Submitted by Randy Albert
Gustafson takes his first win while Hoffner, Gearhart, and Lucas notch repeat wins
As the 2011 season works it’s way into August a new winner emerged in the Pure Stock class in Zack Gustafson from Weedville. This was his first win at Hummingbird. The familiar names of Luke Hoffner, Colton Gearhart, and Mike Lucas took the checkered flag for repeat wins this season in the Limited Late Model, Street Stock, and Front Wheel Drive Four Cylinder classes respectively.
A great crowd turned out for “Fan Appreciation Night” with fans young and old getting to put their feet in the clay and candy and prizes in their bags while meeting and getting autographs from the drivers on the track. Some very competitive racing also gave them enjoyment and excitement from the stands with tight racing in all four classes. The racing seems to be getting better and better each week.
After last week’s wild ride Bob McMillen from St Mary’s piloting the 50 car qualified for the pole position in the Limited Late Model feature event. It was quickly three wide as Bill Davis in the 3D from Luthersburg went outside McMillen and the 15 car of Luke Hoffner from Turbotville went low. Not far behind was Eric Moore from Frenchville in the black 00 car that started behind Davis. Hoffner jumped to the lead but a caution on lap 3 reset the field with Davis out front followed by Hoffner and McMillen. Davis dropped low to protect that line. This opened the door for Hoffner on the high side and leaving racing room for Hoffner is never a good idea. Hoffner put the 15 car in the lead and looked to make it a convincing one. On the move farther back in the pack was last weeks winner Jason Witherite from Luthersburg in the 24M car. He was wasting no time in positioning himself for a shot at the lead also. Moore tired to hold him off and was successful up to lap 15 when Witherite made it around him. Another racer on the move was John Chesnalavich in the 812 ride from Reynoldsville moving into fourth place racing closely with Davis and McMillen who were still in the mix. Caution on lap 21 reset the field giving Witherite one last run at Hoffner but Hoffner proved too strong making the win look easy in classic “full tilt” Hoffner style. Racing in this class is super competitive and no one is giving anything up. If you want to be up front in this class you have to be on top of your game every week. Heat races were won by McMillen, Davis, and Hoffner.
The 471 car driven by Matt Heindl from St Mary’s and the 1* driven by Colton Joiner from Dubois made up the front row for the Pure Stock feature. At the drop of the green flag Zack Gustafson wasted no time in making it three wide in his 93 machine based out of Weedville. He moved into the lead on lap 4 but was getting heavy pressure from Heindl. Back in fourth through sixth position close racing was taking place between Joiner, Dustin Challingsworth from St Mary’s in the 46 car and Steve Arthurs in the 01 car from Falls Creek. Also on the move was Lester Hudson from Clearfield in the 23 car working his way into third place by mid race. Unfortunately a flat tire forced him to the pit area but he did return to the race. As Gustafson continued to lead Joiner was now applying the pressure. Close racing between Challingsworth and Arthurs forced Challingsworth to loop his ride on the backstretch. On the restart Challingsworth place in his original position while Arthurs started at the rear of the pack. Challingsworth raced his way into second place and was leaning on Gustafson hard but Gustafson had the low line blocked holding onto the lead. Challingsworth moved high but didn’t quite have enough power or traction to make the pass on the outside. This was Zack’s first win at Hummingbird and he proved tonight that he could put it out front and keep it there. He has been looking good the past few weeks and tonight was his night. Winners in the heat races were Calhoun and Hudson.
The Street Stock main event saw Joe Kot in the red and yellow 37 car from DuBois on the pole flanked on the outside by Brandon Connor also from Dubois in his 17 car. Kot took to an early lead followed closely by Brian Rhed in the 69R machine from Brockport. Rhed was pressuring Kot from behind but Connor did not give any ground on the outside. As they continued to race Connor and Rhed traded places making for some very tight racing action up front. Just behind them the three wide action continued between Jamie Price in the 137 car from Clearfield having another good run, Colton Gearhart in the T3 car from DuBois who won two weeks ago and Kyle Shannon in the 1S car from Brockway. He was last week’s winner. A hard charging Rhed finally put his car in the lead at the mid-way point but not far behind was Gearhart. Gearhart was making it look easy with a good handling car and smooth driving style. Just like in the Limited Late Model and Pure Stock classes any number of drivers could occupy the front position each week. Gearhart put the T3 in the lead on lap 12 and while Rhed tried, he didn’t have enough left to mount a serious challenge. That didn’t stop the three wide action behind the leaders as another Conner was making his way forward. Eddie Conner driving the 85 car, also from DuBois, was racing hard with Kot and Shannon for second through fifth place. Gearhart made this his second win of the season followed by Rhed, Shannon, Kot and Eddie Connor. In the heat races, Connor, Kot, and Gearhart took first place.
An exciting beginning to the Front Wheel Drive Four Cylinder feature race included Hunter McCracken in the 37 car from Curwensville and Shawn Fedder in the 38A car from Clearfield. Out to a quick jump on the leaders was Mike Lucas piloting the 81 car based in Philipsburg and Bryan Warren from Curwensville in the #5 car. Not far behind was the 5L car of Aaron Luzier from Clearfield. Early in the race racing was so close you could have covered the top 5 with a large blanket. Lucas naturally went to the high side where the car seems to work the best while Warren looked low. The high line proved successful for Lucas as he took the lead on lap 4. After the early action it was all Mike Lucas as he led the race by as much as 8 car lengths. Some tight racing was taking place between Warren, Luzier, Fedder, and McCracken behind the leader. The only serious charge was from Doug Surra in the fast T3 four cylinder from Kersey. Surra had to deal with the other competitors as well as lap traffic and could not develop enough momentum to make a bid for the lead in the nearly caution free race. Lucas held on for his second win this year. He was back behind the wheel this week after giving his wife Stephanie a turn at driving last week while he substituted in the 37 car. I’ll bet he won’t hand over the keys again any time soon. Lucas and Warren won the Front Wheel Drive Four Cylinder heat races.
Notes:
73 cars made the tow to participate in the nights competition at Hummingbird Speedway. 24 Limited Late Models, 17 Pure Stocks, 19 Street Stocks and 13 Front Wheel Drive Four Cylinders we on hand for Fan Appreciation Night.
Next week’s program consists of the regular 4-division program. Also returning next week during intermission are the fun and games sponsored by the Pennsylvania Racing Outreach Ministry, Hummingbird Speedway’s racetrack Ministry partner. Come watch some great racing action, have some fun, and win some prizes. Gates open at 4:30 PM and racing action starts at 7:00 PM.
For more information visit us on the web at www.hummingbirdspeedway.com.
Full Results
Limited Late Model
1. 15 Luke Hoffner Turbotville
2. 24M Jason Witherite Luthersburg
3. 00 Eric Moore Frenchville
4. 3D Bill Davis Luthersburg
5. 50 Bob McMillen St. Marys
6. 812 John Chesnalavich, Jr. Reynoldsville
7. 7 Cody Schultz Hyde
8. 1B Dwayne Brooks Falls Creek
9. 15S Eddie Connor DuBois
10. 55 Denny Fenton Clearfield
11. 10J Bruce Raybuck Falls Creek
12. 14R Derek Rodkey Osceola Mills
13. 9 John Reed Reynoldsville
14. 1E Loren Sallack Johnsonburg
15. 7J Josh Young Berwick
16. 99X Kyle Beimel St. Marys
17. 32 Todd Sallack Luthersburg
18. 77R Roswell Babcock Curwensville
19. 57 Bo Lockwood Brookville
20. 14 Orvie Newcome III Punxsutawney
21. 53 Chris Farrell Clearfield
22. 00 Bill Reitz Brookville
23. 34 Joe Malobicky Jr. St. Mary
24. 78 (DNS) Brian Molnar Falls Creek
Pure Stock
1. 93 Zach Gustafson Weedville
2. 46 Dustin Challingsworth St. Marys
3. 1* Colton Joiner DuBois
4. 471 Matt Heindl St. Marys
5. 88 Dustin Fields Brockport
6. 78 Ray Billote Mineral Springs
7. 01 Steve Arthurs Falls Creek
8. 44 Jim Challingsworth St. Marys
9. 7 Jason Young St. Marys
10. 57T Todd Bailey Brockway
11. 20 George Bailey Clearfield
12. 23 Lester Hudson Clearfield
13. 21 Nathan Yeaney Brookville
14. 25 Mike Calhoun Brockway
15. 10N Justin Kanouff Clearfield
16. 24 Devin Yeaney Brookville
17. 26 Justin Yohe Bradford
Street Stock
1. T3 Colton Gearhart Dubois
2. 69R Brian Rhed Brockport
3. 1S Kyle Shannon Brockway
4. 37 Joe Kot DuBois
5. 85 Eddie Connor DuBois
6. 17C Brandon Connor DuBois
7. 137 Jamie Price Clearfield
8. 37A Jim Bloom Curwensville
9. 96E Tim Fannin Ridgway
10. 00 Randy Sterling Morrisdale
11. 44 Dan Smeal Houtzdale
12. 78 Paul Blake Weedville
13. 3 Rich Howell Clearfield
14. 43P Pernell Beimel St. Marys
15. 88 Kenny White DuBois
16. 43W Kyle Beimel St. Marys
17. 29L Johnny Lindenpitz Knoxdale
18. 68 Don Henry Brockway
19. 105Jr. (DNS)Emory Rinehart Jr. Morrisdale
Front Wheel Drive Four Cylinders
1. 81 Mike Lucas Philipsburg
2. T3 Doug Surra Kersey
3. 5L Aaron Luzier Clearfield
4. 5 Bryan Warren Curwensville
5. 38A Shawn Fedder Clearfield
6. 37 Hunter McCracken Curwensville
7. 30N Jacob Kline DuBois
8. 99 Rich Lucas Wallaceton
9. 26 Chad Desmett Curwensville
10. 08 Mike Fields Brookville
11. 2B Rusty Murray Mayport
12. 357B Kody Barrett DuBois
13. 7 Chuck White DuBois