Maxim, Kot, Calhoun, and Fedder Take Home Opening Night Victories
Falls Creek, PA (April 30, 2011) – The Hummingbird Speedway kicked off the 2011 racing season on Saturday night with an exciting night of racing that had the fans on their feet. After three straight weeks of rain outs, the pits were opened early for teams to have their cars inspected for safety and rule compliance, and an extra hot lap session was provided for the drivers to shake off some of the winter rust. Opening night victories went to Rick Maxim of Reynoldsville in the Limited Late Models, Joe Kot of DuBois in the Street Stocks, Mike Calhoun of Brockway in the Pure Stocks, and Shawn Fedder of Clearfield in the Front-Wheel Drive 4-Cylinders. While there was no rain in site, the heavy rains from earlier in the week provided a heavy but choppy racing surface. After a long off season, the fans were ready for some high speed racing excitement, and they didn’t leave disappointed.
On the track first were the Pure Stocks with Matt Heindl and Zach Gustafson leading the way to the first green flag of the 2011 season. Heindl took the early lead as Gustafson settled in to the second position. Mike Calhoun, Dave Kohler, and Jim Challingsworth were locked in a three-way battle for the third position as Gustafson applied steady pressure to Heindl at the front of the pack. Heindl was beginning to encounter lapped traffic just past the halfway point, allowing Gustafson and Calhoun to make up some distance on the leader. Calhoun was using the lapped traffic to his advantage as he snuck by Gustafson on the low side to take the second spot, and then set his sights on Heindl as the laps were winding down. Kohler and Challingsworth continued their battle for fourth as the pair raced side by side for several laps exchanging the position numerous times. Up front, the leaders were racing each other hard as they worked their way through the lapped traffic. Heindl slid high in turns three and four as he tried to clear the slower traffic, and opened up the bottom side of the speedway for Calhoun to sneak by into the lead as the field took the two laps to go sign. It wasn’t clear sailing for Calhoun as Heindl battled back and was applying heavy pressure during the closing laps, with Gustafson right on his bumper in third. At the finish it was Calhoun holding of the challenges to take the win by a car length over Heindl with Gustafson Challingsworth and Steven Arthurs rounding out the top five. Heat race wins went to Dave Kohler and Mike Calhoun.
The always exciting Street Stocks were up next with Rick Hemphill and Paul Blake on the front row. Joe Kot got a great start and drove from his fourth place starting spot into the lead as the field exited turn two. While Kot would lead every circuit on his way to the win, the battle for second was intense as several drivers laid claim to spot at one point or another during the race. As the laps wore on, Blake found himself challenged by Bruce Hartzfeld and Dan Smeal as the three swapped the second position several times. Kot would pull away from the field on several restarts, while the battle for second continued. Smeal wrestled the second position away from Hartzfeld on the low side of turn two and began to close the gap between himself and Kot. The track was beginning to develop several ruts and dips in the turns and Smeal would bobble in the rough stuff allowing Hartzfeld to regain the second position briefly. Fuzzy Fields worked his way into the top five and was locked in a battle for fourth with Blake before Blake spun in turns one and two. The caution wiped out the lead that Kot had built up and put Smeal right on his back bumper for the restart. Kot once again pulled away as Hartzfeld snuck by Smeal for second. Kot would lead the final circuits to take the win as Smeal and Hartzfeld raced hard for second with Smeal taking the spot in turn four just before finish. The top five at the line were Kot, Smeal, Hartzfeld, Fields and Eric Baun. Heat race winners were Dan Smeal and Jamie Price.
The Limited Late Models were led to the green flag by Rick Maxim and Denny Fenton. Fenton got the jump on the start and led the field in to turn one, only to slide high allowing Maxim an open line on the bottom to take the lead away as the pair exited turn two. Dwayne Brooks threw his hat into the mix quickly and began to challenge Fenton for the second position in the early stages of the event. Luke Hoffner was running the extreme high line as he worked his way around Brooks and Fenton to take the second position and began to run down Maxim. From that point on, Hoffner would apply heavy pressure to Maxim throughout the event, with Maxim turning back the challenges at both ends of the speedway. Fenton and Brooks got together in turn three with Fenton restarting at the rear of the field after pitting to repair some minor damage. At the front of the pack Hoffner continued to pressure Maxim. Hoffner was searching high and low for a line on the speedway as he ran above the ruts, below the ruts, and at times right through the ruts. Through it all, Maxim continued to hold his ground at the front of the pack. Brooks was locked in a heated battle for third with John Chesnalavich Jr. while Bruce Raybuck had his hands full with Fenton in a fight for fifth after Fenton worked his back through the field. Several late cautions slowed the field and the fans were just waiting for the veteran Hoffner to pull something out his hat in the late stages. A restart with five laps to go saw Maxim again shoot into the lead with Hoffner challenging on the high side once again. Hoffner was using every inch of the speedway in his attempt to rattle Maxim into making a mistake, but Maxim was holding strong. Hoffner charged hard into turn three and was side by side with Maxim as the pair took the white flag. The duo raced side by side the entire final lap with Hoffner edging his way underneath Maxim in turns one and two. Hoffner held a slim advantage entering turn three as Maxim charged hard on the top side. It was a drag race to the finish as Maxim powered off the top side of turn four, drawing even with Hoffner on the front chute and taking the win by a slim margin at the line in an exciting finish that had the fans on their feet! The top five at the finish were Maxim, Hoffner, Brooks, Fenton and Terry Rayko. Heat race winners were Luke Hoffner, Dwayne Brooks and John Chesnalavich Jr.
The Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders were the final feature of the evening. The 4 cylinders typically provide some of the closest and most action packed racing of the night, and the division didn’t disappoint tonight. Jacob Kline took the lead on the initial start before a quick caution would reset the field for a complete restart. On the second start, Aaron Luzier jumped out to the lead only to be penalized on the ensuing caution for the jumping the start. Kline would take the lead on the next restart with Mike Lucas, Josh Frantz, Lee Zalno and Shawn Fedder all battling for second. Fedder wasted no time in finding the top side of the speedway to his liking and quickly took the lead, passing Frantz and Kline in turn four. Fedder would go unchallenged the remainder of the event to pick up the win while Kline, Frantz, Lucas, and Luzier raced fast and furious for the second position. At the line it was Fedder picking up the in with Frantz holding on for second after contact with third place finisher Kline at the stripe. Lucas and Luzier rounded out the top five. Heat race winners were Danny White, Shawn Fedder, and Mike Lucas.
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Notes: 71 teams were on hand for opening night including 19 Limited Late Models, 17 Street Stocks, 14 Pure Stocks, and 21 Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders. The Hummingbird Speedway will be back in action next Saturday night with a regular 4 division show. For more information, visit us on the web at www.hummingbirdspeedway.com.
Full Results:
Pure Stocks:
1. Mike Calhoun
2. Matt Heindl
3. Zach Gustafson
4. Dave Kohler
5. Steven Arthurs
6. Dustin Challingsworth
7. Brandon Hickson
8. Jim Challingsworth
9. Shawn Munoz
10. Don Henry
11. Jeremy Buck
12. Jeremy Paulson
13. Bobby Sigel
DNS: Ryan Hess
Street Stock:
1. Joe Kot
2. Dan Smeal
3. Bruce Hartzfeld
4. Fuzzy Fields
5. Eric Baun
6. Jonny Lindenpitz
7. Jamie Price
8. Eddie Connor
9. Brian Rhed
10. Alan English
11. Paul Blake
12. Brandon Connor
13. Jeff Taylor
14. Ryan Jones
15. Tim Fannin
16. Tom Slack
17. Rick Hemphill
Limited Late Model:
1. Rick Maxim
2. Luke Hoffner
3. Dwayne Brooks
4. Denny Fenton
5. Terry Rayko
6. Bruce Raybuck
7. Bobby McMillen
8. Kyle Beimel
9. Rich Womeldorf
10. John Chesnalavich Jr.
11. Roswell Babcock
12. Todd English
13. Joe Malobicky
14. Brian Molnar
15. Derek Rodkey
16. Mervin Killion
17. Shawn Hadden
18. Tim Steis
DNS: Jake Shady
FWD 4 Cylinder:
1. Shawn Fedder
2. Josh Frantz
3. Jacob Kline
4. Mike Lucas
5. Aaron Luzier
6. Joe McCracken
7. Doug Surra
8. Joe Huffman Jr.
9. Mike Fields
10. Josh Lindemuth
11. Cody Barrett
12. Lee Zalno
13. Bill Butler
14. Bryan Warren
15. Sam Fye
16. Jim Frantz
17. Danny White
18. Sean Gearhart
19. Walt Fedder
DNS: Chad Desmett, Sara Bundy