Submitted by Randy Albert
Repeat winners abound with Brooks and Kot taking win number 4, Calhoun making it number 5 and Luzier getting win number 2 for 2011
The weather held off and the full moon didn’t disappoint as all the winners were repeat winners on Saturday night at Hummingbird Speedway. Dwayne Brooks of Falls Creek and Joe Kot each collected win number four for the season. Brooks in the Limited Late Model class and Kot in the Street Stocks. Mike Calhoun seems untouchable in the pure Stock class with win number five and the Front Wheel Drive Four Cylinder class saw win number two for Aaron Luzier from Clearfield.
Dwayne Brooks from Falls Creek in the white and green number 1B started on the outside pole flanked on the inside by Bobby McMillen from St. Marys in car #50. Brooks jumped to an early lead and it was Brooks, Brooks and more Brooks as the race wound through early cautions and charges by other drivers. McMillen remained in hot pursuit in a different chassis that didn’t slow him down. Close racing was taking place further back between Cody Schultz in the 7 car from Clearfield and Eric Moore in the 00 from Frenchville. They were busy early in the race making it a 3 wide sandwich with the 15S being driven by Ed Connor from DuBois in the middle. On the move was Josh Young from Berwick in the 7J machine, working his way into second by lap 6. Also on the march forward was Jason Witherite in the 24M out of Luthersburg who took over the second position from Young on lap 13. Brooks continued to dominate stretching his lead only to see the field regroup due to a caution when the 55 of Denny Fenton from Clearfield made hard contact with the wall in turn three. On the restart while Witherite looked for traction to gain ground on Brooks, Luke Hoffner in the 15 car out of Turbotville was coming into the picture hard and fast. Hoffner wedged his way into second position around Witherite as the laps wound down trying to gain an advantage for a shot at the leader. On the final four laps you could see Hoffner coming, Hoffner getting close, and then Hoffner is right on Brooks bumper and then some. Hoffner slid under and off of Brook’s bumper to the inside coming out of turn four on the final lap. And while Hoffner came hard and fast it was Brooks who held on strong to the lead with driving determination for the win. The finish was so close you could have measured the win with a french-fry from the concession stand and then not been sure if you had it right. Another great finish at the line in the Limited Late Model class with Dwayne Brooks coming out on top.
Heat races were won by Witherite, Hoffner, and Moore.
Next up to the line was the Pure Stock Feature. On the pole and out to an early lead was Dustin Challingsworth in the 46 car from St. Marys. He was followed by the 471 car being piloted tonight by Dustin Michuck also from St. Marys filling in for Matt Heindl. Three wide racing took place early for third through fifth positions by Mike Calhoun in the 25 car from Brockway, the 01 car of Steve Arthurs from Falls Creek and Dustin Fields from Brockport in the 88 car. Calhoun wasted no time in taking the lead on lap 5 ducking under Challingsworth in turn three. Calhoun continued to dominate the class holding the lead and stretching it out to 8 to 10 car lengths at times. A late caution bunched the field back up but no one had enough steam to challenge Calhoun for the lead. Close racing for position behind Calhoun included Challingsworth, Michuck, Colton Joiner in the 1* car based out of DuBois, and the 42 driven by Dave Kohler of Rockton. On a caution restart Michuck lost the handle in turn one and was relegated to the rear allowing the 93 of Zack Gustafson from Weedville to sneak into fifth place. Calhoun cruised to his fifth victory of the year in a very smooth handling and running car.
Winners in the heat races were Arthurs and Michuck.
Randy Sterling from Morrisdale placed the 00 on the pole for the Street Stock Feature. To his right was the 17C car of Brandon Connor from DuBois. Connor jumped to an early lead followed closely by the 44 piloted by Dan Smeal from Houtzdale. Connor and Smeal traded places regularly with Connor holding the low line and Smeal working the high side trying to gain an advantage. Right on their tail was Joe Kot from DuBois in the #37 who was followed closely by Colton Gearhart in the T3 also from Dubois. Gearhart had moved forward very quickly from his thirteenth place starting spot into fourth by lap 7. Kot held to the tires right behind Connor with Smeal working the high side. Kot finally nosed his way into the top spot but was not lonely as Smeal was still outside with Gearhart right behind Kot as well as Brandon Connor coming back into the mix. Kot first had to deal with Smeal racing him hard on the outside then Gearhart made pressure on the leader from behind. Further back in the pack great racing was taking place with Jamie Price from Clearfield in the 137 back into the top five after an early flat tire relegated him to the rear. He was contending with Ed Connor from DuBois in the 85 car, Johnny Lindenpitz from Knoxdale in the 29L, and Jim Bloom from Curwensville in the 37A. Up front Kot continued to hold off both Gearhart and Brandon Connor. At the end Kot held tight to the tires and the car seemed to like it there as he took the win, his fourth of the season. Gearhart, Brandon Connor, Smeal, and Ed Connor followed him across the line.
In the heat races, Fannin, Kot, and Smeal took first place.
The Front Wheel Drive Four Cylinders took to the track for the final event of the evening. The two point leaders were on the front row with Shawn Fedder in the 38A from Clearfield on the inside and Bryan Warren from Curwensville in the #5 on the outside. Fedder took an early lead followed closely by Aaron Luzier driving the 5L also from Clearfield who started right behind Fedder. As Luzier hounded the leader Warren was contending with a hard charging Josh Frantz in the 26F from Falls Creek and the familiar T3 from Kersey. Doug Surra normally drives the T3 but tonight the veteran driver and former politician Dan Surra was at the wheel proving he still has what it takes to have some fun in the clay. As Warren, Frantz and Surra mixed it up for third through fifth Luzier took the lead on the backstretch. Further back in the pack team Lucas from Philipsburg was racing for sixth and seventh positions. Mike was driving the 37 car substituting for Hunter McCracken while Stephanie took the wheel in the 81 car. Mike better be careful because she appears to like to drive much more than she likes to watch. As the race continued no one had enough power or handling to catch the leader Luzier. He easily won the feature race taking his second checkered flag of the year.
Fedder and Warren won the Front Wheel Drive Four Cylinder heat races.
Notes:
61 cars participated in the night’s competition at Hummingbird Speedway. 22 Limited Late Models, 11 Pure Stocks, 17 Street Stocks and 11 Front Wheel Drive Four Cylinders made the call for the feature races.
Next weeks program consists of the regular 4-division program with trophies being sponsored by Hummel Drywall and Painting in memory of Jesse Hummel. Hummingbird Speedway’s racetrack Ministry partner, Pennsylvania Racing Outreach will be entertaining with fun and games at intermission. 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. 1B Dwayne Brooks Falls Creek
2. 15 Luke Hoffner Turbotville
3. 24M Jason Witherite Luthersburg
4. 7J Josh Young Berwick
5. 7 Cody Schultz Hyde
6. 00 Eric Moore Frenchville
7. 50 Bob McMillen St. Marys
8. 15S Eddie Connor DuBois
9. 3D Bill Davis Luthersburg
10. 14R Derek Rodkey Osceola Mills
11. 10J Bruce Raybuck Falls Creek
12. 9 John Reed Reynoldsville
13. 78 Brian Molnar Falls Creek
14. 1E Loren Sallack Johnsonburg
15. 99X Kyle Beimel St. Marys
16. 00 Bill Reitz Brookville
17. 77R Roswell Babcock Curwensville
18. 10 Ryan Christoff Houtzdale
19. 812 John Chesnalavich, Jr. Reynoldsville
20. 55 Denny Fenton Clearfield
21. 57 Denny Lindenmuth Hazen
22. 14 Orvie Newcome III Punxsutawney
Pure Stock
1. 25 Mike Calhoun Brockway
2. 46 Dustin Challingsworth St. Marys
3. 1* Colton Joiner DuBois
4. 42 Dave Kohler Rockton
5. 93 Zach Gustafson Weedville
6. 88 Mike Miller Falls Creek
7. 44 Jim Challingsworth St. Marys
8. 01 Charlie Powell Falls Creek
9. 471 Dustin Michuck St. Marys
10. 57T Todd Bailey Brockway
11. 7 Jason Young St. Marys
Street Stock
1. 37 Joe Kot DuBois
2. T3 Colton Gearhart Dubois
3. 17C Brandon Connor DuBois
4. 44 Dan Smeal Houtzdale
5. 85 Eddie Connor DuBois
6. 29L Johnny Lindenpitz Knoxdale
7. 37A Jim Bloom Curwensville
8. 96E Tim Fannin Ridgway
9. 137 Jamie Price Clearfield
10. 101 Bruce Hartzfeld Stump Creek
11. 38 Todd Mathews Sanborn
12. 22J Joe Jordan Woodland
13. 68 Don Henry Brockway
14. 00 Randy Sterling Morrisdale
15. 1S Kyle Shannon Brockway
16. 78 Paul Blake Weedville
17. 69R Jason Witherite Brockport
Front Wheel Drive Four Cylinders
1. 5L Aaron Luzier Clearfield
2. 26F Josh Frantz Falls Creek
3. 5 Bryan Warren Curwensville
4. 37 Mike Lucas Philipsburg
5. T3 Dan Surra Kersey
6. 38A Shawn Fedder Clearfield
7. 81 Stephanie Lucas Philipsburg
8. 26 Chad Desmett Curwensville
9. 357B Kody Barrett DuBois
10. 08 Mike Fields Brookville
11. 99 Rich Lucas Wallaceton