Reynoldsville–Under beautiful skies, a full pit area, and a great crowd eager for racing, Hummingbird Speedway got its seventh season underway Saturday evening with Dwayne Taneyhill of Bellwood, Dan Smeal of Houtzdale, Bill McMillen of St. Marys, Jason Bainey of Philipsburg, and Shawn Fedder of Clearfield taking home the evenings top prizes.
The IC Light Beer four-cylinders opened the seasons feature action with Bill Washek and Randy Albert leading the field to the green flag. Washek led after the first two laps of the 15-lap main, but was overtaken by Orin Taylor at lap 3. Taylor maintained a comfortable advantage at the midway mark with McMillen, Mike Anderson, Alan Barnett, and George Bailey trying to close the gap. The races final caution flew on lap 12 when the engine let go in Albert’s car, sending a heavy smoke screen down the front stretch. On the restart, Taylor was powering down the backstretch when something broke in his car sending in hard into the turn three fence. McMillen took over the lead, and held off a hard charging Barnett and Don Henry for the win. McMillen, Anderson, and Kyle Parson won the heats.
Next on the racing surface was the 20-lap Prontock Beer Distributors street stocks with Denny Curry, Jr. and Bill Huntington showing the way. Curry took the lead on the first lap, but was quickly overtaken by Smeal on lap 2. After a couple of cautions, Smeal and Gary Little were able to get away from the rest of the field. Smeal and Little worked their way through lapped traffic at the midway point with Fuzzy Fields, Eric Baun, and Joe Kot cutting into the lead. Smeal started to build on his advantage, but saw it go by the way side after Lee Gunter and Toby Saline made heavy contact with each other in turn four. A late race caution set up a green, white, checkered finish with Smeal able to hold Little and Fields at bay to take his second straight opening night win at the track. Curry and Huntington won the heats.
Taneyhill and Bob McMillen led the field of Brookville Wood Products limited late models trackside for their 25-lap main. Taneyhill led early before giving way to Pete Alspaugh after a lap 1 caution. Alspaugh, who ran strong throughout the evening, led the next 8 laps, but gave the lead back to Taneyhill after a lap 10 caution. Taneyhill and Alspaugh ran one-two at the midway mark with Eric Moore, Dave Shagla, Jr., and Billy Dickson trying to close the gap. Taneyhill started to pull away from the field as Shagla and Alspaugh battled closely for second. Taneyhill easily pulled into victory lane and made it a sweep of his weekend racing. Taneyhill, McMillen, Alspaugh, and Bernie Whiteford won the heats.
The 15-lap Miller Brothers Furniture/By The Room Furniture pure stock feature was next trackside with Josh Lindenmuth and Rob Molnar making up the starting front row. Lindenmuth led the first three laps before giving way to Pete Mackie on lap 4. Mackie continued to lead at the midway point with Brian Rhed, Bainey, Lindenmuth, and Jeff Krach keeping close tabs on the leader. Bainey waited for the right opportunity as he went to the low line on the backstretch for the lead and led the final two turns to take the win. Rhed won the lone heat.
The 12-lap front wheel drive four-cylinder feature closed the evenings program with Jamey Lee and Chris Woodel leading the field to the waving of the green. After a complete restart, Fedder grabbed the lead from his inside 4th row starting position. Fedder stretched out his lead through the midway mark with Woodel, Ben Smith, Tim Bish, and Jerry Walls trying to track him down. Two late race cautions brought the field back to Fedder, but Shawn wouldn’t be denied as he went on to take his first career feature win. Fedder, Bish, Smith, and Tom Pavelko won the heats.
SPEEDWAY NOTES: 95 cars were in the pits this evening including 24 limited lates, 15 street stocks, 19 four-cylinders, 11 pure stocks, and 26 fwd four-cylinders. Racing continues next Saturday evening with gates opening at 4:30pm and racing at 7. It will also be South St. Marys Street Elementary School Night with a free admission for one adult who accompanies a student from the school. (Student must show proper ID). For more information call the track office at 653-8400 or visit the tracks website at www.hummingbirdspeedway.com
Results Brookville Wood Products Limited Late Models: 1. Dwayne Taneyhill, Bellwood; 2. Dave Shagla, Jr., Sugar Grove; 3. Pete Alspaugh, Russell; 4. Eric Moore, Frenchville; 5. Dwayne Brooks, Falls Creek; 6. Levi Ardery, West Decatur; 7. Loren Sallack, Johnsonburg; 8. Bruce Raybuck, Falls Creek; 9. Todd Baumgardner, West Decatur; 10. Billy Dickson, West Decatur; 11. Bernie Whiteford, Hastings; 12. Chris Farrell, Clearfield; 13. Bob McMillen, St. Marys; 14. Bill Burns, Johnstown; 15. Jerry Redden, Mahaffey; 16. Rodney Phillips, Punxsutawney; DNS: Luke Hoffner, Dale Yeaney, Denny Fenton, Bob Smith, Jim Rozum, Tom Shaffer & Brian Molnar Prontock Beer Distributors Street Stocks: 1. Dan Smeal, Houtzdale; 2. Gary Little, Clearfield; 3. Fuzzy Fields, Brockport; 4. Eric Baun, Rossiter; 5. Junior Wilson, Clearfield; 6. Kenny Abrahamson, Brockway; 7. Pernell Beimel, St. Marys; 8. Bill Huntington, Big Run; 9. Joe Kot, DuBois; 10. Lee Gunter, Philipsburg; 11. Toby Saline, Kersey; 12. Lee Hummel, Philipsburg; 13. Scott Fenton, Clearfield; 14. Mike Miller, DuBois; 15. Denny Curry, Jr., Clearfield DNS: Dave Airgood, Jr. IC Light Beer Four-Cylinders: 1. Bill McMillen, St. Marys; 2. Alan Barnett, Philipsburg; 3. Don Henry, DuBois; 4. Mike Anderson, State College; 5. George Bailey, Clearfield; 6. Kyle Parson, McClure; 7. Mark Hummel, Osceola Mills; 8. Matt Stahlman, Brockway; 9. Bobby Battaglia, Reynoldsville; 10. Jonnie Gould, DuBois; 11. Mike Lucas, Centre Hall; 12. Orin Taylor, DuBois; 13. Randy Albert, Morrisdale; 14. Bill Washek, Clearfield; 15. Cooter Wolfe, Kersey; 16. Paul Metz, Sr. Julian DNS: Brandon Weidow, Ken Erskine & Bob Ralston, Jr. Miller Brothers Furniture/By The Room Furniture Pure Stocks: 1. Jason Bainey, Philipsburg; 2. Brian Rhed, Brockport; 3. Jeff Krach, Falls Creek; 4. Rob Molnar, Falls Creek; 5. Jason Murray, Brockway; 6. Robin Welsh, Stump Creek; 7. Steve Barnes, Punxsutawney; 8. Francis Gustafson, Weedville; 9. Josh Lindenmuth, Brockport; 10. Pete Mackie, St. Marys Front Wheel Drive Four-Cylinders: 1. Shawn Fedder, Clearfield; 2. Tim Bish, Corsica; 3. Chris Woodel, Brockway; 4. Ben Smith, Penfield; 5. Jerry Walls, DuBois; 6. Todd Fedder, Frenchville; 7. Cory Kilgore, Kittaning; 8. Steve Ghezzi, Penfield; 9. Tom Pavelko, Cherry Tree; 10. Stephanie Mansell, Centre Hall; 11. Chuck Erskine, Clearfield; 12. Henry Himes, Brockway; 13. Dave Kohler, DuBois; 14. Jessica Brooks, Falls Creek; 15. Scott Buffington, Big Run; 16. Shawn Hadden, Big Run; 17. Steven Bouch, Reynoldsville; 18. John Spellen, DuBois; 19. Zach Lennox, Big Run; 20. Jamey Lee, Fairmount City; 21. Dustin Fields, Brockport; 22. Brandon Weaver, Rossiter; 23. Eric Wingard, Big Run; 24. Amber Brown, Punxsutawney DNS: Maceo Ehause & Glenn Robinson