shaffer – Punxsutawney
21. Jim Kurpakus – Leechburg
22. Gregg Satterlee – Rochester Mills
23. Cody Schultz – Hyde
24. Bobby McMillen – St. Marys
DQ (Light) Billy Dickson – West Decatur
DNS: John Myers – Blairsville
Did Not Qualify- Ray Farrell (Clearfield), Bill Davis (Dubois), Cheyenne Reed (Punxsutawney), Terry Rayko (Atwood), Dave Balzavich (Marion Center), Bobby Stokes (Milton), Todd Sallack (Luthersburg), Nick Reges (Butler), Tom Decker Jr. (Bellwood), Jeff Weakland (Hastings), Chris Clark (Curwensville), Danny Kienitz (Clearfield), Roswell Babcock (Curwensville), John Poling III (Punxsutawney)
Pure Stocks:
1. Jeremy Buck – Woodland
2. Matt Heindl – St. Marys
3. Kevin Clark – Olanta
4. Mike Calhoun – Falls Creek
5. Steven Arthurs – Falls Creek
6. Ryan Jones – Clearfield
7. Shawn Lindemuth – Hazen
8. Jim Challingsworth – St. Marys
9. Robin Welch – Stump Creek
10. Ryan Weakland – Hastings
11. Jeff Krach – Falls Creek
12. Shawn Munoz -Punxsutawney
13. Dustin Challingsworth – St. Marys
DNS: Zeb Zinzella (Rossiter), Brian Paulson
Street Stock:
1. Fuzzy Fields – Brockport
2. Joe Kot – Dubois
3. Eric Baun – Rossiter
4. Paul Blake – Weedville
5. Jamie Price – Clearfield
6. Brandon Connor – Dubois
7. Nathan Yeaney – Corsica
8. Craig Bainey – Morrisdale
9. Todd Mathews – Sanborn
10. Ron Lindenpitz – Knox Dale
11. Dan Gill – Clearfield
12. Steve Barnes – Punxsutawney
13. Jonny Lindenpitz – Knox Dale
14. Gary Little – Clearfield
15. Joe Jordan – Woodland
DNS: Bill Phillips Jr.
Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder:
1. Danny White – Dubois
2. Stephanie Lucas – Centre Hall
3. Aaron Luzier – Clearfield
4. Jacob Kline – Sykesville
5. Bob Pease –
6. Eric Luzier – Clearfield
7. Bryan Warren – Curwensville
8. #37
9. Todd Fedder – Clearfield
10. Sabrina Lockwood –
11. Mike Pennington – Clearfield
12. Shawn Fedder – Clearfield
13. Jody Frantz – Dubois
14. #07
DNS: Dustin Kemp, Sam Fye, #56
4 Cylinder:
1. Adam Nixon – Grampian
2. Devin Lewis – Weedville
3. Tim Bailey – Morrisdale
