Hummingbird Speedway Race Report
Saturday, July 11, 2015
By: Randy Albert
Hummingbird Speedway weathered the storms of June and early July as race fans anxiously awaited a rain free weekend to enjoy a night of stock car racing at “The Bird”. Drivers and fans alike were happy to be back at the clay oval. While it seem like the season just got going or restarted after a long rain delay it was the Mid-season Championship night with double points in all divisions. Trophies were provided in memory of Jack Salada by Gary, Paige and family.
Drivers making up for lost time with wins for the evening included Paul Kot from DuBois in the BWP Bats Steel Block Late Model class, Bryce Craft out of Frenchville in the Sunny 106.5 FM Micro Sprints, Bob Connor from DuBois in the Street Stock division, Dustin Challingsworth from St Marys in the Pure Stock class, Matt Bryant out of Weedville in the Aarons Front Wheel Drive Four Cylinders and in a special Sunny 106.5 FM “Wingless Challenge” for the micro sprints, it was Steve Dunmire from Kittanning taking the win.
Ed Connor and Paul Kot from DuBois graced the front row for the main event in the BWP Bats Steel Block Late Model division. Connor made the best of the pole position converting it into the lead early in the race. Kot was content to settle into the second spot as Tim Krape from Bellefonte and Chris Farrell from Clearfield worked the track and each other for the third and fourth positions. Krape and Farrell were joined by Dwayne Brooks from Falls Creek and Charlie Powell out of Brookville all trying to move forward toward the leaders. Connor was having a good run but never able to dominate with 5 other cars within striking distance waiting for an opening. Most of the drivers were favoring the high line but Kot and Brooks continued to look low for some extra traction to propel them forward. Eric Moore from Frenchville didn’t want to be left out of the action and pulled up on the rear deck of Brooks just to keep it interesting. The race was marred by a number of cautions but the drivers persevered through them trying to gain positions with each restart. Connor continued to lead as Powell first moved up under Krape to take the fourth position then worked Farrell hard trying to gain another spot. Farrell didn’t seem to be interested in Powell; he set his sights on Kot in second showing his colors a couple of times next to Kot’s right side window. The sight of blue in his window must have made Kot decide it was time to quit laying back and make his move. He pulled under Connor coming out of turn four and cemented the deal coming out of turn two giving both Farrell and Powell a different target in Connor. They wasted no time stacking up two and three wide behind Kot jockeying for position with Farrell being the victor in taking over the second spot and Powell taking advantage of Connor’s car going away to gain third. Kot had saved just enough tire and car for the right moment to take and hold the lead at the end of the race. If it was planned it was executed at just the right time, if it was luck then go with it because when the checkered flag flew it was another consistent win by a patient and persistent Paul Kot.
BWP Bats heat race winners included; Ed Connor, Paul Kot, and Tim Krape.
The Sunny 106.5 Micro Sprint cars made their way onto the track led by Robert Garvey Jr from Grassflat and Bryce Craft from Frenchville. Garvey led the charge taking the lead coming out of turn four. Steve Dunmire from Kittanning and Bryce Craft out of Frenchville quickly turned up the heat on Garvey as Dunmire moved under him on the back stretch and Craft first looked outside through turns three and four then powered under Garvey going into turn two. Dunmire and Craft were beginning to pull away as Craft wedged his way alongside Dunmire coming out of turn four. Garvey had a brief encounter with Dave Hawkins from Lower Burrell fighting to keep the third spot but put some distance between them as the race wore on. After Craft made the pass for the lead he made it clear he was the fastest car on the track staying low in turns one and two and kissing the loader tires in turns three and four. A caution restart gave the competitors one last shot at Craft but only for a moment as Craft pulled out to a small but comfortable lead going on to take the win.
Heat race winners included Robert Garvey Jr, Bryce Craft, and Steve Dunmire.
Drivers on the front row of the Street Stock race include Bob Connor from DuBois and Bruce Hartzfeld from Stump Creek on the outside. Connor quickly gained the lead followed by Hartzfeld. Behind them Rich Howell from Clearfield was mixing it up with Luke Barnett out of Mahaffey. Barnett was trying to use the high line to get around Howell and was right on the back bumper of Hartzfeld. On a restart Barnett had the low line and it appeared to be working until he got lose in turn four relinquishing the positions to Hartzfeld and Howell. Connor persevered through another restart holding the lead but Hartzfeld was tight on his read deck. Late in the race Howell moved up under Hartzfeld but the two got together going into turn one slowing both down enough to let Barnett take the second spot away. On the restart Barnett was in position to make it interesting and he did so by riding the high line out of turn four. He managed to get the nose of his car up to the right front tire of Connor but not quite enough to take drag race to the flag stand.
The winner of the lone heat race in the Street Stock division was Bob Connor.
Mike Miller from Rockton and Dustin Challingsworth out of St Marys lined up side by side for the start of the Pure Stock feature race. Challingsworth powered to the lead with Miller in tow, a car length behind. Jim Challingsworth from St Marys and Cory Silvis out of Brookville were joined by Doug Surra from Kersey who was headed to the front. Surra first tucked down low to slip past Silvis then slowly doing the same to gain the edge over Jim Challingsworth pulling under him in turn two and making it permanent down the back stretch. Miller was trying hard to regain an edge on Dustin Challingsworth out front by using different lines when a caution brought everyone back together. Surra used the opportunity to put the nose of his machine under Miller to gain a bit of racing room and then make the pass. He set his sights on Challingsworth and the laps wound down, looking low and gaining a bit of ground with each lap. Challingsworth stayed fast and consistent keeping his competitor at bay but only by a car length when the checkered flag waived for another close finish.
One Pure Stock heat race was held. It was won by Mike Miller.
Aarons of DuBois Front Wheel Drive Four Cylinders were the final regular feature event of the evening. Randy Albert from Morrisdale lined up inside John Campisano out of Punxsutawney for the drop of Bob Sullinger’s green flag. Campisano and Matt Bryant from Weedville split Albert high and low going down the back stretch with Dylan Frantz out of DuBois wedging his way by Albert in turn three and four. Campisano and Bryant stayed side by side with Bryant low and Campisano high followed closely by Frantz. Campisano took the lead spot only to slow on the front stretch with mechanical problems. On the restart Bryant moved out to a comfortable lead followed by Frantz then Albert. None of the competitors had anything to offer Bryant as he went on to take his first win of 2015.
Heat race winners in the Aarons of DuBois Front Wheel Drives included Randy Albert and John Campisano.
The Micro Sprint drivers held a “Wingless Challenge” race to close out the evening. These races, while just for fun and a little prize money donated by the drivers, they are still a race. The drivers enjoy removing the large wings to see how they adjust to the different handling characteristics of the car and of course seeing who is the fastest. Steve Dunmire started on the pole and held the position to take the win. Jeff Haefke finished second followed by Scott Hawkins.
The recent rain outs have shuffled the scheduled special events at the speedway. Mark your calendars to be sure not to miss the upcoming activities:
July 18: Kids Banner Night and Chinese Auction for Hahne Regional Cancer Center
August 1: Children’s Tumor Foundation Fundraiser
August 15: Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Night
Join us each week for some of the best dirt track racing in Central Pennsylvania. Hummingbird Speedway offers a family friendly racing experience with good food and reasonable admission. Looks us up on the web at www.hummingbirdspeedway.com and join us on Twitter for updates on rain delays as well as preliminary race results.
Final Results
BWP Bats Steel Block Late Models
1. 36 Paul Kot Brockway
2. 53 Chris Farrell Clearfield
3. 94 Charles Powell Jr Brookville
4. 102 Ed Connor DuBois
5. 96E Denny Fenton Clearfield
6. 07 Tim Krape Bellefonte
7. 60 Jeff Taylor Corsica
8. 45 Tim Steis St Marys
9. 21T Orin Taylor DuBois
10. 47 Adam Nixon Grampian
11. 11C Kevin Clark Olanta
12. 68 Don Henry Falls Creek
13. 25 Dylan Fenton Clearfield
14. 00 Eric Moore Frenchville
15. 50 Bob McMillen St Marys
16. 96 John Brady Clearfield
17. 37 Joe Kot DuBois
18. 1B Dwayne Brooks Falls Creek
19. 11 Curtis Teats Morrisdale
20. 44 Dan Smeal Houtzdale
21. 01 Steve Arthurs Falls Creek
22. 25L Colton Gearhart DuBois
23. 41 Levi George Morrisdale
24. 09 Scott Stein Cherry Tree
25. 77R Roswell Babcock Curwensville
SUNNY 106.5 FM MICRO SPRINTS
1. 12X Bryce Craft Frenchville
2. 12 Steve Dunmire Kittanning
3. 11X Robert Garvey, Jr Grassflat
4. 27 Dave Hawkins Lower Burrell
5. 27H Brandon Hawkins Salina
6. 37 Scott Hawkins Sarver
7. 18 Damon Doutt Cabot
8. 133 Brian Boeorawiec Jr Cortland, OH
9. 68 Jason Hamacek Clarksburg
10. 911 Mike Renwick Pleasant Gap
11. 4W Johnny Walker Natrona Heights
12. 11 Anthony Pasquerella Leechburg
13. 29 D. Trey Straw West Decatur
14. 10 Austin Pasquerella Leechburg
15. 17 Brain Forester Saxonburg
16. 3 Ryan Beatty Leechburg
17. 516 Zack Lennox Sykesville
18. 83 Jeff Haefke Austintown, OH
19. 26M Mike Mcintyre Timblin
STREET STOCKS
1. 55 Bob Connor DuBois
2. 88B Luke Barnett Mahaffey
3. 101 Bruce Hartzfeld Stump Creek
4. 3 Rich Howell Clearfield
5. 43 Pernell Beimel St Marys
6. 158 Josh Frantz DuBois
7. 1B Ridge Bookwalter Huntingdon
8. 28N Nate Smith Glen Campbell
PURE STOCKS
1. 46 Dustin Challingsworth St. Marys
2. 3AA Doug Surra Kersey
3. 88 Mike Miller Rockton
4. 44 Jim Challingsworth St. Marys
5. 8L Eric Lucas Clearfield
6. 81 Duke Davidson Mahaffey
7. 8 Cory Silvis Brookville
8. 2W J R Wick Brookville
9. 11M Michael Guthrie
AARON’S OF DUBOIS FWD 4-CYLINDERS
1. 200 Matt Bryant Weedville
2. 26 Dylan Frantz Luthersburg
3. 17 Randy Albert Morrisdale
4. 31 Frank Barrett III DuBois
5. 71 Tom Peters Clearfield
6. 33 Bryan Snyder Clearfield
7. 17J Zach Frantz Penfield
8. 23A Austin Hockenbury Morrisdale
9. 70 Damion Frantz Penfield
10. 8C John Campisano Punxsutawney
11. 2 Rusty Murray Mayport
12. 151 Eric Boozel McVeytown
13. 6 Eric Luzier Clearfield
SUNNY 106.5 FM MICRO SPRINTS “Wingless Challenge”
1. 12 Steve Dunmire Kittanning
2. 83 Jeff Haefke Austintown, OH
3. 37 Scott Hawkins Sarver
4. 27H Brandon Hawkins Salina
5. 68 Jason Hamacek Clarksburg
6. 27 Dave Hawkins Lower Burrell
7. 911 Mike Renwick Pleasant Gap
8. 4W Johnny Walker Tarentum
9. 133 Brian Boeorawiec Jr Cortland, OH
