Reynoldsville —Saturday night saw some exceptional racing at Hummingbird Speedway with a career first winner, a three-peat winner, and a driver coming from the rear of the field to take the checkered flag.
Winners on Central PA Speedway trophy night included Bob McMillen of St. Marys, Fuzzy Fields and Brian Rhed of Brockport, George Bailey of Clearfield, and Steve Ghezzi of Penfield. Bailey and Bill McMillen led a nice field of IC Light Beer four-cylinders trackside for their 15-lap main. Bailey jumped to the early lead with McMillen keeping the pressure on the field kept close as a number of cautions slowed the race. McMillen looked to the inside of Bailey a number of times, but Bailey was able to close the door. Late in the race, the leaders started to get into heavy lapped traffic. Bailey was able to weave through the traffic as he went on for the win while Alan Barnett snuck by McMillen at the line for second. Barnett, Orin Taylor, and Cooter Wolfe won the heats.
The 20-lap Prontock Beer Distributors street stock feature was next on the racing surface with Fields and Joe Kot showing the way. Fields grabbed the early advantage, but was slowed by numerous cautions in the early laps. Fields was strong on the restarts, and was holding the top spot at the midway point with Tom Slack, Bob Rosman, Dan Smeal, and Joe Kot trying to close the gap. Fields was able to hold Slack at bay as the laps wound down as he went on to take his second win at the speedway this season. Fields, Kot, and Smeal claimed the heat race wins.
Tom Shaffer and Eric Moore sat on the front row of the 25-lap Brookville Wood Products limited late model feature. Shaffer held the opening advantage with Moore and Chris Farrell keeping close tabs on the leader. A number of times in the early stages, Moore was able to get by Shaffer, but a caution would fly, giving the lead back to Shaffer. Moore worked under Shaffer and took over the lead on lap 9. McMillen, who started 21st, after a heat race wreck, worked his way quickly to the front and was running third at the halfway point. McMillen found the outside line to his liking as he worked by Farrell for second and overtook Moore for the lead on lap 17. McMillen held on through one last caution as he went on to take his first win of the year as Moore held off Pete Alspaugh for second. Alspaugh, Luke Hoffner, and Levi Ardery won the heats.
Pete Mackie and Rob Molnar led the field of Miller Brothers Furniture/By The Room Furniture pure stocks onto the racing surface for their 15-lap feature. Mackie took the early advantage, and stretched out his lead as Kyle Lindenmuth, Mike Donahue, Jason Bainey, and Rhed battled for position. The caution flag flew on lap 5 when Mackie’s car started to develop a miss while leading the race. Mackie was able to refire the car, and start at the rear of the field. Lindenmuth inherited the lead and led for one lap before being overtaken by Bainey. Bainey’s lead was short lived, as Rhed was able to get for the lead on lap 8. Rhed and Bainey were able to get away from the rest of the field as Mackie and Mike Donahue battled closely for third. Bainey was able to close late on Rhed, but Rhed was too strong as he took his third straight-checkered flag.
Clearfield drivers Chuck Erskine and Aaron Luzier started on the front row of the 12-lap front wheel drive four-cylinder main. After a complete restart Erskine grabbed the lead and held it through three minor caution periods. Erskine was in charge at he midway point with Ghezzi charging towards the front. Ghezzi took over the top spot on lap 7, and then had to hold off a hard charging Shawn Fedder late to take his first career feature win. Ghezzi, Russ Walls, and Shawn Hadden won the heats.
SPEEDWAY NOTES: There were 96 cars in the pits this evening including 22 limited lates, 18 street stocks, 23 four-cylinders, 11 pure stocks, and 22 front wheel drive four-cylinders. Fellow competitor, Dwayne Brooks, helped McMillen’s win as he went home and brought back a header after McMillen broke one during his heat race earlier in the evening. Saturday will be the Memorial Day special with a five-division program being run. Also the Armed Forces will receive a special recognition this evening. For more information call the track office at 653-8400 or visit the track’s website at www.hummingbirdspeedway.com.
Results Brookville Wood Products Limited Late Models: 1. Bob McMillen, St. Marys; 2. Eric Moore, Frenchville; 3. Pete Alspaugh, Russell; 4. Chris Farrell, Clearfield; 5. Luke Hoffner, Turbotville; 6. Dave Shagla, Jr., Sugar Grove; 7. Chuck Kennedy, Brockway; 8. Tom Shaffer, Punxsutawney; 9. Donnie Connor, Reynoldsville; 10. Jim Rozum, Kennerdell; 11. Bill Davis, DuBois; 12. Bruce Raybuck, Falls Creek; 13. Larry Wingard, Punxsutawney; 14. Denny Fenton, Clearfield; 15. Dwayne Brooks, Falls Creek; 16. Loren Sallack, Johnsonburg; 17. John Chesnalavich, Jr., Reynoldsville; 18. Levi Ardery, West Decatur; 19. Brian Molnar, Falls Creek; 20. John Hannifin, Sigel DNS: Rich Womeldorf & Burton Fingado Prontock Beer Distributors Street Stocks: 1. Fuzzy Fields, Brockport; 2. Tom Slack, Sabula; 3. Bob Rosman, Sykesville; 4. Gary Little, Clearfield; 5. Dan Smeal, Houtzdale; 6. Joe Kot, DuBois; 7. Jamie Price, Clearfield; 8. Bill Huntington, Stump Creek; 9. Brian Fingado, Clarion; 10. Pernell Beimel, St. Marys; 11. Craig Bainey, Osceola Mills; 12. Jason Peters, Clearfield; 13. Toby Saline, Kersey; 14. Mike Miller, DuBois; 15. Jim Bloom, Curwensville; 16. Lee Gunter, Philipsburg; 17. Tim Steis, St. Marys DNS: Nathan Russell IC Light Beer Four-Cylinders: 1. George Bailey, Clearfield; 2. Alan Barnett, Philipsburg; 3. Bill McMillen, St. Marys; 4. Orin Taylor, DuBois; 5. Mike Anderson, State College; 6. Bob Ralston, Jr., Philipsburg; 7. Brandon Weidow, Byrnedale; 8. Don Henry, DuBois; 9. Randy Albert, Morrisdale; 10. Randy Luzier, Hyde; 11. Robert Tressler; 12. Bobby Battaglia, Reynoldsville; 13. Frank Wilson, McClure; 14. David Weidow, Byrnedale; 15. Matt Stahlman, Brockport; 16. Jonnie Gould, DuBois; 17. Mike Lucas, Centre Hall; 18. Don Mellinger, Lewistown; 19. Cooter Wolfe, Kersey; 20. Bill Washek, Clearfield; 21. Ken Erskine, Bells Landing; 22. Car #10 DNS: Paul Metz, Sr. Miller Brothers Furniture/By The Room Furniture Pure Stocks: 1. Brian Rhed, Brockport; 2. Jason Bainey, Philipsburg; 3. Pete Mackie, St. Marys; 4. Kyle Lindenmuth, Brockport; 5. Jason Murray, Brockway; 6. Robin Welsh, Stump Creek; 7. Rob Molnar, Falls Creek; 8. Francis Gustafson, Weedville; 9. Steve Barnes, Punxsutawney; 10. Jeff Krach, Falls Creek; 11. Mike Donahue, Reynoldsville Front Wheel Drive Four-Cylinders: 1. Steve Ghezzi, Penfield; 2. Shawn Fedder, Clearfield; 3. Chuck Erskine, Clearfield; 4. Jerry Walls, DuBois; 5. Aaron Luzier, Clearfield; 6. Ben Smith, Penfield; 7. Chris Woodel, Brockway; 8. Brittany Bouch, Reynoldsville; 9. Bob Lance, Punxsutawney; 10. Terry Borden, Reynoldsville; 11. Steven Bouch, Reynoldsville; 12. Ralph Reed, III, Brockway; 13. Eric Wingard, Big Run; 14. Scott Buffington, Big Run; 15. Josh Fields, Brockport; 16. Amber Brown, Punxsutawney; 17. Zach Lennox, Big Run; 18. Glenn Robinson, DuBois; 19. Jessica Brooks, Falls Creek; 20. Shawn Hadden, Punxsutawney; 21. John Spellen, DuBois; 22. Stephanie Mansell, Centre Hall